FAITH MOVES MOUNTAINS

© Carlos Padilla, July 2020

Faith moves mountains!

Actually this is a popular saying that comes from the Words of Jesus in Matthew 17: If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ¡move from here to there!, and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you. How many mountains have you moved in your life? If you haven’t had the chance to have a mustard seed in your hand, I suggest you do, because it is an experience that you will never forget in relation to the Words of the Master. Once you do will realize how small it is. But the Lord Jesus continued to say that it becomes a large tree, so much that the birds of the air nest in its branches.

In W.E. Vine Expositive Dictionary we read that “faith” comes from the Greek pistis. In Hebrew the word used is emunah. In both cases it is in relation to trust in what is head, in the persuasion of the conviction of oneself, which in the Bible it refers to the trust in God Himself, in Jesus, in the Holy Spirit. In Romans 3:3 it is related with God being trustworthy, based in the fidelity of God. Proverb 3:5-7 confirms this: “Trust the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths”.

Faith as a fruit of the Spirit, in one of the 9 fruits in Galatians 5:22,23. Its companions are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, (faithfulness), gentleness, self control. But when we talk of faith to those who don’t know Jesus Christ – Yahshua, we must expose the differences between the false faith and the true faith.

The false faith.

Today’s world every day we face many who say they have faith, and they do, but an erred, false and apostate faith. Their faith is based in idols, in money or success, or in themselves. The Apostasy in 1 Timothy 4  can be found in today’s world as many who appeared to be Christians separated, and it is increasing. Is it possible that they never knew the true faith? Because their false faith does not produce fruits of the Spirit, nor works of God, but egolatry. And because in the middle of tragedy, when the mountains of life rise, in the moments that test their faith, they become desperate. No “Not all have faith” we read in 2 Thessalonians 3.

True faith.

Now, lest look into, how is the true faith that God grants those who love Him? Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen, Hebrews 11. True faith is a fruit of the Spirit, because it is a gift of God, to believe in Jesus Christ, for salvation and eternal life, John 3:16. It is a living faith that produces fruits of the Spirit, good works and a just life “for the just shall live by faith”. And it is a faith that strengthens us in the hard times, in the darkness, that moves the mountains of life, that grows like the mustard seed, and when things go wrong, the proof of our faith produces patience.

That faith we can see it in the lives of 4 great people of faith. Abraham “he believed God, and it was counted to him as justice”. Left Ur of the Chaldeans and went to the adventure of the Promised Land leaving everything behind, and is called “Father of faith”. Genesis 15.

Mary the virgin believed God, received the angel of the Lord and the message that brought. Accepted as the servant of the Lord despite facing hate, suspicion, accusation and untrust, even death by lapidating, but conceived the Messiah, the Son of God. Luke 1. The centurion believed in Jesus and said to Him: “mi servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.” Jesus said to him: “I will come and heal him” The centurion answered and said: “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, “Go”, and he goes; and to another, “Come”, and he comes; and to my servant, “Do this,” and he does it.” He marvelled and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have no found such great faith, not even in Israel! Matthew 8. Luther believed God to return to Scripture, and concluded “The just shall live by faith” Habakkuk 2. He risked his life so that we can read our Bibles in vernacular language.

Conclusion

I would like to close with the keys for a faith fruit of the Spirit: It is faith by the Grace of God on the cross of His Son Jesus Christ for salvation, that changes our lives, today and for eternity. It is like a mustards seed, and moves the mountains of life. That faith we saw in Abraham, in Mary, in the centurion and in Luther. But the apostles asked Jesus: “Increase our faith”. Jesus said to Peter: “I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail”. Faith lives of prayer, but Jesus prays that our faith may not fail, ¡what a privilege! fruit of the Spirit. Is your faith like the mustards seed? Does your faith move mountains? Is your faith fruit of the Spirit?