He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. " Matt 17:20.
I’ve always felt very intimidated by this verse. Since I’ve never moved a mountain, my faith must not be even as large as a mustard seed. Have you ever seen a mustard seed? It’s very tiny. That’s very demoralizing when you think about it. I thought I had faith, but maybe I don’t.
I was thinking about this the other day and it dawned on me.....Satan has no problem using God’s Word to confuse us. During those times that I felt like my faith was not even the size of a mustard seed, I’ve realized that it was Satan saying to me “but, if you had faith, you could move mountains.....so why can’t you? I guess you don’t have any faith because I don’t see any mountains moving!” “Oh ye of little faith, what’s wrong with you? Why can’t you move mountains?”
Then I realized something.....maybe, I’m not in the mountain moving business! That’s not what God has asked me to do, He has a specific plan for me, I know it’s not to move mountains, but.....if His plan was for me to move mountains, then I could and I would! When you are in God’s will, you want to do His will. When you pray that His will be done, not yours, then what you pray for will already be given to you....because it is His will! Then He will equip you to do His plan and for you, it may be to move mountains!
What we must remember is that “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Eph 6:12. Satan and his hordes will confuse you, manipulate you and make your life miserable. But what you must do is keep your eyes on Jesus. Stay focused! Be conscious of what your mind dwells on. Remember what Paul wrote to the church at Philipi “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.” Phil 4:8.
When you were saved, why didn’t God take you straight to heaven? Why? Because He has something for you to do! He’s not finished with you yet. He has a plan for you! God has a master plan and that plan is simple, that once we are saved, it becomes our job to tell the lost about the good news of Jesus Christ! “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you....” Matt 28:19-20a. That command was not just given to the disciples, but to each of us.
Now, how he equips us to do our particular job in His master plan is different with each person. “It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” Eph 4:11-12. You have been set apart and called to a specific purpose. Are you ready to move mountains?
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If I have faith, then for whatever purpose I am equiped, I can't fail? If my purpose is to understand faith, and to spread that understanding, then I can. If my purpose is to show those who have sinned Truth, then Truth shall be known. If my purpose is to save the unredeemable, then in the eyes of God they shall be saved.
ReplyDeleteWho then deserves to be saved? Or, for the sake of a shorter answer, who does not deserve a chance at redemption in the eyes of God? If you believe as I do, the answer will indeed be short; none are undeserving.
Do you know who recieves the fewest prayers in the way of redemption? Know ye the one that people condemn most often? How sorry we are that we don't even pause to think that he might be swayed by the Truth, if only he knew it... Yet how many would defend him before God? It may be many centuries, millenia perhaps after the end of the Earth before he might be turned, but why not? And would YOU defend him?
If I have faith in God, faith in the ability to do whatever it is that He wills, and faith in all His creations, then why should any entity be beyond salvation? As they say, "The defense rests."
To answer your first questions: 1. If you feel that God’s will for your life is to understand and grow your faith and then tell others how to grow and understand their faith....God will equip you to do that. (James 1:5&6) (Phillipians 2:13) (2 Timothy 3:16-17). 2. If you believe that God’s purpose for your life is to show those who have sinned the Truth (by revealing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to them), then yes, it will be known to them. (Romans 3:21a) (Jeremiah 29:13-14a) (1 Timothy 3-6). 3. You can not save anyone. Only God can save them through their personal acceptance of Jesus Christ and their belief in the sacrifice that He made for them. So, no. No matter how much you want to save the “unredeemable” you can’t. And in God’s eyes they are not saved, until they, personally choose to repent of their sins and ask for forgiveness. (John 14:6-7) (Romans 3:22-26).
ReplyDeleteActually, I do not believe as you do. No one is deserving of salvation. We were born into sin and it is only by the grace of God and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ that we are saved. Those who don’t accept through faith, the free gift of salvation will die in sin. God reveals the Truth to people and gives them opportunity upon opportunity to choose salvation through His Son. If they die without acceptance of Jesus Christ as their Savior, time runs out. (Ephesians 2:4-9) (Titus 3:5-7) (Romans 5:1-2).
Concerning Satan and his demons being swayed by the Truth and being given a chance at salvation, they have already chosen, they are unredeemable. Because of pride the created (Satan was created by God) believed that he was above his creator (Isaiah 14:13-14) (Ezekiel 28:12-19). He and the angels were in heaven, they have seen God with their own eyes, and they were at the cross with Jesus. Satan chose to rebel against God and the demons chose to follow him. So no, I would not defend Satan (or his demons) and when the earth ends, they will spend eternity in Hell. (Jude 6).
There ARE absolutes in this Universe. People will be held accountable and each person must examine his or her own heart and ask the question of themselves: What is my decision concerning Jesus Christ? (Matthew 12:36-37) (Romans 6:23)
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