Matthew 17:20
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Jesus rebuked His disciples for failing to cast out the afflicting spirit because they had let unbelief and carelessness toward their sacred work take the place of prayerful preparation. Even the smallest living trust has in it the same life principle as the tiny mustard seed that lays hold of every provided nourishment and grows into a strong tree, so faith lays hold of God's word and appointed means and brings heaven's power to its aid. The mountain to be commanded away stands for every seemingly insurmountable difficulty and hindrance, including those Satan piles in the path and those blocking the advance of the gospel. Such living faith, however small, can accomplish what looks impossible, causing Satan's obstacles to disappear so that nothing stands beyond reach. It is made strong and effective by humility, self-denial, fasting, prayer, complete dependence on God, unreserved consecration, and the aid of the Holy Spirit, placing itself firmly on the Word and promises of the living God in every danger and undertaking.
Failure, Seed, and Mountain
The disciples' failure to expel the spirit was due to their unbelief, even though they had previously cast out evil spirits in Christ's name. Their failure also came from carelessness toward the sacred healing work entrusted to them, for they had not fitted themselves for that holy office by fasting and prayer. They could not vanquish Satan except by receiving power from God through humility and self-sacrifice, entire dependence upon Him, and perfect consecration to the work, pleading with Him for strength to conquer the enemy of souls. Jesus gave the mustard-seed promise to encourage His disappointed followers that such faith gives power to overcome every obstacle.
Faith as small as a grain of mustard seed carries power because the seed, though tiny, contains the same life principle that produces growth in the loftiest tree. When cast into the ground the tiny germ lays hold of every element God has provided for its nourishment and speedily develops a sturdy growth. In the same way, faith lays hold upon God's word and upon all the helpful agencies and means He has appointed, and in doing so it grows strong and brings the power of heaven to its aid. Strengthened through prayer, fasting, humility, self-denial, and complete dependence on God, it brings the aid of the Holy Spirit and unreserved consecration to God's work.
The mountain to be removed represents seemingly insurmountable difficulties and obstacles, and its moving expresses what faith can accomplish. These include the obstacles Satan piles across the path, though apparently as immovable as the eternal hills, which disappear before the demand of faith. They also include the great difficulties standing in the way of the gospel, which through God's providence are removed as the work advances and the message is proclaimed throughout the earth. Difficulties may test faith, but trusting God and the power of His Spirit when surrounded by obstacles develops spiritual strength and unfaltering trust, so that as faith is exercised the powers of heaven aid the believer and nothing is impossible. The image of moving a mountain also evokes an act beyond human power, illustrating that human power is no more able to change one precept of God's law or erase one promise to those who obey Him than it is able to uproot the mountains and cast them into the sea.
Nature and Conditions of Faith
Even faith as small as a mustard seed is living faith, and living, earnest, unwavering faith can accomplish what appears impossible. It removes mountains of difficulty that unbelief presents, so that barriers that seem impossible to overcome give way. The obstacles Satan piles across the path, though apparently as insurmountable as the eternal hills, disappear before the demand of faith, and to such faith nothing is impossible. Like the tiny seed that contains the same life principle that produces the loftiest tree, this faith lays hold upon God's word and upon every element and helpful agency He has provided for nourishment, grows strong, and brings heaven's power to its aid. As faith is exercised amid testing difficulties, trusting God and the power of His Spirit develops spiritual strength and unfaltering trust, with the powers of heaven aiding the believer.
Such faith is made effective through humility, self-denial, fasting, prayer, complete dependence on God, unreserved consecration to His work, and the aid of the Holy Spirit. Without this preparation power from God is lacking, for Satan cannot be vanquished except by power received from God through pleading with Him for strength. Faith and prayer bring power to do what would otherwise be impossible, including casting out evil spirits, and believers may ask with full assurance for greater capacity to serve while remembering that the Holy Spirit gives power and efficiency. The mustard-seed promise was given to encourage disappointed followers that such faith gives power to overcome every obstacle.
Living faith removes mountains of difficulty and brings the soul into sacred nearness with God. That faith is made of no effect when a darling sin is cherished and some sensual indulgence, lust, or bondage is retained as dear as the right hand or the right eye, which accounts for deficient spiritual advancement. Faith places itself firmly on the Word of the living God and pleads His promises in every danger, difficulty, plan, and undertaking. Working as God's helping hand and doing its best, it clings to the Mighty One, stays strong and undiscouraged, and surely brings His blessing, opening the way for neglected and opposed work to succeed. Faith must overcome unbelief and make room for Christ to work through willing cooperation and obedience, removing obstacles of unbelief rather than insisting on one's own plans, since doubts and resistance hinder the work He is ready to do while trust enables Him to work mightily.
Faith in God's Work
Faith enables God's workers to overcome seemingly insurmountable difficulties, for God provides the people and the means needed, keeps His promises, and has power before which no obstacle can stand. Difficulties test faith, and trusting God and the power of His Spirit when surrounded by obstacles develops spiritual strength and unfaltering trust. As faith is exercised, the powers of heaven aid the believer, obstacles placed by Satan disappear, and nothing is impossible.
Living faith, even as small as a grain of mustard seed, enables believers to claim wonderful things from God, especially His power to protect and save, to sustain health in a harsh climate, and to bless and uphold workers in a needy mission field, while having too little faith brings too limited a vision of that power to protect and save. It applies to trusting God's power and providence to protect and sustain workers in London even in a dismal climate, rather than assuming they must return to America, resting on His arrangements without presuming to alter them. Faith enables the disciples to do what would otherwise be impossible, including casting out evil spirits, and faith with prayer brings this power. Believers may therefore ask Christ with full assurance for greater capacity to serve and power to help others, remembering that the Holy Spirit gives power and efficiency.
The removal of the mountain represents God's providential removal of great difficulties standing in the way of the gospel as the work advances and the message is proclaimed throughout the earth. The promise encourages a faith that does not fail or give way to discouragement, with speaking in faith as a way of facing seeming impossibilities. Taking God at His word, standing on His promises, and praying continually brings divine power that makes earnest Christian work effective and overcomes earthly obstacles. Placing oneself firmly on the Word of the living God and pleading His promises in every danger, difficulty, plan, and undertaking works as God's helping hand doing its best, clings to the Mighty One, stays strong and undiscouraged, surely brings His blessing, and opens the way for neglected and opposed work to succeed.