Lifestyle of Fasting & Prayer
Before we get into the Parable of the Mustard Seed, it bears mentioning an event that that proceeds it, Matthew 17:14-16.
14And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, 15Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. 16And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
This man comes to Yeshua with his lunatic son. Previously, the man had taken his son to the disciples; however, the disciples could not heal his son, Matthew 17:17.
17Then Yeshua answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
Yeshua states that they are a faithless and perverse generation. This is counter to what most people believe about Yeshua. There is the perception that Yeshua was very accepting and considerate to all types of people. The truth is He was accepting, but that did not make one worthy to spend quality time with Him. Those closest to him were required to mature. He was hard on them, but not as hard as the world would soon be. Yeshua was actually sifting through His disciples to find the ones that would be strong enough to carryon the faith.
Many of these disciple had left their homes to follow Yeshua. Yet, he calls them faithless and perverse. Perverse comes from the Greek word diastrepho (G1294). It means to turn aside from the right path or to corrupt. Even worse, it refers to one that opposes or plots against the saving purposes and plans of God. For Yeshua to call them that, He had a reason.
Matthew 17:18
18And Yeshua rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
Yeshua rebukes the devil and heals the child. Next, the disciples asked Yeshua in Matthew 17:19-20.
19Then came the disciples to Yeshua apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 20And Yeshua 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.
Yeshua tells them if they had the faith of a mustard seed, then it would be possible. In reference to this passage, many wear mustard seed necklaces. Unfortunately, that misses the point. Yeshua adds in Matthew 17:21.
21Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
You might want to spend a little time fasting and praying. However, when did Yeshua fast and pray during this event? Yeshua is not telling us we should fast and pray for a particular healing or event as many do, but that we should have a lifestyle of fasting and praying.
Now, this story here and the parable of the Mustard Seed are vitally connected. The mustard seed is not to remain dormant. This speaks to our lifestyle and the choices we make. Living in the Kingdom of God and growing our faith is a lifestyle of fasting and prayer.
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