12 But you made the Nazirites drink wine, and commanded the prophets, saying, ‘You shall not prophesy.’ ~ Amos 2:12
Many of us live our lives in a box, and because we live in the box, we drag God into the same box as well. God is all-powerful, but His power is restrained or limited by our faith. Jesus, God in the flesh, marveled at the unbelief of Nazareth, His hometown (Mark 6:1-6) because He could only do a few miracles and heal a few sick. If we refuse to believe God is more than Salvation and try to convince others of the same thing, then it’s not the beliefs we’re trying to stop; it’s God.
God wants to do more than save us from our sin. He wants to give us life more abundantly, but we have to believe it’s possible. We have to leave the box in order to see all that God has in store for us. We have to remove our biases and truly seek the Truth of God.
During Jesus’ earthly ministry, He taught many important things, but He often spoke in parables. These parables are filled with Truth and wisdom, but unless you understand the parable and why Jesus told them, the parables become useless to us. Knowing and understanding parables are the first steps, but after that, you have to put that knowledge and understanding into action. Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the importance of The Parable of The Sower in his message, Faith Revisited Pt. 5: The Diligent Seekers.
Luke 8:4-8 Luke 8:1b 1 Corinthians 4:20 (NIV) Matthew 13:1-3 Mark 4:1-3 Mark 4:10-12 Hebrews 4:2 (NKJV) Mark 7:13 John 8:31-32 John 14:6 Luke 8:11-12 Hebrews 10:29 Luke 8:13-15 Mark 4:33-34 Luke 8:16-18 Acts 4:20
The Diligent Seekers
The Parable of The Sower
1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around Him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then He told them many things in parables, saying:
“A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.” 10 The disciples came to Him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” 11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables:
“Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’
16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
Matthew 13:1-17 (NIV)
Jesus spoke in parables so that He could separate those who weren’t diligently seeking Him and the things of God. If He spoke plainly to everyone, all would have the wisdom of God, but if He spoke in parables, then only thought who were diligent seekers of the Truth would find the Truth. They would find wisdom and understanding. This is all so that we might build our faith because, without faith, it’s impossible to please God.
Jesus told the parable of the talents. Each person was given a certain amount of talents and was later judged by what they did with those talents. This begs the question of what that parable means and what that has to do with us (the Church) today? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the necessity of faith in his message, Faith Revisited Pt. 4: Hidden Faith.
Matthew 25:14–30 Romans 12:3 Luke 18:8
Hidden Faith
14 For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade. ~ Mark 4:31–32
A mustard seed faith starts out really small. Sometimes, you don’t even know it’s there at first. But you hear the Good News about Jesus. You receive the Good News, and you believe the Good News. Then it begins to grow into the largest of all garden plants, and nothing will be impossible for you.
This faith not only moves mountains, but it ministers to the needs of others as well. Jesus has given us the keys to the kingdom of God, and He expects us to do the work, not Him. Have you ever noticed that Jesus is not moved by need? Just because someone needs clothes doesn’t mean Jesus will come down and clothe them. Or feed the hungry. Or heal the sick. Or spread the Gospel to remote areas. Why? It’s not His job. Jesus said that as long as He was IN the world, He was the Light of the World. Jesus is no longer in the world. That’s why He said we are now the light of the world. He has left us in charge, and we, the Church, are responsible for what happens and what authority rules the world.
If we want to see miracles, revival, an outpouring of the Spirit, and a change in the atmosphere, we have to have mustard-seed faith that can grow. We have to have faith that can grow beyond “I know it’s possible.” We have to have faith that can grow to “I believe it’s possible.” Our faith can’t be stagnant. Our faith has to be able to grow.
30 And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? 31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” ~ Mark 4:30–32
The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. What is so special about a mustard seed, you ask? Well, let’s analyze what Jesus was teaching. Jesus wasn’t saying you just need a little bit of faith, but rather, He was saying you need a little of seed-like faith that can grow into great faith. I can have a little faith but never see anything happen because my faith is limited to my own biases. But if I remove my biases, then my faith has room to grow.
We need to have seed-like faith that can be planted and let it grow into something big. For instance, if you have the spirit of fear, your seed can’t grow because you’ll be too afraid to leave your comfort zone. So, it’s not just any old little type of faith; it’s seed-like faith. It’s faith with potential. It is a mustard seed faith.
15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” ~ Mark 16:15–18
Jesus promised that all who believe would be able to access certain signs. In fact, He said that these signs would accompany or follow believers. Therefore, these are our inalienable rights in the LORD. No one or nothing can take that away from us. Why? Because in these things, God is glorified.
God receives glory whenever His mighty Name is used in a righteous way. He wants to heal the sick, open the eyes of the blind, and make the lame walk again. He wants to perform signs and wonders and miracles and perform many mighty acts of healing, but His Church won’t let Him. We limit God by our faith. If our faith is much, God can do much, but if our faith is little, then God can only do little. God will be as big in your life as you allow Him to be.
11 Then I said to Him, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?” 12 And a second time I answered and said to Him, “What are these two branches of the olive trees, which are beside the two golden pipes from which the golden oil is poured out?” ~ Zechariah 4:11-12
God showed Zechariah a vision but didn’t explain it to him until he inquired it of God. Sometimes God shows us a little piece of the puzzle to get our attention so that we’ll seek Him for more. The answer doesn’t always come right away or even after the first time we ask. Sometimes, it takes asking more than one time. Why? There are multiple answers to this question. Sometimes, it’s like Daniel, and something is keeping your answer from getting to you, but other times it’s to help us grow our faith.
If God answered every single question the very first time we asked, then how could our faith ever grow enough to withstand any kind of storm? Sometimes, God remains silent for a short time to help grow our faith. A seed can’t grow without a little bit of rain sometimes. Paul said that trying times produce endurance. These small tests help prepare us for bigger tests to come. If we don’t have the faith to keep asking after the first, second, or even fifth time, how will we be able to ask and have faith in a time of trouble?
Peace. Love. Go Forth and Ask Until You Get An Answer.
Many Christians today are living with faith that has no hope because of doctrine that teaches that there are no more healings, miracles, signs, wonders, or words from God. So, if these doctrines remove the hope of people, why do we teach and preach these kinds of doctrines? Are they for our own good, or do they contradict the Word of God? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the Truth about a hopeful faith in his message, Faith Revisited Pt. 2: Where is Your Faith?
Luke 8:22–25 1 Timothy 6:3–5a Romans 10:14–17 Acts 8:9–13 1 Corinthians 4:19–20 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 John 14:12–14 1 Corinthians 1:4–9 Mark 16:15–18
Where is Your Faith?
23 And when he got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25 And they went and woke Him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” 26 And He said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey Him?”
Matthew 8:23-27
18 While He was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before Him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 And Jesus rose and followed Him, with His disciples. 20 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His garment, 21 for she said to herself, “If I only touch His garment, I will be made well.” 22 Jesus turned, and seeing her He said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well.
4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in Him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. ~ 1 Corinthians 1:4–9
Though the Corinthians were young in the faith, still on spiritual milk, they didn’t lack any spiritual gift but were enriched in Christ Jesus in all speech and all knowledge. They were guiltless because of the grace that they received through faith in the finished work of our LORD Jesus Christ.
They were walking in power and working miracles, not because of anything else, but the grace of Jesus Christ that was at work in them. In other words, it was their faith that was reaching out and taking hold of the kingdom of God and His righteousness and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
So, even though the Corinthians were carnal and mere babes in Christ, even though they were on spiritual milk and not solid food, they lacked no spiritual gift, which suggests to me that spiritual gifts are not activated with maturity but with faith. You might be a one-hour-old Christian, but by faith, you can heal the sick, cast out demons, and raise the dead. You can do all these things through Christ, or a better way of putting it, through faith in Christ, who strengthens you and leads you into all truths.
We’re saved by faith. Jesus said that we only need faith as small as a Mustard Seed to move mountains, yet there are Christians that are plagued with suicidal thoughts and depression that they just can’t seem to overcome. Others are dying of cancer and disease that, no matter how hard they pray and believe, they don’t get their healing. Miracles are seemingly becoming more and more scarce. Why? Why does it seem that no matter the amount of faith we seemingly have, prayers aren’t answered, healings aren’t taking place, and darkness seems to overcome? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes in his moving message entitled, Faith Revisited Pt. 1: The Catalyst.
Hebrews 11:1–2 Hebrews 11:1–2 (KJV) Romans 8:23–25 Hebrews 11:2 Hebrews 11:6a Matthew 8:8–10 Matthew 9:1–2 Luke 7:48–50 Romans 10:17 Matthew 9:1–2 Hebrews 11:3 Hebrews 11:39
The Catalyst of Faith Revisited
14 And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and, kneeling before Him, 15 said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he has seizures and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. 16 And I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not heal him.” 17 And Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”
