Worship: For Heaven’s Sake The disciples were still unconverted, competing to be the greatest and wanting the best seat, when nine of them found themselves faced with a request they could not handle.
Wellness: For Health’s Sake Followup on the candida test listeners were invited to do yielded no volunteers for discussion, but…
For Heaven’s Sake…
Jesus wanted His disciples to learn humility, but they struggled with that. Although they had been given authority (and had exercised it) over unclean spirits, to cast them out, this day was different. This day, because they had been left behind, they spent their time sulking in disappointment, murmuring and complaining, instead of strengthening their faith through prayer and meditation upon the words of Jesus. Satan quickly took advantage of this opportunity to further discourage them. And soon, they found themselves incapable of bringing healing to the son of a father desperate for their help.
Jesus had gone upon a high mountain, the Mount of Transfiguration. He had taken with Him Peter, James and John. There, Moses and Elijah had appeared to encourage Jesus for the days left ahead, leading to Calvary. Moses represented that group of believers who will be resurrected at the second coming of Christ. Elijah represented that group of believers who will be translated. Together these two groups will meet the LORD in the air, according to 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17.
According to Matthew (17:14-21), Jesus and the three disciples were returning when they were met by a very perplexed and distraught father. He explained the trouble to Jesus. His son often fell uncontrollably into the fire and water. He had brought his son to the disciples for healing, but they could do nothing to help. They were powerless.
Jesus rebuked the devil, and the child was cured that “very hour.” Jesus later explained to the disciples that it was because of their unbelief that they could not bring healing. Further, if they had the faith of a grain of mustard seed, they could order the mountain to move, and it would. Then He added that prayer and fasting was required to address the kind of demon that faced them on that day.
How much faith is equal to a grain of mustard seed? Is it a little faith? Or do we need a lot of faith?
Consider these verses of Scripture: Matthew 6:30; 8:26; 14:31; 16:8; Mark 4:40. In each case, whether Jesus was reassuring them that they didn’t have to worry about the necessities of life or be fearful of storms or be doubtful about walking on water, as He had permitted Peter, Jesus chided them for having such little faith. More pointedly, in Mark 4:40, Jesus “said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that he have no faith?”
During this morning broadcast, after giving an opportunity for listeners to cast their vote, Pastor Flemons, here concluded, “Little faith is actually no faith.” Later, he stated, “Mustard seed faith is not little faith. But size doesn’t matter.”
Many assume that because the mustard seed is extremely tiny, it means that it only takes a very small amount of faith to accomplish what Jesus did for the child or to move a mountain.
But that is not at all true. It has nothing to do with the size of the mustard seed. Rather, it has to do with the nature of the mustard seed.
“Though the grain of mustard seed is so small, it contains that same mysterious life principle which produces growth in the loftiest tree. When the mustard seed is cast into the ground, the tiny germ lays hold of every element that God has provided for its nutriment, and it speedily develops a sturdy growth. If you have faith like this, you will lay hold upon God’s word, and upon all the helpful agencies He has appointed. Thus your faith will strengthen, and will bring to your aid the power of heaven. The obstacles that are piled by Satan across your path, though apparently as insurmountable as the eternal hills, shall disappear before the demand of faith.” (Ellen G. White, Desire of Ages, p. 431. Italics supplied.)
“Nothing shall be impossible unto you” (Matthew 17:20).
When Jesus returns, He will be looking for faith fully developed in His people. Luke 18:8, asks, “Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” Those who do not have faith in Jesus, regardless of their position in life, will be in that group that is described in Revelation 6:16:
“And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.”
We need mustard seed faith that takes advantage of every opportunity that God has granted and intended for you to grow spiritually: prayer time, the time to hear the spoken Word, the time for personal devotion, the time for sharing your faith. “That’s mustard seed faith,” says Pastor Flemons. “You’re constantly gaining more of Christ…. Like a magnet, that seed [and your faith] grabs all that it can that God has provided. … Let us not waste any time in that does not develop Christlike character that we so much need today.”
Move your mountains, or they will bury you.
For Health’s Sake…
We were reminded that when we are sick, there is always a cause. Proverbs 26:2 (last part) says, “the curse causeless shall not come.” Just because one does not know the cause, doesn’t mean there is no cause. There is a cause.
Like Job we must search for the cause. “The cause which I knew not I searched out” (Job 29:16, last part). Rhyming with laws, the cause may be found by comparing your lifestyle to the principles learned in the REFRESHING way:
R – Rely on GOD
E – Eat Healthy
F – Fresh Air
R -Rest
E – Exercise
S – Self-Control
H – H20 (Water)
I – In the Sun
N – Never Give Up
G – Give to Others
“Disease never comes without a cause. The way is prepared, and disease is invited, by disregard of the laws of health. Many suffer in consequence of the transgression of their parents. While they are not responsible for what their parents have done, it is nevertheless their duty to ascertain what are and what are not violations of the laws of health. They should avoid the wrong habits of their parents and, by correct living, place themselves in better conditions.” (Ellen G. White, Ministry of Healing, p. 234)
CAUSE / EFFECT:
Disobedience / Disease
Obedience / Health
Disease Defined: “Disease is an effort of nature to free the system from conditions that result from a violation of the laws of health.” (Ellen G. White, Ministry of Healing, p. 127)
“People need to be taught that drugs do not cure disease. It is true that they sometimes afford present relief, and the patient appears to recover as the result of their use; this is because nature has sufficient vital force to expel the poison and to correct the conditions that caused the disease. Health is recovered in spite of the drug. But in most cases the drug only changes the form and location of the disease. Often the effect of the poison seems to be overcome for a time, but the results remain in the system and work great harm at some later period.” (Ellen G. White, Ministry of Healing, p. 126)
Q&A
Q: What can be done to get rid of dandruff?
A: Dandruff is basically mucus. You are probably dehydrated. A simple fix is to drink more water. Make sure your diet is more alkaline. No herbs are required. You may need to change your hair products. Use more natural-based, less chemical-based hair products.