“Jesus said: “Why are you afraid, YOU MEN OF 1LITTLE FAITH?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became PERFECTLY CALM.” (Matt. 8:26)
1oligopistos: one whose faith is extremely small and weak. But wait, Jesus taught this lesson to His disciples, when they could not cast out a demon:
“Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith THE SIZE OF A MUSTARD SEED, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and IT WILL MOVE; and nothing will be impossible to you.” (Matt. 17:19-20).
The “littleness of your faith”, here is what could be puzzling “It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is SMALLER THAN ALL THE SEEDS that are upon the soil” (Mark 4:31).
OK, here is the problem, many translations use this phrase “littleness of your faith”, the KJV says “Because of your unbelief”. As I mentioned above the original word used is “oligopistos” (extremely small and weak faith). We are offended when someone says we have a problem with UNBELIEF, so I guess extremely small and weak faith is OK? No, the test of our faith is results!!! Remember what Jesus promised us:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works THAT I DO, HE WILL DO also; and GREATER WORKS than these he will do; because I go to the Father. “WHATEVER you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. “IF YOU ASK ME ANYTHING IN MY NAME, I WILL DO IT.” (John 14:12-14).
The real “key” statement here is: “the works THAT I DO” (not new cars and big houses but healing and deliverance), These are the things we WILL DO also, what will hinder us: “And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.” (Matt. 13:58) Let us be willing to pray as the man who brought his son to Jesus: “I do believe; help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24)
Our access to the awesome power of God is by “FAITH” the devil knows this and will go about any means to keep us from accessing this power through faith! That’s why prayer and fasting is SO VERY IMPORTANT!!!]
Please help our unbelief or extremly small and weak faith…Bill Stockham