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It is telling that “O ye of little faith” appears 4 times in the Gospels and “O thou of little faith appears 1 time. In each case Jesus was speaking to His own followers. The first 4 appearance are found in the Gospel of Matthew and the other one is found in Luke. Each time He used this phrase applies to areas of our own personal, daily lives as it did with His original twelve. Let’s take a peek at the context of each situation where our LORD used this term when speaking to His disciples. When speaking about provision and trusting God’s hand to provide, Jesus said:

“Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?” Matthew 6:30

When Christ and His twelve boarded a ship and were in the middle of the sea, a great storm arose His disciples feared and doubted that Jesus would rescue them from this peril. Jesus wondered why they were afraid.

“And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.” Matthew 8:26

When Peter joined Jesus in walking on the water and then began to sink, Jesus wondered at his lapse in trusting Him to save and sustain him.

“And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” Matthew 14:31

When 5,000 men, not including women and children, followed Christ to the desert to hear His Word, He suggested that those seeking souls be fed physical food. Christ’s disciples then doubted how that was possible because they brought no food with them out there. They doubted how they would feed that large multitude because they were limiting things to their own finite ability. They were not trusting the miraculous workings of God. Jesus wondered at their lack of faith. The Son of God wondered why they didn’t yet understand that He owns all and their lack of understanding that “with God ALL things are possible.” (Mark 10:25) To their unbelief, Jesus answered:

“Which when Jesuperceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?” Matthew 16:8

Finally, Jesus wondered at how the LORD God was doubted in the clothing and protecting His own children.

“If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?” Luke 12:28

A Nugget to Encourage Your Heart

Just as the twelve struggled with unbelief at times, so, some of us do at times. Perhaps Jesus has whispered to us at times, “O ye of little faith.”  Take heart beloved, even the mighty prophet Elijah is said to have been “a man subject to like passions as we are.” Yet, do you recall the mighty miracles God used him to do? Wow! Remember how he challenged, defeated, and slayed the 450 false prophets on Mount Carmel? (1 Kings 8) If God could use Elijah, He can use us because it’s all about His divine power and He brings it through that one who learns to trust and have faith in Him, not self.

“And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.  16Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.  17Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.  18And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.” James 5:15-18

Trusting God Who is “A Very Present Help in Trouble”

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalms 46:1

Our LORD taught us to “Have faith in God” and that nothing would be impossible to those who believe. Here are the words of the Savior:

“And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.  23For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.  24Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” Mark 11:22-24

As Christ taught on forgiveness, the disciples asked Jesus: “Increase our faith.” This reveals that such a prayer, from a sincere heart, is welcomed and answered by God.

“And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.” Luke 17:5

Of the Corinthians believers, Paul said: “when your faith is increased” and so we can know that faith or our capacity to trust God, can be increased (2 Corinthians 10:15).

Are you ready to simply ask our LORD to increase our faith?

“We need to persevere in the asking/seeking kind of faith in God — and not give up — no matter how rare that is in this day and age: ‘Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?'” Debbie Lord

Prayer: Heavenly Father, firstly, I admit and ask You to forgive my unbelief. Please forgive my selfishness and for having an evil heart of unbelief. Father, please bless this life to be truly crucified with Christ and filled with faith in Your love, provision, protection, and watch care over my life and the lives of all Your saints. I love You Father! I love You Jesus! Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit afresh and faith to believe to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Articles

Laboring Fervently for Christ’s Body [podcast]


“Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 13  For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.” Colossians 4:12-13

One source notes:

“Epaphras’ prayer is a powerful New Testament model of intercession found in Colossians 4:12. As the founder of the church in Colossae, Epaphras is described by the Apostle Paul as “wrestling” or “laboring earnestly” in prayer so that his congregation would stand mature, firm, and fully assured in the will of God.”

Jesus Heals the Paralytic Man who was Dropped Down to Him from the Roof

Mark 2

“1 And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. 

2  And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. 

3  And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. 

4  And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. 

5  When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. 

6  But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, 

7  Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? 

8  And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? 

9  Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? 

10  But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) 

11  I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. 

12  And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.” Mark 2:1-12

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Abiding

Abiding Under the Shadow of the Almighty [podcast]


Lord, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke. 16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart:  Jeremiah 15:15-16

Dwelling “in the secret place of the most High”

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2  I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” Psalms 91:1-2

“In the secret place of the Most High – Spoken probably in reference to the Holy of holies. He who enters legitimately there shall be covered with the cloud of God’s glory – the protection of the all-sufficient God. This was the privilege of the high priest only, under the law: but under the new covenant all believers in Christ have boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus; and those who thus enter are safe from every evil.” Adam Clarke

“[Psalms] 91:1, 2 Jesus is the One who in a preeminent way dwelt in the secret place of the Most High, and abode under the shadow of the Almighty. There never was a life like His. He lived in absolute, unbroken fellowship with God, His Father. He never acted in self-will but did only those things that the Father directed. Though He was perfect God, He was also perfect Man, and He lived His life on earth in utter and complete dependence on God. Without equivocation He could look up and say, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in Him I will trust.” Believer’s Bible Commentary

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Abiding

The Warnings of the Book of Jude [podcast]

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