Mustard Seed

The seed is the Word of God. Luke 8:11

The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; and this is smaller than all other seeds; but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches. Matthew 13:31, 32

[The kingdom of God] is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil, yet when it is sown, grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that the birds of the air can nest under its shade. Mark 4:31

How are faith and a mustard seed similar? The mustard seed is tiny when planted, but grows into a tree; so faith, when planted is small, but will grow into something large and powerful. As the mustard seed must be planted in the good soil of the earth to produce, so faith must be planted in the good soil of an "honest and good heart" (cf. Luke 8:15).

Mountain-moving (extremely powerful) faith in the hands (heart) of a spirit-filled servant of God can accomplish great and mighty things. Moved by love and compassion, the needy can be effectively and enormously helped. The birds of the air were used by Jesus in illustrating how God provides food and covering for his children (cf. Matthew 6:26).

In the seventeenth chapter of Luke, Jesus was teaching the disciples about forgiveness, and they asked him to increase their faith. Jesus said that to increase their faith, they should treat it like a mustard seed. They could understand this concept from the "sowing and reaping" parables he taught. They said, "increase it"; Jesus said, "plant it."

If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea’; and it would obey you. Luke 17:6

The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil; and goes to bed at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts up and grows-how, he himself does not know. The soil produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, then the mature grain in the head. Mark 4:26..28

The farmer (sower) is not concerned, not worried, doesn’t know how it works; he just knows that it does.

The disciples had been unable to cast out a demon from a boy, and asked Jesus why they were unable to do so. Jesus admonished them for their unbelief.

Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible to you. But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting. Matthew 17:20, 21

Perhaps Jesus was talking about faith "going out" instead of the demon? In either case, faith powerful enough to accomplish that (or any major?) task is acquired through prayer and fasting.

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth, and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so shall my Word be which goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:10, 11

In this scripture, the Word is revealed as supplying seed, water, growth and food-everything needed for a crop. A particular scripture planted is watered by other scripture. The Holy Spirit, is revealed as both rain and water (cf. John 7:37, Joel 2:23 w/ Acts 2:17).

Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God; for he has given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain and the latter rain in the first month. Joel 2:23

Ask of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain. Zechariah 10:1a

Behold, the farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until he receives the early and latter rains. James 5:7b

Wait patiently (longingly and expectantly) until receipt of both early and latter rain. Don’t become over-excited by the early rain and step out (harvest) prematurely.

God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed. Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:8

God supplies seed and water and fruit. Fruit is then used for both food and seed. Don’t eat all the seed! Some of the seed must be planted to maintain crop production.

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, that is, through the living and abiding Word of God. 1 Peter 1:23

No one who is born of God practices sin, because God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God 1 John 3:9 (cf. Romans 7:14..25).