Optimizing Faith

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Luke 17:5-6 

5       And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 

6       And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would   say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea’; and it        would obey you.”

Introduction: The apostles are hearing Jesus’ teaching on the importance of faith and ask him to “Increase our faith”. Jesus’ response is in hyperbole. “Hyperbole” is Greek for “over-casting” – as if someone were to ask directions to somewhere and you respond by throwing the rock in the right direction to set course – but to make sure they get it – you launch a missile sets the course in flames and smoke. It flies beyond the destination asked about and explodes in a fireball. And you say – “See all that? Go that way!”

Jesus is “over-casting” here when he says that a mulberry tree will uproot itself and be planted in the ocean if we have enough faith. He is not suggesting that we start a new aqua-farming endeavor. He is giving us an over-casted example of how powerful faith is.