In Mark 11 Jesus and His disciples are standing around a dead fig tree. The day before the tree was alive and well. Twenty-four hours later it was deader than a doornail and withered up from the roots. We’re talking dead! Peter
pointed it out, and Jesus used the occasion to talk about praying with faith.
He basically said, “If you think what has happened to this fig tree is amazing, consider this!” He then points to a nearby mountain and says, ”Whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says” (Mark 11:23).
Two words catch my attention in that verse – whoever & whatever. The word whoever tells me this promise is good for any believer who exercises faith. The word whatever tells me that with God all things are possible.
The seminal word here is faith. But it isn’t just faith. It’s faith in God. Do we really believe that God can do anything, or do the mountains of life cause us to wonder?
Let’s be honest. Adversity shakes us. Troubles cause us to question. Difficulties result in doubt. We are made to wonder – Is God really there? Does prayer really work? Jesus wants us to exercise mountain-moving faith in God that continues to believe no matter what.
To pray with faith we must continually feed our faith. Faith still comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God Romans 10:17). When we neglect the Word of God, faith grows weak. But when we regularly feed on the Word, faith grows strong.
As a result, we pray with greater confidence. We persevere and prevail in the place of prayer because we know that God is pleased with those who come to Him in faith, and rewards those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).
The next time you are face-to-face with a mountain of impossibility, remember the withered fig tree and the omnipotent Lord standing there using it as an object lesson. Pray. Pray with faith. Pray with expectation. Because our God can do anything!
Pastor Todd
pointed it out, and Jesus used the occasion to talk about praying with faith.
He basically said, “If you think what has happened to this fig tree is amazing, consider this!” He then points to a nearby mountain and says, ”Whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says” (Mark 11:23).
Two words catch my attention in that verse – whoever & whatever. The word whoever tells me this promise is good for any believer who exercises faith. The word whatever tells me that with God all things are possible.
The seminal word here is faith. But it isn’t just faith. It’s faith in God. Do we really believe that God can do anything, or do the mountains of life cause us to wonder?
Let’s be honest. Adversity shakes us. Troubles cause us to question. Difficulties result in doubt. We are made to wonder – Is God really there? Does prayer really work? Jesus wants us to exercise mountain-moving faith in God that continues to believe no matter what.
To pray with faith we must continually feed our faith. Faith still comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God Romans 10:17). When we neglect the Word of God, faith grows weak. But when we regularly feed on the Word, faith grows strong.
As a result, we pray with greater confidence. We persevere and prevail in the place of prayer because we know that God is pleased with those who come to Him in faith, and rewards those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).
The next time you are face-to-face with a mountain of impossibility, remember the withered fig tree and the omnipotent Lord standing there using it as an object lesson. Pray. Pray with faith. Pray with expectation. Because our God can do anything!
Pastor Todd
