Mark 11:22 Jesus said to them, “Have~~ faith in God.
Teaching moments are spontaneous opportunities to illustrate an important principle or truth. This was one of those moments. During a Jewish holiday, Jesus and His disciples had been walking back and forth from Bethany to Jerusalem. The previous morning they walked past a fig tree that was barren of fruit. Strangely, He declared, “Let no one eat fruit form you ever again” (11:14). He was setting up a future teaching moment.
The next morning, walking back into Jerusalem, they passed this same fig tree, only now “the fig tree dried up from the roots” (11:20). Shocked, Peter acclaimed, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away” (11:21). To which Jesus replied, “Have faith in God…” He would go on to explain what this illustrated lesson meant to their lives.
The disciples were to have an unwavering trust in the omnipotent God who can do anything that He wills to do for His own purposes. The key to an unconditional faith is to have a “no-matter-what” trust and an “anything-is-possible” kind of confidence in the God who cares, though can sometimes seem silent to see if we trust Him, but He is always present, and can change things the way He sees best. Either response is fine with the one who has a trusting “faith.” Nothing can shake this kind of trust.
If anyone fully gives his life over to God (Rom 12:1-2), then whatever God allows to happen to his life is okay. It belongs to Him. He can do with it whatever He wants, even if it means tragedies or miraculous interventions. Either one is okay, since now one’s life belongs to Jesus (“You were bought with a price”- 1 Cor 6:2). He makes no mistakes, regardless of what happens.
The believer can trust Him with His life! (Gal 2:20). This is the consequence of learning about the character of God in His Word, and His promises to be with us always and forever, then he consciously decides to trust Him to take care of His possession (the believer) as He thinks best.
To the one who learns to trust God fully, he can be trusted with any answer his prayers. Jesus continues, “For assuredly, I say to you, 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). Jesus by using a hyperbole illustrated the boldness and virtual limitless possibilities for the believer with faith, who “does not doubt in his heart.”
Continually having “faith,” which is not a made-up, forced or fabricated faith, but a faith that is derived from hearing, knowing, understanding and being willing to act upon the Word of God (Rom 10:17). Faith is always in accordance with the Word, and is fearless in fulfilling the purposes described in God's Word.
If, in God’s purpose, it is necessary to remove a mountain and cast it into the sea, even that is not a problem for our God. Believing prayer draws on the power of God to accomplish the impossible. Earlier Jesus had said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible” (Mark 10:27). As committed as you are to His Word and purpose in life, you can count on His power to assist you to accomplish His will.
Psalm 37:5 Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you.
For a year's daily devotional of these Bible studies, order a copy of the book Truths to Live By at Branches Publications for your copy.
Teaching moments are spontaneous opportunities to illustrate an important principle or truth. This was one of those moments. During a Jewish holiday, Jesus and His disciples had been walking back and forth from Bethany to Jerusalem. The previous morning they walked past a fig tree that was barren of fruit. Strangely, He declared, “Let no one eat fruit form you ever again” (11:14). He was setting up a future teaching moment.
The next morning, walking back into Jerusalem, they passed this same fig tree, only now “the fig tree dried up from the roots” (11:20). Shocked, Peter acclaimed, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away” (11:21). To which Jesus replied, “Have faith in God…” He would go on to explain what this illustrated lesson meant to their lives.
The disciples were to have an unwavering trust in the omnipotent God who can do anything that He wills to do for His own purposes. The key to an unconditional faith is to have a “no-matter-what” trust and an “anything-is-possible” kind of confidence in the God who cares, though can sometimes seem silent to see if we trust Him, but He is always present, and can change things the way He sees best. Either response is fine with the one who has a trusting “faith.” Nothing can shake this kind of trust.
If anyone fully gives his life over to God (Rom 12:1-2), then whatever God allows to happen to his life is okay. It belongs to Him. He can do with it whatever He wants, even if it means tragedies or miraculous interventions. Either one is okay, since now one’s life belongs to Jesus (“You were bought with a price”- 1 Cor 6:2). He makes no mistakes, regardless of what happens.
The believer can trust Him with His life! (Gal 2:20). This is the consequence of learning about the character of God in His Word, and His promises to be with us always and forever, then he consciously decides to trust Him to take care of His possession (the believer) as He thinks best.
To the one who learns to trust God fully, he can be trusted with any answer his prayers. Jesus continues, “For assuredly, I say to you, 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). Jesus by using a hyperbole illustrated the boldness and virtual limitless possibilities for the believer with faith, who “does not doubt in his heart.”
Continually having “faith,” which is not a made-up, forced or fabricated faith, but a faith that is derived from hearing, knowing, understanding and being willing to act upon the Word of God (Rom 10:17). Faith is always in accordance with the Word, and is fearless in fulfilling the purposes described in God's Word.
If, in God’s purpose, it is necessary to remove a mountain and cast it into the sea, even that is not a problem for our God. Believing prayer draws on the power of God to accomplish the impossible. Earlier Jesus had said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible” (Mark 10:27). As committed as you are to His Word and purpose in life, you can count on His power to assist you to accomplish His will.
Psalm 37:5 Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you.
For a year's daily devotional of these Bible studies, order a copy of the book Truths to Live By at Branches Publications for your copy.
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