Inspired by . . . Lessons from the Fig Tree: Faith

Last time we looked at the fig tree, we saw Jesus’ judgment on unbelief. We paused and asked the question, “Is this, in any sense, a picture of me? When Jesus looks at me, is He finding in my life fruitfulness and faith?”

Then, suddenly it seems, in almost the next verse, Jesus is talking about faith, prayer and moving mountains into the sea!

 

And Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain,

'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart,

but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer,

believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Mar 11:22-24

 

 

The lesson of the fig tree reveals the mystery of how fruitfulness in a believer’s life comes out of faithfulness and prayer. Out of the absence of prayer in the temple, Jesus gives His disciples, and us, instruction.

We have the power of God at our disposal, when we act in believing faith.*

The object of our faith is God, Himself.  The issue is always the object of faith that gives faith its significance. Ours is not a faith for the sake of faith, or faith in ourselves.

Examine your faith. What is the nature and extent of your faith in God?

Are you, like Abraham, fully persuaded that God has the power to do what He has promised?

 

In hope he {Abraham} believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations,

as he had been told, "So shall your offspring be."

He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body,

which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old),

or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb.

No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God,

but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,

fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.
Rom 4:18-21

 

I want my faith to be audacious! To believe in a God Who can do the impossible!

A God Who is:

~too wise to make mistakes

~too kind to be cruel

~too powerful to be subjugated to the natural universe (unless He choses to be)

The verse about the mountain was used figuratively about incredible things. The term was used in Rabbinic circles and would have been understood by those to whom Mark was writing, and to whom Jesus was speaking.  Just as with Abraham, whose body was a good as dead when God promised to make his descendants as numerous as the sand on the seashore, it is a picture of doing the impossible.

We need to believe that God is more than willing to respond to our cries of faith.

 

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer,

believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Mar 11:24

Now before  you take this bold statement and gallop off with it in one or two extreme directions, remember it is important to interpret scripture with scripture. And we should keep asking, keep knocking until we have a clear view of what scripture, as a whole, teaches. So what does scripture teach us about prayer?

Some characteristics of prayer include:

Humility, consistency, sincerity, charity {love for all}, sovereignty and submission to God’s will.

This is the scriptural framework for our prayers.

We can also learn about prayer {and many other teachings} by looking at how it played out for Jesus in His earthly life.

Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane is a good example.  It shows us a balance.

Jesus prayed with complete confidence in God’s ability to answer His prayer. “all things are possible”

And He prayed in complete submission to God’s will. “yet not what I will”

 

 

*Has anyone ever told you that you did not receive what you asked for because you did not have a enough faith?

Do you think Jesus lacked faith?

It was only the sovereign purpose of God that restricted Christ’s prayer. Not a lack of faith.

Beloved, the same is true for our prayers.

 

“Those who trust God for the right things, in the right way,

may have confidence that God will always make the right response.” ~Alistair Begg

***

I hope these words have encouraged you today.

Won’t  you would share some aspect of your faith journey with us in the comments?

 

Blessings,

 

 

 

 

Words and reflections inspired by a sermon series by Alistair Begg, Truth for Life Ministries

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Inspired by . . . Lessons from the Fig Tree: Fruit

 

On the following day, when they came from Bethany, He was hungry.

And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if he could find anything on it.

When He came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.

And He said to it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And His disciples heard it.
Mar 11:12-14

 

 

Is anyone else bothered by this scripture, in which Jesus curses the fig tree for not having any fruit? It seems a bit unfair, doesn’t it? After all, the scripture tells us it was not the season for figs.

So what’s going on here? Is Jesus being arbitrary, or cynical?

No, He is not.

How do I know? because being arbitrary or cynical is contrary to His nature.

To figure out what is going on in this passage we first have to understand some principles of translation. Although the Word of God is without error, we humans are not. We can get into all sorts of trouble by asking irrelevant questions and coming up with irrelevant answers.

Here are a few things to remember:

Compare scripture with scripture. If a passage is incomplete or obscure, find a passage that is clear and complete with which to interpret it. Use scripture to check your interpretation. Use the OT as a guide to understanding the NT and read the OT in light of the NT. Work to understand the particular significance of each passage.

In the cursing of the fig tree we have a miracle of destruction, when every other miracle has been one of transformation or restoration. That fact alone should make us take notice, just as the disciples took notice.

As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots.

And Peter remembered and said to Him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree that You cursed has withered."
Mar 11:20-21

 

The setting around which this passage is set begins with the cleansing of the temple {Mar 11:15}, and ends with the destruction of the temple {Mar 13:2}. The temple was central to the audience to whom Mark was writing.

Jesus is looking for fruit.

 

 

He came to Jerusalem looking for spiritual fruit and true worship and what does He find?

A tree with a promise {it was in full leaf} it can’t fulfill and a temple full of activity that incurs His wrath. From a distance the fig tree gave an impression of a fruit that wasn’t there. So too, the Jewish leaders of the day gave an appearance of being able to satisfy a hungry heart, but it wasn’t so. They worshipped God with their lips, but not their hearts.

Their worship was in vain.

The miracle of the fig tree was an acted parable. It symbolized the judgment that was about to fall on Jerusalem. Judgment because of their unbelief.

Now, you may be wondering how this has any relevance to those of us who are not Jewish.

It has great relevance.

When the Jews rejected the Truth the way was made for the Gentiles {non-Jews} to be saved. {Rom 11:11}

This is good news, however, Paul warns us not to become arrogant or proud.

 

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot,

were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree,

do not be arrogant toward the branches.

If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.

Then you will say, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in."

That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief,

but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear.
Rom 11:17-20

 

We can all learn a lesson from the fig tree.

Each one of us should ask ourselves, “Is this, in any sense, a picture of me? When Jesus looks at me, is He finding in my life fruitfulness and faith?

Take time this week to prayerfully consider this question. Open up the scriptures, and let God speak and minister to your heart.

 

Blessings,

 

Note: if you want to dig a little deeper, you can read Hosea 9, Micah 7 and Jotham's parable in Judges 9:11 and see how the fig tree is a metaphor of the status of the people of Israel.

Words and reflections inspired by a sermon series by Alistair Begg, Truth for Life Ministries

 

Sharing inspiration here:

 

Inspired by . . . the Gadarenes

More than two thousand pigs were dead.

Jesus had cost the Gadarenes a lot of money, and was disrupting their lives. They begged Him to leave. (Mark 5)

They would rather have a mad man in their midst than a merciful one. At least the mad man had been confined to the tombs. This Jesus, the One the evil spirits obeyed? they couldn’t control Him.

Do you ever feel like the people of Gadara?

Like maybe following this Jesus is costing too much and you didn’t sign up for this?

If you feel this way, perhaps you haven’t surrendered all. Perhaps there is something you’ve held back, hoping He wouldn’t see or ask for it.

 

You say, 'I am rich and well off; I have all I need.' But you do not know how miserable and pitiful you are! You are poor, naked, and blind. I advise you, then, to buy gold from me, pure gold, in order to be rich. Buy also white clothing to dress yourself and cover up your shameful nakedness. Buy also some ointment to put on your eyes, so that you may see. (Rev 3:17-18)

 

Take a lesson from the Gadarenes. They saw only what Jesus cost them. They were loth to quit either their sins or their swine. They chose rather to abandon their Savior. If they would but part with their sins, Jesus had both life and happiness for them.

 

You will show me the path of life;

in Your presence is the fullness of JOY,

at Your right hand are pleasures for evermore. (Psalm 16:11)

 

The mad man knew this, he had experienced the redeeming power of Jesus first hand. He longed to follow His Savior. But Jesus had other plans for him, for He would not completely abandon the Gadarenes to the demons who roamed their hills. (Job 1:7; Psalm 16:10)

 

Gadara - Um Keis Today  - Source

 

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had had the demons begged Him, "Let me go with you!" But Jesus would not let him. Instead, He told him, "Go back home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how kind He has been to you." So the man left and went all through the Ten Towns, telling what Jesus had done for him. And all who heard it were amazed.
(Mar 5:18-20)

 

And He hasn’t abandon you either. You may be hiding from Him, but He’s calling you out.

 

That evening they heard the LORD God walking in the garden, and they hid from Him among the trees.

But the LORD God called out to the man, "Where are you?"  (Gen 3:8-9)

 

 

Whether your demons are one, or many, Jesus has the power to remove them - the power to make you FREE.

 

Release.

Let go.

Open the door.

 

Listen! I stand at the door and knock; if any hear My voice and open the door,

I will come into their house and eat with them, and they will eat with Me. (Rev 3:20)

Shalom,

June

 

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