INTRODUCTION
• SLIDE #1
• Today we continue with our series, Deep Thoughts with Jesus. Today, we get the chance to lean in and listen to Jesus teach His disciples an important lesson on the issue of faith.
• We face so many tough obstacles in life that it is easy to forget who we serve and to whom we belong.
• When life throws difficulties our way, it is easy to give up, or forget who is by our side.
• WE get stressed and depressed easily at times. We can feel like a failure if we are not careful.
• Life was good for the disciples up to this point. Sunday was an exciting day; however, the disciples were going to face obstacles they never dreamed because they were just a few days away from Jesus going to the cross.
• SLIDE #2 MAP
• The context of this event is as follows:
• On Sunday, we have what is called the Triumphal Entry, this is where Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and was hailed as a king. The disciples would have been riding high.
• Jesus stayed in Jerusalem that week, but at night he would travel to Bethany.
• On Monday, when He and the disciples were returning to Jerusalem from Bethany, He came across a fig tree.
• SLIDE #3
• Mark 11:12–14 (HCSB) — 12 The next day when they came out from Bethany, He was hungry. 13 After seeing in the distance a fig tree with leaves, He went to find out if there was anything on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And His disciples heard it.
• After Jesus condemns the fig tree, they go on to Jerusalem where Jesus cleanses the temple.
• That evening, Jesus and the disciples went back to Bethany.
• On Tuesday morning, they are returning to Jerusalem. This is where our text takes place.
• SLIDE #4
• Mark 11:20–21 (HCSB) — 20 Early in the morning, as they were passing by, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up. 21 Then Peter remembered and said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that You cursed is withered.”
• So, Peter points out the tree that Jesus had condemned.
• Now it is time for Jesus to teach us something.
• The deep thought for today is simple, ANY DIFFICULTY CAN BE OVERCOME BY FAITH.
• Sounds churchy, does it? Jesus is going to use this fig tree to teach the disciples an important lesson concerning faith; hence, Fig Tree and Faith.
• SLIDE #5
• Mark 11:22–23 (HCSB) — 22 Jesus replied to them, “Have faith in God. 23 I assure you: If anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.
• SLIDE #6
SERMON
I. The significance of faith.
• The disciples were going to undertake something that looked more difficult than moving a mountain would be.
• The immorality of the gentile world, the bigotry and prejudices of the Jewish people toward the gentiles would seem like insurmountable obstacles in their path to success.
• With the impending crucifixion of Jesus, these men needed to understand the power and significance of faith.
• They needed to know that their faith in Jesus would be superior to any and all obstacles they would face.
• Think about it. Jesus was going to leave His mission of saving the world in their hands.
• This was and still is a serious mission.
• DO you ever get overwhelmed by the world you live in?
• Imagine you are one of the 12, and Jesus is counting on you to share Him with the whole world.
• GUESS WHAT, YOUR MISSION IS NO DIFFERENT THAN THAT OF THE 12 in the sense that we are called to take Jesus to a lost world.
• Jesus offers an object lesson.
• When Peter saw the fact that the tree was withered from the roots up, he knew that what happened was intervention by God.
• A tree usually doesn’t dry up from the roots up in less than 24 hours and die.
• The word CURSED Peter uses in verse 21 DOES NOT MEAN THAT JESUS dropped some 4 letter words on the tree, but rather that He devoted the tree to destruction.
• The disciples heard Jesus curse the tree and therefore they knew what had happened to it.
• Jesus is trying to get them to see that with FAITH all things are possible!
• Of course, what we do with that faith has to be within God’s will and not motivated by selfish ambition.
• I believe the mountain Jesus refers to (probably the MT OF OLIVES) represents the difficulties set before these men.
• Jesus is telling them that no obstacle will stop them from carrying out the mission they were given.
• ANY DIFFICULTY CAN BE OVERCOME BY FAITH.
• NOW WHAT IS FAITH?
• Is it just believing something to be true? Is it simply acknowledging something?
• SLIDE #7
• Hebrews 11:1 (HCSB) Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.
• This seems like a definition of faith; however, it is really an explanation of what faith does.
• Hebrews 11 goes on to show that this reality of what was hoped for and proof of what was not seen caused people to do.
• Faithfulness is a better way to translate Hebrews 11:1.
• This gives power to verses like…
• SLIDE #8
• Philippians 4:13 (HCSB) I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.
• The type of faith Jesus speaks of is one that is not racked with doubt. We have to believe that it has already happened!
• We miss out on so much because of doubt. God cannot be a last resort, but rather our first line of defense!
• Jesus pointed out that one must have faith in God if he is to expect answers to his prayers. God honors faith, and without faith it is impossible to please Him (Heb. 11:6). One must believe in the power and will of God in regard to the thing prayed for.
• SLIDE #9
• Mark 11:24 (HCSB) Therefore I tell you, all the things you pray and ask for —believe that you have received them, and you will have them.
• SLIDE #10
II. Faith is exercised through prayer.
• How do we exercise faith? WE do it through prayer!
• I can tell you the size of your faith be the size of your prayers!
• Do you serve a little impotent god, or do you serve the creator of all things?
• A condition of answered prayer is not to doubt, it is means to have absolute trust in Jesus!
• SLIDE #11
• James 1:6–7 (HCSB) — 6 But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
• Jesus saying when we ask that He move that mountain, that we count it as done!
• The way we exercise our faith is through prayer.
• WE use prayer when we face what seems to be immoveable mountains. We use prayer when we are seeking to bring Jesus to others. We pray when we wake up in the morning and when we go to bed at night and all the time in between.
• If trust and believe in God, if we know who He is and what He has done, why wouldn’t we be in constant communication with Him?
• Prayer takes faith and patience. I bet all of us have something we have been praying about for a long time, maybe that family member who we want to see come to Jesus.
• Don’t give up!
• How big is your faith, what are you not willing to lift up to God?
• SLIDE #12
• Mark 11:25 (HCSB) And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you your wrongdoing.
• SLIDE #13
III. Faith is demonstrated through a forgiving spirit.
• Years ago, when I first started reading this passage, I was a little confused by verse 25.
• Jesus is speaking of faith that move mountains, then He starts speaking on the subject of forgiveness?
• I think the context reveals the issue.
• Faith is the key to living a life in Christ, the fig tree opened the door for Jesus to speak to the disciples concerning faith, because He would soon be leaving them.
• They were going to face what seemed like insurmountable odds, yet they needed to know that ANY DIFFICULTY CAN BE OVERCOME BY FAITH.
• Then He shows them that prayer is exercised through prayer, now He wants them to avoid something that will hinder their prayers, a lack of a forgiving spirit.
• Jesus had performed a miracle of judgment against the fig tree and Jesus wants them to realize that they were not called to judge others, but to promote forgiveness.
• In Matthew 6:12-15, where Jesus teaches on prayer, He said the following:
• SLIDE #14
• Matthew 6:14–15 (HCSB) “For if you forgive people their wrongdoing, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. But if you don’t forgive people, your Father will not forgive your wrongdoing.
• OUR FAITH IS EXERCISED THROUGH PRAYER, BUT IT IS DEMONSTRATED BY A FORGIVING SPIRIT.
• I think one of the most difficult things we are called to do in life by Jesus is to forgive.
• I am convinced we cannot do that alone, we need Jesus to help us truly forgive others.
• Faith is a vital part of forgiveness. Remember that forgiveness is simply releasing your right to collect on a debt.
• It takes faith to trust that God will make it right in the end.
• Jesus spoke frequently on the subject of forgiveness. Why? BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT!
• I really cannot have a deep relationship with Jesus if I continually refuse to forgive others.
• A lack of a forgiving spirit puts a barrier, that I have erected, between myself and God.
• I can sing praises to Jesus all I want, but the bottom line is my lack of forgiveness will shut the floodgates of prayer and blessings from the Father to me.
CONCLUSION
• Following Jesus is not always easy, but it is the greatest blessing you will ever experience.
• Faith is the key to being victorious in life with Jesus. Prayer is a way we exercise our faith, and having a forgiving spirit is a way we demonstrate our faith to the world around us!
