HAVE FAITH IN GOD

Passage: Mark 11:20-26

Key verse: 22

NIV

20 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21 Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi,(A) look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”

22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly[a] I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.(B) 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.(C) 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”(D) [26] [b]

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Footnotes
  1. Mark 11:23 Some early manuscripts “If you have faith in God,” Jesus answered, 23 “truly
  2. Mark 11:26 Some manuscripts include here words similar to Matt. 6:15.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Lesson from the Withered Fig Tree

20 (A)As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 21 And Peter remembered and said to him, (B)“Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” 22 And Jesus answered them, “Have (C)faith in God. 23 (D)Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, (E)‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not (F)doubt in his heart, but (G)believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, (H)whatever you ask in prayer, (I)believe that you (J)have received[a] it, and it will be yours. 25 And whenever (K)you stand praying, (L)forgive, (M)if you have anything against anyone, so that (N)your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”[b]

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Footnotes
  1. Mark 11:24 Some manuscripts are receiving
  2. Mark 11:25 Some manuscripts add verse 26: But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your trespasses
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. The withered fig tree (2

-22)

Peter was surprised to see that the fruitless fig tree which Jesus cursed had withered from its roots. His surprise was an indication that he had not taken the words of Jesus very seriously. Jesus saw this as a faith problem. The religious leaders who bore no fruit for God also had a faith problem. Jesus' answer, 'Have faith in God,' is for all of us. Jesus challenges us to have mountain-moving faith. He wants us to bear fruit that pleases him.

2. Faith and prayer (23-26)

Faith is not only expressed in obedient actions; faith in God is expressed in prayer. If we cast doubt out of our hearts and pray, God will surely answer. If we hold a grudge against anyone in our hearts, our prayer-channel to God is blocked. We must repent; we must forgive. We must accept Jesus' grace of forgiveness. We must pray, believing that God has already answered.

Prayer: Lord, I believe that you are almighty. Cleanse my heart of sin and help me to forgive others.

One Word: Have faith in God