Meditation
HAVE FAITH IN GOD
Text: Mark 15:12-24
4 October 2020
IMPORTANT LESSONS ABOUT FAITH
The Lord Jesus Christ taught His disciples much about how to have faith in God. But they had difficulty in understanding Him. He did not fail to try and encourage them to exercise faith.
THE CURSING OF A FIG TREE
A special lesson of faith was recorded in the Gospel of Mark (Mark 15:12-24). The gist of the story is as follows:
- The Lord and His disciples were on the way to Jerusalem
a) He would stay in Bethany
b) Possibly in the home of Lazarus and his sisters
c) He and His Disciples would make their way to Jerusalem in the day
d) In the evening they would make their way back
- On one occasion
a) The Lord Jesus saw a barren fig tree
b) He said simply,
“Let no one eat fruit from you again” Mark 11:14a
c) The Disciples heard what the Lord said
- The next day
a) The Lord and His Disciples passed that way again
b) The tree that Jesus addressed was noted
c) The Disciples said
“Rabbi, Look! The fig tree which Your curses has withered away.”
d) They were astonished at the power of Lord
e) His simple words had such immense power!
4. The Lord Jesus uttered these simple but profound words to them
“Have faith in God.
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 what he says.
Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask
When you pray, believe that you receive them,
And you will have them.’” Mark 11:22-24
a) Have faith in God
i) Possess that faith
ii) Continue in that faith
b) Praying in faith
i) Prayer is an expression of faith
ii) Asking in faith must be done without any doubt
iii) That faith will be honoured
iv) There will be answers to that prayer of faith
OUR CHALLENGE
Let us determine to attempt the following:
- Cultivate faith
- Exercise faith in God as we pray
- Deal with doubts effectively
May our faith deepen as we progress!