SHOW YOUR FAITH IN GOD.
MEMORISE:
They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. Psalm 125:1
READ: Mark 11:12-14, 20-24
12 And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:
13 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.
20 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.
22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
MESSAGE:
At the opening of the story in today’s Bible reading, the Lord Jesus saw a fig tree that, though blossoming, had no fruit. The Lord therefore decided to teach His disciple two major lessons from it. The first is the danger of fruitlessness even when the grace of God is upon our lives. The fig was leavy and green- a sign that it had potential to bear fruit, though it was not bearing any. Thus, Jesus delivered judgment upon it immediately. The second lesson Jesus taught His disciples on that day is on faith, because He decreed that the fig tree should dry up and it came to pass immediately. Jesus’ words in Mark 11:22 provide the foundation for our major lesson today. He said to His disciples “Have faith in God”
Whatever we desire as children of God, we should put it forward to the Lord in prayer and we shall receive it. You may wonder then why He asked in Luke 18:8:
“…Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”
The above is where the challenge lies for many believers who are yet to receive answers to their requests from God. The only way such people can get what they want is by exercising faith in God. Beloved, take note of the words of Jesus Christ in today’s reading which says “…and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.”
It is one thing to pray, it is another thing to actually believe that God will do what we have asked for. The story is told of a priest who called for prayers because there had been drought in the land. After the congregation had gathered for prayers, the priest looked around and asked “Brethren, are you not ready to pray?” the parishioner replied “How do you mean? That is what we have come to do.” He asked again “What have you come to do?” And they chorused” To pray for rain.” Then he asked “Where are your umbrellas and raincoats if indeed you believe God will answer your prayers?” The parishioners’ faith was stirred up so they went to fetch their umbrellas and raincoats. God honored their faith and gave them rain. What a lesson! Beloved, you must have faith in God for Him to bless you.
PRAYER POINT:
Increase my faith today, Lord I pray, in Jesus’ name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: ZECHARIAH 1-7.
HYMN 16: O GOD OUR HELP IN AGES PAST.
1. O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.
2. Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defense is sure.
3. Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same.
4. Thy Word commands our flesh to dust,
“Return, ye sons of men”:
All nations rose from earth at first,
And turn to earth again.
5. A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.
6. The busy tribes of flesh and blood,
With all their lives and cares,
Are carried downwards by the flood,
And lost in foll’wing years.
7. Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away;
They fly, forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the op’ning day.
8. Like flow’ry fields the nations stand
Pleased with the morning light;
The flow’rs beneath the mower’s hand
Lie with’ring ere ’tis night.
9. O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guard while troubles last,
And our eternal home.
