Asking in Faith

When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?” And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith” (Matthew 21:20-22).

The day after Jesus rebuked the fig tree, He and the disciples passed by it on the way from Bethany to Jerusalem. Mark 11:20 tells us the tree was withered from the roots up. That the tree demonstrated physical death overnight is the point of the parable Jesus then told the disciples.

The question of the disciples was not about the Lord’s ability to curse the fig tree and have it die, but the power involved that caused it to wither overnight when most, if not all trees take days or weeks to demonstrate physical death. To answer the question, Jesus told a parable on the power of faith, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.

Jesus is not being literal here. He is speaking metaphorically. Neither He nor the Apostles yielded to the requests of others to perform miracles that were simply for show. All that they said and did were intimately tied to the Father’s will and purpose and not to man’s personal desire, unless the desire of the person was consistent with the Father’s will (Matthew 8:1-3; John 14:13-14). Calling upon God to literally move a physical mountain that is outside His will serves no spiritual purpose in the Kingdom of God and is an absurdity.

So, what’s the lesson to be learned from the withered fig tree? Simply that, to the follower of Jesus Christ, there is incredible spiritual power available through genuine faith in the Lord. Jesus said to the disciples at the last supper, Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it (John 14:12-14). Note: (1) there must be genuine faith in Jesus Christ, (2) the works desired must be consistent with the works Jesus performed, (3) the Christian must ask in Jesus’ name, meaning according to His will and purpose, and (4) the works requested will bring glory to God and no one else. Such faith is total and complete trust in God and in His will and purpose.

The Apostle James wrote, You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss (badly; evilly), that you may spend (squander, waste) it on your pleasures (on yourselves; James 4:3). Such ‘faith’ is no faith at all because it does not honor the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit.

“Lord Jesus, as You taught the disciples to pray in faith, I ask that You teach us to live in faith and by faith. Open our understanding to what true asking in faith is all about, and then to practice such asking to Your honor and glory, Amen.” 

Pastor