Mark 11:12-14
The Fig Tree Withered
12 Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. 13 And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.” And His disciples heard it. We are designed to bear fruit. And in fact, there are warnings that any limbs in the vine that don’t bear fruit are cut off and cast into the fire. May God prune each of you from the things that are hindering you from becoming greater into His likeness!
Mark 11:20-24
The Lesson of the Withered Fig Tree
20 Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
Some of you are praying for things and don’t feel you are getting results.
Yet it is already happening, it’s just going through the process of events. The effect to the natural mind isn’t seen
When Jesus spoke the curse to the fig tree it was dead!
21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.”
The tongue has the power of life and death. What are you speaking over your life? Are you speaking life or death?
22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.
Too many of you have faith in things other than God.
Some of you have put faith in some human authority or system to look after you. God wants you seeking Him.
Too many are not seeking the will of God and are only operating in the natural.
God wants you to step up to a new level of faith.
23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain,
Notice it doesn’t say whoever says to God.
I want to challenge some of you who might be focused on negative confession. God has already given you full authority to speak to the mountains of your life, “Be removed and cast into the sea!”
Notice it doesn’t say in this passage address them to God it says “whowever says to this mountain…”‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart,
Too many are listening to the negativity of the media.
Too many are hanging around negative people and negative conversation.
You can’t doubt in your heart. You can’t be thinking if this doesn’t work well I guess I’ll just resort to plan “B”.
When God gives you a specific revelation. A scripture that is specific to you there are no plan “B’s”.
Plan “B” is not faith. Plan “B” is doubt in your heart that what God has said may not work out or be true.
Sometimes it’s not wise to tell anyone which mountain you are speaking to.
Some prayer meetings end up being a gossip session…
“Well I can’t really go into detail, but I will say this so we can all pray…”
Do we need to change our prayers from…
“Well, Lord if it be your will to heal so and so, we know that you will!”
to ” I speak to that mountain, be removed and cast into the sea!”’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.
Speak to the mountain, don’t doubt and believe what you have spoken and declared will be done.
Now what happens if the answer to prayer is delayed?
Well Peter didn’t see the evidence of the fig tree dead immediately. But it was dead.
The evidence of Jesus faith and authority was simply not seen until 24 hours later.
How many of us put deadlines on our miracles?
Well, Lord if I am not healed within 7 days, and the devil’s then fighting you for 8.
Somethings take a process…
And yet somethings come down to the wire.
Daniel 10 New King James Version (NKJV)
Vision of the Glorious Man
10 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, but the appointed time was long;[a] and he understood the message, and had understanding of the vision. 2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks.
Verse 12…
12 Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.”
Romans 8:11
11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
We have the tools to build the Kingdom but are we active in them?
Are we using them?
God has designated this authority to you.
24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
Jesus cannot lie. There it is in black and white.
John 14:14 New King James Version (NKJV)
14 If you ask[a] anything in My name, I will do it.
Luke 18 New King James Version (NKJV)
The Parable of the Persistent Widow
18 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ 4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’”
6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
Romans 8:26 New King James Version (NKJV)
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us[a] with groanings which cannot be uttered.
There are times when Jesus asks “What do you want?”
The man by the pool who can’t walk… “Do you want to be healed?”
Jude 1:20
20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
100 year old prophecy …
From 1905 – 1915 one of the greatest revivals ever seen, which birthed the Pentecostal moment, it was known as the Azusa St Revival, lead by a man called William Seymour. From those meetings came miracles, dramatic worship services, speaking in tongues, and inter-racial mingling. This revival is said to affect over 600 million Christians today who claim some link from that time as many church leaders came out of the that movement in the 20th Century. Seymour was radical for his time preaching equality amongst races and men and women within the assembly and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In 1915 he prophesied that in 100 years from that time there would be an even greater outpouring of the Holy Spirit and more far reaching that that of their time. Maria Woodworth Etter was to begin her part of that revival on July 2-28, 1913 at Stone Church. This revival shook up Chicago with miraculous healings, deliverance from demonic possession, conversions, and of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit happening in these meetings. 1,000’s of people would come. The church filled the basement and people were lined up down the street.And then one night Maria Woodworth-Etter and others gave the following powerful prophecy and divine promise, which they prophesied would occur within 100 years of the 1913 Chicago Visitation. She prophesied of this coming End Time Revival….“We are not yet up to the fullness of the Former Rain and that when the Latter Rain comes, it will far exceed anything we have seen!”
Let us claim that time now, for our generation, our children and children to come.
It can only come with…
- With an outpouring of the Holy Sprit
- An increase in prayer and a utilisation of the authority God has granted us
- An increase in righteousness with an inception of God’s word and being in His presence as we transform further into the likeness of Jesus
- A seeking of unity within the body of Christ and the church as we lay aside agendas of political power and seek Jesus grace and mercy.
- An increased desire to see the lost saved and greater establishment of God’s kingdom on the earth.
TODAY GOD WOULD HAVE YOU TO DO THE FOLLOWING
- Increase your faith and disappearing of any unbelief
- Freedom from negativity and confessions that are not in alignment with His will and kingdom purpose
- Be filled with the Spirit, speaking in tongues so that you can ask anything according to His will, so you are ready for an outpouring of His Spirit and divine miracles.
- A declaration to your mountains individually and corporately be removed and cast into the sea.