“And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve. And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: 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. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.” – Mark 11:11-14
LIGHT FOR NOW: At new birth or at the point of salvation, the faith supplied to the believer by the word of faith which he believed in the God kind of faith.
The believer has the life of God, the spirit of God, and the faith of Christ. Jesus makes a very instructive statement concerning this faith; Mark 11:22 “And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God”. The background of this statement is in our key text above (Mark 11:11-14). On his way from Bethany to Jerusalem with his disciples, Jesus desired to eat the fruit of the fig tree; seeing no fruit, he spoke “no man eat fruit of thee hereafter forever…” Passing by the same tree three days later, Jesus’ disciples called his attention to the tree, which by now had withered from the root. Jesus then responded “…have faith in God, for whosoever shall say to 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 would come to pass, he shall have whatsoever he saith…”
At face value, the phrase “have faith in God” would imply to trust in, rely on God to do something; however, this is in line with the next statement as it does not allude to God performing any action, else it would have been “whosoever shall trust God to say/do…” Hence, the original Greek text puts that phrase as “…have the faith in God…” which is either the faith that God gives, the faith that God has. The synoptic accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, also called the four gospels, contain eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry prior to his death, burial, resurrection and ascension. Each of the four authors paid attention to different things, even when accounting for the same events. Placing the various accounts side-by-side provides a well-rounded view of events, and this we will do in the next study as Mark 11:22 will be made clear. Glory!
INSTRUCTION: Your knowledge of the scriptures will benefit you, and go for knowledge.
CONFESSION: I have the God kind of faith, so I have what I say, in Jesus name, Amen.
QUOTE: The faith that the believer has is the God kind of faith.
DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: MARK CHAPTER 11; EVENING: MATTHEW CHAPTER 21
LIGHT FROM THE WORD 