“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: The believer has faith at the point of salvation because the gospel he heard supplied faith to him, hence, it is called the word of faith.
It was conclusively established in the last study that when the faith of Christ is at work, there is an end result. That end result is: You shall have whatsoever that you say. Hence, Mark 11:23 echoes, “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”. Again, the word “whosoever” is not an open-ended statement. Rather, whosoever has/ possesses the faith of God, there is the man that has the faith of God. This also further makes it clear that Jesus was not teaching a formula, else he would not have included that faith as being of God, he is referring to a people specific, the man who has believed the gospel, describing how that faith that he possesses works.
So, the word “if” in Matthew 21:21 would no longer be necessary in reference to the believer. Jesus used the word then because his audience did not have that faith, but the believer today has the faith of Christ; he however has the responsibility to put that faith to work and the end result is he shall have whatsoever he says. Pay close attention to the Passion Translation of Matthew 21:21 and Mark 11:23: “Jesus replied, “Listen to the truth. If you do not doubt God’s power and speak out of faith’s fullness, you can also speak to a tree, and it will wither away. Even more than that, you could say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and be thrown into the sea’ and it will be done” (Matthew 21:21 TPT). “Listen to the truth I speak to you: Whoever says to this mountain with great faith and does not doubt, ‘Mountain, be lifted up and thrown into the midst of the sea,’ and believes that what he says will happen, it will be done” (Mark 11:23 TPT). Glory!
INSTRUCTION: Put your faith to work.
CONFESSION: I put my faith to work, and I have whatsoever I say, in Jesus’ Name, Amen
QUOTE: The believer is not taught to have faith. He is taught to put the faith he has to work.
DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: MARK CHAPTER 11; EVENING: MATTHEW CHAPTER 21
LIGHT FROM THE WORD 