May 17 , 2012 Have Faith

Have Faith Mark 11:19-22 When evening came, they went out of the city. 20 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21 Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!” 22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. JESUS had cursed the tree the day before because it did not bear fruit. Now that the tree is dead, he seems to be telling his disciples, “You could curse this tree, too, if you had faith in God.” But, instead, he’s giving to them a life-giving warning. When he says, “have faith in God”, Jesus is reminding them that unbelief in God will cause their death. If they understand nothing else, they must know that without faith, they, just as the fruitless tree, will perish. Jesus keeps pressing into his disciples to dramatically demonstrate his faith lessons for their lives. He has shown Peter, John and James his glory on the mountaintop. He has corrected John's and James’ misconception of kingdom glory. He has demonstrated his glory in the blind Bartimaeus’ healing. Jesus has cleansed his temple of sin. He has cursed a fruitless fig tree. All of this is a picture of the future. People will enter into God’s glory only as they believe Jesus’ teaching. If they have no faith, they will die in the curse of sin, condemned to Hell. Jesus urgently says to his disciples, “Have faith in God.” to clearly warn them of the penalty of a faithless life. I urge you to consider your faith. Do you know Jesus is your Lord and Savior? Will your faith lead you to his glory? Pause and carefully consider your answers.