Jesus-Faith

Raising children

Dictator (0-12)

Complete control

Teacher (12-18)

You still have control but you are teaching as well

Advisor (18-up)

Sometimes its a paid advisor (if they don’t take your advice your the one who might be paying).

In the book of Matthew, what we have come to understand is Jesus was always teaching.

Chapters 5-7 (sermon on the Mount) Preaching

Chapters 8-10 (Action chapters) Jesus putting to action what he was just preaching.

But through-out the Gospels what we see and understand is that Jesus is always teaching

Let’s take a look in scripture to see what I am talking about.

Matthew 21:18-22 “In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once. 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.””

We find this same story in Mark ....

Mark 11:12-14 “On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.”

Mark 11:19-25 “And when evening came they went out of the city. As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.””

If you notice in Mark there is something that takes place in verse 14-18 “Jesus Gets angry and tips the table in the Temple.

Reading Matthew 21:18 “In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry.”

And reading Mark 11:12 “On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry.”

I don’t know if you have ever seen a Fig tree.

First mentioned in Gen. 3:7. The fig-tree is mentioned (Deut. 8:8) as one of the valuable products of Palestine. It was a sign of peace and prosperity (1 Kings 4:25; Micah 4:4; Zech. 3:10). Figs were used medicinally (2 Kings 20:7), and pressed together and formed into “cakes” as articles of diet (1 Sam. 30:12; Jer. 24:2).

Jesus is looking for some breakfast.

In that climate the tree produces fruit almost ten months of the year.

In March or April the branches put forth new leaf buds.

Most of the early green figs, which grow on the stock of the previous year’s yield, drop when no more than 5 cm. (2 in.) long ; although they do not yet contain juice, they are gathered and eaten for lack of other fruit at that time of year.

The remainder of this crop ripens in June for the first actual harvest; because of their juice, these “first-ripe figs” are much in demand.

What we read is that the Fig tree does not have any fruit.

With this finding Jesus curses THIS tree. (This tree alone)

Some people might be thinking, “Jesus was Hangry.”

I don’t think so .... I think Jesus heard the Father speak and took this opportunity to teach.

Because of the Faith Jesus had in the Father he took this opportunity to teach.

Don’t forget ..... Jesus was always teaching.

What we rest on is the idea this was a moment that The Father wanted to teach His children.

Teach them what??????

FAITH!

The disciples witnessed this Fig Tree wither at once (Matthew) and asked, “How did this happen?”

Here comes the teaching moment .....

Matthew 21:21-22 “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.””

We find a very common phrase Jesus uses when teaching, “Truly, I say to you” (99 times)

This is a teaching moment!

“If you have faith!”

Definition of Faith:

Complete trust or confidence in someone or something.

Strong belief in God or in the doctrine of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof.

Biblical definition of Faith:

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Jesus is talking about and teaching what we might call ..... “Jesus-Faith.”

Not man faith:

I have faith that if I was to go on the roof of this church and jump I will come straight to the ground. THATS MAN FAITH!

I have faith in knowing that 2 + 2 will always equal 4 not matter what. THIS IS MAN FAITH!

I have faith that if I tell my wife I don’t want her watching Home Improvement shows anymore (Because we can’t afford it) … we going to have a discussion. THIS IS MAN FAITH!

When I say Jesus-Faith I am talking about what we just read in scripture.

For Jesus, Faith in God means being open to the possibilities that God presents to him.

There was a special kind of faith in God or Jesus-faith.

The antithesis between small and great (Lk. 17:6; Matt. 17:20) presents a contrast between the human attitude and the greatness of the promise of God.

What takes place in man is small compared with the greatness that comes from God.

However, Jesus spoke of a boundless faith as if of something new.

He did not build on something that was already there, but upon something new. Yet his teaching was quite distinct from wild enthusiasm, because it was not divorced from constant wrestling with God and speaking with him.

It stood within the circle of trust and knowledge.

It was Jesus-Faith.

This Jesus-Faith is a faith in the Fathers will.

Trusting what the Father wants to do and speaking it or putting it into action.

There is only one hindrance or blockage when it comes to this Jesus-Faith:

DOUBT

Not doubting the action but doubting the FATHER!

Jesus goes on to tell the disciples:

Matthew 21:22 “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.””

So let me ask ...... Do you have this JESUS-FAITH?

Faith that ask the mountains to move and believing they will?

Do you long to have this Jesus-Faith?

Spend time with the Father (Prayer)....

Get to know Him and His will

And then, in Faith ....

Speak it!

Do it!

What is it that you have faith God wants to do?

Salvation for a loved one? a friend?

Healing for someone?

A miracle for someone?

What do you say lets come and speak into it.

Speak the Fathers will into the situation.

Come in Faith (Jesus-Faith)