Mark 11:19-23 “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. 23 "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.
Mark 11:19-25 rejoins us to the Lord’s proclamation over the fig tree from the night before. Just the day before the Lord cursed the unproductive fig tree and over the course of the time since then the word has had a chance to work. There was no instant miracle causing the tree to immediately deteriorate but there was a progressive withering that set in of sufficient speed that by next morning the tree had withered completely from the roots.
This passage demonstrates a significant power principle of the word of God. It is at work whether we see it or not. From the moment the word of the Lord goes forth it is at work whether man can see it or not. The very nature of the kingdom of God is that the process is not frequently noticed only the fruit of it. Jesus told His disciples Luke 17:20-21 "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation.” Change will be discernable but process frequently goes unnoticed. What can be sure is that when the word of God is spoken forth, it is at work and will accomplish its purpose. Isaiah declared this principle in Isa 55:11 where he prophesied “so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
The disciples marveled when as they walked along they passed by the fig tree that the Lord had spoken to only to discover that it had withered completely from the roots. The amazement of the disciples presented another teachable moment for the Lord as He spoke to their surprise. “Have faith in God,” Jesus speaks to them. Layered within these words is the implication “what did you expect?”
Jesus uses this example as an opportunity to enlarge the disciple’s understanding of the authority that comes with faith. The message is simple, speak with faith in your heart, casting aside doubt and your words will come to pass! There is power in this principle. This is the power of the prophetic. This is the principle that is at work in healing and miracles. This is the principle of God! God spoke and the worlds were created. God is still speaking today! In fact Heb 1:3 says “He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power,” NASU. Faith in the Word of God is the foundational principle of successful prayer. When we build our prayers and our speaking upon the word of God there is power. Believe therefore, and speak the word!
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