12 Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. 13 And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.” And His disciples heard it………20.Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.” 22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, WHOEVER SAYS to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
Mark 11:12-14, 20-24
Q & A：
- How does the story of Jesus speaking to the fig tree that dried up showcase the power and authority of one’s word? Do you tend to talk too much about the problem, which results in magnifying the problem and be overwhelmed by it, and what is hindering you from speaking to the problem or situation? (Mark 11:12-14, 23; Luke 17:6)
- Discuss what the “mountain” in your life is and how you can speak to it, knowing your rights and privileges as a child of God to proclaim having children in a marriage, sufficient supply in daily living, health, living free from fear or anything that we do according to the will of God. (Matt 15:26-28; Gen 1:27-28; Phil 4:19; 2 Tim 1:7; 3 John 2, 1 John 5:14)
- How should you pray in faith, by defining what real faith is despite not seeing it yet? Discuss how we should speak to the situation, believing and with no doubt that the moment we have spoken to the “mountain”, something has happened in the spiritual realm whereas it may take time to witness it in the natural realm. (Mark 11:23; Jam 1:6; Mark 11:22, 24; Heb 11:1)