“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 forever” (Mark 11:12-14).
Jesus came to a fig tree looking for fruit, but there was no fruit on it. So He cursed the fig tree, saying, “No man eat fruit of thee hereafter forever,” and then He just walked away.
We can learn something on the subject of faith right here. Jesus spoke the Word and then went His way. Although the tree didn’t change immediately, Jesus didn’t wonder whether His words had worked. He just walked away in faith that what He said would come to pass.
Jesus and the disciples left for Jerusalem. When they came back the next day, his disciples said, “Master, the fig tree you cursed is withered away! It died from the roots!” (v. 21).
Second Corinthians 5:7 says, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” You see, it didn’t matter what Jesus saw. It was what He believed that made the difference.
That’s the very basis of faith. Faith is walking by what God says instead of by what you see-because what God says will change what you see! Faith is placing your confidence in the truth.
Romans 3:4 says, “Yea, let God be true, but every man a liar….” In John 17:17, Jesus is praying for us and says, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
God’s Word takes precedence above any of our experiences, beliefs, opinions or doctrines. The only real truth we will ever find in this world is the Word of God. We can believe that Word and speak it forth in faith, confident in the knowledge that our words will come to pass!
God’s Word is true. I act on His Word—believing it, receiving it and speaking it—and it changes my circumstances. I walk in agreement with God’s Word, and I enjoy His very best.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
For over 40 years, Pastors Mark and Janet Brazee have traveled throughout the world sharing the Word of God and the Spirit of God. Together they've shared the powerful truths of faith and healing in more than 50 nations.
Today Mark and Janet pastor World Outreach Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where they base their ongoing outreach to the world. The Brazees still travel as the Lord leads, and they are raising up a congregation who share their passion to reach Tulsa and the world.