July 22, 2020
Mark 11:11-14 And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve. 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.
Something is always talking to you. In this passage, the fig tree was talking to Jesus. Whether it be your circumstances, or finances, whatever is talking to you, is usually negative. That’s why you have to work hard to stay positive. Something is always talking to you. Anything that constantly talks to you, will get down in your heart. This is important because your life issues flow from your heart. Your heart is the centerpiece of your life. That’s why proverbs says, “Keep your heart with all diligence.” Whatever you allow in your heart, your life and behavior will follow it.
Mark 11:22-24 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.
We need to look at this is a different light. Not just, I can have what I say. An important principle in life: You can have what you say. You’re experiencing in your life what you said out your mouth yesterday. You have to watch your tongue. We know this as a fact of life. But, we should also see that your mouth is not your problem. Your heart is your problem. Because out of your heart, your mouth speaks. James teaches that bitter water and sweet water comes out of the same well. The problem is not the tongue but what’s in the well. All the tongue does is open up the spout so that what’s in the heart can come out. If you want to change what you’re saying you must change what’s in your heart.
The word doubt in the original language does not mean being uncertain or lack of believing. But most of the teaching we have had gives it this connotation. The original language defines doubt as your heart having an obstacle. An obstacle that prevents your faith from working or your faith tree from producing mountain moving faith. Faith in its purest form means, that which is certain. It means to rely on an inward certainty. Doubt does not mean uncertainty. It means you have an obstacle in your heart and it’s keeping what you’re saying from coming to pass.
Mark 11:25-26. “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
Verses 22-24 are a preface to verses 25-26. He’s saying the obstacle is unforgiveness. When speaking to your mountain you must make sure the obstacle of unforgiveness is not in your heart! In almost every case, the obstacle is not the obstacle we think it is. We’re speaking to the mountain thinking the mountain is the obstacle. That’s not the case. It’s really what’s in our heart that’s the obstacle. We tend to focus on the obstacles of external life; finances, sickness, etc. as the obstacles. When really the obstacles are internal. This is a year of making adjustments. We have to look internally and see what really needs to change. Without forgiving from the heart, speaking to the mountain will not work. This is a much bigger deal than we think. You have to keep your heart right! Do not allow any ill-will, or bitterness in your heart. Bitterness is unfulfilled revenge. A root of bitterness will destroy your life!
Psalm 139: 23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.
We have to ask god to examine us. Examine us to find the obstacles in our heart. The biggest adjustment any one of us can make is our own heart.