#28 “Intercessors: Cultivating God Like Faith”

“Whosoever shall say, to this mountain be thou removed and cast

into the sea and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things,

which he said shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he said”

(Mark 11:23)

New International Version (NIV)

What is the God kind of faith? What does it mean to cultivate the God kind of faith? What are the prerequisites for having God Like Faith? The first prerequisite is, we must believe in our heart. Lastly we must believe what we say’s. Why isn’t just believing in our hearts sufficient, if we want God to move on our behalf; it requires our using our mouth to speak what is believed in our heart. “If you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart…you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9) Jesus said, “Whoever shall say… and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he says shall come to pass’ he shall have whatsoever he says. (Mark 11:23) We must come to realize this fact is an unchangeable law of faith.

"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 anything 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 men eat fruit of you hereafter forever. And his disciples heard it. And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And peter calling to remembrance said unto him, master, behold, the fig tree which thou curses is withered away. And Jesus answering said; unto them have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he said shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he said. Therefore I say unto you, What things so ever ye desire, when ye pay, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."

In this passage Jesus admonishes His disciples to, “Have Faith in God,” which really means to “Have the faith of God” some Greek scholars believe that it should be translated, “Have the God Kind of faith.” Either way we get a clear picture that this kind of faith is, preferred if you want God to act on our behalf. While Jesus and His disciples were quite some distance away He could see this fig tree in the distance with full and vibrant foliage. However closer examination revealed that there were no figs just leaves. Let me state something here for the record, in this region the fig had a season for fruitfulness just as any other fruit tree. It was customary for the tree to bloom and turn green during the time of the fig. It appears that Jesus and His disciples were arriving just before Passover, possibly six week prior, which would have made it too soon for fully-formed figs to be on the tree. What usually happens is as the leaves bloom on a fig tree, (which happens right around late March) there appears also some small knobs (buds), known as (Taqsh) in Arabic. These Taqsh are like mini fig fruit; although, not the actual fig itself and can be eaten by passersby or local peasants if hungry.

The Taqsh generally fall off prior to the appearance of the real fruit being formed. The other interesting fact is this, should the leaves bloom void of the Taqsh, it was an indication no figs will be produced that year. So in essence the Lord was not looking for full-grown fruit on the fig tree, He was looking for the evidence of fruitfulness. How many of us are walking around lacking the evidence of fruitfulness in our Christian lives? He knew that there should have been some Taqsh somewhere on the branches; however finding no Taqsh to satisfy His hunger was an indicated there would be no figs when the time for harvest arrived. In spite of looking like a beautiful healthy and productive fig tree it was fruitless and therefore hopeless for providing substance or nourishment for anyone that year. This is when Jesus cursed the tree saying, “Jesus said unto it, no men eat fruit of you hereafter forever.” The day on their return back the disciples noticed that the fig tree was withered and dried up from the roots and they were astounded. Here is when Jesus said, “Have faith in God or Have the God kind of faith” truly I tell you that whoever will say to this mountain, be removed and be cast into the sea; and will not doubt in his heart, but will believe that what he has said will come to pass; he will have whatever he says.” will have his hearts desire."

What are some other instances when Jesus operated in the God Kind of Faith? You name it, He did it… He walked on water, He opened blinded eyes, healed the sick feed five thousand…the list goes on and on. The God kind of faith is the kind of faith in which we believe with our heart and says with our mouth that which we believe in our hearts, and it will comes to pass. This is the kind of faith that spoke the world into existence. “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” ( Hebrews 11:3) How did God do this? Simple, He believed that what He said would come to pass. He spoke the word and there was an earth. He spoke into existence the vegetable kingdom. He spoke into existence the animal kingdom. He spoke into existence the heavens as well as the earth, the moon, the sun, the stars and the universe. He said it and it was so. That is the God kind of faith. He believed what He said would come to pass and it did.

My Prayer: Father we thank You for helping us to cultivate God like faith in our time of devotion and intercession,. Your word says, "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,' that is, the word of faith." (Romans 10:8) We thank You that when we speak Your word we speak Your very heart and will, therefore we will speak the word over our lives and our country and this world. This morning we place our trust not upon man and what he can do but in You Lord God and You alone. Father we will pray with "God Like Faith" You spoke and it was so, by Your word the earth was formed, so we too speak Your word and believe it shall be so! Father You said, “So will the words that come out of my mouth not come back empty-handed. They’ll do the work I sent them to do, they’ll complete the assignment I gave them.” (Isaiah 55:11) Forgive us this morning, for times when we prayed only selfish prayers; focusing only on our needs and desires, instead of applying Your word to the situation and conditions of this world. Don't let is be furitless christian, barring no fruit nor evidence of fruitfullness. Today we take Your word into our hearts and will live by them, trusting that they will perform that, which you have sent them to do. Now Father, continue to open up to us the truth of Your word as we place our undivided trust on You alone. We ask these things in the name of Your Son Jesus Christ. Amen

Have A Bless Day…go in God’s Peace!

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