21/12/2010 - The fig tree death

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“And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” (Matthew 21. 22)

I’ve preached countless times about this subject: Jesus killed a fig tree. Once, when I was in Japan, a Nisei – the first generation of the children born to Japanese people in a new country – who was living there for a long time got very angry and said that Jesus wasn’t God. Everybody stared at him, so I asked: “Why do you say that”, and he replied: “Because He killed the tree”. At that moment, I decided to preach a message about that subject, then, soon afterwards that young man agreed that our Master did the right thing.

After explaining everyone what He did, our Master said that we’ll get everything we ask if we’re in prayer. However, was He in prayer or not when He gave the command which made the fig tree become dry? Apparently not for He was seeking figs to eat. Once the fig tree denied Him its fruit, Jesus gave the command and the tree died.

Jesus is the Creator of all things and also of that tree. That’s why it was expected to recognize Him as its Creator and bear fruit for Him but the tree denied that to our Master. Even though the Scriptures state that it wasn’t the season for figs, if that fig tree had put one of its fruit at the disposal of the Lord it would certainly have been overcome by the power of God. In so doing, it would have enjoyed not only the pleasure of feeding its Creator but also of being used in the hands of the Most High to bear the most tasteful fruit ever to be found in any other tree.

We must always be at God’s disposal. If the Lord seeks us to bear Him fruit or if He sends us on a certain mission, we can’t say no. We’re making two mistakes when we say we’re not capable of answering “yes” to a calling from the Heavens since God would never send us anywhere without coming with us. It means we can do what He tells us to do when we have His presence. We’ll always be only a vase in His hands, because He is the One who does the work and He does it as He pleases.

I don’t need to worry about miracles not occurring when I’m before thousands of people. On the contrary, when my Father sends me anywhere I can be sure that He will be there long before me and He’ll do what He promised. So, once I’m in prayer, everything I ask for – determine, establish, decree or demand – will be fulfilled. God is a fulfiller of all His promises (Deuteronomy 7:9; Joshua 23:14; John 14:13).

We’re in communion with the Lord whenever we pray. If there’s something to be fixed He’ll let us know and He’ll fix it because the work is His. We belong to Him and we’ve been sent by Him to be in a specific place in His Name, that’s why there’s nothing to be afraid of. On the contrary, we must demand evil to get out and miracles will take place. When we speak in Jesus’ name, the power He used when He gave the order to the fig tree will come into action.

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares