Matthew 21:18-22 ~ if you have faith

 

Matthew 21:18-22

18 In the morning, as Jesus was returning to the city, He became hungry. 19 And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, He went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. 

And He said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” 

And the fig tree withered at once.

20 When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?”

 21 And Jesus answered them, 

“Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. 

22 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

For everything the Lord does, there is a time and a season. Wisdom from The Ancient of Days.

Consider the power and wisdom

of the Lord's Response to impatience with arguing about reality. 

Prayer is scoffed at, it can be difficult to bring our prayers to something as warm as a prayer group. Especially if it is a life and death matter or critical illness. Those involved have the tender and light filled hope of prayer, while those who have prayed before and been disappointed .... do not want to live a prayer life of lifting up prayers the size of Atlas lifting the world.

And prayer can be uncomfortable to repeat and repeat and put on a hope we don't feel in our soul stirring emotions.  We want to have the heart to pick the highest star of hope. The real hope in the situation is this. The Lord is looking for the faithful in the prayer, this is what stirs Him. If we don't have the faith of the father, crying out to Jesus for faith in the prayer about his ill son, someone else could feel the Holy Spirit move hearts and the Word from The Father.

So, Jesus looks like He is irked. The Scriptures certainly have heart thumping Words from God. 

Consider a few ideas 

Jesus could be using this Scripture for 

yesterday, today and tomorrow.

And for some interest, consider the possible season of life.

1) Matthew 7:12 

Whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, 

for this is the Law and the Prophets.

An elementary teacher and Principal might have said this to a young Jesus for harming the fig tree. 

Is this nonsense to consider this? The point being, how we dismiss the deeper reasons and purposes of God with pop culture Biblical advice.  And this is the important reason the Gospels include the Disciples trying to discover what Jesus is about. 

2) Matthew 5:39 

Turn the other cheek, walk on by from the fig tree.

Disarming anger in a youth, without saying God would give a purpose to the situation and to examine our feelings. We have a culture dying away from the Church. Let's think about the pop culture war of Biblical phrases well trotted out.

3) Psalm 4:4 

    Be angry, and do not sin; 

    ponder in your own hearts on your beds, 

    and be silent. 

    Selah.

Young 20s, allowing the time we see in The Prodigal Son Story. To fully think all the way around the table, to be able to heal, to love and fully forgive. 

Also, the prayer life Jesus wants us to have, the persistence of praying. 

The widow going to the judge who feared neither god, nor man. The man who went to his Friend for help and was persistent in believing the goodness of the man would arrive and bring a merciful act.

4) Proverbs 19:21

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

Habakkuk 3:17-19  

Even if the fig tree does not bloom and the vines have no grapes, even if the olive tree fails to produce and the fields yield no food, even if the sheep pen is empty and the stalls have no cattle— even then, I will be happy with the LORD.

 I will truly find joy in God, who saves me. The LORD Almighty is my strength. He makes my feet like those of a deer. He makes me walk on the mountains.

God does the impossible. King David is a saint. A shepherd boy, anointed of God, became a mercenary. 

Solomon was considered wise, he changed his self-seeking and came back to his faith, in old age and 700 concubines later.

Abraham argued with God with a heart shaking appeal, God would not kill a neighboring city. And forgot to believe in God's mighty Plan as Good, and meekly set out to do the violence he had argued with God to prevent.  Forgiven. Father of Nations.

The virtue of David is an amazing miracle.  And one God has written far more about than the Gospels of Jesus Christ. Without doubt, because we can understand David for our years on earth, more than we understand the shrinking Disciples. Peter echoes David.

This translates to David's abilities. The Joy of the Lord is my Strength. This is fruit from believing God is Help, Helper, Comfort and Comforter. 

The Way

The Truth

The Life

Seeking to see 

what GOOD

WILL GOD BRING

WHAT WILL BE
HIS MERCY

To see the Future

as a place

where Good

will be accomplished

beyond the anxieties 

Habakkuk, with the tree without bloom, fruit or oil

If we are the one with the withered fig tree… 

And in every trouble, like we have to realize David believed every time, to keep God first in our heart. To believe in His Mercy. 

This translates to David's abilities. The Joy of the Lord is my Strength. This is fruit from believing God is Help, Helper, Comfort and Comforter. 

Far and away reason to have this Joy and Strength. And seek God first.

Matthew 6:33

Seek first the kingdom of God 

and 

His righteousness, 

and 

all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 6

Jesus Christ has seen the Kingdom of God and He explains:

His Steadfast Love Endures Forever

Quietly 

DO

 all the good you can

act

acts of generous kindness

God does not need us to

sound a horn

or to gather a line of good deed announcements,

to be the stellar good deed announcer, 

No hot air.

No words with words

Do what is in front of you to do GOOD.

Give us This Day!

Pray the Lord's Prayer

and add in your heart to the words

feeling free to entertain

the Lord

with your additions to the Lord's Prayer.

After you pray the Lord's Prayer.

Forsake Anger

Live in Forgiveness

Actually, fast

when you pray

Lots and lots of fasting during Lent.

Take time

to compose your ideas

of the Treasure

God will give to you

in Heaven,

your Life. 

Think about the Reunions

with the Ones you Love.

A Lent Journal

of His Blessings in

His Eternal Kingdom

to you.

Be the one

who seeks 

and sees

Heaven

and His Light.

Your eyes

sees

His Light!

Doers of the Word.

The faith

David has

to Believe

GOD is WORKING.

Be glad

we have

the ability to hand

God our cares

and tenderly

He

Fortifies

Strengthens

Establishes

Helps

Comforts

Encourages

and Loves Us

Yes, God considers

our 

prayers

and 

prayer life

as

Doing.

Why?

We are stirred up

to 

encourage one another

to 

Love

and 

Good Works.

Abba, Our Father,

Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name;

Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done

On earth, as it is in heaven

Give us this day our daily bread

And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive them that trespass against us

And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil

For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory,
Forever and ever.
Amen.

Dwell in us

and help us to be Pleasing to You

Dwell in those we Love and Honor

and help us to seek You first

and we will end well in Jesus Christ.

Our Father, in Heaven,

You have given us

Jesus, to know You.

On this earth.

With trouble on earth.

Jesus Overcomes.

You have given us

the Holy Spirit

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 

who comforts us in all our troubles, 

so that we can comfort those 

in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.  

For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, 

so also through Christ our comfort overflows.

In Jesus and the Holy Spirit

we are adopted

forgiven

and life forever

in Your Love and Mercy

Hallowed be thy Name

Thank You, Jesus

And we bring to You

the photos in our mind

of our 

Blessings

You have Given me. 

Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done

On earth, as it is in Heaven

Our Heaven photo album

and Thanks Giving!

Give us this day our daily bread

And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive them that trespass against us

And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil

For Thine is the Kingdom,
the power, and the glory,
Forever and ever.
Amen.

Matthew 6:33

Seek first the kingdom of God 

and 

His righteousness, 

and 

all these things will be added to you.

Thank You.

Our God is working. His Son, 

Jesus is working.

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

YES Bless the Lord Jesus

Thank You Jesus

Luke 5:1-11 ~ at Your Word

 

Luke 5:1-11

On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on Him to hear the Word of God, He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 and He saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 

3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, He asked him to put out a little from the land. 

And He sat down and taught the people from the boat.

4 And when He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 

5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 

8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 

9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. 

And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 

11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.

The Scriptures repeat and repeat.  We find thousands and thousands and multitudes were healed by Jesus from His Word. And as Good Friday approached, every day of Jesus doing His Ministry as grace upon Grace, the Disciples needed to hear The Word again.

The work of mankind, is to believe the One He Sent.

Mankind comes to God and abruptly asks to learn to pray. Not with numerous beguiling words. More bluntly, saying John the Baptist teaches us to pray.  Eve wanted to be like God as well. We are dealing with the Christ of God, His Only Son. The exact nature of the Lord. And Jesus never calls down fire like Elijah. We have Good News. 

Abraham begins with faith. And when God, The Almighty, doesn't arrive swiftly on chariots with Heavenly horses to fix what God said, Abraham convinces himself his own works will help God.  Mankind has no trouble believing their own good deeds. Mostly. Sometimes.

Abraham goes to be faithful, argues for the salvation of many, and God blesses the heart of Abraham for his belief to be called righteousness. Like Solomon, is called wisdom. Because the Lord Sees The Heart.  And how do the grandchildren of Abraham lose the land God Promised?  Famine. Starvation. Need. Financial. Hunger. Loss of life and living water in the Promised Land.  Except, mankind cannot lose or break the Word of God and His Story. His Plan.

Even in apparent and believable brokenness, The Works of God Continue. His workmen go Home.

And how did the Children of Israel come forth out of Egypt? Out of Egypt, I call My Son. Famine. Starvation. Need. Financial. Hunger. Loss of life and living water in the Promised Land.  Except, mankind cannot lose or break the Word of God and His Story. His Plan.

Why are the men standing at the Sea of Galilee when they had met Jesus in John's very first Chapter of The Gospel of John? Famine. Starvation. Need. Financial. Hunger. Loss of life and living water in the Promised Land.  Except, mankind cannot lose or break the Word of God and His Story. His Plan.

Why were the men fishing after Easter?  Jesus had passed on violently. All of Israel knew. The Disciples had hidden. But the morning of the conclusions of John's First Gospel, they were fishing. Why? Famine. Starvation. Need. Financial. Hunger. Loss of life and living water in the Promised Land.  Except, mankind cannot lose or break the Word of God and His Story. His Plan.

Why is this need important, even during Lent? 

God sees the heart of mankind. 

Even if we aren't in famine, starving, enslaved, hopeless, hungry, losing life and living water searching for the Promised Land.  We hunger for love, for approval, for success, for our children, for our loved grandchildren,  the people we love, their comfort, hope and safety. For stable lives free from worry. We know we die each day and work to be Living Water finding the Promised Land.  Jesus tells us we are the sheep who need The Good Shepherd. 

And how did the men with guilt, of being self preserving, doubters do with the Victory of God, daily, healing, loving, encouraging...

Matthew 19:27 —

Then Peter said in reply, 

“See, we have left everything and followed you. 

What then will we have?”

Doing the work to believe the One He sent? Not exactly, except the style of Peter is to be blunt and be who he is. Like David. Peter believes more in the mercy of God than overly halo polishing.  Why and how did Peter put his heart on his sleeve and speak to the Only Son of God? Peter spoke after hearing of God's Glory.

Matthew 19:26 —28

— Jesus looked at them and said, 

“With man this is impossible, 

but with God 

all things are possible.” 

28 Jesus said to them, 

“Truly, I say to you, in the new world,

 when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious Throne, 

you who have followed Me 

will also sit on twelve thrones, 

judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

The Scriptures repeat and repeat. 

Beautiful Stone work, columns of the late first Century

listing “Sons of Thunder, James and John” (on Capernaum's Synagogue)

James and John became uncharacteristicly quiet. Sons of Thunder. Their mother had heard what Peter heard.

And she arrived to give Eternal Glory in the placement of James and John in Jesus' Kingdom.

Golly, James and John did not say my people do the Will of God. Golly.  Forever, is a mighty long time, The artist formerly known as Prince did sing. Princes James and Princes John.

4 And when He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, 

“Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 

5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 

8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 

9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. 

And Jesus said to Simon, 

“Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 

We do not serve a God who asks for a ring of false piety. We do not come to a cold Jesus who wants us to favor His Opinions and Ideas that are pretty impossible. 

We come to a Father, willing to Give His Son to us. 

To trust us again to treat His Infant Son well.  To Believe Jesus grew up strong and with wisdom. To see Mary and Joseph met impossible and solid laws to find a community seeing the Love of Jesus pulled them together.  We find, again, Jesus did incredible miracles of meeting real needs. Not asking John to be Peter. Or Matthew to be Simon the Zealot. Not asking them to walk on water. Asking their love and faith. 

To Love and Be Stirred up to Good Deeds.

Jesus knew the men had wife, mother-in-law, taxes and brothers.

Matthew 17

24 When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the tax?” 

25 He said, “Yes.” 

And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?” 

26 And when he said, “From others,” 

Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. 27 However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.”

Just as God went with Israel and his 12 sons to seek help in Egypt during the time of great famine.

When Jesus began to Lift up the Cup of Salvation

Lifting up the New Covenant,

He said,

John 17:17

Sanctify them in the truth; Your Word is truth.

The Scriptures repeat and repeat.  On the last day of John's First Gospel, Jesus knew Peter would be embarrassed and ashamed. Eager to see Jesus and would still be Peter. 

Jesus was willing again to meet Peter, where Peter would be understood and know the truth, to learn, again, today, His Word is Truth.

John 21

21 After this 

Jesus revealed Himself

again

to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, 

and He revealed Himself in this way: 

Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” 

When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.

9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish.

14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Paul knew in his heart and soul, The Holiness of God, God's Own Holy Spirit is the Christ of God is Help, Helper, Comfort and Comforter

Why?

2 Corinthians 1:3-5

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 

who comforts us in all our troubles, 

so that we can comfort those in any trouble

 with the comfort 

we ourselves have received from God.

 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, 

so also through Christ 

our comfort overflows.

Abba, Father, 

Mark 12:24

Life assures us the road has sharp turns,

Unforeseen corners and the comments do not cease.

Jesus Himself tells us

He is the way, the truth and the Life.

Know the Scriptures,

Know the Power of God.

And we will believe in the One He has Sent.

Surely, He took on our infirmities 

and carried our sorrows; 

yet, we considered Him stricken by God, 

struck down and afflicted.  

But He was pierced for our transgressions,

 He was crushed for our iniquities; 

the punishment that brought us peace 

was upon Him, 

and by His stripes 

we are healed. 

Each Day we are Blessed 

to ask for more

More Heaven on earth.

More Give us This Day.

More Daily Bread.

The Universe is upheld

by the 

Power of Your Word.

May The Lord God Almighty

His Son Jesus

surround and uphold us

in This Peace.

The Peace is Upheld by God Himself 

and 

we ask

His Blessing and Favor.

Gently, we hand You our Cares

knowing Your Hands hold

this so well.

Tenderly.

And we are Loved and Filled.

We give thanks for

Your Sacrifice

to bring those unworthy

to be adopted into Your Family.

Knowing we are not perfect,

have weakness,

flaws 

and sins.

And draw near to you with confidence

in Jesus Christ

according to Your Will

Your Word

Your Steadfast Love

and Your Promises in Jesus.

Dwell in us

and help us to be Pleasing to You

Dwell in those we Love and Honor

and help us to seek You first

and we will end well in Jesus Christ.

In the Highest Name 

of Jesus Christ,

Amen

Thank You.

Our God is working. His Son, 

Jesus is working.

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

YES Bless the Lord Jesus

Thank You Jesus