From Withered Trees to Living Temples

Faith, Forgiveness, and the Prayer of God’s People 04/26/26 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!” “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” — Mark 11:20-25 NIV  Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. v 23  ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’ Mark 11:17 b NIV  In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!” “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. vv 20-22  Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. v 24  …I will do whatever you ask in my name… — John 14:13 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. — John 15:7 NIV  And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. v 25 “…anything against anyone…” v 25  “Everyone thinks forgiveness is a lovely idea until he has something to forgive” C.S. Lewis  “…forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” v 25 Unforgiveness happens when someone else’s sin becomes bigger than the cross. The debt others owe us seems bigger than the debt we owed God. — Jason Meyer. As God’s living temple, we are a praying people who trust Him and choose to forgive.