The following morning when they once again passed the same fig tree on their way to Jerusalem, the disciples now noticed that the fig tree had completely withered up and died. Jesus however, still paid no attention to the tree because Peter had to direct His attention to it, for he said, “Rabbi, look!”. It was at this point that Jesus took this as an opportunity to teach the disciples principles about how faith works. And so in this account Jesus taught us by example, the principle of not considering or rather ignoring that which is seen. From the moment that Jesus spoke to the tree He never again took any notice of the tree, He completely ignored it. For a full twenty-four hours it looked like nothing had happened. But I want you to notice something that the Holy Spirit reveals to us when Jesus spoke to the fig tree, which is very significant. The scripture tells us that, “they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots”. The disciples could not see the roots of the tree because its roots were underground. They could only see the part of the fig tree that was above ground. Nevertheless the Holy Spirit, in this account reveals to us that the fig tree was dried up “from the roots”. The reason the Holy Spirit reveals that to us is to show us that from the very moment that Jesus spoke to the tree its roots began to whither up and die. And so that which began the moment Jesus spoke, was finally completed twenty-four hours later when the whole tree eventually withered and died. In the same manner when saints confess God’s promises over their lives in faith, from that very moment God’s power begins to work on their behalf to bring the full manifestation of their confession into reality, i.e. that which can be seen. From that moment on, saints must ignore that which can be seen and look only at His word regarding the subject, and walk according to that. It is when saints do that, then over whatever period of time it may take, they will eventually see manifested in the natural, that which they believe in the spirit. Sadly this is where many Christians miss it in their walk of faith. They believe God’s word, and they go before Him in prayer and in faith, ask Him to meet whatever need they are praying about. In faith, they even thank Him for answering their prayer and then they go their way. Not long after however, they look at their circumstance and see no change in the natural, and thoughts of doubt begin to enter their minds. The moment that happens they step out of faith into doubt, and stop the power of God from working in their lives.
Michael E.B. Maher
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