06/22/2018
Do we forgive others so that God can forgive us? Do we believe in God so that we open the way for his belief in us? Do we trust in God’s Word which allows Him to trust ours? So often we say “God did not answer my prayer”, but I ask you... did you believe, forgive, answer “yes” to His will, that He might respond in kind to you?
“Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.”
Mark 11:23 ESV
This verse comes during an interaction between Jesus and His disciples in which Peter sees a withered fig tree and remembers that Jesus had cursed it earlier. This is a verse we all want to claim, and hold God to, but there is more to this exchange than an unbound promise, and claiming the result it is not a simple recipe we use for answered prayer either; it is the key to the door of prayer, but how do we use it? How do we open the door? When do we open the door?
“And Peter remembered and said to him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered." And Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God.”
Mark 11:21-22 ESV
When Jesus curses the fig tree it surprises us because it is so out of character for Him. He cursed a tree that by its very nature was not supposed to have fruit on it at that time. So why did He do that? He did it in order to have a conversation regarding Prayer, and God’s provision for us... all of us. He did this to get Peter’s attention. Do you remember what He said to the fig tree?
“On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard it.”
Mark 11:12-14 ESV
So Jesus seems to capriciously condemn the tree and then walks on. He goes to the temple and cleanses it by throwing out the money changers, and as he does so He refers to the temple using these words: “my house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations”. Our inclination is to read these two accounts, the fig tree and the cleansing of the temple, separately, but by inserting the cleansing of the temple into the middle of the parable of the fig tree Jesus is telling us that they belong together. God’s answer to our prayers can’t be bought. Prayer should be pure and untainted; our fruit and God’s blessing go together.
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
Mark 11:24 ESV
After having condemned the fig tree, and cast out the money changers, Jesus taught in the temple, and then concludes by telling His disciples how to pray and have their prayers answered... it wasn’t simply by their asking. Answered prayer required belief in the Father (not in words but from the heart), forgiveness (ours and then God’s), and doing God’s will (saying what will come to pass and knowing it is God’s will).
“And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."”
Mark 11:25 ESV
Negro Spirituals often used a technique referred to as “Call and Response”, in which a line is sung by a leader, and answered or continued by a chorus. These songs, or chants, are incredibly moving and the back and forth melody reminds us of prayer itself. They are similar to what Jesus is referring to here... we sing our forgiveness of others, and God sings His in response... we sing “I believe in you”, and God sings that he believes us... we sing that we have done God’s will, and He answers us in kind. Prayer has many of the attributes of call and response, but then goes further... it is an intricate dance in which we have a part that holds us close in movement and unison with God. Sometimes exciting like shag dancing, often flowing like a waltz, and occasionally sensual like a tango... but always God and ourselves complementing one another... together.
Jesus teaches us to believe from our hearts, to believe in God’s will, to forgive others so that God can forgive us... He teaches us that prayer is more than an unfettered request that will be answered; it is tied to our actions and God’s response. It is the call and response of a negro spiritual, and it is the intricacy of dance as two become one as they move.
We get so focused on what we want from God that we often lose sight of what He desires of us... relationship. We want to ask and receive based on a superficial profession of belief, but it is much more than that. When we can move in perfect unison with God, and anticipate His will for us by our every action towards Him, then He answers in kind.
Just as God replaced the fig leaf covering of Adam and Eve with skins, Jesus replaces the fig leaf method of praying with an intricate relationship of prayer. Suddenly prayer ceases to be “if you do this I will do that”, and becomes a dance in which we participate together as partners in making God’s will real in us.
“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.”
Hebrews 10:36 ESV
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for not only answering my prayer, but for waiting on me to come into relationship with you. I thank you for including me in the promise that you have made, and treating me as your child, and not as a servant. I thrill in being more like you each day. I learn to forgive, and you forgive me; I place my trust in you, and you trust me; I believe in you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, and you move mountains for me. I serve your will Holy Father that you might know my desire to be as you are. When you call my name I respond “Here am I”, and as you move in the dance of life, I anticipate and follow. My greatest desire is to be in your will always, and I know that by being there my prayers will be forever fertile, and made complete. I praise you Merciful Father, and reach out from my closet to take your hand. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you who forgives, trusts, believes, and says “move” to the mountains of our desires.
Rich Forbes