Do you really believe you can move mountains?

We've all heard the expression "faith to move mountains." It comes from the passage in Matthew 21:17-22 where Jesus tells the disciples about the effects of true faith in prayer.

In Matthew 21, we have an account of Jesus making a fig tree to wither. Jesus had a need. He was was hungry and the fig tree had no figs -- so He made sure it would never produce fruit again. Let's look at verses 17-22:

Then he returned to Bethany, where he stayed overnight. In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry, and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs on it, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" And immediately the fig tree withered up. The disciples were amazed when they saw this and asked, "How did the fig tree wither so quickly?" Then Jesus told them, "I assure you, if you have faith and don't doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, 'May God lift you up and throw you into the sea,' and it will happen. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

While I think one reason we have this account of Jesus and the fig tree is for the believer in Christ to consider his own life and testimony as a fig tree. We know from Scripture (for example, Ephesians 1:13) that the Holy Spirit comes in and dwells in the life of a believer from the time he accepts the Lord Jesus as his Savior. This is the mark of a true believer! And one of the marks of the indwelling Holy Spirit is for Holy Spirit figs to be produced. Holy Spirit figs or fruit can be recognized as love, joy, peace, patience, etc... as found in Galations 5:22-23.

So I ask you, if you are a true believer, and you aren't producing this sort of fruit, it is possible that the Lord Jesus may do the same to you, and cause your fruit bearing testimony to shrivel up such that it will never bear fruit again? This is something to seriously consider and ponder here.

Another reason I believe this passage is here is encourage us to have true faith in the prayers we offer to the Lord. Jesus tells us that if we have faith and don't doubt, that we can do what He did and even do much more like move mountains and throw them into the sea.

What sort of mountain are you facing in your life today? Are you praying to the Lord for Him to remove that mountain and throw it into the sea such that it is no longer visible to you? Mountains are things that are seemingly unmovable and insurmountable. Things like the lack of a job, loss of a loved one, unrelenting financial debt, a disease or terminal illness, a wayward child, a broken relationship or marriage, an addiction, or even unbelief in the Lord. There are lots of other things that just seem utterly unconquerable to us besides these mountains. Whatever it it is, when you pray for victory over your mountain, if you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. I didn't say that, Jesus did. My question is -- do we really believe Him. I mean really believe Him!

Carefully examine your prayer life and see if you can find evidence that you believe in the power of the One to whom you pray.

Lord, I believe that You honor and act upon the faith that I demonstrate in the prayers I make to You. I believe you can remove the mountains in my life such that they are no longer visible to me. Yet Lord, the first thing I pray is that You help me conquer my unbelief and doubt when I pray.