HAVE CONFIDENCE IN GOD'S WORD

When Jesus was leaving Bethany with His disciples, He felt hungry. In the process, He saw a fig tree in leaf. When He got to the fig tree from a distance, He noticed that there was no single fruit on it. The Bible noted, 'its because it was not the season for figs.' In the presence of His disciples, Jesus declared to the tree, "May no one eat fruit from you again."

Reference: Mark 11:20-21 New International Version (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!"'

The next morning as Jesus and His disciples passed by the fig tree He had cursed, the disciples noticed it had withered from the roots up. Remember, the day before Jesus cursed the fig tree, it was still looking very fresh and there was no sign that it withered, according to His Word. A day later, they discovered the tree was utterly ruined. Then Peter remembered what Jesus said to the tree and exclaimed, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered."

The spoken Word is consistent with Jesus' miracles. He simply spoke and told the tree never to provide fruit for anyone to eat again. Immediately the tree obeyed and withered to the roots. Just as God spoke, 'let there be light, and light came to be', Jesus showed us the same example with the fig tree. Several times, He spoke and the demons were cast out, the lepers got healed and the storm was stilled. Even barrenness was cursed and it withered, giving way to fruitfulness. All manner of sicknesses and circumstances responded to His Word.

Beloved, there is great power in the Word of God! However, the voice we embrace matters. God's Word is God's voice. In the world, there are many voices, but we must make up our minds as Christians to pay attention to God's Word because it is the voice of lasting transformation. Once we believe the Word, embrace and declare it, it will largely determine and influence the results we get in our lives.

Also notice that the disciples didn't see the tree withered until the next morning. This means that sometimes, when you declare God's Word concerning any need or situation, you must refuse to leave room for any doubt, if you haven't seen the result immediately. You may not even notice any change in the natural - at the time of declaration, but you must learn to believe that it has happened and hold on to the Word until you see the manifestation in reality.

James 1:6-8 (NIV) says, 'But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. That man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.…' Therefore, whether we have prayed or declared the Word of God concerning anything, we must not doubt or waver. We must always have confidence in the Word, knowing beyond conviction and assurance that it can never fail.

Scripture Reading - Isaiah 55:10-11; Proverbs 30:5; Matthew 24:35; Romans 9:6-8; Hebrews 4:12.

Guided Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, I'm excited about your Word. Thank you for the confidence I have in the Word. The voice of your Word is the voice of victory, dominion, fruitfulness and success. As I pay attention to your voice, I receive and speak it with expectation, and I establish expeditious results. The sound of your Word withers the web of worldly negativity to the root and causes my life to bear physical and spiritual fruit. Thus I'm sound, productive, healthy, strong, vibrant and prosperous in Jesus' Name. Amen!