Power of Prayer

Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" Immediately the tree withered. When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. "How did the fig tree wither so quickly?" they asked. Jesus replied, "Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." (Matthew 21:18-22 NIV)

This is one of my favorite things that Jesus teaches the disciples while He was here on earth and probably my favorite during Holy Week.

Jesus was going back into the city and He got hungry. He saw a fig tree. There are a couple of days until Passover which means that it was early spring. Jesus knows good and well that the figs aren't ready yet. I mean, He created them. I can just imagine Him walking up and seeing the fig tree and thinking, "Oh man, I am fixing to teach them something that is amazing."

Jesus didn't find any figs on the fig tree so He cursed it, and it withered immediately! The disciples were amazed and I can just imagine them thinking, "How in the world did that happen so fast?!"

Jesus then starts using this to show them and us something that Is absolutely awesome. Jesus is saying, "Guys, if you will just believe in me with all of your hearts you can ask for anything in my name and it will be given to you!" All we have to do is believe and we can say to a mountain, "In the name of Jesus, throw yourself into the sea!" AND IT WILL HAPPEN!!!

Do you believe in the power of prayer? I sure do. I have been through, heard, and seen too many things not to. Jesus said that all we have to do is believe, so believe with all of your heart that He died on a cross and three days later rose from the dead. Then once you believe that and ask Him for something, believe that He will answer your prayers because He will.