Do I Have Enough Faith?

Introduction

Frank’s reminder that this text is highly debated and causes us to ask questions is still true as we finish this chapter today. There are some difficult thoughts here that challenge us. We quickly want to explain, but taking the words as they are stated and accepting them is difficult. In 11:24, Jesus will say ask for what you want in prayer and it will be yours. Does he really mean that? Is this Jesus’ promise of desired outcomes? Which if it is, then how do we explain the different outcomes from our requests? What we need is for things to be tied up in a neat little package. Frank pointed out last week that Jesus comes to a fig tree looking for figs to eat and Mark tells us that it isn’t fig season. How can Jesus curse a tree for not having figs when it isn’t time for it to have figs?

Questions. Let’s start here even before we get into the text. Let’s start with an admission that we know is true. Here it is — trusting God isn’t easy. Nothing profound except the admission. I don’t think I am alone, when I stand here and tell you that there are times when trusting God is really hard. When things are going well, we talk about our faith being solid, but when the challenges come it becomes more difficult to talk about faith. We say God matters to us and that our faith is our top priority and we believe that. But then the reality of life slaps us in the face and we have to make really hard choices. And we want to choose God but in the moment faith does not satisfy.

We are tired of being lonely and we seek for a way to end our loneliness but how do we do that while trusting God? Hard question. Because the answer isn’t easily packaged resulting in us feeling better. We are tired of being depressed and we want to feel better but then we think if my faith were stronger I wouldn’t feel this way at all. Hard to trust God when it appears that God has failed to help your mood. We want health and it doesn’t come and we pray about it and it still doesn’t come and we think how does my faith make a difference if I ask for health and it doesn’t come?

There are many reasons for us to come together today — habit, responsibility, social, forced, want to — but let us come together and be willing to admit what I think is true every Sunday: we need our faith renewed; we need to keep trusting and most days are hard and some are harder; we need to know that our trusting God has meaning. So here we are. People trying to live life filled with challenges and wanting to hear that faith matters. Listen to the words of songs; listen to the communion comments; listen to the prayers and preaching; most of all open your heart to hear God’s voice. He is here and he wants you to know that he understands your challenges and he says “Listen to my Son.”

A Temple, A Tree, and Trust

Having cleansed the temple and declaring that he has judged Israel’s sin, the disciples return to Jerusalem the next morning traveling from Bethany. While Bethany was about 2 miles from Jerusalem the route was not a straight line. Bethany was located on a hill so people would walk down from Bethany and then they would walk up another hill that was called the Mount of Olives and then walk down from the Mount of Olives into the Kidron Valley and then walk back up the Jerusalem mountain to enter the temple area. It was about a three mile walk up and down two mountains and the path was crooked. Why is this important?

Jesus and his disciples leave Bethany. We don’t know where the fig tree is, but it is safe to say that the tree would have been close to other trees. I speculate that it would have been close to the Mount of Olives. As they have been walking they see the fig tree that the previous day Jesus had cursed. And it is withered — dead. Peter in his astonishment points out that the tree is dead. They are standing on the Mount of Olives. They will descend into the Kidron Valley and then walk up into Jerusalem which is built on the adjoining mountain. The Jerusalem mountain’s elevation is almost 3000 feet above sea level. Mount of Olives is 2500 feet above sea level. Point?

Standing on the Mount of Olives Jesus says Trust God. If you say to “this” mountain “Go throw yourself into the sea,” it will happen. “This” mountain is Jerusalem. How do I know? Because in chapter 12 he will say that the kingdom is being taken away from Israel. In chapter 13 he will say that Jerusalem is going to be destroyed. The temple cleansing and now this pronouncement prepare the reader for what is to follow. But then we have to look closely at verses 23 & 24.

Jesus seems to add these disclaimers — does not doubt in his heart and believed that you have received it — making it sound like that God’s working is dependent upon the quality of our faith. Thus, it appears that Jesus is saying that God will act according to the depth of our faith. We end up with the responsibility for someone not recovering from illness because we didn’t have enough faith. I am lonely because I didn’t have enough faith. I am depressed because my faith is weak. Is that what Jesus is saying? NO!!

Did God require perfect faith when he healed the boy in chapter 9? Even the father admits that his faith is weak. Did the disciples have faith when Jesus stilled the storm in chapter 4? Let’s assume that perfect faith is required. How would you know when you had enough faith? When the outcome was right? So a good outcome is confirmation of our faith and a bad outcome is proof that we didn’t have enough faith? Do you think Jesus’ faith is weak when he is crucified? Do you think Jesus’ faith is weak when he asks God to take away the cup of suffering?

This is where Satan has the ability to make us not only question our faith but to believe that only good outcomes are signs of blessing. Don’t believe the lies of Satan. Verse 22. Trust God. The judgment against Jerusalem was a done deal. It was going to happen. The disciples could not imagine a time without a temple. In 40 years it would be destroyed. Such would confirm not only Jesus’ words but that faith in God isn’t based on a building or a good outcome.

Trusting Is Hard

Trusting God is not easy. Look at verse 25. Praying with the intent to forgive is not easy. Praying for God to forgive another means we find our own forgiveness. And it sounds like we can’t be forgiven if we don’t forgive others but think of it this way. Jesus is not changing subjects. Trust God. As you seek to forgive others, trust God that he is able to forgive your sins as well. When we don’t forgive others, we tend not to forgive ourselves. Forgiving others opens our hearts to receive the forgiveness from God. Demand perfection in others and you will demand in yourself. Hold others to a high standard and in your own failures you will find it difficult to trust that God could possibly forgive you.

How do I know this is true? Verses 27-33. Trust God. “By whose authority do you have to upset our temple practices?” Do they trust God. Of course not. They are looking for an explanation that they are unwilling to accept. Jesus’ question doesn’t change the subject; he turns their attention to another who was sent from God — John the Baptist. Would you be willing to admit that John was from God? If they could admit that John was from God then there is a possibility to admit that Jesus was from God. Their deliberation demonstrates that they have no faith.

The religious folks had faith in their thinking. They no longer sought, heard, or accepted the voice of God. What about you? We started this morning admitting that trusting God is not easy. We are now at the same point. Trusting God is not easy, but trusting God means still seeking, hearing, and accepting. It has nothing to do with having enough faith, it has to do with the journey. Jesus cleansed a temple, cursed a tree, pronounced judgment, and said to all those who will follow him — “Trust God.” He will do what his says he will do. The temple was destroyed; sins are forgiven; he was sent from God. We walk this life trying to figure things out. We want things in a nice package with clear lines, nothing blurred; guarantees. Then what need is there for faith?

Satan lies to you and tells you that God has failed you when the challenges come and we listen to that voice and find ourselves questioning God and why we believe. Listen — our faith is exactly what is needed when challenged. It is not easy to trust God when we have been wronged, but we need his forgiveness when we have wronged others. So we trust him. Like the child who is powerless, we allow Jesus to wrap his arms around us and call us by name and we trust. It is in the struggle that you discover faith. Invitation.

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