Get Out Of My Way - Black Preacher Sermon



Move Out Of My Way!

(Matthew 21:18-22 KJV)

18 Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.20 And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

F

aith is the most powerful force that God has given us. In fact with it we can move mountains, receive remarkable answers to prayer, and experience the impossible. "Nothing is impossible to him that believes."

Now perhaps it would help us to record exactly what’s happening in this story. Jesus and His disciples left Bethany early in the morning and they started making their way back to Jerusalem. Now on his way, Jesus spotted a leafy fig tree. He was hungry. He had perhaps not had any breakfast, and that fig tree gave Him hope of the opportunity of having a little breakfast before He got into the city of Jerusalem. Now fig trees are very common in the Bible, and they are very common in Palestine. Fig trees are mentioned in the Old Testament and in the New. They were used both for shade trees and for food.

Moreover, when Jesus discovered the tree was fruitfully barren; He then surprisingly said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." He said it loudly enough so that His disciples heard Him. And immediately the fig tree withered

According to the gospel of (Mark 11:12-25) as they began their journey back down the old familiar road, Peter saw that the fig tree had withered from the roots. Peter exclaimed" Rabbi!".”The fig tree you cursed has withered!" And with that miracle Jesus began to expound on the subject of faith. "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, Go, throw yourself into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him."

In the text, the disappointment of Jesus with the fig tree is an extremely significant event. One might think Jesus is merely disappointed with an actual tree that failed to feed Him when He was hungry. But the fig tree and its fruit play a much larger role. They are symbols of the nation of Israel and their faith.

According to theological research in Jeremiah 24, the people of Israel are compared to figs, both good and rotten. When Jesus cursed the fig tree, He symbolically placed a curse on Israel. The reason for the curse is straightforward. The fig tree (Israel) failed to bear fruit (faith) even though its leaves indicate it was in season (the appointed time for the coming of the Messiah). Due to its lack of fruit, the fig tree withered.

Looking closely at the subjective of the leaves on the tree it advertized that there were figs there as well, but it was a false advertisement. Jesus used this to teach a memorable lesson: the tree was cursed not just because it was not bearing fruit, but because it was making a show of life that promised fruit but delivered none. This was the character of the Jews who rejected Christ.

Although the Jews didn’t plan to reject the Messiah, God did have a plan. His plan was to spread the salvation of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. Israel’s lack of faith was integral to this process, providing the catalyst for God to offer this salvation to the Gentiles as well. As a result, the salvation God had previously reserved for the Jews alone was offered to the entire world:

When Israel rejected Jesus Christ, she opened the door to salvation for the Gentiles. But God never forgot His promise to Israel, and He promises the day will come when Israel will fully embrace the Messiah, Jesus Christ. But, there were so many mountains standing in the way, that were causing spiritual handicaps.

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