Mat. 21:18-22
Certain observations:
1.Jesus was hungry -Can God be hungry? The answer is yes. Hunger is an ardent desire; a strong craving; therefore in that context we can God is hungry. *He is hungry for souls. *2 Cor. 5:18 -21 “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.*Luke 19: 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. *1 Tim. 2:4 -6 “God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all—the testimony that was given at just the right time“
2.Though there were leaves on the tree; there were no fruits. Note that during that time of the year (late march) the fig tree produces leaves and fruits simultaneously though the figs are not harvested until June which is why the version of the account in Mark 11:13 says it was not the time. So Jesus was not expecting too much from the tree in looking for fruits from it. Take note of the fact that God will never expect from you what you are incapable of giving – 2 Pet. 1:3 “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. The presence of the leaves happened to be false advertisement. Mat. 15:7-8– “You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you: ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.* In what ways are we giving false advertisement of who we are? *Are we pretending to be what we are not? *Are we religious outwardly but barren spiritually? *2 Tim 3:5- are we holding to a form of godliness, but denying its power? While there is nothing wrong with good and positive appearance but God looks on the inward; He expects something better from us as believers than our mere appearance. How much of our prayers have yielded souls into the kingdom? To what extent have our so called Christian charities touched the hardened such that they are moved to come to the God we say we believe in and serve? Does our walk match really our talk and vice versa? Are we preaching the word with everything we have? 2 Tim 4:2- Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage–with great patience and careful instruction.
3.The fig tree withered thereby clearing the ground for a better yielding tree; similar to the cleansing of the temple the day before in Mat 21:12-13. John 15:1-2 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the keeper of the vineyard. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful”. In Mat 12:14– After Jesus cleaned the ground of the temple, He went ahead to heal the sick; apparently the presence of the unlawful practices in the temple had rendered it ineffective for its main purpose
Prayers:
Heavenly Father please don’t let me be a waste to your kingdom, empower me to be useful for you
O Lord, help me to fulfill the purpose for my creation, my salvation and for my being alive
Every trace of spiritual and physical bareness in me be uprooted today
I am a child of blessing not a cursed child; whatever wants to turn my glorious destiny to negative, Holy Ghost power crush them
By the mercy of the Lord my days shall not be few and my place in Christ shall not be given to another
Thank you Lord for making me fruitful and for answering my prayers in Jesus name