Let’s begin by reading Matthew 21:18-20.  That says, “Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. 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. And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!

This event finds the Lord Jesus hungry. The very One who was rich, had indeed become poor as we read in 2 Corinthians 8:9, “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”  There by the wayside is a fig tree bearing many leaves; and He looked for some fruit to eat. He finds nothing and so He curses the tree, which withers it. The well-known lesson here is that the fig tree is the type of Israel. The cursing of the fig tree stands for the national rejection of the people.  The Lord’s disciples were astonished to see this fig tree react so quickly to the Lord’s words. 

The Lord’s response to His disciples was a lesson for them and for us on praying in faith.  We read in verse 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.”  In Mark’s account of this incident, the Lord begins by saying, “Have faith in God.” (Mark 11:22).  It is vital to see that the Lord is speaking to His disciples…those who had trusted on the Lord.  This lesson is for believers and the power of prayer that is at our disposal. 

Is it possible that we can pray and see literal mountains moved out of their places?  I think not, but the lesson for us is far greater than the actual moving of mountains.  Phrases like this are very generally used to signify the removing or conquering of great difficulties in our lives.  As we read in Mark 11:22, the key to this remarkable power is when we trust in God for all our difficulties.  How often we allow circumstance to rock our faith and we start looking for other solutions.  If we trust in the Lord for all our situations, He will work mightily on our behalf. 

Our blessed Lord goes on to say in verse 22, “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”  Does this include the forgiveness of our sins?  Of course it does!  We read in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  For the believer, the Lord wants us to constantly confess our sins to Him so that we might continue to have a close intimacy with Him that is not hindered by unconfessed sins in our lives.

Still…we must qualify the truth of this verse.  Can we actually ask for ANYTHING, and the Lord will give it to us?  Let’s consider what we read in 1 John 5:14, “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, he heareth us.”  When we wait upon the Spirit to lead us in our prayers, He will lead us to seek those things that are profitable for us and will draw us closer to the Lord.  If we begin to pray for things to satisfy the lusts of the flesh, the Lord will not give those things to us.  Again, FAITH is the key word here.  When we trust in the Lord, and pray in faith, realizing the Lord wants to bless us and is able to satisfy ALL OUR NEEDS, we will find great success in our prayers.  Philippians 4:19 is such a reassuring and comforting verse.  That says, “But my God shall supply ALL YOUR NEED ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES IN GLORY BY CHRIST JESUS.”  (CC)  (660.6)