Scripture

Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea’, and it will happen.”

Observation

Jesus enters the Temple and drives out the people buying and selling animals for the sacrifices. He rebukes them for turning the house of prayer into a den of thieves.

The blind and lame come to to Jesus in the Temple. He heals them there. Even children are shouting praise to God, but the leaders are indignant.

The next morning, Jesus sees a fig tree with no fruit, so He curses it. It immediately withers. He tells the disciples that with faith they will do much greater things than this.

Application

With faith and prayer we can achieve impossible things for God’s kingdom. Jesus gives the example of commanding mountains to relocate to the sea, but there are many other things that we can achieve through constant, passionate and prolonged prayer.

Physical healing comes to mind. Verse 14 says that Jesus healed the lame and blind in the Temple. The people of God should be healers of the sick, especially in the context of worship.

Lately we have been re-viewing the “Transformations” videos produced by George Otis Jr thirty years ago. In these productions, Otis documents how cities and regions have been transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. At the heart of all these cases, there was passionate prayer born from desperation for their community. This is surely a greater miracle than a mountain being moved.

Whatever the issue, Jesus reminds us that breakthrough miracles happen in response to faith and prayer.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for the power of the Holy Spirit, unleashed when people pray in faith. Please help me to see where you are at work and to be faithful in prayer. Amen.