“FROM FORTUNE COOKIES TO FIGS TO FAITH” Mark 11:19-33 Mark Kolbe

I________________ prevents Faith (Mark 11:27-33)

· Jesus was and is t________ (John 14:6).

· Jesus’ a______________ to help people come to the truth was often slow, measured, and even indirect.

· Jesus was so intent on being on the side of truth, that He was willing to d_____ for it.

· The Pharisees goal was to p___________ their positions of authority and comfort, even at the expense of the truth.

I________________ prevents Faith (Mark 11:19-23)

A) The Context or Evidence for Faith

· When Jesus first encountered the fig tree, He made a d_______________ of something that would become true. Later, what Jesus declared became true.

· The fig tree withered because of the w______ and p_________ of God, not faith.

· If Jesus is God, then anything He says is g__________________ to happen.

· Jesus’ disciples thought spiritual success was primarily dependent upon their personal p_________________ or works.

B) Fortune cookie faith – Mostly about you

C) Biblical faith - Begins and ends with God

Evidence

· Jesus connects faith to an incomprehensible a____________________ for man, because He is providing a visual image of what God can accomplish without any e___________ at all.

· Faith the size of a mustard seed proves that the a____________ of faith one needs is irrelevant. You either have it or you don’t.

· The people in the Hebrews 11 “Hall of Faith” responded with a__________ to something God had already done or promised. The r_____________ for their faith wasn’t even fully obtained in this life.

Praying in Faith (Mark 11:24-26)

· Prayers should be done in the c___________ of knowing who God is, what He desires, what He has done, and what He has promised.

· The L________ p__________ is an example of praying in faith.

A) A__________________ God’s character, abilities, and what He has done.

B) Have the d___________ for God’s will to be done.

C) Evidence of that desire is revealed in what we a____ for in prayer and how we ask it.

D) C_______________ of sin proves that we are aligning our hearts with God’s.

So What (How do I apply what I learned)?

1. When seeking to know who God is and what He desires, I should not prejudice that search with personal opinions or sinful desires.

2. I should examine my life to see if it reveals a lack of faith in certain commands or promises of God. That could be evident through sinful actions or a lack of Christlike actions.

3. There is no good reason to not have faith. After seeing the evidence of God’s will, power, character around me, and after having studied God’s word to know who He is, what He commands, and what He has promised – I just need to act upon it.

4. God has given me the freedom to pray for whatever I want to. However, my primary desire should be for things consistent with the will of God. When I pray, I should have utmost confidence that God will grant me the things He has promised.