Matthew 21:22 – “Everything you pray for WITH the fullness of faith you WILL receive.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, several things gripped my heart.   I will attempt to capsulize what I saw and heard.   In Matthew 21, we have the account of the instantaneous withering of the fig tree.

Jesus used it to illustrate the faith exhibited in the kingdom realm.  The words “speak out of faith’s fullness” arrested me.  (v21).  Matthew 21:22 –“Everything you pray for WITH the fullness of faith you WILL receive.” Do any of us live at that address and see that consistently in our lives?  If not, why not?  There has to be a reason beyond the escape clause: “Well, God is sovereign.” 

Let me ask, “Could Jesus’ interaction with the religious crowd be revelatory?”   Matthew 22 gives us possible insight. The invited guests to the wedding feast did not come.  Matthew 22:5 is powerful: “But the invited guests were not impressed. One was preoccupied with business…”

Likewise, the instructions of Jesus about responsibility and allegiance in that chapter also give possible insight.  The Roman coin bore the image of Caesar.  Jesus said, “You give Caesar what bears his image, and because you bear the image of God, give Him all that belongs to Him.”  What are we to give to God?  Ourselves!

Later, Jesus revealed the importance of love—love to and for God and others. In Matthew 23, Jesus addressed performance vs. motive. His message was about doing vs. being.

In Matthew 25, the ten virgins, five wise and five foolish, we see another dimension of why we do not consistently manifest the fullness of faith in our daily lives. The oil supply has to be adequate for darkness and light. 

Here’s what I heard in my heart:

• There must always be quick, total surrender and obedience to Jesus, regardless of what He asks.
• There must always be love without restrictions for God and man.
• We are to always be filled and stay full of God’s oil (Holy Spirit).
• We are to live daily with unshakable expectation that God will do what God said He would do.

Never deflect our lack by saying, “God is sovereign, or He knows best or in His timing.”  Those are true, but they can become escape pods to deter us from pressing into permanent residence in His presence, where we see what He is doing and hear what He is saying.  In that place, we never question, “Is this the will of God?”  We know the will, and 1 John 5:14-15 becomes a demonstrated reality for us.

The fullness of Faith is available NOW! 

Have a fantastic day, and keep expecting a miracle!