WORD OF LIFE CHURCH INTERNATIONAL: 40 DAYS AT JESUS' FEET MIRACLE 33 "DO NOT FALL UNDER THE CURSE OF THE LORD"

WEDNESDAY 17.10.2017

MIRACLE 33 : JESUS CURSES THE BARREN FIG TREE

READINGS : Matthew 21:18-19; Mark 11:12-14

From today's miracle, we take notice of 4 facts that led Jesus to curse the fig tree. From those 4 facts, there are 4 crucial questions we will have to ask ourselves concerning our christian life to avoid falling under the curse of the Lord :

FACT 1 : In Mark 11:13, the Bible says that Jesus "saw the fig tree afar off"

QUESTION : ARE YOU SHORT SIGHTED OR FAR SIGHTED ?

To see afar off means to be able to see from, at or to a great distance.

From Scriptures, a blind is not only a man who cannot see but also a short sighted man who cannot see afar off as it is written in 2 Peter 1:9

"He that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins."

Dangers of being short sighted :

1st danger : For being short sighted, Esau sold his birthright for a morsel of and lost the blessing y attached (Genesis 25:29-34)

2nd danger : For being short-sighted, Guehazi cheated on his master by getting illegally money and he ended up his journey as a leper (2 Kings 5:23-27)

3rd danger : For being short-sighted, Judas betrayed his Master for a little amount and lost his apostlship (Acts 1:17-20)

Question/ Are you short sighted or are you able to see afar off?

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FACT 2 : Still in Mark 11:13, the word "... afar off ...." draws again our attention

QUESTION : ARE YOU AFAR OFF OR ARE YOU NEAR ?

The opposite of "afar off" is "near" or "close"

From Scriptures, we notice some facts concerning "afar off"

- Standing afar off is a sign of indifference, of lack of commitment, of lack of devotion, of lack of dedication.

In 2 Kings 2:7, we see two categories of people. It is written,

"And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan."

The first was those who stood afar off of Elijah and the second was Elisha who was close to Elijah. When Elijah was caught up to heaven, only Elisha inherited the double portion of anointing because he was close to Elijah. As a matter of fact, those who stood afar off never inherited the anointing flowing from Elijah's life.

- Standing afar off is also a sign of backsliding

We all know that Peter was one of the closest disciple of Jesus Christ. But when Peter started backsliding, he became an afar off follower of Christ Jesus as we see in Matthew 26:58,

"But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest’s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end."

As a matter of fact, when Peter became an afar off follower of Christ, the fire in his heart turned cold and he started denying his Master.

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FACT 3 : In Matthew 21:19, when Jesus saw the tree from far, he saw leaves but when he came near there was no fruit.

QUESTION : ARE YOU REALLY WHO YOU CLAIM TO BE?

From the Gospel, 4 signs characterize the hypocrite :

1st sign : They Profess their belief but they act in a manner contrary to that belief (Matthew 7:26)

2nd sign : They Say, speak and do without their heart being involved, committed and dedicated. (Proverbs 23:7)

3rd sign : They look down on others when they themselves are flawed. (Matthew 7:5)

4th sign : They work hard to appear beautiful, righteous, spiritual, giver outwardly and externally in order to gain others’ approval and praise while inwardly it is full of dirt (Matthew 23:28)

Question/ Are you in private who you appear to be in public? Do people around you testify the character of Christ in your life? Do you bear the fruit of the Spirit testifying your new birth in Christ? Are you true everywhere, every time and every day ? Are you true to God? Are you true to yourself ? Areyou true to others ?

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FACT 4 : In Matthew 21 verse 19, the Bible says that after Jesus Christ has cursed the fig tree, "it withered away".

QUESTION : ARE YOU UNDER THE BLESSING OR UNDER THE CURSE ?

It is scripturally proved that whatever is under a curse withers and dries.

You know you are withering when in everything you do :

- You become superficial, indifferent and negligent

- You become careless to divine order

- You become hypocrite and men pleaser

- You give excuses

- You keep the appearance of christianity but bear no spiritual fruit

- You struggle to get things done

- You trust and have faith on you and yourself (your ability, your money,

IS THERE ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE (finances, relationship, spiritual, emotional, love for God, love for someone, ...) THAT IS WITHERING?

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PRAYER = PRAYER = PRAYER

PRAYER 1 PRAY THAT THE LORD DELIVERS YOU FROM BEING SHORT SIGHTED

- Father, I do not want to end my life as Esau or Guehazi or Judas. Therefore, send forth your light from above and deliver me from spiritual myopia IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST!

- Read and pray with John 8:12 and John 11:10

PRAYER 2 PRAY THAT THE LORD DRAWS YOU CLOSE TO HIM

- Father, draw me close to you. Keep me close to you. Draw me nigh unto you. Let nothing come between me and you IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST!

- Read and pray with Hebrew 4:16; Hebrew 7:19; Hebrew 10:22

PRAYER 3 PRAY THAT THE LORD KEEPS YOU AWAY FROM A HYPOCRITE LIFESTYLE

- Father, I pray that you grant the grace of truthfulness in every area of your life. Help me to live a life of integrity. Help me to be inside who I claim to be outside. Help me to live without mask. Help me ! Help me! Help me!

- Read and pray with 2 Corinthians 3:18 and 1 John 1:6

PRAYER 4 CRY UNTO THE LORD FOR HIS MERCY TO REVERSE THE CURSE IN YOUR LIFE SO THAT THAT IS CAUSING YOU TO WITHER.

- Father, I cry unto you for your mercy. I cry unto you for your mercy. I cry unto you for your mercy. Let the curse that causes my life to wither stop and be reversed IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST!