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Jesus entered Jerusalem, the last segment of a 3-year journey with His disciples.  This passage begins with Him sending two of His disciples on an errand--everything is exactly as He said it would be--and ends with a profound statement regarding faith, answered prayer and forgiveness of sin.

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As Jesus rode into the city on the borrowed colt, He was received with praise, adoration, honor and blessing (vs. 8-10).  The next day, returning to the city, Jesus spoke over a fruitless fig tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again" (vs 12-14).  Then He proceeded to the Temple; and after clearing/cleansing it of all that didn't belong inside, He declared, "'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'" (vs 12-17).  The following day, as Jesus and His disciples saw the fig tree, Peter described it as being "withered from the roots" (vs 20-21).  Some conclude that the fig tree represented Israel; and that since Israel failed to bear the fruit God intended them to bear, the religious system they created was done.


 

But Jesus focused upon prayer (vs 22-25).  The kind of prayer that has its roots in faith; that can move mountains; that refuses to doubt; that believes/trusts that what has been requested is received; that forgives "so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins".

 

As I examine my own heart, do I truly engage in this kind of prayer? 

 

Do I welcome Jesus with "praise, adoration, honor and blessing"?  

 

Are my roots in Him and all that He did/is/does? 

 

Am I studying the Scriptures to find out what He accomplished in His death, in His resurrection, in His ascension? 

 

What is He doing right now? 

 

How does this effect the way I pray, and what I request? 

 

Do I reject doubt; command it to leave my heart? 

 

Do I trust to the extent that I receive what I ask? 

 

Am I asking according to His will? 

 

Do I spend time with Him to discern His will? 

 

 As His temple (I Cor 3:16), are religious works or worldly ways in me?  

 

Will I ask Him to cleanse me as He did the Temple? 

 

Will I ask Holy Spirit to impart courage so that I can? 

 

Will I forgive "so that my Father in heaven may forgive me my sins"? 

 

I must; please do the same...

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