wither

¹⁸ Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. ¹⁹ Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.
²⁰ When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.
²¹ Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. ²² If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”          Matthew 21

We often hear about "faith the size of a mustard seed."  But, what about this passage on faith?  There are several good lessons here:
1)     Jesus went to the tree to harvest its fruit.  The fruit wasn't there.  So he cursed the tree and it died instantly.  Sound familiar?  He's going to to the same thing when he returns to earth in the end times.  Remember though, it's not a tree he will look for fruit on it's you and me.  Will you wither?
                        
                   

2)     Faith and do not doubt?  Really?  I can tell the mountain to get up and be thrown into the sea??
Yes.  Today I saw amazing footage of a tornado in the Dallas area.  The funnel cloud was picking up tractor trailers and tossing them around like leaves in the wind.  I cannot wrap my simple mind around moving a moutain?  Or can I?  Jesus said it and it's true!  The bible gives several examples of ordinary people doing extrordinary things with God's power.  It may not be a moutain literally in your life but remember God's power and love are infinate, and both are available to you.

equip

Hebrews 13:20-21

New International Version (NIV)

Benediction and Final Greetings

²⁰ Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, ²¹ equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

 

Equip... I love that word.  Short, simple, and important.  God has equipped me very well to do His work.  He has given me wisdom to discern right from wrong, a hard heart when evil confronts my emotions, a soft heart when compassion for my brothers and sisters is needed, broad, strong shoulders when I need to carry a burden for another, a soft shoulder so you can lean on me and cry, hands like iron that are skilled to work all day all and night, a strong backbone to confront evil and not back down, a sharp tounge to lash wrong with the Word, a soft tounge for encouragement and praise, fast legs to flee from immorality, He has equipped me with love which might me the most most important thing to be equipped with, love.  I love you, and God has equipped you too.  (see above list)