Things That Speak Can Also Hear
by The Preacher
Jesus taught His disciples in many different ways. The scriptures we are going to study today reveal some powerful truths, that, if acted upon, can change your life.
Mark 11:12-14, 19-24 And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it, "No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever."
And his disciples heard it. And when even was come, he went out of the city. And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, "Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. And Jesus answering saith unto them, "Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." The first point I want to make is in verse 14: Jesus answered and said unto this tree, "No man will eat fruit of thee hereafter forever." Jesus answered the tree! The tree spoke to Jesus first; then Jesus answered it by speaking to the tree. Things that speak can also hear. This tree spoke. But it also heard and obeyed exactly what Jesus said. The tree instantly dried up from the roots; the next day is when it showed up in the leaves. But the tree heard and obeyed. Remember, things that speak can also hear. Jesus told his disciples to also do what he did. In verse 22, he said, "Have faith in God" or "Have the God kind of faith". Then He told them to speak to this mountain. Well, can mountains hear?
This mountain could represent any number of impossible problems that we face. If we have sickness in our body, that sickness is constantly speaking to us. It calls out when we move a certain way or are restricted from moving a certain way. If it swells, it speaks. If it hurts, it speaks. If it won't move, it speaks. But, praise God, if it speaks, it can hear! It's our responsibility to speak to that mountain and believe in our heart that what we are saying will come to pass. Answer the mountain with the word of God. If it can speak, it can hear!
Tell the mountain of sickness or pain, "In Exodus 15:26, it says, 'I am the Lord that healeth thee'.
In Exodus 23:25, it says, 'I [God] will take sickness away from the midst of thee'.
In Deuteronomy 7:14, it says, 'The Lord will take away from thee all sickness'.
In Psalm 103:1-5, it says, 'Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth three with lovingkindness and tender mercies; who satisfieth thy mouth with good things, so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.'
In Psalm 107:17, 19-21, it says, 'Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!'
In Isaiah 53:4-5, it says, 'Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.'
In Jeremiah 17:14, it says, 'Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.' In Jeremiah 30:17, it says, 'For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord, because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.'
Stop agreeing with the mountain, saying, "I'm sick" or "I'm hurt". But speak God's word to the mountain. If it can speak, it can hear! Look at Luke 4:38-39 And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her. And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.
How did Jesus minister to Peter's mother-in-law? He spoke to the fever. Fevers can hear. Praise God! Well, if fevers can hear, cancer can hear. Tumors can hear. Ruptures can hear. All body parts can hear. Praise God, if it speaks, it hears! How loud does lack speak? Poverty hollers very loud, especially if you have children you can't provide for. Well, if it can speak, it can hear!
You have to speak to it, though, and believe what you say, or Mark 11:23 is just not true. Well, I assure you that Mark 11:23 is absolutely true, and Jesus was and is always right! Then, the problem we have been having is not the word of God not being true, but it has been that we have not been using it to speak to the mountains in our lives.
What Jesus was teaching his disciples, and us, in Mark 11 is to do what He did - speak to the problems and doubt not in our hearts, but believe the problem can hear the word of God and must obey what we say. If it can speak, it can hear. So speak to it until it obeys the word of God.