Prayer for the Sick: Cursing Words

The Withering of the Fig Tree
Mark 11:12-14 [show] On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard it. (ESV)
| Mark 11:20-26 [show] As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. And Peter remembered and said to him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered." And Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses." (ESV)

When we look at this event from the perspective of prayer and healing, words and faith are equally important. Jesus summarizes the lesson by affirming that we have it within ourselves to speak blessing or cursing and to see the effects of our pronouncements.

This potentially removes all doubt from the prospect of prophesying wholeness into the lives and circumstances of those who need it, and of cursing detrimental, unproductive conditions. Nevertheless, in every circumstance of prayer for the sick, we must be guided by Holy Spirit, to avoid creating harmful rather than helpful results.

Here are other comments on fig-tree passages:

This cursing of the barren fig-tree represents the state of hypocrites in general, and so teaches us that Christ looks for the power of religion in those who profess it, and the savor of it from those that have the show of it.

His just expectations from flourishing professors are often disappointed; he comes to many, seeking fruit, and finds leaves only. A false profession commonly withers in this world, and it is the effect of Christ’s curse. The fig-tree that had no fruit, soon lost its leaves.

This represents the state of the nation and people of the Jews in particular. Our Lord Jesus found among them nothing but leaves. And after they rejected Christ, blindness and hardness grew upon them, till they were undone, and their place and nation rooted up.

Let us greatly fear the doom denounced on the barren fig-tree.
~ Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

The Fig Tree – What did Yeshua/Jesus mean?

Also see Sermon by Charles Spurgeon.

Apostle Michael Pitts is preaching a series that deals with deliverance, and plucking up from the roots that which is detrimental to our fruitfulness. You’ll find him on streamingfaith.com, Sunday mornings and Thursday evenings from Cornerstone Church, Toledo, Ohio. He is emphasizing words and speaking in prayer.

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