As they were leaving Bethany to go to Jerusalem, Jesus was hungry and seeing in the distance a fig tree, He went to see if it had any fruit on it.   When He reached it, He found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.  Jesus then said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again."  And His disciples heard Him say it.

The next morning as they walked past, they saw that the fig tree had withered from the roots.  Peter remembered what Jesus had said.  "Rabbi," he exclaimed, "Look!  The fig tree that you cursed has withered and died!"

"Have faith in God," Jesus answered Peter, "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.  Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

In Matthew 17:20, Jesus told his disciples that nothing is impossible for those who believe, and in Luke 17:5-6, the disciples asked Jesus to increase their faith.  Jesus replied that if they had faith the size of a mustard seed, then they could say to a mulberry tree, "Be uprooted and planted in the sea" and it would obey them!

Can we believe that God hears our prayers and will answer them? (Let the children respond).  Yes, God always hears our prayers.  But, does God say, "Yes" always? (Let the children respond).  No, sometimes He says, "Yes", and sometimes He says, "No", and sometimes He says, "Not Now".

God knows what is best for us, so we must allow Him to answer our prayers in the way that He wants to.  Does it matter if we have sinned and not asked God to forgive us and cleanse the sin from our hearts? (Let the children respond).  Yes, it does and we must always make sure that we ask God for His forgiveness before asking God to supply our needs.

A mustard seed is very tiny seed, but once planted it grows into a tree big enough to provide food and shelter for animals.  Jesus was saying that a little faith would produce big results, and the disciples did go on to use their faith, and saw God do many healings, deliverances and miracles!

Yes, God can do anything we ask of Him.  All we need to do is ask and then have faith, and trust and believe God and then depend upon Him, and He will answer our prayers!  But, let's not forget to thank God for listening to our prayers and for answering them!

We don't need a lot of faith - just as much as a mustard seed.  We can do nothing, but our God is an awesome God and He can do anything!  James 5:16-18 tells us to pray for one another that we may be healed, because the prayer of the righteous person is powerful and effective.

Elijah was a person just like us, and he prayed and for three whole years it did not rain on the earth!  And then he prayed again, and it rained and the plants grew again and yielded a harvest.  Matthew 7:7 tells us to:

1.   "Ask, and it will be given you,"

2.   "Search, and you will find,"

3.   "Knock, and the door will be opened for you."

Remember, the Bible assures us that with God, all things are possible.  So, have faith and trust in God, and He will answer your prayers!

God bless.