When the disciples saw [Jesus curse the fig tree], they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?” And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith” (Matt. 21:20-22).

If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. . . . If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple (Luke 9:23; 14:26-27).

If you’ve read much of this blog over the past few years, you know that I have an inherent bent against what many call the health, wealth, and prosperity gospel. I’ve taught against it. I’ve written about it. (See “Blessings for Here and Now” for an example.) After reading much of this writing some might conclude that I am anti-faith or that my definition of faith is merely on the level of intellectual assent. But, that’s not the case.

I’ve wrestled with these issues for a long while now. Recently, they’ve begun to come to the forefront of my thinking as I think about faith and discipleship while writing my current book. The reason that so many (including myself) struggle with these issues–and why so many tend to go to one extreme or the other–is that both of the above statements were said by Jesus, and they are both true. It’s a case of having to hold two (seemingly) contradictory ideas in our heads at the same time.

If I have faith I can have anything I ask….

To be Jesus’ disciple means to deny myself and take up my cross….

I can have all I ask as long as I have faith….

I must take up my cross and deny myself….

How do we understand these two ideas? The first thing we need to remember is that Jesus often spoke in terms of a perfect reality. If we have faith, we can indeed have whatever we ask in His name. Now, we need to remember that the idea of “in His name” isn’t just tagging our prayer with “in Jesus’ name.” No, it means asking for things in His authority and according to His will and character. But, getting back to the point. While Jesus often spoke in terms of a perfect reality, we do not live in that perfect reality yet. That’s something we often forget. Even our faith is stained with the flesh and sin.

What needs to happen, then, is our faith needs to be purified. How does that happen? Through death to self. As we deny self and take up our cross, we are transformed. The flesh is crucified. Sin is progressively done away with. Our faith is strengthened. Do we not see that in older mature Christians, who have a vibrant relationship with Christ, who routinely have prayers answered?

It’s just that their prayers are not our prayers.

The one who has matured, who has died to self, does have the very resurrection power of Christ living in them–as do all who trust in Him for salvation. The process of sanctification has changed their desires, however. They no longer lust for things of this world. They know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that God will provide all they need. They further know that His blessings are not for them alone but for the sake of others. 

We often want the power of the resurrection without going through the cross. To quote a popular commercial, “That’s not how this works!” We need the latter to experience the former. How do I know this is true? First is the very example of Jesus. Second, it is the exact opposite of how the world thinks.

Those who seek the blessings of this world without submitting to the cross serve a very small God. They want the “miracle” and “breakthrough” of stuff and things without the deeper and bigger miracle of being transformed into the new creation. Seeking the blessings of this life is putting God in a box, limiting who He is and how He operates. 

Those who seek the cross-driven life, choosing the path of death to self discover something interesting along the way. When they get to that place where their faith is strengthened, where they can truly say, “Mountain be removed from your place and cast into the sea,” their desires have been changed. They no longer care about the blessings of this world. They only care about Jesus, and making Him known to as many people as possible. And when that is the desire of our heart, we can be sure that God will indeed give us all we need to make that happen.