Note 3 at Mk. 11:14: Notice that this verse says that Jesus "answered" this fig tree. The tree had not spoken to Him verbally but it had communicated that it had figs by the leaves on the tree (see note 1 at Mt. 21:19, p. 362). Not only plants, but other things can communicate with us, too. Circumstances can tell you that you have failed. Your body can tell you that your prayer didn't work--the Lord didn't heal you, etc. You need to follow Jesus' example and answer these things with a positive statement of your faith.

Note 4 at Mk. 11:14: Jesus was not only having trees talk to Him (see note 3 above), but He was also talking to them. Jesus also encouraged us to speak to mountains (Mk. 11:23) or to whatever our problem might be. What good could it do to talk to a tree or an inanimate object?

God created the heavens and the earth and everything that is in the earth by His words (Heb. 11:3). The whole creation was made by and responds to words. Our words, when spoken in faith, release either life or death (Prov. 18:21) and will affect people, things, and circumstances. We can release the power that is in faith by our words, as Jesus went on to explain to His disciples (see note 4 at Mk. 11:23, p. 367).