Tag: Mark 11:22-25
Mountain moving faith!
Scripture reading for October 19th: Mark 11-13
In 1995 my son Marshal and I went on a study trip to Israel. We visited about seventy sites around Israel and also went to Mt. Sinai in Saudi Arabia where we traced the route of the exodus ending in Egypt. While in Israel, we visited Bethany and walked up the road and over the Mt. of Olives that went to Jerusalem. This walk of 2-3 miles made this portion of Scripture come alive in a different way!
Jesus and his disciples were staying in Bethany. Mary, Martha, and Lazarus lived in Bethany and Jesus often stayed with them. They had come to Jerusalem to prepare for Passover week when all Jewish men were required to appear before the Lord. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey as Zechariah had predicted. He was actually the final sacrifice for the last Passover ever needed! He arrived at the temple but simply looked around and left. This would have been on Sunday, the first day of the week, what we know as “Palm Sunday”.
He returned to Bethany and stayed there another night. The next morning as He walked back over the Mt. of Olives, he was hungry. Seeing a fig tree, He went to find early fruit. He found none on the tree and spoke a curse over the tree, stating that no one would ever eat fruit from that tree again. He then went on to the temple and caused quite a stir by driving out the money-changers. He went back to his friends’ house for another evening. The next morning they went by the fig tree and it was dead! (Mark 11:20-21)
Mark 11:22-25 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered, “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, that whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
Here is what we learned by walking where Jesus walked: There also was a fig grove on the Mt. of Olives in 1995. From that location one could look and see Bethlehem and a place called the “Herodium” where King Herod, in the years just before Jesus walked that path, had moved a mountain! He took one hill and put it on top of another using thousands of slave laborers. In the distance you could also see the Dead Sea glistening in the valley below. When Jesus spoke that parable, He had an object lesson for his disciples! With faith in God, moving mountains is easy! But watch your heart, forgiveness is imperative!
Today, take time to meditate on these verses from Mark’s Gospel and put them into practice! Use prayer to move the mountains you face in your life! Remember forgive others so you will be free!
Faith Asks Expectantly!
Scripture reading for February 22nd: Mark 11, Psalms 39, Proverbs 8
Key Scriptures: Mark 11:22-25 “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.””
Jesus had cursed a fig tree and the next day the disciples noted that it had withered away from the roots. Jesus used this illustration of speaking in faith to teach them the power of faith and prayer. Asking the Father in faith, believing that they would receive what they asked, would bring them the desired answer. Jesus also encouraged them to forgive wrongs done against them so that they might stand forgiven before the Father.
Faith’s confession: Lord, I believe that You will answer my prayers that I ask You for in faith. Help me to forgive those who have wronged me, and increase my faith. (Action step: Ask the Lord today to meet a need or purposely forgive any wrongs against you.)
Proverbs 8:17 “I (Wisdom) love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.”
Believe and receive!
Scripture reading for February 22nd: Numbers 18-20, Mark 11
Key Scriptures: Mark 11:22-25 “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.””
The disciples were marveling at how quickly the fig tree had withered after Jesus had cursed it for having no fruit. Jesus used this event to teach them the importance of believing prayer. Faith in God can move mountains! But hearts right with God and others are required for trusting faith. Moses failed to trust God when he struck the rock the second time instead of speaking to it.
Numbers 20:11-12 “And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock. And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in Me, to uphold Me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.”
Prayer: Lord, Thank You for these examples in Your Word. I want to show You as Holy by believing Your Word and walking in believing faith. Amen.