MARK 11: 24 On Prayer (anyone know?)

sermonindex May 20, 2011

I am wondering if anyone can recommend a good sermon or discussion on Mark 11:24. I am extremely focused on this passage of late and trying to figure it out.

Obviously none of the apostles nor any other man of God in history has ever cast a mountain into the sea nor moved one and obviously Believers in Christ don't always get whatever they ask for and believe for so what does this passage REALLY mean? I know of people who had faith that God would heal their child and so didnt bother take the child to the doctor and the child then died. They believed that what they asked God for would come to pass; they believed they had what they had asked for, just as the passage commands, yet they didnt get it and so it brought shame upon Christ and Christians in our community. I can think of many other examples. So either the passage is false or my/their/our understanding of it is off. If you know of a very good sermon on this passage please let me know. Thank you.

E

enid May 20, 2011

Quote: 'So either the passage is false ...'

I do realise you then went on to say that the understanding might be off.

However, since it was Jesus Himself who spoke these words, how can it be false?

It is a travesty in Christianity when Christians, due to lack of understanding, have let people die and brought dishonour to God's name?

Can't think of any sermons concerning this particular scripture, but I hope you can find one.

God bless.

sermonindex May 20, 2011

Hi,

There are a good number of sermons by David Wilkerson on tscnyc.org under the sermons tab, which come up to the search for mountain + faith. I particularly remember 'Moving Your Mountain' but there are more, and Carter Conlon also, has preached on this passage.

C

Christinyou May 20, 2011

If we are saved by Grace through faith, "which is not of my own", and I don't even have the faith of the smallest mustard seed, how can I have faith that saves? Because it is not my faith that saves, but the "Faith of the Son of God" that is birthed in me at salvation, born again by the incorruptable Seed of God. Gal 2:16-20 Seed; 1Peter 1:23

In Christ: Phillip, who is no longer I, "But Christ who lives in me" "the life I now live I live by the faith of the Son of God". Praise God.

sermonindex May 20, 2011

Alive-to-God,

Does the sermon EXPLAIN the passage or does it just use that verse/passage to support something he says about "moving your mountain"? I need something that really dissects and defines the meaning of the passage. I looked at gty.org because usually John MacArthur is good at that sort of thing but i didnt find anything there. Thanks for your input.

sermonindex May 20, 2011

Hello CyAn,

There is more than one way to preach this passage of Mark. I do recommend this sermon. At the time it was given, it was very powerful. It's one in which you can become part of those listening, and pray at the end, too. He leaves a lot of time for personal prayer.

It depends whether you want just an exposition that doesn't ruffle your personal feathers, or, you want to use it as an aid to moving on with God in whatever way He leads as you listen.

S

sonsigns May 22, 2011

CyAn, Go back to Mark 11:13-14 the Withered fig tree. What did Christ say to the fig tree and most importantly Why?

Then read Mark 11: 20-26.

The fig tree is the symbol for Israel. Peter brought to remembrance the fig tree that Jesus cursed in Mark 11: 12-14
And Mark 11: 20-26 is the lessoned the disciples and we learn from Christ.

In Verse 22 Jesus say's "Have Faith In God" My Expositors bible say's "literally means have the Faith of God". Such a faith judges profession/ the fig tree/ removes difficulties [the mountain / forgives injuries.

The mountain is used as a symbol i.e. mountain of difficulties. God is a miracle working God and will do so for any of his children, "whosoever". However, every petition must be predicated as well on the Will of God.

Hope this helps.

S

sonsigns May 23, 2011

CyAn.

If you are looking for a time less classic that digs deep into Mark 11: 20-24 read Kenneth Haggins book "Mountain Moving faith"

I have it and re-read it again and the teaching is sound even though Haggin was a word of faith minister. however, I do not see anything wrong with the word of faith movement in some of there teachings as long as it lines up with the word of God.

Also Haggin mentions in the book that the greek new testament says "Have faith in God", should read "Have the God Kind of Faith".

M

MichaelLiao May 23, 2011

Hey,

I wanted to ask, how come some translations of the Bible put in Galatians 2:20, "Faith OF the Son of God", instead of "faith IN the Son of God"? Today when I read "Faith OF" on this blog post, that actually revived me today!

In Christ,

- Michael Liao

C

Christinyou May 24, 2011

Most of the newer translations change the "Faith of the Son of God", to faith in the Son of God, The same with verse 16 also, which takes away from 1 Cor 1:30. Most Greek scholars agree it is, "the Faith of the Son of God". It is the saving faith of God that gives us "wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption", For this is what Christ has been made to us. Stick with "Faith of". "Faith in" puts salvation faith squarly on our backs, taking away from God's work and Christ on the Cross, us being given to the Son of God, without which there is no salvation.

In Christ: Phillip

L

Lysa May 24, 2011

Try Zac Poonen.

http://www.cfcindia.com/web/mainpages/verse_by_verse.php?book=vbv_mark

I haven't listened to this particular one but he gives detailed messages in his other "Verse by Verse" studies.

God bless,
Lisa

M

MichaelLiao May 24, 2011

Amen brother. May the LORD reward you exceedingly in heaven for using you in saying "Faith OF", the Lord revived me today with that statement. As I have no faith of my own, but the faith of Christ in me. I cannot love without Christ in me, for Christ is love. I cannot believe without Christ in me, for Christ is my faith/believe. It's all of grace, who is Christ Jesus Himself. I cannot do the will of the Father, without Christ in me, as Christ is known in the Gospels to know nothing except do the will of the Father. "I am crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith OF the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." Christ IS, Christ IS, He IS, He IS, oh brother no wonder God calls Himself "I AM" (Exodus 3:14) I pray that if the Lord wills, I'm going to write pages of commentary just on that one verse Gal. 2:20. That verse has so much foundations of the Christian faith, IT'S AMAZING!!!

- Michael Liao

C

Christinyou May 24, 2011

Michael my heart jumped within me when I read your post.
Like John jumped in his mothers womb when Mary with Jesus in her womb came close. Jesus is our all in all and it is so sad that the most of the Body of Christ don't see this Truth. Christ in you the hope of Glory, what a statement by Paul from the direct teaching of Jesus Himself, and the Holy Spirit giving Pauls mind the Great Grace that is come, Jesus in a person, God Himself living in His children. Keep preaching my brother.

Christ in you and Christ in me, making us the glorious promise from before the foundation of the world. Ephesians 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

Brothers and sisters in Christ by our Father taught us by the Holy Spirit.

In Christ: Phillip

sermonindex May 24, 2011

Sonsigns,

Yes, i know the "mountain" is symbolic for "difficulties". However, I also believe it can be taken literally; some things are both symbolic AND literal and i think this is one of them.

As for the request being dependent on "the will of God", of course. But then, how can we ever know what is God's will in any matter? And if not, then how can we have the faith "that we already have what we have asked for" (as the verse states)?? It's impossible.

sermonindex May 24, 2011

Thankyou everyone for your impute. I have received a lot of sermon suggestions (some were emailed to me) and feel a bit overwhelmed with trying to get to them all. Unfortunately, none of them are from preachers or speakers i have ever heard of or am familiar with. I will try to listen to some of them when i am able though...

M

MichaelLiao May 25, 2011

As for the request being dependent on "the will of God", of course. But then, how can we ever know what is God's will in any matter?

Well to know God's will, you need to continually offer yourself as a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1) day by day:

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." -Romans 12:1-2

You see within the context of Romans 12, if you can live out verse 1, you can live out everything else within Romans 12 by the grace of God. Once you surrender yourself to the LORD, you will know His will (Romans 12:2) and you'll be able to pray according to His will and to LIVE OUT His will, as it will be no longer you who live but Christ who lives in you (Gal. 2:20), and Christ knows nothing except the will of the Father. So offer yourself up as a living sacrifice and the Spirit will lead you greatly, as the Spirit applies the work of Christ in you. That has been my experience when by the grace of God, I offered myself as a living sacrifice to Him and Him alone.

I will tell you however, this did earn me a lot of persecution for the past few weeks as the Spirit separates me from this world, in order that I be separated UNTO God. It has been pretty painful and traumatizing for me. So you will know the will of God and be able to live and pray according to His will, but I tell you dear friend it comes with a cost. "It Will Cost You Everything", as Steve Lawson puts it.

In Christ,

- Michael Liao

C

Christinyou May 27, 2011

The living sacrifice is the sacrificed, resurrected Christ living in us. This is the only way we can live a merciful life in Him. Now by the Christ in me, I can live by the faith of the Son of God that lives in me and gave Himself of us.

Amen Michael, In Christ: Phillip

sermonindex May 31, 2011

Jesus did say if you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given you. But then is he not the living word living in us? Kind of blows your mind but also expands your heart.

C

Christinyou Jun 1, 2011

And all the above plus. Wonderful

E

Enochh Jun 1, 2011

David Platt has an excellent video sermon on prayer that answers a lot of these issues. Don't know if its on SI. But I watched it on Youtube SI channel...either titled Desire Him or Desire God. Very Good teaching on prayer