Mark 11:20-25
“In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!” “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, 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 them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.””
Mark 11:20-25 NIV
The secret to success in prayer, and we could walk all over Scripture to see this, but it’s twofold, the secret to success in prayer is, number one, make your wants God’s wants, and then, number two, ask for whatever you want.
What Jesus is doing in this passage is encouraging us to pray always coming on the heels of His declaration of the temple as a house of prayer because prayer keeps us in relationship with God. Prayer helps us remember that God is God and we’re not and that we are never alone.
Jesus isn’t equating prayer with a Celestial Amazon Order for people who really believe. Even if you’re heard TV preachers promising a miraculous godly harvest after you’ve done your generosity thing. That is not the Christian faith. That is the con of a charlatan.
Jesus instructs us to pray to God by ourselves or in a community of believers. One of the wonderful things Christ does for us in His death and resurrection is clears the way for us to have access to God through Him.
That is, if we go to God trusting in the person and work of God the Son which cleanses us from the sin that keeps us from God. We can have fellowship with God without needing to go to a building to worship because Christ has sent the Spirit into our hearts.
The veil is torn, and mankind can now go to God without the help of an earthly priest or building.
Although prayer has many dimensions to it, in its simplest form it is the way we express our relationship with God. It is talking with God, it is walking with God. It is the act that categorically expresses our absolute dependence upon the Lord.
Prayer can arise at a time of extreme emotion when we are so overwhelmed that we pour out our hearts to Him. However, prayer can also be a simple moment of awe and thankfulness like when we are struck by the beauty of His creation around us.
But let’s remember the immediate context when Jesus said this. After Jesus said these verses He walked up that very mountain and was crucified on it. So, there are times when the mountain may first crush us before it is removed. But our firm conviction is that it will be removed.
We must have a confident trust in God’s power and goodness, knowing He has my best interest at heart.
We must check my motives for prayer are they coming from a pure heart.
We must not kick against the goads when the answer is contrary to what we believed we wanted. Acceptance of God’s will brings peace.
We must understand praying back the promises of Scripture we can move mountains.
Make your wants God’s wants, then ask for whatever you want, and believe that it will be yours. Believe God’s Word. That’s the beauty of what Jesus is inviting us to in relationship with Him.
Through prayer, to a confident praying according to His Word in such a way that we can know we have what we’ve asked for, and there are circumstances where we don’t know exactly what is God’s will, to heal us or someone else, or not, to change this circumstance or not.
God still moves mountains, because God is still establishing His mountain. And His means towards this end are faithful Christians in faithful local churches. Let us believe and pray, and forgive, and anticipate greater things still to come!!!
Father thank you for this day and the abundant life we have in Your Word and through a intentional intimate prayer life. Lord open the windows of heaven and let Your abundant blessings flow over my friend and family today. Lord help us to know that the confidence we have in You should be unwavering no matter what we face. Lord we are confident that You to whom we have yielded our lives will keep and honor all that we have entrusted to Your grace. Lord we long to hear Your voice of welcome and to see You face to face. Lord use my friend to be the touch of Your love to all today. Daddy we love You amen. Be a blessing. Love ya !
Comentarios