Mountains of doubt ?

or

Faith to move Mountains?

"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" (MARK 11:22,23).

Do you have mountains in your life? Do they seem immovable? Some may only be hills while others are truly MOUNTAINS! In this short study we’ll look at what “Mountains” there may be in your life, and how we can remove them according to the Word of God. "I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you" (Matthew 17:20). Our goal will be to give you a better understanding of prayer and of faith and how they need to work hand in hand to give us what God promised for each and every believer, according to His Holy Word.

(MARK 11:22-24) "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, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. When you pray, have faith in God! Have faith that God big enough to move your “Mountain”. In this passage, Jesus goes out of His way to specifically say “I tell you the truth”… and then goes on to say that what you speak will come to pass if you do not doubt in your heart, and that you must just believe what you say will happen and it will. Not only is this true, but the Lord wants us to understand that He’s telling you the truth; that “whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you received it and it will be yours”. Please understand what Jesus is saying here… He’s not telling you that you should look for your “Mountain” to be moved at a future time, you must believe that you've already received the answer to your prayer. Do you see the difference; one is hope and the other is faith. Hope looks to the future while faith looks backwards. Hope is defined as a “firm expectation” while faith goes even farther. (Hebrews 11:1) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. By your faith it exists, even though you cannot see it. For an example the Bible says in (Ephesians 2:8) “For by grace you have been saved through faith”. Notice that this is a past tense promise that says you have already been saved, but are you really? When you look in the mirror do you see a resurrected body that will live on for eternity? Are you in Heaven right now or do you still see your physical body here on earth? That's right, you are NOT manifestly saved, you are only saved by faith, faith in what you believe will manifest in the future. Even though you cannot physically see your salvation, you believe it by faith. We look back at the cross and see that Jesus said, “It is finished” and now we enter into that salvation by faith. We don’t say “I believe I will be saved sometime”, rather we confess that “we are saved now”. If we believe we are saved do we keep asking God to save us? No, we simply thank God and praise the name of Jesus for saving us. Even though we cannot physically see eternity with Jesus, we enter into it by faith. The same is true with that “Mountain” that you’ve been praying for. You must enter into it by faith and start thanking God for answering your prayer and moving that “Mountain” out of your life. If you looked at your "mountain" with the same spiritual eyes as your eternal salvation, that mountain would already have been moved out of your life. Why, because God's Word says so! Remember the promise we just read. “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

We serve an unseen God which requires us to have faith for the unseen. Is it any wonder that God uses what does not exist to create what does exist? (Romans 4:17) “God, who giveth life to the dead, and calleth the things that are not, as though they were”. From the very beginning we see God speaking into existence the things that were not as though they were. (Hebrews 11:3) By faith we understand that the worlds have been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen hath not been made out of things which appear. Let’s read in the creation story how God does this, how God speaks things into existence. (Genesis chapter 1) In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth… And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light… And God said, "Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters."… And it was so. And God called the expanse Heaven… And God said, "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear." And it was so… And God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth." And it was so… And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth." And it was so… And God said, "Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens." So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good… And God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds." And it was so… Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness… And it was so. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

So what is it that God uses to answer our prayers and to move our “Mountains” and to "call the things that are not as though they were"? It’s our faith that God uses; and what is faith? (Hebrews 11:1) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. It’s that intangible thing that we cannot see, that God uses to bring our prayers into reality. Like gasoline is to a car engine, faith is to our prayers; neither run without it. All the promises we find in the Bible are all conditional on your faith and on your belief. The word of God is only activated by faith. Just as Jesus died for each and every one of us, unless you believe and have faith in Jesus Christ, His sacrifice means nothing to you, and you’ll spend eternity in Hell. Not a good thing if you don’t have faith! The same is true with all of God’s promises for us they only help us if we believe them. "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". We may be saved, but we’re making life a lot harder for ourselves because we’re not taking full advantage of Jesus’ promises, and that my friend will make our “Mountains” seem that much harder to climb, let alone remove.

(1 Corinthians 1:28, 29) God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. This scripture says that God uses “the things that are not ” (things that do not exist in the physical like our faith, our belief and the spoken Word of God) “to bring to nothing the things that are” (Things that do exist and are in the physical, like our “mountains” be it a sickness, or whatever the problem is that you see). God uses your faith along with His spoken Word to move your “mountain”. God uses the things that do not exist in the physical, your prayers and belief to bring the curse or your problems to nothing. God must honor His Word, (MATTHEW 21:21-22) And Jesus answered and said to them, "Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' it will happen. "And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." God must honor His Word and His word says that “if you have faith and do not doubt” you can even say to your “mountain” to be cast into the sea! Gone, over with, because Jesus says that “ALL THINGS you ask in prayer believing, you will receive!” That is so powerful, yet so conditional from the Lord! That condition is that you have faith and not doubt!

Prayers without faith just do not get answered no matter how powerful our God is. (MATTHEW 13:57) And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor." (58) And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith. This is a good example of how even Jesus couldn’t move many “mountains” because of the people's lack of faith. If Jesus couldn’t move “mountains” back then because of their lack of faith, how much more do we expect our “mountain” to be moved with such little faith? Look at those who did have faith, and who Jesus gives the credit to. (MARK 10:52) "Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. Of course we know it was God who did the healing but Jesus gives the credit to their faith which healed them. Again, God used the things that did not exist to do away with the things that do did exist, the curse, or the "mountain" in their lives.

(MARK 5:25-34) And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, "If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed." Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?" "You see the people crowding against you," his disciples answered, "and yet you can ask, 'Who touched me?' " But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." Without Jesus even knowing it, this lady touched His clothes and was healed. Truly it was her faith that God used to heal her. Do you have that kind of faith to move your “Mountain”? (Need more faith? Read the article called (Faith, where does it come from?)

(Luke 8:49) …"Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more." (50) But Jesus on hearing this answered him, "Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well… (54) But taking her by the hand he called, saying, "Child, arise." (55) And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. We must have faith that Jesus is still here, standing beside us saying "Do not fear; only believe”. We must believe in His Word, we must believe that whatever our “mountain” in life is, no matter how large it may seem, "Do not fear; only believe”. Believe that God is big enough to keep His Word.

(Matthew 8:13) Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! It will be done just as you believed it would." And his servant was healed at that very hour. What if he would have believed that this "mountain" was to big for Jesus to heal? It would have been done just as he believed and there would not of been a healing for his servant. (MATTHEW 9:29) Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you"; (30) and their sight was restored….Are we restraining the Lord by our limited faith? Do we think that our “mountain” is to big for God? Just remember, it was our Lord and Savior that said, "According to your faith will it be done to you" This puts the responsibility squarely on you and I. The Word of God cannot be broken so if you believe it's to hard for God, then it will be. More times than not (100% of the time), we’ll find that the problem lies with us instead of God.

(JAMES 1:6-8) But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. As Kryptonite is to Superman, so is doubt to your prayers. It will defeat you every time! We must stop blaming God; we must stop saying “it must not be God’s will”, and realize that it’s your doubt which boils down to your lack of faith. Many will say “I don’t doubt God”, but let’s look at DOUBT’S ugly step sisters, Worry, Fear and Anxiety. If you’ve prayed on your situation and still find that you’re worried or fearful, then in reality you’re saying to God “I don’t trust nor believe you”. If you trusted your Heavenly Father, then you’d be comforted that He would indeed take care of your needs. Think about it, if as a parent your child asked you for food to eat, would you give it to him or her? Of course you would, and you may even fix him his favorite meal. Now how would you feel if after you promised to fix your son’s favorite meal, he started to worry and cry because he was afraid you may not really feed him after all? Time after time you reassure him that your Word is true and that you’re a person of your Word, yet you find that instead of believing you and thanking you, he continues ask if you’ll really feed him supper. Now because of your love for your son, you fix him his favorite meal and even before you're able to bring it to the table he starts to worry and your son then starts thinking of what he can do to earn some extra money to buy food himself. Maybe he can have a lemonade stand to earn some money; maybe he can check the laundry room or the couch cushions for extra change…

If your children had such little faith in your word, wouldn’t you feel sad, maybe even frustrated at how little they trusted in you? Have you ever stopped to think how our Heavenly Father feels when we worry and are afraid and are anxious over that “mountain” in our life? It’s the same “mountain” that we’ve already prayed for, and prayed for, and prayed for, thinking that God maybe hasn’t heard us? Yet like our analogy of our child who doesn't believe his parent, God has your answer already prepared for you but you're not allowing Him to bring it to your table either. (Hebrews 11:6) But without Faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Faith and trust in God is so very important to our Father in Heaven. He’s looking for children who trust Him and what He has written in His Word. God wants children that believe that “He is, and that He is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him ”. Do you believe God to be a rewarder of them who seek Him and believe His Word? If you do, then you'll believe promises like these that are in he Word.

(JOHN 14:12-14) I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father and I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. Jesus invites you to ask for what you need in the name of Jesus so that He may bring glory to the Father. Very simple, nothing complicated except that it takes faith, without doubt or fear. Simply ask in faith for anything and Jesus will do it!

(1 John 5:14,15) This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. God hears us the first time; we don’t need to pray over and over and over for the same thing. Just know that God has heard you and that you have what you've asked for because God’s word says so. Now we simply switch our prayers from asking over and over, to thanking our Father over and over. Receive your prayer by faith, and not by sight. “for we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor 5:7).

(MATTHEW 18:19) "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven." Are you having trouble moving your “mountain” by yourself, then by all means we should get together with another person who has faith, (not a doubter) pray together, agree that it’s done, and that God has removed that “mountain”! We then rest and know that God’s promise is true, “that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.” Do you believe this? Then let your actions agree with your faith! If you say that you believe all these promises and yet you’re still worried and anxious, then you really don’t have the faith you speak. Your actions will either show your complete faith or your lack of faith. (James 2:20) But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead. You cannot have faith without having works. If you have no works, you have no faith; it’s as simple as that. Our Lord gauges our faith not by what we say, but what we do. Works confirm your faith; works is acting according to your prayer and if you're acting fearful then you have no faith to move your mountain. If you're trusting and going about your life as if it’s already taken care of, then God honors your trust in Him and He will act on your behalf. By your actions is how God knows if you really have faith.

Again, what is your “mountain” that you’re praying for, and how would you act if you truly believed God had already answered your prayer and moved that mountain? If you find reassurance and comfort in knowing that God will answer, then you’re well on your way to moving that “mountain” into the sea. If on the other hand, you’re worrying about that mountain and how it will be removed, then it is indeed a MOUNTAIN and will be impossible to move, even for God! You’ve allowed the devil to steal your trust and faith in the Lord. Scripture calls you “double-minded and unstable” and promises that "you will receive nothing from the Lord." One minute you have comfort in knowing God will take care of it, the next you’re worried by what you see. You’re worried because what you just prayed for, doesn’t line up with what you see. Yet scripture says that we walk by faith and not by sight! If you let your emotions rule you by what you see instead of what the Word of God says, then you’ll never have the faith for the unseen, and you’ll never have faith to move your “mountain”.

(MARK 5:35) While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead," they said. "Why bother the teacher any more?" (36) Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid; just believe." … And when he had entered, he said to them, "Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping." (40) And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. (41) Taking her by the hand he said to her, "Talitha cumi," which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise." (42) And immediately the girl got up and began walking. Wasn’t Jesus walking by faith, even when people were laughing at Him? Ignoring what He saw, (that being a dead girl) Jesus simply says, "Don't be afraid; just believe." This is an example that Jesus wants us to learn from; that no matter what you see and no matter how bad the odds are stacked against you and your "mountain"; “just believe”.

(Romans 1:17) For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith". What are the “mountains” in your life that you’ll go forth in faith? Faith that our God is a God of His word and that He will move that mountain according to what you speak! "According to your faith will it be done to you". Rest in the Lord, trust in Him and know that He is God! (Mark 9:23) "Everything is possible for him who believes."

May the Lord bless you,

Mark, a servant in the Lord – www.heavenshelpers.org

Questions/Feedback - email me: mark@heavenshelpers.org