Mountain Moving Prayer

Mark 11:20-25

– Cursing of the fig tree/ cleansing of the temple provides an important teaching opportunity on the subject of ‘prayer’

I.  Prayer Requires Faith (vv. 20-24)

1)    Connection between Fig Tree & Faith???

1. Peter’s astonishment at how quickly the tree died reveals a lack of faith
   1. Disciples will need faith to face the coming time of judgment on Israel
   2. Disciples will need faith to accomplish their mission after Jesus leaves
2. Contrast:  lack of faith in national Israel/ prayerlessness in the Temple court vs.  faith/ prayerfulness of genuine disciples of Christ
3. Faith & prayer is the solution for disciples who have ‘leaves’ but are lacking in fruit

2)    Jesus’ Command:  ‘Have faith in God’

1. Faith is a gift from God (Philippians 1:29, Galatians 5:22), and a requirement of God (Hebrews 11:6):  “Lord command what you will and grant what you command.” – St. Augustin
2. Faith must have the proper object
   1. Not faith in the abstract, or ‘faith in your own faith’, but ‘faith in God’
   2. True faith is rooted in the unchanging character and nature of our God

3)    Jesus’ Promise:  Ability to ‘Move Mountains’

1. Jesus’ illustration of ‘mountain moving’ is a figurative expression – can be easily tested!
   1. Prayer releases God’s supernatural power to do what is otherwise impossible
   2. It is God who ‘moves the mountain’, not you or your faith that moves it!
2. Two errors in understanding Jesus’ teaching on prayer in vv. 23-24
   1. Error 1:  The ‘Word of Faith’ heresy – ‘whatever you speak in faith will happen’
      1. Prayer is not for your own selfish, materialistic benefit  (James 4:3)
      2. Prayer must always be offered according to God’s will (1 John 5:14-15;  2 Cor 12:7-9;  Mark 14:36)
         1. Pray boldly according to God’s will as revealed in Holy Scripture
         2. Submit yourself humbly to God’s wisdom and sovereignty over all things (Ephesians 1:11)
         3. “When prayer is the source of faith’s power and the means of its strength, God’s sovereignty is its only restriction.”  – William Lane
   2. Error 2:  Trivializing the Power of Prayer or the Necessity of Prayer for the Believer
      1. God has ordained prayer as the means of accomplishing His sovereign purposes in this world – prayer is a means of grace that must not be neglected or trivialized!
      2. God sometimes gives us assurance of answered prayer even before we see the concrete results of prayer (v. 24)

II. Prayer Requires Forgiveness (v. 25)

1)    Genuine Faith leads to Genuine Forgiveness

1. Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matt 18)
2. Those who refuse to forgive others, don’t understand the severity of their own sin

“We have no right to look for mercy if we are not ready to extend mercy to our brethren.”  – J.C. Ryle