TODAY'S MESSAGE:
If you shall say to this mountain
Author:
Idongesit Williams
Text:
Mark 11:22-23
“ ‘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’ ”
Some years back between 2004 and 2006 - a point in time within this range. I was at a conference
and a girl walk up to me. She told me some strange objects were moving in her. She felt so uncomfortable.
I felt uncomfortable as well. I have never had to cast out a demon from a possessed individual before.
I even doubted my spiritual ability. You know, I was caught. Normally when I encounter such cases, I refer
them to pastors whom I believe are more spiritual than I am. There was no pastor around.
Cautiously, without much faith, I rebuked the demon and commanded it to go. I didn’t wait to find out from the girl what had happened.
As long as she didn’t fall o the floor and roll and all those stuff, I was okay with that. So I just discharged her immediately. Later on
I met the girl; somehow I was bold to ask how she felt. From the expression on her face and the response, she was okay. This was a response
to lack of faith. To God be the glory!
Sometime later after a church service, a fourteen year old girl whom I knew came to me. She had some pains in her abdomen. I didn’t fret. I wasn’t bothered whether she will be healed or not. With a loud voice, I commanded the pains to go and immediately she was healed- There and then.
Let me add a twist here. I can recall praying for someone to be healed, but she wasn’t she even died. So it is God who does the work and not me. I can’t take any credit or any glory on that.
Diseases are not the only mountain faced by individuals. If your partner is cheating on you, that is a mountain. If you are facing financial difficulties, that is a mountain. If you are having a hard time in your marriage, that’s a mountain. If your kids are wayward, that’s a mountain. Is your peace being threatened by a law suit in which you aren’t guilty and you have no help? That’s a mountain. Anything that is against God’s plan and purpose for your life is a mountain.
Let’s take the solution bit by bit.
(1) The first step to moving a mountain is to have faith in God. What does this mean? I presume you are sitting comfortably in a chair. You haven’t considered your weight to that of the chair- You just believe, you won’t fall. If you fall you will be shocked because you don’t expect it to happen. That is faith in a lay man’s language.
Which means, don’t you command a mountain, if you don’t have faith in God’s ability to move the mountain. It won’t move. In the preceding verse to our text, Jesus cursed a fig tree and went away. He didn’t wait to see if the fig tree withered, he went away. His duty was to speak; he knew God will take care of the rest. He didn’t stay there shouting on the fig tree. Remember the fig tree didn’t wither.
What does this mean in today’s world. When you address a mountain in prayer- don’t focus on the mountain again.
When I was a kid, I had a dream. A man attacked me in my dreams. I attacked him in the name of Jesus. Suddenly he lost confidence but was still there staring at me. I got angry and charged towards him. Can you imagine an eight year old boy carry a thirty year old man? That is what happened. But the snag here was, I was carrying an empty case. Glory to God! When I commanded the man out in the name of Jesus, He was gone. What was the lesson God thought me? When you command a thing in my name it will be done.
(2) Jesus says, I tell you the truth. A mountain not addressed in prayer is a mountain that may never leave except God intervenes. Jesus here is stressing a fact, a point and a truth.
(3) If anyone says to this mountain. Friend this is an open check. You better get out of the pity party and address the mountains in your life. JESUS SAYS ‘IF ANYONE’. Are you ANYONE? He didn’t say, if a Bishop or if a reverend or if a Pope, he said, if ANYONE says to this mountain.
In primitive Africa, the destinies of generations yet unborn where determined by words. If they want to harm or curse, they do so by speaking words. But today Jesus is telling you that your situation has a solution, if only you will speak in the name of Jesus to reverse it.
Psalm 34:2 echoes it:" My soul will boast in the Lord” It says.
(4) ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ is the next phrase. It isn’t a stereotyped phrase but an example of a command.
The scripture say in Psalm 82:6 “I said, ‘you are ‘gods’; you are sons of the most high.”
Does that sound like you?
What does the Most High do? Roman4:17b declares “………………the God who gives life to the death and CALLS THE THINGS THAT BE NOT AS THOUGH THEY WERE”
Genesis Chapter 1: 1-3 says “now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the face of the deep, ………………….”
Does this depict your situation? That isn’t all. In spite of this gloomy situation, the Bible says
“and the Spirit of the God was hovering over the waters”
As I speak to you, the Spirit of God is hovering over your situation, why? You are a god, the son/daughter of the most high.
Here is God, your Father confronted with a chaotic situation. He didn’t cry, he didn’t feel discouraged rather he did only what a God could do he gave a command.
“AND GOD SAID, ‘Let there be light’………………………………..”
Once light came He gave other commands until a beautiful world emerged.
Today Jesus is selling this secret to us.
(5) The next Phrase says “and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen,” This is where the snag is. You know in life we expect things to happen immediately. But this can only happen when you grow in the Holy Spirit. That is, the Holy Spirit is now in charge of you. When you haven’t reached this point, things will only happen immediately by God’s grace and divine order. But thanks be to God who hasn’t extinguished the dimensions of his power totally from us. This grace is open to everyone, but meant to be applied on mountains only. Not on your co worker whom you don’t see eye to eye with. Or you are coveting a position which will one day be yours if you declare so. However, you’ve read this devotional and you now declare. “In the name of Jesus, mr Barnes be uprooted as my boss so I can move in” No angel will carry that out.
So God says, you shouldn’t doubt. Adopt Jesus’ approach, remove your focus from the mountain, no matter what happens, once you have spoken against it and be thanking God for answered prayers. You will see a speedy result.
(6) The Last phrase says “It will be done for him.”
Note; this phrase doesn’t mention your input. Humans find it difficult to believe that God can act without an input from them. The Only input from you is to command and believe. Once those two things are in place, what you command will be done for you. Remember, Jesus said, I tell you the truth.
Let’s look at a few practical examples of declarations. Don’t quote these. They are just examples.
(1) Jennifer you shall not have my husband in Jesus name. I command be thou uprooted from my marriage in Jesus name. James I command your heart back to me for it is written, whatsoever God has Joined together let no man put asunder.
(2) Carl, I command the spirit of heroine in your life to be uprooted in the name of Jesus. Children are the heritage of the Lord not cocaine.
(3) I rebuke every spirit of lies in James in the name of Jesus
Please these names are examples. I render sincere apologies to whosoever answer any of these names. You are not the one I mean here. I am so sorry for using your names, Okay. These are just examples. Read God’s word, know your right and face your mountain. Your Life will never remain the same again.
If you haven’t accepted Jesus into your life as Lord, pray this prayer after me.
“Lord Jesus. I accept that I am a sinner. I confess my sins before you. I ask for your forgiveness. I accept your love. I believe you died on the cross for me. I believe you are Lord and I accept you as Lord and saviour, in Jesus Name”.
If you have just prayed this prayer sincerely, you are now a child of God. Do buy yourself a bible. Locate a bible believing Church closer to you. Read the bible because that is the only way you will know who you are in God, your rights and privileges. Do call or send me an e mail. I will be glad to hear from you. God Bless you.
