Speak your 'mountain' away

I've got a question concerning Mark 11:23. For the past 13 years, I've attended a so-called "Faith" church. Mark 11:23 was always referenced to as a place where the "mountain" is an obstacle in our life. The scripture says the word "say" in three different places. This is why my old church would put great emphasis on what we say, that our words are words of death or life. We were taught we could speak to our mountains and they would be cast into the sea. 

We've had guest speakers that basically were associated with this verse of scripture—they’ve written books, tapes, etc., on the subject.

(I must say, this transition to learning the grace message can be a bit challenging at times.)

Before I give you my understanding on Mark 11:23, let me first offer you some words of encouragement...

As long as you continue on in Paul's grace doctrine and patiently allow the Lord to clear up the confusion from what you were previously taught, you will be alright.

Colossians 1:9

For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

Just give "right division" as much of a chance as you gave other things in the past, and I will bet that you will not be disappointed; but you will be blessed! It will take time to "unlearn" all that other stuff and to "renew your minds" with Pauline grace sound doctrine, but the Lord will do it.

Ephesians 4:22-24

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

2 Timothy 2:7

Consider what I [Paul] say; and the Lord [will] give thee understanding in all things.

Now then, my thoughts your referenced portion of scripture…

First off, notice the context of the Lord's words! He is saying that whatever Israel asks the Father in his name they will get—no ‘if, ands, buts, maybe, wait, or hold on a minute!’ etc. We all know that that does not work for us today. Because we have all asked God for things in prayer, “in Christ’s name” and have not gotten them.

Mark 11:23-26

For verily I say unto you [Israel], That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

But notice also, in the passage that their prayer was one of daily forgiveness—if they did not forgive others, neither would God forgive their sins; that was the Law! Law = works, aka performance-based acceptance system!  That's the opposite from today in the dispensation of the grace of God!

Ephesians 2:9

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

We do not have to pray that today. All we do is thank God daily for already forgiving us in Christ!!  Grace is God's forgiveness poured out freely because of Calvary. Even if we chose not to forgive others as saints today, God still has already forgiven us if we trust in Christ.

So, Mark 11 is written to Israel about how God deals with them!

Now what about those "mountains" of Mark 11? Well, first of all, the reason that you were taught that the "mountains" of Mark 11 were "obstacles" in your life and all that, was because the people teaching you that have no clue what they are talking about.  [That may sound harsh, but what saith the scriptures?]

Romans 3:4

God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

In First Timothy, our Apostle Paul says that those teachers who do not rightly divide the scriptures, end up mixing law and grace, thereby confusing themselves and you; and therefore need to cover themselves by "spiritualizing" the passage.

1 Timothy 1:17; 6:3-5

Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

[God does not mince His words! He means what He says and says what He means!]

If preachers don't teach the bible the way that Paul tells us to—rightly dividing—then scripture tells us to not listen to them!

                      

1 Corinthians 14:37

If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I [Paul] write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

Romans 16:17

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

The "Word of Faith" ministers do not listen to Paul, nor do they rightly divide; therefore they have to spiritualize the passage. They make the literal mountain that the Lord is talking about in Mark into your "obstacle" etc., and that has nothing to do with what the Lord is referring too. In fact, the Lord is not even speaking to us today there, He is speaking to Jews who will go thru the Tribulation period.

All that to say:  your words don't affect your life the way that they claim—that is, if you are sick, just keep saying "By His stripes I'm healed, by His stripes I'm healed, By His stripes I'm healed." That is just wishful thinking that borders on superstition, and the Lord never told His Jewish followers to do that. They never had to keep saying things like that...they just asked God to heal them, and He healed them instantly, without delay, right away, for good! Why? Because He promised Israel this healing (by the way, it is both spiritual healing of all sins and physical healing of all sicknesses and diseases) as a sign of the kingdom.

Isaiah 33:24

And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.

That's why the Lord said...

Matthew 9:2-8

And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. And he arose, and departed to his house. But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

That's why James tells Israel…

James 5:14-15

Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

Notice that in every reference verse dealing with God's kingdom program with the Nation of Israel, that healings were associated with forgiveness of sins and vice versa.  That is not(!) the way God deals with us today as gentiles in the dispensation of the grace of God.

We get forgiveness of sins thru trusting Christ's shed blood and God may leave us sick...

1 Timothy 5:23; 2 Timothy 4:20

Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.

Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.

Unlike with Israel where when someone trusted Christ, God would not only give them forgiveness of sins, but would also(!) heal their bodies if they were sick.  Today, in the dispensation of grace, these two faithful men of God (Timothy and Erastus) were saved, but both remained sick because God did not promise them that provision.

Israel is a physical, earthly people; therefore their blessings are primarily physical: health, wealth, prosperity—the very things that the word of faith and the name-it-and-claim-it, prosperity people claim God is doing today.

But the Body of Christ is a spiritual entity, therefore our blessings are almost entirely spiritual (although God does provide also for our physical needs if we do things His way), with our healing program coming at the rapture.

Ephesians 1:3; Colossians 2:10

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: ...
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

Hopefully this helps!

_†††

_{++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++}

Northern California Grace Fellowship

Do you have a question for Pastor Ron? 

 Heir of God or Joint-Heirs with Christ?