Title: Faith that reveals power / Mark 11:23
“I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, believing that what he says will happen, it will be done for him” (Mark 11:23).
The merciful king summoned a loyal servant and said: "I want to give the Lord a great reward. You can take whatever you want". To the servant who refused, the king gave a piece of paper and asked him to write down what he wanted. After thinking for a moment, the minister drew a circle on a piece of paper and presented it to the king. To the puzzled king, this official said, "This circle represents my narrow thinking, experience, and possessions. If the king gives anything outside this circle, I will gladly accept it." I hope that we who worship before God do not only think of what is within the narrow circle, but look beyond the circle to God's wonderful grace and blessing, economy and providence, and transcendent grace. Then we can have faith in which power is manifested.
However, there are two prerequisites for having faith in which power is manifested. One is to have the conviction that Jesus is the same yesterday and today. We must be convinced that the God who worked in the past is also working today. Another thing is that the history of faith should not be considered narrowly. In Mark 9, there is a father who brought his son who had epilepsy to Jesus. He asked Jesus, "If you can, heal this child." Then Jesus said, "If it is possible, what do you mean? Nothing is impossible for those who believe." He was referring to the history of absolute faith. I hope that you will be able to see the absolute realm of this faith, the world of God's power and grace that transcends our senses, knowledge, and reason. When this is presupposed, we can live a life of faith in which power is shown.
When, then, can we have faith that manifests power?
First, it is a time to entrust yourself to God earnestly and pray. Also in the text, the Lord said, "Whatever you pray for and ask, believe that you have received it. Whatever you ask and pray, believe that you have received it." When we pray with faith, God works through that prayer. Please have faith in this prayer.
Luke 18:17 also says, "God answers your prayers that you cry out day and night." In John 14:14 and below, He said, "If you pray in my name, I will answer you." James 4:2-3 says, “You do not have because you do not ask; you ask and do not receive because you ask erroneously, that you may spend it on your lusts.” This is the promise that God will answer and bless us with power when we pray with faith. Please be sure of the fact that God's power is revealed through the prayer of faith.
Second, the power of faith is revealed when we picture the spiritual reality in the heart of God's grace. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Even if you cannot see it with your physical eyes, you can see the reality in faith. If we know the spiritual life, spiritual operation, spiritual work and its flow, we can see and draw the reality of what we hope for in faith.
After looking around the temple in Jerusalem and staying in Bethany, Jesus found fruit in a fig tree by the road while he was feeling the market food the next day. But when there was no fruit, he cursed the tree. The next day, when Peter saw that the tree had withered from its roots, Jesus was telling him the words of today's text. These words teach the amazing power of faith.
Spurgeon said, "A little faith will lead you to heaven, but a great faith will bring you to heaven." Faith is not believing that God can do it, it is believing what God will do.
In the United States, a couple was traveling in a carriage pulled by four horses through a large field. But the couple said, "Isn't there such a car that doesn't have to be pulled by a horse? Could it be possible to make such a car?" I was thinking. These couples were just outside Ford. Their research and hard work led to the production of automobiles. There is an inscription in the Ford Memorial Garden at the Detroit Auto Plant. "Ford, he was a man who lived his life with a dream. She was a brave woman who helped make that dream come true".
Dear saints, I hope that you will come to realize that when you hold on to the Word of God and pray, God works and makes you have the reality that it will come true. I hope you will be able to paint the reality. Picture the reality of being healed. Imagine a thriving business. Picture the reality of the revival of the church. Have the facts that make a great life. Then you will experience God's captivity and leading. At that time, we will have wisdom and power and passion.
Third, when we have confession of faith, power is revealed. Also in the text, the Lord is saying that “the heart that believes that what you say will come true,” that is, the heart that has such a confession will accomplish the will. A man named Cannon said, "Faith gives courage to confess, and confession gives courage to faith." A man named David Noon said, "Faith reigns over you, and that faith cannot rise higher than your confession."
The cocoon builds a house for its body from the thread that comes out of its mouth. In the same way, we can also say that we live in the realm of what we speak and confess. It means that we are affected by and live in the influence of the world we speak and the world we confess. The saying that a word becomes a seed has the same meaning.
As believers, we must speak with faith. Let's say victory. Let's say blessings. Let's talk God. That will be a blessing.
Fourth, when we practice with passion, the power of faith is revealed. When the Israelites complained about lack of water in the wilderness, Moses relied on God's word and struck the rock. Then water poured out of the rock.
Start with faith and move and walk with faith. That's when history happened and the Red Sea parted. If you have seen the reality that God allows in your faith, please look at it and put it into practice. God will fill it and fulfill it. Instead of wandering with negative thoughts or defeatist thoughts like this and that, you must walk while looking at what God has given you. When you start with such passion, God changes you and gives you blessings and power.
Finally, when we count the blessings we will receive and wait until the end with thanksgiving, the power of faith will be revealed. "Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) These are the words given to the Thessalonians who were in poverty, tribulation, and persecution. "Always... do not rest... in all circumstances..." This means that when the Lord comes, it will be preserved and there will be victory. Who Can Live a Powerful Life? He is a person who counts the blessings he will receive and gives thanks. And he's the one waiting.
There is one painting that beautifully expresses the family. By the way, the artist who drew this picture is an 83-year-old American grandmother. This grandmother was originally a professor's wife, but she lost her husband at the age of 53 and entered the art college the following year. He had good reasons for starting a new life. It is said that when she lost her husband and was in despair and frustration, she was moved by God's promise to 'open a new life of blessing' in prayer. She was convinced by this emotion and entered the art college to study painting, which she had always liked. When she turned 60, she had already become a recognized artist in the art world, and it is said that she lived a life of witnessing the gospel through her art activities.
When she felt frustrated and gave up that her life was over if she was an ordinary person, she came to God and prayed. God gave her wisdom and gave her hope. So, she was able to start her life anew, and in the end, she was able to live a life that left many precious works and moved people's faith.
In this turbulent and turbulent time, the families of faith are also faced with difficulties. Saints! However, please keep in mind that the family of faith can endure, overcome, and triumph with the power of faith that God gives. Tribulation can be a blessing. I hope you will believe this.
Don't just look at the ground. I hope that the saints who have diseases or who have conflicts and problems do not look at me alone in the circle, but look at the wonderful world of God's grace, grace, and power outside the circle. This is the teaching that Jesus gives us through this text. He is explaining the world of these possibilities and these abilities. I pray in the name of the Lord that you will become victorious by using this faith, this wonderful grace and power in your life.