“For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will come to pass, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them” (Mark 11:23-24)).
“O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”(Matthew 14:31) He tells us in His Word why Christians doubt Him. Yes, when we doubt, we doubt the God of Creation. We doubt the One who saved us. No faith!!!
You would think that Peter walking with the Lord for three years, seeing Him go aside to pray to the Father, listening to His teaching daily and watching Him perform miracles that Peter would have not denied Him and his faith would have been stronger and he could have walked across the sea.
Jesus not only told them to pray, but was active in prayer with His Father. Jesus lived by faith in His Father. He is our example and we will be helpless without a dedicated prayer life that is totally heartshaped.
When the Christian seeks God with all the heart, it must be with a pouring out of the soul to Him in heart-shaped prayer. When Peter began to sink in his faith, it was because he did not have a dedicated prayer life. He was not obedient to the words of the Savior. Although he walked physically and talked with Jesus, he had neglected his prayer life and was not listening to Jesus. Satan was able to get into his head and caused him to doubt the Savior.
The Christian must bear spiritual fruit. It is by faith and the study of His word in obedience. There is more of a “religious show” today than the “expression of faith” in the Church! Therefore, in local churches. The local church must be a “house of prayer.” When the local church presumes upon God that He will bless them, it is a mistake. If it is not a house of prayer He will not bless.
There must be the study of His Word without man’s interpretation and then the Church must be obedient to His word. The Christians are to be a believing people. We have the Holy Spirit alive within us and His written Word in front of us. We are without excuse!
“And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?” So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, 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 also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” (Matthew 21:20-21).
We need to be moving mountains! How is your prayer life? How much time do you spend in His word? Are you obedient to His Word? Do you have faith? God will give us the faith to move mountains, but only after there is heart-shaped faith and prayer, and life of obedience.
We need a growing and powerful heart-believing faith. The church must be seen as faithful people and not as a religious organization!
“But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!” (Mark 4:40-41).
Jesus was in the boat with them and they were fearful! Jesus is always in the boat with us.
It comes down to the fact that it is a sin not to pray and study His word. We are told to remove the mountain of unbelief. Let us be faithful people! A believing people! a Bible student, prayerful and obedient people.
“O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Stop doubting! Start believing!
“Jesus answered and said to them, Have faith in God.”
Heart-shaped prayer in faith moves mountains!
