Bible League: Living His Word So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. 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 be done, he will have whatever he says."— Mark 11:22-23 NKJV Often we are faced with problems and we talk around them or about them "I don't know what we are going to do. This situation is a big mess..." This is a classic example of talking about the problem rather than to the problem, and it will get you nowhere but deeper into mistrust and more problems! Speaking out loud to your problems may seem strange to you, but God instructed us to do so in Mark 11:22-23. He said to talk to the mountain. The mountain represents any problem or misfortune in your life. You can change your circumstances by speaking to them in confidence. Romans 4:17 refers to such a conversation of faith as calling "things that are not as though they were," and both God Himself and Abraham (the father of our faith) did this. It is important to note what kind of speech is the Word of Jesus. He is not saying that since you feel this way, deny all the worry and fear about your problem or circumstances&mdashthis is unbelieving speech. But speaking with faith means thanking God for the blessings that are coming. When I declare that my needs are met according to God's riches in glory, I am not denying the existence of any financial problems I may experience. I'm not pretending they're not there. I am calling for assurance and confidently declaring that the needs have been met. I am speaking to that financial mountain and ordering it to be removed and thrown into the sea. I remember one morning a few years ago when I had to talk to a mountain of sickness that was trying to prevent me from preaching. I was so sick that I couldn't even stand on my feet. I began to quote the Word and believe in my healing. Now, I had already gone to God earlier that morning based on His provision, and by faith I believed that I received my healing. But the manifestation had not yet come. So I took another time and started talking to the mountain. I defied the devil. I told him that I had been healed by the wounds of Jesus. I told him that his power over me was broken and I commanded him in the name of Jesus to remove his filthy hand of sickness from me. After a while, I didn't feel better physically, but I knew I had done what the Word instructed me to do, so I went right back and started preaching about healing. At first my voice seemed weak. My body ached from the top of my head to my feet. But while I was preaching, suddenly the power of God touched me and healed me and gave me so much strength that some people accepted Christ that afternoon. I had spoken to the mountain in faith, and it had been thrown into the sea with the mountain of sickness. Speak to your mountain with courage and faith and it will jump into the sea. I declare myself healed, liberated, prosperous, full of success in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. By Pastor Sabri Kasemi, Bible League International partner, Albania Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingPsalm 28, 29, 30 Psalm 28 -- To you, O Lord, I call. My rock, don't be deaf to me NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 29 -- Ascribe to the Lord, you sons of the mighty NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 30 -- I will extol you, O Lord, for you have raised me up NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Acts 21:1-14 Acts 21 -- Paul Sails from Miletus to Jerusalem, Seized in the Temple NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion “Anyone who isn't with me opposes me, and anyone who isn't working with me is actually working against me.”Insight How does this verse relate to Luke 9:50: “Anyone who is not against you is for you”? In the earlier passage, Jesus was talking about a person who was driving out demons in Jesus' name. Those who fight evil, he was saying, are on the same side as one driving out demons in Jesus' name. Here, by contrast, he was talking about the conflict between God and the devil. In this battle, if a person is not on God's side, he or she is on Satan's. There is no neutral ground. Because God has already won the battle, why be on the losing side? Challenge If you aren't actively for Christ, you are against him. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Deuteronomy 5:24 The Lord our God hath shewed us his glory.God's great design in all his works is the manifestation of his own glory. Any aim less than this were unworthy of himself. But how shall the glory of God be manifested to such fallen creatures as we are? Man's eye is not single, he has ever a side glance towards his own honor, has too high an estimate of his own powers, and so is not qualified to behold the glory of the Lord. It is clear, then, that self must stand out of the way, that there may be room for God to be exalted; and this is the reason why he bringeth his people ofttimes into straits and difficulties, that, being made conscious of their own folly and weakness, they may be fitted to behold the majesty of God when he comes forth to work their deliverance. He whose life is one even and smooth path, will see but little of the glory of the Lord, for he has few occasions of self-emptying, and hence, but little fitness for being filled with the revelation of God. They who navigate little streams and shallow creeks, know but little of the God of tempests; but they who "do business in great waters," these see his "wonders in the deep." Among the huge Atlantic-waves of bereavement, poverty, temptation, and reproach, we learn the power of Jehovah, because we feel the littleness of man. Thank God, then, if you have been led by a rough road: it is this which has given you your experience of God's greatness and lovingkindness. Your troubles have enriched you with a wealth of knowledge to be gained by no other means: your trials have been the cleft of the rock in which Jehovah has set you, as he did his servant Moses, that you might behold his glory as it passed by. Praise God that you have not been left to the darkness and ignorance which continued prosperity might have involved, but that in the great fight of affliction, you have been capacitated for the outshinings of his glory in his wonderful dealings with you. Daily Light on the Daily Path Luke 1:49 "For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name.Exodus 15:11 "Who is like You among the gods, O LORD? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, Awesome in praises, working wonders? Psalm 86:8 There is no one like You among the gods, O Lord, Nor are there any works like Yours. Revelation 15:4 "Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy; For ALL THE NATIONS WILL COME AND WORSHIP BEFORE YOU, FOR YOUR RIGHTEOUS ACTS HAVE BEEN REVEALED." Matthew 6:9 "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Luke 1:68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people, Isaiah 63:1 Who is this who comes from Edom, With garments of glowing colors from Bozrah, This One who is majestic in His apparel, Marching in the greatness of His strength? "It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save." Psalm 89:19 Once You spoke in vision to Your godly ones, And said, "I have given help to one who is mighty; I have exalted one chosen from the people. Ephesians 3:20,21 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, • to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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