Mk11:20-25 The Prayer of Faith
(Please see PDF link below)
# The Prayer of Faith ## Mark 11:12-14, 20-25 [© 2010 bigbirdz/Flickr, CC-BY 2.0](https://www.flickr.com/photos/bigbirdz/5024081279/ "caption") >>> + have you ever **prayed**, and + God seemingly does not **answer**? + **why** is that? + God doesn't really answer prayer? + I don't have strong enough faith? --- # What kind of **prayer** does God answer? --- ## Prayer of Faith [(Mark 11)](https://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark11&version=NIV "ref") 1. The **Power** of God [(v22-23)](https://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mk11.22-23&version=NIV "ref") 2. **Faith** in Action [(v24)](https://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mk11.24&version=NIV "ref") 3. **Grace** Received, Grace Given [(v25)](https://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mk11.25&version=NIV "ref") >>> + Centers on God's **power**, not my conviction + Comes from **faith** lived out in obedience + Is contingent on me showing **grace** to others: --- ## Jesus' 3rd Passover [(Mk11-12)](# "ref") + With the **public**: + *Triumphal* Entry [(11:1-11)](# "ref") + Cleansing of the *Temple* [(11:15-19)](# "ref") + With the **disciples**: + Cursing of the *Fig Tree* [(11:12-14,20-25)](# "ref") + With the **religious leaders**: + Jesus' *Authority* [(11:27-33)](# "ref") + *Vineyard* and Tenants [(12:1-12)](# "ref") + *Pharisees*, Sadducees, Scribes [(12:13-38)](# "ref") >>> + Jesus' ministry mostly **Galilee** + Annual appear. in **Jeru** were key + 3rd/final **Passover** ⇒ passion + **deliberate** actions w/: + public, disciples, leaders + **authority** over Father's house + kick out wicked **caretakers** + restore true **worship** + w/**public**, cleansing temple: --- **My house** shall be called
a house of **prayer** for all the nations, but you have made it a den of **robbers**. [Mark 11:17 (ESV)](# "ref") [Bernardino Mei, "Christ Cleansing the Temple", ~1655](http://www.getty.edu/art/collection/objects/542/bernardino-mei-christ-cleansing-the-temple-italian-about-1655/ "caption") >>> + kick out **robbers** + seeking **own** profit + not God's agenda + **hindering** others from worship + house of **prayer** for all nations + again, with **religious leaders**: --- What will the **owner** of the vineyard do? He will come and **destroy** the tenants
and give the vineyard to **others**. [Mark 12:9 (ESV)](# "ref") [Mike Kotsch](https://unsplash.com/photos/HNx4QLRgy2k "caption") >>> + kick out **wicked caretakers** + **proud** + believed had **power** over owner + give inheritance to **others** + heirs **adopted** by grace --- Rabbi, look!
The **fig tree** that you cursed has **withered**. [Mark 11:21 (ESV)](# "ref") [Venray, Netherlands. Michael Coury](https://unsplash.com/photos/DiKkJKvDi64 "caption") >>> + Today: **small**, intimate w/discip + not being a **jerk** to a tree! + **deliberate**, to show a **message**: + Creator has **authority** + **same** msg as more spectacular + triumphal entry + showdown w/Pharisees --- ## Prayer of Faith [(Mark 11)](https://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark11&version=NIV "ref") 1. The **Power of God** [(v22-23)](https://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mk11.22-23&version=NIV "ref") 2. Faith in Action [(v24)](https://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mk11.24&version=NIV "ref") 3. Grace Received, Grace Given [(v25)](https://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mk11.25&version=NIV "ref") >>> + Jesus **teaches** his disciples: + the **prayer** that God answers, + that can move **mountains**: + firstly, rests on **God's** power + not strength of **my** conviction: + **Jesus'** authority: + **tear** down and **build** up + **justify**, **forgive**, and **heal** us --- And Jesus answered them,
“Have **faith** in **God**. Truly, I say to you,
whoever says to this **mountain**,
Be **taken up** and **thrown** into the sea,’ [Mark 11:22-23 (ESV)](# "ref") [Victor Harbour, Australia. Dan Stark](https://unsplash.com/photos/DLwUVlzrP0Q "caption") >>> + Primary **imperative** is v22: + *faith in God* : **Godly** faith + *mountain* : rabbinic **idiom** + all things, nothing impossible + **Creator** has authority over + fig tree, mountain, wind+waves + ⇒ focus: **power** of Godly faith + not **strength** of my faith + but **object** of faith + focusing on strength of **own** conviction is like saying: --- ## "God, I believe You will do what **I ask**” >>> + "if I believe **hard enough**, God will do" + ⇒ who is **servant**, who is King? --- ## ~~"God, I believe You will do what **I ask**”~~ vs ## "God, I believe You will do
what **You promised**” >>> + faith in **God** means: + **able** + **willing** do fulfil promises + **power** + **character** of God + so when v23 says: --- and does not **doubt** in his heart,
but **believes** that what he says
will come to pass, it will be **done** for him. [Mark 11:23 (ESV)](# "ref") >>> + **"doubt"** (διακριθῇ, hesitate, judge back/forth) + refers to doubting **God** + not doubting **ourselves** + What kind of prayer does God **not** answer? --- If any of you lacks **wisdom**, let him **ask God**,
who gives **generously** to all without reproach,
and it will be given him. But let him ask in **faith**, with **no doubting**,
for the one who doubts is like a **wave** of the sea
that is driven and **tossed** by the wind. [James 1:5-6 (ESV)](# "ref") [Hans Braxmeier](https://pixabay.com/en/wave-sea-surf-swell-foam-spray-384385/ "caption") >>> + v7 should **not expect** to receive anything from God + **double-minded**, unstable + doubting God's **power** **character** + **wisdom** + **generosity** --- # Have I doubted God's **power** or **character** to fulfill His promises? >>> + think God is **unable** or **unwilling**? + God's promises are **big**! + sins **scarlet** ⇒ **white** as snow + left **Counselor**/Advoc, wisdom + Himself build/cleanse **church** + coming **soon** as Righteous **Judge** + My requests are so **small**: + grades, career, health, happiness --- ## Prayer of Faith [(Mark 11)](https://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark11&version=NIV "ref") 1. The Power of God [(v22-23)](https://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mk11.22-23&version=NIV "ref") 2. **Faith in Action** [(v24)](https://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mk11.24&version=NIV "ref") 3. Grace Received, Grace Given [(v25)](https://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mk11.25&version=NIV "ref") >>> + A **prayer** that God answers: + Centers on God's **power** + to fulfill His **promises** + Comes from **faith** in action: + **subordinate** to God, and + **obedient** to His command --- Therefore I tell you,
whatever you **ask** in **prayer**,
believe that you have received it,
and it will be yours. [Mark 11:24 (ESV)](# "ref") [Ben White](https://unsplash.com/photos/qYanN54gIrI "caption") >>> + v23 God's **power** to move mountains + v24 our faith **relatn** w/God in prayer + *prayer, ask*: not **command** + prayer requires **submission** + if I do not ack I'm **subordinate** to God + then I'm not **praying**: + I'm **telling** God what to do + Jam: 2nd prayer God **doesn't** answer: --- You do not **have**, because you do not **ask**.
You ask and do not **receive**, because you ask **wrongly**,
to spend it on your **passions**. [James 4:2-3 (ESV) (p.1/2)](# "ref") [Jon Flobrant](https://unsplash.com/photos/NEgEJmN3JZo "caption") >>> + asking for sth for my **passions** + (ἡδοναῖς, selfish sensual desires, pleasures) + is also not really **praying** + v4 **adulterers** + the solution? --- **Submit** yourselves therefore to God. ... Draw **near** to God,
and he will draw **near** to you. [James 4:7,8 (ESV) (p.2/2)](# "ref") >>> + To have **faith** in God means + to **submit** to Him + subordinate position + **draw near**, seek His face + not just His **hand** / blessing + not just warm fuzzy **feelings**! + faith requires **action**: --- Was not **Abraham** our father justified by **works**
when he offered up his son **Isaac** on the altar? You see that **faith** was **active**
along with his works,
and faith was **completed** by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, [James 2:21-23 (ESV) (p.1/2)](# "ref") [Caravaggio, "The Sacrifice of Isaac", 1603](http://www.caravaggio.org/the-sacrifice-of-isaac.jsp "caption") --- “Abraham **believed** God,
and it was counted to him as **righteousness**” --
and he was called a **friend** of God. [James 2:21-23 (ESV) (p.2/2)](# "ref") >>> + God's **promise** (Gen 15): **believed** God + promise **fulfilled** (Gen 21) + but faith not **complete** + until Moriah (Gen 22) + this is **real** faith! + the prayer of **faith** is willing to + **offer** all we hold dear + on the **altar** to God + in **obedience** to Him --- # In my prayers, do I **submit** to God? # In my faith, do I **obey** Him? >>> + not **telling** God what I want + for own **pleasures** + but asking from position of **weakness** + **faith**: not just assent or conviction + **trust** + **obey** --- ## Prayer of Faith [(Mark 11)](https://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark11&version=NIV "ref") 1. The Power of God [(v22-23)](https://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mk11.22-23&version=NIV "ref") 2. Faith in Action [(v24)](https://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mk11.24&version=NIV "ref") 3. **Grace Received, Grace Given** [(v25)](https://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mk11.25&version=NIV "ref") >>> + Prayer that God accepts: + Centers on God's **power** + not my conviction + Comes from **faith** + lived out in **obedience** + Is contingent on me + showing **grace** to others: --- And whenever you stand praying, **forgive**,
if you have anything **against** anyone, so that your **Father** also who is in heaven
may **forgive** you your trespasses. [Mark 11:25 (ESV)](# "ref") [Milada Vigerova](https://unsplash.com/photos/iQWvVYMtv1k "caption") >>> + 1st imperative (v23): **faith** in God + 2nd imperative (v25): **forgive** + requests in **love**, not only faith (Benson) + What does **forgiveness** have to do + with my **prayer requests**? + e.g., pray for **healing**: --- Which is easier, to say to the paralytic,
‘Your sins are **forgiven**’; or to say,
‘**Get up**, and pick up your pallet and **walk**’? [Mark 2:9 (ESV)](# "ref") [Nikolay Svishchev-Paola, "Beggar with a Lyra", 1900](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Beggar_with_a_Lyra,_by_Svishchev-Paola_1900s.jpg "caption") >>> + **forgiveness** || **healing**: + v10-12: **heal** ⇒ + show **auth** to forgive sins + **Creator** has authority over + **body**, fig tree, mountain + ⇒ authority to **judge** + and show **mercy** --- The prayer offered in **faith** will restore the one who is **sick**,
and the Lord will **raise** him up, and if he has committed **sins**,
they will be **forgiven** him. [James 5:15 (NASB) (p.1/2)](# "ref") [Ukraine. Paul Itkin](https://unsplash.com/photos/xCdFXXoZkJc "caption") >>> + not that all **illness** is + due to personal **sin** + but **one** Creator + Judge has auth + to both **heal** + **forgive** --- Therefore, **confess** your sins to one another,
and **pray** for one another
so that you may be **healed**. The **effective** prayer of a **righteous** man
can **accomplish** much. [James 5:16 (NASB) (p.2/2)](# "ref") >>> + but I'm **not** righteous! + ⇒ God's **grace** + Christ **died** for my sin + ⇒ I may be **deemed** righteous + ⇒ my prayer may be **effective** + This is God's **grace** to me: + now will I show **grace** to others? --- # What **grace** has God shown **me**? # What **grace** will I show to **others**? >>> + **forgiveness** of sin + **healing** of illness + deemed **righteous** bc of Christ + ⇒ show the same to others? --- The prayer offered in **faith** will restore the one who is **sick**,
and the Lord will **raise** him up, and if he has committed **sins**,
they will be **forgiven** him. [James 5:15 (NASB) (p.1/2)](# "ref") --- Therefore, **confess** your sins to one another,
and **pray** for one another
so that you may be **healed**. The **effective** prayer of a **righteous** man
can **accomplish** much. [James 5:16 (NASB) (p.2/2)](# "ref") ---