Mk11:20-25 The Prayer of Faith

# The Prayer of Faith
## Mark 11:12-14, 20-25

>>>
+ 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?

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# What kind of **prayer** does God answer?

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## 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")

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+ Centers on God's **power**, not my conviction
+ Comes from **faith** lived out in obedience
+ Is contingent on me showing **grace** to others:

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## 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:

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**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")

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+ kick out **robbers**
  + seeking **own** profit
  + not God's agenda
  + **hindering** others from worship
+ house of **prayer** for all nations
+ again, with **religious leaders**:

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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

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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")

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+ 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:

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## "God, I believe You will do what **I ask**”

>>>
+ "if I believe **hard enough**, God will do"
  + ⇒ who is **servant**, who is King?

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## ~~"God, I believe You will do what **I ask**”~~

## "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:

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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?

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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")

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+ v7 should **not expect** to receive anything from God
  + **double-minded**, unstable
+ doubting God's **power** **character**
  + **wisdom** + **generosity**

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# 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

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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")

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+ 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:

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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")

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+ asking for sth for my **passions**
  + (ἡδοναῖς, selfish sensual desires, pleasures)
  + is also not really **praying**
+ v4 **adulterers**
+ the solution?

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**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**:

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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")

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“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")

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+ 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

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# 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**

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## 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:

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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")

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+ 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**:

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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")

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+ **forgiveness** || **healing**:
+ v10-12: **heal** ⇒
  + show **auth** to forgive sins
+ **Creator** has authority over
  + **body**, fig tree, mountain
+ ⇒ authority to **judge**
  + and show **mercy**

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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")

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+ not that all **illness** is
  + due to personal **sin**
+ but **one** Creator + Judge has auth
  + to both **heal** + **forgive**

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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?

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# 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?

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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")

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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")

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