Mk11:20-25 The Prayer of Faith

# The Prayer of Faith
## Mark 馬可 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)](# "ref")
1. The **Power** of God [(v22-23)](# "ref")
2. **Faith** in Action [(v24)](# "ref")
3. **Grace** Received, Grace Given [(v25)](# "ref")

>>>
+ 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**.

我的殿必稱為萬國禱告的殿麼, 
你們倒使他成為賊窩了。

[Mark 馬可 11:17 (ESV/CUV)](# "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**:

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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**.

這樣，葡萄園的主人要怎麼辦呢？ 
他要來除滅那些園戶，將葡萄園轉給別人

[Mark 馬可 12:9 (ESV/CUV)](# "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**.

拉比，請看！ 
你所咒詛的無花果樹，已經枯乾了

[Mark 馬可 11:21 (ESV/CUV)](# "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)](# "ref")
1. **The Power of God** [(v22-23)](# "ref")
2. Faith in Action [(v24)](# "ref")
3. Grace Received, Grace Given [(v25)](# "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

---

“Have **faith** in **God**. 
Truly, I say to you, 
whoever says to this **mountain**, 
Be **taken up** and **thrown** into the sea,’

耶穌回答說：你們當信服神。 
我實在告訴你們，無論何人對這座山說： 
你挪開此地，投在海裡！

[Mark 馬可 11:22-23 (ESV/CUV)](# "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:

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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:

---

and does not **doubt** in his heart, 
but **believes** that what he says 
will come to pass, it will be **done** for him.

他若心裡不疑惑，只信他所說的必成， 
就必給他成了。

[Mark 馬可 11:23 (ESV/CUV)](# "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.

你們中間若有缺少智慧的， 
應當求那厚賜與眾人、 
也不斥責人的神，主就必賜給他。

[James 雅各 1:5-6 (ESV/CUV) (p.1/2)](# "ref")
[Hans Braxmeier](https://pixabay.com/en/wave-sea-surf-swell-foam-spray-384385/ "caption")

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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.

只要憑著信心求，一點不疑惑； 
因為那疑惑的人，就像海中的波浪， 
被風吹動翻騰。

[James 雅各 1:5-6 (ESV/CUV) (p.2/2)](# "ref")

>>>
+ 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)](# "ref")
1. The Power of God [(v22-23)](# "ref")
2. **Faith in Action** [(v24)](# "ref")
3. Grace Received, Grace Given [(v25)](# "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.

所以我告訴你們， 
凡你們禱告祈求的，無論是甚麼， 
只要信是得著的，就必得著。

[Mark 馬可 11:24 (ESV/CUV)](# "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:

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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**.

你們得不著，是因為你們不求。 
你們求也得不著，是因為你們妄求，

[James 雅各 4:2-3 (ESV/CUV)](# "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?

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**Submit** yourselves therefore to God.

故此，你們要順服神。

Draw **near** to God, 
and he will draw **near** to you.

你們親近神，神就必親近你們。

[James 雅各 4:7,8 (ESV/CUV)](# "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?

我們的祖宗亞伯拉罕 
把他兒子以撒獻在壇上， 
豈不是因行為稱義麼？

[James 雅各 2:21-23 (ESV/CUV) (p.1/3)](# "ref")
[Caravaggio, "The Sacrifice of Isaac", 1603](http://www.caravaggio.org/the-sacrifice-of-isaac.jsp "caption")

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You see that **faith** was **active** 
along with his works, and 
faith was **completed** by his works; and 
the Scripture was fulfilled that says,

可見，信心是與他的行為並行， 
而且信心因著行為才得成全。 
這就應驗經上所說：

[James 雅各 2:21-23 (ESV/CUV) (p.3/3)](# "ref")

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“Abraham **believed** God, 
and it was counted to him as **righteousness**” -- 
and he was called a **friend** of God.

「亞伯拉罕信神，這就算為他的義。」 
他又得稱為神的朋友。

[James 雅各 2:21-23 (ESV/CUV) (p.3/3)](# "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

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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**

---

## Prayer of Faith [(Mark 11)](# "ref")
1. The Power of God [(v22-23)](# "ref")
2. Faith in Action [(v24)](# "ref")
3. **Grace Received**, Grace Given [(v25)](# "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.

你們站著禱告的時候， 
若想起有人得罪你們，就當饒恕他， 
好叫你們在天上的父 
也饒恕你們的過犯。

[Mark 馬可 11:25 (ESV/CUV)](# "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**:

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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**’?

或對癱子說你的罪赦了， 
或說起來！ 拿你的褥子行走； 
那一樣容易呢？

[Mark 馬可 2:9 (ESV/CUV)](# "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.

出於信心的祈禱要救那病人， 
主必叫他起來； 
他若犯了罪，也必蒙赦免。

[James 雅各 5:15-16 (NASB/CUV) (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.

所以你們要彼此認罪，互相代求， 
使你們可以得醫治。 
義人祈禱所發的力量是大有功效的。

[James 雅各 5:15-16 (NASB/CUV) (p.2/2)](# "ref")

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+ 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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