Move that mountain

“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 11:23 nkjv                                                                        

Perhaps you recall that Jesus talked about moving mountains. He told the disciples: “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 11:23 nkjv).

First note that whenever Jesus said, “I say to you,” what He was saying was a sharp break with what was commonly taught by religious leaders in His day. In this statement that went against conventional wisdom, Jesus was not suggesting that the disciples say, “Okay, Mount Tabor, be moved into the Mediterranean half way between Tel Aviv and Cyprus.” Jesus used an expression of His day, saying that faith moves mountains – things that should not naturally happen do happen because God honors the prayer of His child.

It is God’s Spirit who works in the lives of people today. Like dynamite that moves a stony mountain, God’s Spirit is the mountain-mover who makes things happen.

Pastor Jim Cymbala says, “When strangers visit our churches today, they need to see something happening that reinforces the message of salvation. They need to meet the reclaimed alcoholic, the reunited family, the former homosexual who has been turned around, the sick person who was healed – something that bears witness to a living, powerful Savior.” And that is the mountain-moving power of God’s Spirit in the lives of people today.

But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.  You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” “The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” Luke 1:30-35