Move Series# 7, Mountain Moving Faith

MOVE Series# 7, Mountain Moving Faith
By: Bobby Sullivan

The beginning of Jesus passion week.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Faith moves the mountains that doubt creates 

 Mark 11:12-14 “He was hungry.  And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. …“…When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.  In response Jesus said to it, ‘Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.’“ 

Why was he so upset with the fig tree? It was in full bloom, full manifestation but no fruit. The tree was expressing that there is fruit here but upon further examination, there was none.

Mark 11:21 “And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.”  Wow!  How did you do that?  

Jesus inserts a teaching moment on exercising faith and the power of your words.

Mark 11:22 “So Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Have faith in God.’”  Inaccurate translation because in the  Literal greek:– “Have the faith of God.”

If he says then, “Have the faith of God” he is not going to tell you to do something that you can’t do!!!

He wants them to get a revelation of how faith works and Impact Church needs that as well. We are coming up to a worship and healing night but hear me, faith isn’t an event it’s a lifestyle, but sometimes the event can change your lifestyle.

MAIN TEXT: Mark 11:23-24 “²³ “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt(some translations says, entertain) in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. ²⁴ Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Pastor Mark Hankins, “Faith must move your mouth” 

The authority of the believer is in your voice not in charismatic calisthenics.

Faith must be activated for it to be authentic

Faith in a fence is an offense

1 John 5:4  “For whatever is born of God is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world, even our faith.”  {AMP}

“Every God-begotten person conquers the world’s ways. The conquering power that brings the world to its knees is our faith.” {MSG}

Philemon 1:6  “I pray for you that the faith we share may effectively deepen your understanding of every good thing that belongs to you in Christ.”  (TPT)

Faith is the only vehicle that will transport your expectations to the heavenly realm and make it manifest in the physical realm.

Philemon 1:6  “I pray for you that the faith we share may effectively deepen your understanding of every good thing that belongs to you in Christ.”  (TPT) 

Religion made you a mountain climber instead of a mountain mover

We spend so much time trying to climb the mountain instead of speaking the word of faith for it to be dissolved into the sea. Something must be said about the confession of your faith.

Kenneth Copeland says we need to “Start believing the unbelievable and receiving the impossible.”

Romans 1:17 “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed, from faith to faith, for it is written The Just shall live by faith.”  Faith is the lifeblood of the body

“From Faith to Faith” is the journey of development. So, God fully expects us to be developed in this area.

Faith must be the catalyst that captivates this culture at Impact Church. Sheryl and I are responsible for our own faith even in the area of our giving. We are not tied to money. It is a tool that translates into a visible manifestation of our faith. That is an area, not the only, where my faith is developed.  When I got born again, I was placed in the Kingdom, then I was given an assignment, then I got dependant on Him as my pay master.

We must keep Kingdom Decorum.  

Sheryl has been telling me for months that I need to stretch.

Mark 3:1-6:  (NIV): Jesus Heals on the Sabbath: “1 Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. 2 Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. 3 Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.” 4 Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent. 5 He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. 6 Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus”

Google search: What happens to your muscles if you don’t stretch?

When we don’t stretch (regularly), our body doesn’t want to and sometimes can‘t move for us. The muscles can get ‘stuck’ where they are and tighten down during inactivity and create pulling on joints or bones. This can all lead to aches, pains, or probably more often, a compensation in our movement. Jul 26, 2016

Your faith needs to be stretched to broaden your expectations and to fully contain and comprehend all you’re capable of giving birth to.

The Journey Of Faith:  Stretch    (Vulnerable when you stretch —  RUBBER BANDS) The importance of stretching!!!
“Upon awakening, our muscles are oxygen-starved and loaded with irritating waste, and the brain needs a blood pressure increase to prepare the body for activity, especially standing up. All of those issues are addressed by a good stretch.” STRETCHING:  FULL QUOTE NOT IN SLIDES
When our muscles are active, their constant contractions and extensions aid in the process of moving blood through the capillaries, the microscopic vessels that service most of our bodies’ cells. When the muscles are inactive for long periods, the blood has a harder time moving through the capillaries; this results in a decrease of oxygen in the muscle tissue and an increase in the waste products that the blood normally carries away.

During sleep, most of our skeletal muscles are normally “switched off” by the brain to prevent potentially harmful motion, and blood pressure gradually drops. Upon awakening, our muscles are oxygen-starved and loaded with irritating waste, and the brain needs a blood pressure increase to prepare the body for activity, especially standing up. All of those issues are addressed by a good stretch. The simultaneous elongation or contraction of almost every major muscle group flushes out waste, brings in oxygen, and boosts blood pressure. Notice what happens to your heart beat next time you have a good morning stretch; the rate temporarily increases as does the force of the beat, all to handle these changes in the blood supply.

Isaiah 54:2 “Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes.” 

Hebrews 11: 1- 2: (NIV): Faith in Action: 1 Now faith (not later faith) is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.

Hebrews 11:1  (TPT)  Now faith brings our hopes into reality and becomes the foundation needed to acquire the things we long for. It is all the evidence required to prove what is still unseen.

In Mark 3, we see that Jesus is confronting the dis-function of the people who were supposed to be people of faith.

WE CAN’T FORCE YOUR FAITH! WE CAN’T ENFORCE OUR FAITH ON YOU but YOU CAN SEE IT IN DEMONSTRATION.

How functional is your faith?

Is your faith a working faith? Your faith will always follow your focus. So whatever you are the most focused on, you will have the most faith for.  Jesus says to the man: “stand up in front of the people.”  Before your faith can grow stronger, your faith has to take a stand.   Have you relegated your faith to only one part of your life?  For Jesus, faith is not a special occasion event.   We want a functional faith.  We want a faith that moves on Monday,  We want a faith that is tested on Tuesday. We want a faith the works on Wednesday. That is trusted on Thursday, We want a faith that will fight on Friday and stand tall on Saturday and seen on Sunday. Your faith is an instrument to stretch.

Jesus gives the command to stretch it out. ·  The shriveled hand is symbolic of anything in our lives that is not working.

Faith grows through opposition and resistance – faith grows strong when we stretch and extend.

Faith comes by the word of God – but you have got to do the work.

The man was fully restored after he stretched out his hand.

Your faith is going to work when you work it. Will you stretch your hand this week? Can you stretch your faith by calling someone and extending the hand of forgiveness?  You are going to get your hand back if you reach and work it.  God will give it to you if you reach for it.  Today is a season of stretching.  Are you ready to initiate change to address your area of dis-function?  It is a terrible thing to keep a shriveled hand or heart hidden.  We pray for restoration in our lives.

What is the purpose of having a clock in the house that does not tell time? What is the purpose?

• Many people have the resemblance of faith in their life – a nostalgic faith that hails back to something they were taught by a Grandmother or some family tradition.
• Steven Furtick, “Many people pontificate (express one’s opinions in a way considered annoyingly pompous and dogmatic) on faith in such a way that contradicts the very nature of faith they attempt to explain – for if it can be explained, it might not be faith. If you can understand it, you don’t have faith for it.

8 Keys to help you move a mountain

1. Faith Is A LAW.   Romans 3:27 “…but by the law of faith.”   Spiritual Law!!!
2. Faith Is A Gift.  Mark 11:22 “Have the faith of God.” Romans 12:3 “God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”  We all received the same faith!
3. Faith is Heard by the word —

Romans 10:17, KJV  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

NIV:  Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

All the books of the Bible speak of Jesus. To the Jewish leaders opposing Him, Jesus said, “You study the Scriptures diligently… These are the very [Old Testament] Scriptures that testify about me” (John 5:39).

Faith comes from hearing the Word of God broadly, in its entirety, and specifically from hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And remember, He is seen in all the books of the Bible — often prophetically in the Old Testament, and historically in the New Testament.

Acts 14:7-10  …[in Lystra and Derbe] they continued to preach the gospel. In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, “Stand up on your feet!” At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.

1. 9, KJV  The same heardPaul speak [the Gospel (vs. 7)]…

The crippled man heard God’s Word preached. It is clear that hearing the Word produced faith in his heart, because the preacher Paul looked at him and “saw that he had faith to be healed.” Then Paul spoke out, “Stand up on your feet,” and the man was instantly healed. His “mountain” of paralysis was moved by faith from hearing Paul’s preaching.

Hearing God’s Word produces faith, as it did with the lame man. If you want to be a man or woman of great faith, study the Scriptures, God’s Word. Take time each day to read them.

Romans 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Isaiah 5:13 “…in captivity, because they have no knowledge.”
Trials and difficulties don’t make your faith stronger they expose the depth of your faith — Quality

4. Believe —

OK, so you’ve diligently applied yourself to God’s Word. You’ve heard it (from personal study and from the pulpit), and it has given you light and understanding (Psalm 119:130). But what next?

You have to believe His Word steadfastly, unshakably. Otherwise, all you have is “head knowledge.” Jesus expects much more than “head” faith, much more than mere intellectual consent to truth.

Hebrews 4:2, KJV  For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

You can fulfill step one — hearing the Word of God — and still fail God. How? By not believing that Word. Yes, “faith cometh by hearing…the word of God.” But that faith comes only if we hear that Word and believe it, trusting that the God who spoke means what he speaks 100% of the time. Jesus emphasized the importance of believing. It’s faith that moves mountains.

Matthew 21:22, KJV  And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

So first we’ve studied and “heard” God’s Word. Now it is vitally important that we believe that the Word is true, and that it applies to us. When we pray, Jesus said, if we believe we shall receive.

Let’s say you’re facing some need, in your life or a loved one’s. You recall a clear promise in God’s Word — for example, that “by [Jesus’] wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24). Now believe that as absolutely, infallibly true. Then ask the Lord in prayer for the needed healing, and expect to receive. Why? Because the Son of God promised: “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” The prayer of faith is powerful and effective.

Then don’t waver, don’t let doubt creep in, because the Scripture says:

When you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord (James 1:6-7).

Never ask yourself how you feel! Ask what the word of God says over you, about your and through you.

Romans 10:8-10 “…heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

5. Faith Thrives In A Loving Environment(Don’t doubt in your heart / Don’t live with unresolved stuff)
   Galatians 5:6 “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision carries any weight—the only thing that matters is faith working through love.”
   

6. Faith Is Lifestyle  “The just shall live by faith.” Hab. 2:4 Rom. 1:17 Galatians 3:11 Hebrews 10:38

2 Corinthians 5:7  “We live by faith, not by sight.”     

7. Faith Is A Journey:  Hebrews 6:11-12 “… show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

Patience is standing firm

That leads us to an 8th and final key to faith that moves mountains.

8) Speak —Declaration

2 Corinthians 4:13  It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak.

The apostle Paul says that you have the “same spirit of faith” as the earlier biblical faith heroes. Like them, take your faith to the next level. Speak it! There is immense power in expressing your faith in spoken words.

Luke 17:6 ⁶ He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

*If you had faith…you would SAY!”

Jesus stood before Lazarus’s grave. His friend had been dead four days. Jesus didn’t just hope in His heart for Lazarus’s reviving. No, He “called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out’ ” (John 11:43). And the dead man came out of the grave.

Mark 11:23, KJV  For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

Jesus taught us to speak the word of faith, to “say” what we are asking for, and not to doubt but to believe, and such a faith-speaking believer “shall have whatsoever he saith.” With confidence in God and in the promises of His Word the Bible, speak to the “mountains” in your life, and watch God intervene mightily on your behalf. Faith can move mountains of any size that you’re facing.

In summary, the Bible teaches us a simple 3-step pathway to dynamic faith:

1) Hear the Word of God. Study it, read it devotionally and hear it preached and taught.

2) Believe God’s Word. Don’t doubt, don’t waver in trusting our “God who cannot lie” (Titus 1:2).

3) Speak God’s Word in faith into the situation you are facing. And, as Jesus promised, you “shall have whatsoever you say.”

Hear —> Believe —> Speak! That kind of faith can move mountains in your life — the obstacles confronting you … the difficult situations you face … strained relationships … perhaps an illness … and a host of other problems you might be facing. Hear God’s Word. Embrace it with sincere, trusting faith. And speak the promises of God’s Word into your situation. Jesus says to the person with that kind of mountain-moving faith, you “shall have whatsoever you say … and believing, you shall receive.”