Mountains Go Swimming
Hard Sayings of Jesus • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 34:44
0 ratings
· 142 viewsPrayer is powerful! Effective prayer opens us up to Christ and His will, is tied to our faith in God and requires us to forgive others. It is best done in community of other Christ followers.
Files
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Before they call I will answer;
while they are still speaking I will hear.
Baker New Testament Commentary: Mark 11:20–25 The Lesson from the Withered Fig Tree
humble, childlike trust; note “believing that you received it,” and cf. Mark 10:15; also Matt. 7:11; 18:3, 4; James 1:6.
a sincere heart and mind (Mark 12:40; cf. Matt. 6:5).
a will to persevere (Mark 13:13b; cf. Matt. 7:7; Luke 18:1–8).
a love for all concerned (Mark 12:31, 33; cf. Matt. 5:43–48; Luke 6:32–36).
submission to God’s sovereign will (Mark 14:36b; Matt. 6:10b; 26:39).
Faith is powerful.
Faith is powerful.
We all have it. The question is where have we placed our faith. One, if not the major, difference between those of us who believe in Creation according to Scripture and scientist who says there is no God, is faith. Faith makes sense of all things.
Prayer is powerful.
Prayer is powerful.
The Universe is hardwired to respond to prayer. -Dr. Dennis Metzger
Context is Key!!!
Context is Key!!!
Some Jews believed prayer was more effective in the Temple.
Some Jews believed prayer was more effective in the Temple.
Prayer opens us up to God.
Prayer opens us up to God.
It is not about getting what we want, as if God is a genie in a bottle.
We must believe in prayer.
We must believe in prayer.
It is easy to pray as if it is something we know we are supposed to do. However Jesus starts this section out with the command, encouragement, and reminder:
Keep believing in God!
Keep believing in God!
Have faith! God is faithful! God is good. The whole OT reminds us of who God is and how he intercedes for His glory in this world.
Effective prayer requires forgiveness.
Effective prayer requires forgiveness.
Our relationship with God is influenced by our relationships with others.
Prayer is for the community.
Prayer is for the community.
Throughout these verses all the “you”s are plural. Jesus is not talking about individuals praying, though this is taught in other passages of Scripture; no he is talking about the community of faith praying together.
Where is your faith?
Where is your faith?
Have faith in God today!
Have faith in God today!