Moving Mountains September 3
Mark 11:23 “’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. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.’”
There is no spiritual purpose in moving a physical mountain.
The great majority of mountains that we face, obstacles in our path, are spiritual.
A secular perspective says that these mountainous obstacles - such as fear, anxiety, hatred, envy, etc. – are emotional. But note that they have a huge overlap with the fruit of the flesh. These are the polar opposites of the fruit of the spirit – such as love, joy, and peace.
Negative beliefs become negative thoughts, become negative words, become negative actions,… habits… values… character… become destiny.
The miracle of a new birth, a new belief system in a new heart, is necessary to overcome the false beliefs that have worn strong neural patterns in our brains. A new heart that asserts a new belief system overrules the brain. This is the rebirth into a new life.
We must each pray that you and I tear down the mountain barriers and rebuild them as pillars of faith, faith in the character of God and in our own identity as His children.
Answered Prayer September 4
Mark 11:23 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. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
Verse 24 verifies that the things for which we pray are spiritual rather than physical.
Most translations read, “believe that you have received” that for which you are praying. The physical mountain before us is unmoved as we pray, but the heart can be converted as we truly assert that God’s will be done rather than our own will.
There are no complicated procedures for entrenched habits of thinking to be replaced with newer and better patterns. The Spirit that is peace will show us the peace that comes from freedom as we shine the light on the dark corners of our beliefs.
Our miraculous healing (iaomai) - the casting out of negative beliefs and replacing them with positive beliefs - is evidence of our faith. We surrender what does not serve us as acceptance of God’s love that casts out all fear. We embrace the confidence that His love flowing into us, through us, and out to others is more powerful than the negative spirit inhabiting us.
Letting go of what does not serve us may bring discomfort, like ripping off an adhesive bandage that is unnecessary.
The infected wound of the snake bite will be better healed in the fresh air and sunlight of God’s word and truth.
The Unpardonable Sin September 5
Mark 11:25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
In these two verses, we have the unforgivable sin: not forgiving others for their trespasses (sins) against ourselves.
Or perhaps this is the other unpardonable sin. We saw earlier in Mark 3:28-29: “…but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation.” Matt. 12:31-32 and Luke 12:10 agree with this statement in Mark.
Are these two sins one sin? Are we to understand being unforgiving is equated with blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?
We can be sure that the Holy Spirit always counsels forgiveness. When we do not forgive, we are blocking the will of the Holy Spirit. This is the circular path of forgiveness that is to flow through us. If we do not provide an outlet, forgiveness will not enter into us.
When we do not forgive, there is a void where the forgiveness intended for ourselves was meant to be. That emptiness becomes filled with something not of the Spirit. When that evil spirit is within us, we are no longer in a state of peace, no longer in heaven on earth.
Not forgiving is to deny the Holy Spirit and to turn our back on God. He waits patiently for us to return to our spiritual senses, to return to Him.
And a final perspective, Isaiah 43:25. “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins.” God forgives ALL sins. He says he forgives for His own sake. He cannot hold enmity within Him and be God. It is against His character.
The Question September 6
Mark 11:27 Then they came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him. 28 And they said to Him, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?”
Jesus returns to the Temple the day after He had caused a disturbance by overturning the tables of the businessmen and proclaiming that the sacred space of God had been violated. He also had received adulations from the people as He arrived. Jesus advocated change, but on what authority?
The professional trinity (priests, scribes, and elders from the Sanhedrin) approach Jesus and demand to know of Him the source of His authority.
We might ask ourselves the source(s) of legitimate authority for each of us in our present lives. To whom do we give power over us?
People generally recognize the authority of the government under pain of arrest and punishment. Many people recognize the authority of their particular religion, although they may not choose to obey consistently.
And we pay for the guidance of professionals, people certified in various specialties, such as medical, legal, accounting, etc. We give authority to them, justified or not, for their credentials.
The protectors of the status quo will yield only to authority that they recognize as legitimate. The Jews’ sources of authority are the Scriptures (as they interpret them) for spiritual issues, and the Sanhedrin under Roman oversight for secular issues.
A prophet or student of an acknowledged teacher of the Law also would be authoritative. Of course, since Jesus’ teaching disagrees with current practices, he automatically disqualifies Himself.
The question has no possible positive answer that is acceptable to them. They hold truth and any question of that truth is proof of blasphemy. This is true of many professionals in any discipline at any period of time.
The Question Back September 7
Mark 11:29 But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things: 30 The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me.”
31 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 32 But if we say, ‘From men’ ”—they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed.
Jesus can reply to their question with a truthful answer, but He knows that He speaks to those whose ears are deaf to truth.
Interrogation is an art. Jesus shows that responding to interrogation is also an art. Because Jesus knows there is no acceptable answer, He turns the question back to His interrogators.
Jesus will answer their question only if they will first answer His question: “The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men?”
The men are at a loss for an answer. They had asked Jesus for the source of His authority. The acceptable sources were their interpretation of the word of God or secular authority that held dominion over the physical realm including Jerusalem and the Temple.
Now they must answer the same question regarding John the Baptist. They do not desire to give an answer, because either answer will convict them.
If they believe God was John’s authority, then John’s accusations against the religious and secular authorities are true. If they deny God as John’s authority, they alienate the common people.
They are between the proverbial rock and a hard place.
Tables Turned Again September 8
Mark 11:33 So they answered and said to Jesus, “We do not know.”
And Jesus answered and said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
The figurative wares for sale on the tables of the priests, scribes, and elders are their interpretations of the Scriptures. Jesus has overturned these tables, also.
To admit that they do not know the source of authority for John’s baptism – whether from heaven or from men – is very humbling to the professional men standing between Jesus and the people.
A student who is caught unprepared for a pop quiz may seethe with anger. That anger is justly directed at self for lack of study and preparation. But the anger is often transferred to the teacher, as if the test was the misdeed rather than the lack of knowledge.
Because the men decline to answer Jesus’ question, Jesus declines to answer their question. Their lack of an answer demonstrates their lack of authority to question Him.
The learned men who take pride in their position will not accept humiliation in front of the common people to go unchallenged. They have lost a battle, but we sense that they have not abandoned the war.
We see this in secular matters today. When someone asks a question to a person in authority, but the question does not fit the accepted narrative, the questioner is the one scorned, perhaps cast out of the assembly.
The dark corners encroach on the light to enlarge their territory.
The Vineyard September 9
Mark 12:1 Then He began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a place for the wine vat and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country.
Jesus extends the moment, moving quickly into a parable. His text begins similar to the parable of Isaiah 5.
This parable must hit the Pharisees like a ton of bricks. They recognize the beginning from Isaiah 5, but Jesus moves the story forward, condemning the present generation of Israel just as Isaiah condemned the generation of Israel before the Babylonian captivity.
The vineyard in both parables is a beautiful piece of land (Israel) with a hedge planted around it for protection. The wine vat dug is for the flow of blessings from the fruit of the land. A tower is set up for oversight of the vineyard, and also as a defense against those who would cause harm.
God asks in Isaiah 5:4,
“What more could have been done to My vineyard
That I have not done in it?”
God expects good grapes because He has provided everything necessary, but “wild grapes” (from a word meaning “stench”) come forth. Instead of a loving obedient people he gets a heartless rebellious people. Isaiah goes on to describe how God will remove the hedge, break down the wall, and trample upon the vines.
Jesus updates the parable to the present day as He retells this parable.
Next day
Mark 11:23 “’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. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.’”
There is no spiritual purpose in moving a physical mountain.
The great majority of mountains that we face, obstacles in our path, are spiritual.
A secular perspective says that these mountainous obstacles - such as fear, anxiety, hatred, envy, etc. – are emotional. But note that they have a huge overlap with the fruit of the flesh. These are the polar opposites of the fruit of the spirit – such as love, joy, and peace.
Negative beliefs become negative thoughts, become negative words, become negative actions,… habits… values… character… become destiny.
The miracle of a new birth, a new belief system in a new heart, is necessary to overcome the false beliefs that have worn strong neural patterns in our brains. A new heart that asserts a new belief system overrules the brain. This is the rebirth into a new life.
We must each pray that you and I tear down the mountain barriers and rebuild them as pillars of faith, faith in the character of God and in our own identity as His children.
Answered Prayer September 4
Mark 11:23 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. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
Verse 24 verifies that the things for which we pray are spiritual rather than physical.
Most translations read, “believe that you have received” that for which you are praying. The physical mountain before us is unmoved as we pray, but the heart can be converted as we truly assert that God’s will be done rather than our own will.
There are no complicated procedures for entrenched habits of thinking to be replaced with newer and better patterns. The Spirit that is peace will show us the peace that comes from freedom as we shine the light on the dark corners of our beliefs.
Our miraculous healing (iaomai) - the casting out of negative beliefs and replacing them with positive beliefs - is evidence of our faith. We surrender what does not serve us as acceptance of God’s love that casts out all fear. We embrace the confidence that His love flowing into us, through us, and out to others is more powerful than the negative spirit inhabiting us.
Letting go of what does not serve us may bring discomfort, like ripping off an adhesive bandage that is unnecessary.
The infected wound of the snake bite will be better healed in the fresh air and sunlight of God’s word and truth.
The Unpardonable Sin September 5
Mark 11:25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
In these two verses, we have the unforgivable sin: not forgiving others for their trespasses (sins) against ourselves.
Or perhaps this is the other unpardonable sin. We saw earlier in Mark 3:28-29: “…but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation.” Matt. 12:31-32 and Luke 12:10 agree with this statement in Mark.
Are these two sins one sin? Are we to understand being unforgiving is equated with blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?
We can be sure that the Holy Spirit always counsels forgiveness. When we do not forgive, we are blocking the will of the Holy Spirit. This is the circular path of forgiveness that is to flow through us. If we do not provide an outlet, forgiveness will not enter into us.
When we do not forgive, there is a void where the forgiveness intended for ourselves was meant to be. That emptiness becomes filled with something not of the Spirit. When that evil spirit is within us, we are no longer in a state of peace, no longer in heaven on earth.
Not forgiving is to deny the Holy Spirit and to turn our back on God. He waits patiently for us to return to our spiritual senses, to return to Him.
And a final perspective, Isaiah 43:25. “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins.” God forgives ALL sins. He says he forgives for His own sake. He cannot hold enmity within Him and be God. It is against His character.
The Question September 6
Mark 11:27 Then they came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him. 28 And they said to Him, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?”
Jesus returns to the Temple the day after He had caused a disturbance by overturning the tables of the businessmen and proclaiming that the sacred space of God had been violated. He also had received adulations from the people as He arrived. Jesus advocated change, but on what authority?
The professional trinity (priests, scribes, and elders from the Sanhedrin) approach Jesus and demand to know of Him the source of His authority.
We might ask ourselves the source(s) of legitimate authority for each of us in our present lives. To whom do we give power over us?
People generally recognize the authority of the government under pain of arrest and punishment. Many people recognize the authority of their particular religion, although they may not choose to obey consistently.
And we pay for the guidance of professionals, people certified in various specialties, such as medical, legal, accounting, etc. We give authority to them, justified or not, for their credentials.
The protectors of the status quo will yield only to authority that they recognize as legitimate. The Jews’ sources of authority are the Scriptures (as they interpret them) for spiritual issues, and the Sanhedrin under Roman oversight for secular issues.
A prophet or student of an acknowledged teacher of the Law also would be authoritative. Of course, since Jesus’ teaching disagrees with current practices, he automatically disqualifies Himself.
The question has no possible positive answer that is acceptable to them. They hold truth and any question of that truth is proof of blasphemy. This is true of many professionals in any discipline at any period of time.
The Question Back September 7
Mark 11:29 But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things: 30 The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me.”
31 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 32 But if we say, ‘From men’ ”—they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed.
Jesus can reply to their question with a truthful answer, but He knows that He speaks to those whose ears are deaf to truth.
Interrogation is an art. Jesus shows that responding to interrogation is also an art. Because Jesus knows there is no acceptable answer, He turns the question back to His interrogators.
Jesus will answer their question only if they will first answer His question: “The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men?”
The men are at a loss for an answer. They had asked Jesus for the source of His authority. The acceptable sources were their interpretation of the word of God or secular authority that held dominion over the physical realm including Jerusalem and the Temple.
Now they must answer the same question regarding John the Baptist. They do not desire to give an answer, because either answer will convict them.
If they believe God was John’s authority, then John’s accusations against the religious and secular authorities are true. If they deny God as John’s authority, they alienate the common people.
They are between the proverbial rock and a hard place.
Tables Turned Again September 8
Mark 11:33 So they answered and said to Jesus, “We do not know.”
And Jesus answered and said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
The figurative wares for sale on the tables of the priests, scribes, and elders are their interpretations of the Scriptures. Jesus has overturned these tables, also.
To admit that they do not know the source of authority for John’s baptism – whether from heaven or from men – is very humbling to the professional men standing between Jesus and the people.
A student who is caught unprepared for a pop quiz may seethe with anger. That anger is justly directed at self for lack of study and preparation. But the anger is often transferred to the teacher, as if the test was the misdeed rather than the lack of knowledge.
Because the men decline to answer Jesus’ question, Jesus declines to answer their question. Their lack of an answer demonstrates their lack of authority to question Him.
The learned men who take pride in their position will not accept humiliation in front of the common people to go unchallenged. They have lost a battle, but we sense that they have not abandoned the war.
We see this in secular matters today. When someone asks a question to a person in authority, but the question does not fit the accepted narrative, the questioner is the one scorned, perhaps cast out of the assembly.
The dark corners encroach on the light to enlarge their territory.
The Vineyard September 9
Mark 12:1 Then He began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a place for the wine vat and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country.
Jesus extends the moment, moving quickly into a parable. His text begins similar to the parable of Isaiah 5.
This parable must hit the Pharisees like a ton of bricks. They recognize the beginning from Isaiah 5, but Jesus moves the story forward, condemning the present generation of Israel just as Isaiah condemned the generation of Israel before the Babylonian captivity.
The vineyard in both parables is a beautiful piece of land (Israel) with a hedge planted around it for protection. The wine vat dug is for the flow of blessings from the fruit of the land. A tower is set up for oversight of the vineyard, and also as a defense against those who would cause harm.
God asks in Isaiah 5:4,
“What more could have been done to My vineyard
That I have not done in it?”
God expects good grapes because He has provided everything necessary, but “wild grapes” (from a word meaning “stench”) come forth. Instead of a loving obedient people he gets a heartless rebellious people. Isaiah goes on to describe how God will remove the hedge, break down the wall, and trample upon the vines.
Jesus updates the parable to the present day as He retells this parable.
Next day