Editors Note: Beloved we come with a forgiving heart as we approach the throne of grace. We also come in faith as Almighty God has all power. A miracle of healing of the flesh was called out in prayer. However there was no miracle needed to send the saints on a spiritual journey of spiritual healing. This in turn confirmed their faith as they stand in a posture of penitence. I may see or have nothing here in this world but the prayer of faith and penitence will always allow me to see Peace and Paradise.
Greetings Brethren,
Peace be unto you. To the Church (the Church of Christ Jesus the Prophets and Apostles) and believing Christians everywhere. To those that believe in the Bible (the Spirit of God) as the supreme authority that governs all of humankind. In this we give thanks to God the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit that leads and guides us the straightway.
Beloved faith is an integral part of prayer. Therefore as we look at some prominent scriptures our concern will be faith and why it is needed in prayer. At the 11th Division of Mark we will review the scripture that teaches about faith noted at verses 20-24. We will also include the following verses 25-26 that note the necessity of forgiveness in prayer. Once again more than once we hope to gain a blessing from our study of God’s Holy Word. Glory to God on High. We will begin with verse 22.
Mark 11: 22-24: “And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.” As Jesus responds to Peter regarding the curse He placed on the fig tree Jesus notes that it requires faith in God to understand the miracle and or curse of the fig tree. Follow us to several cross references for this verse that will render us an additional understanding and thought.
Matthew 17:20: At verses 14-21 Jesus heals the demon possessed boy. Our primary verse is verse 20.
“And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”
Here the followers of Jesus are charged with a lack of faith and unbelief. This means their faith did not go far enough. We must have undying faith in prayer to get a prayer through. Can you have little faith one time and big faith on another occasion? Also see Luke 17: 6 where the Apostles ask the Lord to increase their faith. See Matthew 13: 31-32 where the mustard seed is compared to the Kingdom of Heaven. And of course see Hebrews 11: 1.
11:23: “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.” (Also see Matthew 21: 21)
The miracles that were performed by Jesus and the Apostles were not for a show of power and inflated ego mania. If there was a good reason to remove the mountain in this way it could be done. All miracles were the same as far as the Supreme power of God is concerned.
11: 24: “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”
There are many right and needed situations that require a miracle to bring to fruition. However without faith they are impossible. (See Matthew 17: 19-21).
Meanwhile we see the necessity of forgiveness in prayer. Our final two scriptures taken from our primary scripture at Mark look at this question.
Mark 11: 25-26: “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
“But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
Beloved as you know from reading this study you can pray in various positions. However what Jesus teaches here is that in whatever position you choose to pray you must come with a forgiving heart for God to forgive us. (Also see Matthew 6: 12-15 for an additional word here).
