In this message Pastor Ricky Harris teaches from Mark 11:20-25. Real prayer does two things: It invites us to come to God with our concerns and requests and most importantly trusts that however God decides to answer, it’s always right. That is what we explore in this message.
Sermon Notes
The Gospel of Mark The Essentials of Faith and Prayer // Mark 11:20-25
“As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. And Peter remembered and said to him, ‘Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.’ And Jesus answered them, ‘Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, “Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.’” Mark 11:20-26
Faith: Trust God and take HIM at his word.
Prayer: Contact and communicate with God.
1. Real Faith in God
“As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. And Peter remembered and said to him, ‘Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.’ And Jesus answered them, ‘Have faith in God.’” Mark 11:20-22
Have: to possess or have in a concrete sense
Faith: strong confidence and reliance upon.
Hold onto the faithfulness of God.
“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Hebrews 11:6
2. An Expectation of God Accomplishing His Will
“Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Mark 11:23-24
True prayer is making a request in faith. Faith believes enough to ask, and asking is rooted in the conviction that God intends to do his will on earth as it is in heaven.
“But when you ask, you must believe and no doubt…” James 1:6 (NIV)
The Will of God
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us…” Deuteronomy 29:29
The Will of God
The Secret Will of God
The Revealed Will of God
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” -Matthew 6:33
“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.” 1 John 5:14-15
Real prayer is always in accordance with God’s will.
“Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”” Luke 22:42
1. Invites us to come to God with our concerns and requests.
2. Trusts that however God decides to answer it’s always right.
3. A Forgiving Heart
“And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” Mark 11:25
Forgiveness is a pre-requisite to answered prayer.
Forgive: to leave behind, to not take along, to intentionally neglect.
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32
Forgiveness is a pre-request to answered prayer.
Bitterness and unforgiveness are luxuries that Christians can no longer afford because it cuts them off from the much-needed forgiveness of God.
“Forgiveness is not hard, it’s impossible without God.” Robert Smith Jr.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
