Mark 11:22-24 – “So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.  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.”  NKJV

Somebody asked me, “Are you going to give a Halloween devotional?”  My answer was, “NO!  I don’t do Halloween.”  I choose to focus on the LORD and His Kingdom, not the things of darkness except to expose them.  

In many ways, this text is a perplexing one that many Christians have attempted to achieve and failed miserably.  All of us face mountains from time to time and all of us would like to be able to remove those barriers that hinder our progress in life, right? 

To the people of Judah, in Jesus’ day, a mountain represented any hindrance to their progress.  Therefore, when Jesus told them they could have whatever they said and included the visual of the mountain they could readily, identify with what He was teaching.  How many actually believed Him is quite another story.

I would suggest there are some rules or serious considerations for ‘moving a mountain’ in our lives.  I believe it is important to understand the hindrance we are trying to remove or move and how it came to be. 

For example, if you have created a financial mountain through a lack of wisdom and discipline you will find it quite stubborn in its resistance to your commands to be removed.  If your mountain is physical sickness and you have maintained an unhealthy lifestyle failing to eat, exercise, and rest properly that mountain will be quite stubborn when you speak to it.  I would suggest that UNTIL you take proper steps to correct those root problems you will not be successful in removing them.

Let me give you a few simple rules regarding ‘Moving a Mountain.”

• Do Not Build The Mountain In The First Place.

God may not allow us to be mountain movers if we are continuously in the process and habit of mountain building.  Praying for the mountain to move will not work if we are, at the same time, responsible for their creation.  I have witnessed some get healed physically, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually when they removed resentment and bitterness from their hearts.  (The Lord removed them through repentance).  

I have witnessed financial miracles when the root of jealousy, greed, covetousness, and envy was rooted out.  I have seen lives move from struggle to spiritual peace when the bad company was eliminated from the associations.

• It Is Critical To Know That What You Are Saying Is Correct.

Jesus did not say that we were to pray and then hope that God will remove the mountain.  No, he said we are to believe and expect the mountain to be removed. 

I am reminded of the story of the woman who heard the preacher preach from this passage and there was a mountain near her house that she had to go around to get to town, so she went home and commanded the mountain to be removed.  The next morning and said, “Just as I thought, still here!”   That is expectation wrongly applied! 

Jesus said that the person who says to the mountain ‘be removed’ will get what he speaks if he does not doubt ‘in his heart.’  Therein is the rub.  We have the promises of God and proclaim and claim them but in our hearts, we doubt them.  The heart is the residence of doubt and the residence of faith.  It depends on what we allow in our hearts and minds. 

Doubt can be dealt with and overcome with knowledge.  The more I know the less I doubt.  It is valuable for us to examine our hearts and lives to see if we are creating the very mountains we are trying to remove.  If we are then we need to take steps to correct our actions.  Then, believe God’s promise that we can identify that mountain, speak to it through His authority and see it crumble before us.

I am not suggesting that whatever you say regardless, you get it.  I am saying that if you face mountains, not of your creation God has given us a promise that if we trust Him that mountain can be and will be removed!  

God bless you as you go through this day!

Proverbs10:8-12 – “The wise in heart will receive commands, but a prating fool will fall.  9 He who walks with integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will become known. 10 He who winks with the eye causes trouble, but a prating fool will fall. 11 The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked. 12 Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins.”  NKJV

The foolishness of the heart is often revealed in the incessant blabber of the lips whereas the wise person desires to gain knowledge and instruction.  Walking in one’s integrity is a walk that exudes from a sense of peace and security, whereas the wicked seek shortcuts and pervert justice and wisdom.  The words from the mouth of the righteous bring peace, and hope and point to life whereas the mouth of the wicked propels toward destruction and often is accompanied by violence.

Sadly, I know some in Christendom who have taken what I call the ‘Three Money Approach’to sin.  They refuse to see it, refuse to hear it, and refuse to denounce or speak against it!  They pretend to see nothing, hear nothing, and offer no rejection of wickedness in our present world.  That approach, in my view, expresses Hate, not Love.  I know, I have made a very bold statement and desire to explain what I mean if you will afford me the opportunity.

If you recall the words of Solomon in Proverbs 13:24 we are told that the parent who refuses to discipline (the rod) hates the child.  We also read in Proverbs 10:12 that hatred stirs up strife, but Love covers offenses.  That is not a directive to ‘wink at sin’ but for forgiveness. 

In Proverbs 8:13 we are told that the fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.  I would ask, “If you saw a relative or friend destroying their life would it be a demonstration of love to remain silent and allow them to continue when you could give a warning?”  Be careful that you do not come across as judgmental but use wisdom, compassion, caring, and love when you give the warning. Let the Holy Spirit make your words and attitude one of compassion, not judgment. I would suggest it could be argued that it is the opposite of love for if I see you in mortal danger and remain silent how can I argue that I am doing so out of Love?

I know many quote the passage in Proverbs 13:24 as “spare the rod and spoil the child” but it is stronger than that as you can read.  It is spare the rod (refusing proper discipline) is evidence of hate, not love, and spoiling the child is a minor thing compared to the destruction that awaits.  In Proverbs 23:13 we are told that in administering discipline to the child we prevent that child from death (spiritual and possibly natural).  This can be expanded to all relationships. 

As a Christian and a minister, I do not want to come across as all Hell Fire and Brimstone to the exclusion of Love and Grace.  But there are times when I must sound the alarm, identify sin as sin, and warn of its destruction.  If I ‘wink at sin’ and pretend it is not a big deal I open an unwanted door.  That sin, whatever it might be or however small, can then grow uninhibited into a deadly cancer in the soul and my ‘Three Monkey Approach’ only brings death and destruction. 

The Bible says that ‘faithful are the wounds of a friend’ (Proverbs 27:6). You may not like what I have to say, or I may not like being called out when wrong but if the objective is life and restoration then wound me, please!

The Three Monkey Approach creates a condition where the supposed pursuit of tolerance and acceptance becomes a death sentence.  It reduces the church to a social club rather than a spiritual hospital and rehab center.  If we genuinely Love one another, we will not be abusive, but we will not ‘wink at sin’ for the love that lives in us will overpower the desire to be accepted by all. 

If you are my friend, please NEVER ‘wink at my sin’ but let your love for me compel you to speak truth to my life.  I may not like it but if you love me, you will help me see the fallacy of my ways and lead me to the place where sins are covered.  If you allow me to continue without objection you only bring me and possibly you trouble. 

Oh God, please break our hearts over sin again!   May the Lord be with you as you go through your day!

Proverbs 11:24-25 – “There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty.  25 The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.”  NKJV

It is always fun to read the Old Testament and find a passage that has been defined in the New either by our Lord Himself or one of the apostles.  There are two prominent New Testament Principles that can find their beginnings in this passage.  The Law of Sowing and Reaping or Reciprocity and Giving.  These are explicitly addressed in the New Testament.

Here the writer describes two kinds of people – Generous and Stingy.  I have known people who were generous to a fault and some who pinched every penny so tightly it squealed when released.  The latter would sometimes give but grudgingly and with much compulsion and convincing.  The writer declares that one leads to an increase and the other to a lack.  He reveals that the generous will prosper and the wonderful truth that the one that cares for others will be cared for by others.

Paul taught that God loves a cheerful giver, and some have attempted to expand this truth to make it an investment plan to provide riches for themselves.  They omitted any consideration for the motive behind the giving or the purpose for the increase.  That is why some who have attempted this principle became disillusioned and gave it up as a false doctrine.  The Purpose is as important as the gift.  What is the motivation behind the gift and the desire for any return?  God is not interested in satisfying our personal greed or carnal appetites.  He does what He does with purpose, and it is always focused on the redemptive.

The Law of Sowing and Reaping reveals a principle of farming that we reap WHAT we sow.  If we plant watermelons, we will not reap cucumbers.  If we plant peanuts, we will not reap carrots.  WHAT we sow regardless of what that is will come back whether that is money, compassion, labor, etc. 

We also reap LATER than we sow.  No farmer plants seed one day and expects to get up the next morning to bring in the harvest. Time is important in the process.  We also reap MORE than we sow.  We plant a grain of corn, and it produces a stalk that produces ears of corn that have multiple grains.  We plant a pea and reap a stalk that produces many pods with numerous peas in them.  So, we reap what we sow, later than we sow, and more than we sow.  The principles revealed here are the same.

Jesus addressed giving in numerous places and the Bible makes it clear that God is far more interested in the purpose and proportion than the amount.  In Luke 6:38 Jesus spoke of this principle saying, “Give, and IT (whatever you give) will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put in your bosom.  For with the same measure (proportion) you use, it will be measured back to you.”  

The Law of Giving as described by Jesus reveals that WHAT we give is WHAT we get in return.  The principle is advanced that the return will be WHAT we give and MORE than we give.  I suggest that this principle can be immediate or over time, but it will be WHAT and MOREand be directly connected to the proportion of our giving. 

If we give love, then love will come back to us.  If we give mercy, then mercy will come back to us.  If we give hate, then hate will come back to us.  If we give a helping hand, then a helping hand will come back to us.  As we cast our bread on the waters after many days it returns to us. 

When Jesus sat near the offering bucket and watched those who had much put in their gifts, He was largely unimpressed but when the widow came and gave her all He was.  He even declared that she had given more than all the others.  MORE? Not in the amount but in the proportion. 

I like to say, “If you didn’t notice it or feel it when it left you will likely not notice or feel it when it returns.”  If it had no impact on you departing it will have no impact when it returns.  If you give with a teaspoon, why expect a watering trough in return?  I know the return is MORE than the outlay, but the proportion will still hold true.

I pray that God will inspire a spirit and heart of generosity in each of us.  Blessings!

John 4:46-54 – “So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.”

49 The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!”

50 Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So, the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. 51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, “Your son lives!”

52 Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” And he himself believed, and his whole household.

54 This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.”  NKJV

I realize that the title of this devotional may cause questions after reading the text.  So, let me explain my thought and hopefully, it will be both a blessing and benefit in your daily walk.  I find it interesting to note that John is careful to remind his readers that this was a return to Cana of Galilee where Jesus had turned the water into wine.  Some have suggested that this nobleman had attended the wedding I do not know but that is not the point.  There are some things about this passage that should inspire our confidence in God’s Promises.

The man was not faithless otherwise he would not have come to Jesus to heal his child.  The response of Jesus to this man’s request to come and heal his son is intriguing.  Jesus responded to his plea for the healing of a child with, “Unless you see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.”  

If, as some have suggested, this was an indication of the absence of faith on the nobleman’s part then the rest of the passage would be negated.  I believe that Jesus was challenging him and stretching him in that statement.  It was not the absence of faith but a human condition in conjunction with his faith that many of us have experienced. 

He had total confidence that “if” Jesus personally went to the child healing was guaranteed.  He likely had no knowledge or understanding of how healing could transpire otherwise.  He did not have a long history of miracles in his memory banks or experience to draw from.  He believed Jesus could and therefore made his impassioned plea not once but twice.

Jesus, after the second plea, said, “Go your way; your son lives.”  The next statement demonstrates the heart of the nobleman and should be our hearts.  It says, “So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way.”  He did not continue to plea, pray, or attempt to persuade Jesus to do what he thought necessary HE BELIEVED!  He not only believed in his heart but demonstrated the accompanying sign of obedience and departed from the physical presence of the LORD. 

This is Faith not Faith in Faith!  He simply believed what Jesus said and demonstrated the corresponding action to accompany that belief.  That is faith in action! Had he simply had faith in faith he would not have been able to believe the word of Jesus and obey that word he would have continued to insist that Jesus come to his house and perform whatever ritual to bring about the healing.  He had faith that demonstrated the response of obedience.  As he went back home his servants met him and informed him the child was healed.  His inquiry into the timing only further solidified his confidence in the Words of Jesus.

The key for us in receiving the promises of God is:  BELIEVE the word of Jesus and ACT upon that word.  Once we have HEARD His Promise, we can GO in confidence that we have the petition we asked for.   I encourage you to read 1 John 5:14-15at this point.

God bless you as you go through your day and walk in faith!  Blessings abundant is my prayer and desire!