“And Jesus answering saith unto them, ‘Have faith in God. 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. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.’” Mark 11:22-24 KJV

Was Jesus talking about actual mountains?

No, but Jesus knew we would have problems that would need to be removed…
That’s why He said to “say unto this mountain”–that by our words, this could be proved.

Speaking to adverse circumstances is something that we, as believers, can do,
for these were Jesus’ instructions to His disciples; and He never said anything untrue.

“It is written,” were the words that He would use–then He quoted right from a scripture. We can follow His example, thereby causing a “mountain” to no longer be a “permanent” fixture.

Jesus spoke unto the fig tree, and to the sea in the midst of a stormy blast. He spoke to people who had died, when the time for their healing had passed.

“Saying unto this mountain” is our “good fight of faith” stand, to use to effect the well-being and blessed future which God has said He’s planned.

People will faithfully take a medicine, as a doctor prescribes they should do.
Likewise, faithfully taking God’s medicine (His Word) will change that “mountain view.”

Speaking, hearing, and meditating upon the Word will cause a mountain’s transition. Don’t let the naysayers influence you to quit or cause you to change your position.

Jesus blessed the loaves and fish; He thanked God before Lazarus was raised.
An important part of speaking to a mountain is that God should first be praised.

Sometimes we need to pray in the Spirit, which is God’s supernatural gift,
before we’ll see greater progress in causing a stubborn mountain to shift.

We’re not to doubt in our hearts, though doubt may try to enter through a thought. Resist it and negative thinking, for speaking to “mountains” is a principle which Jesus, our Lord, taught.

P. A. Oltrogge

In Mark 11:25-26, Jesus goes on to state the importance of forgiveness and so, in sharing the above, it should be added that we should remember that and be walking in love towards others:

“And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” Ephesians 5:2 NKJV

Then…

“…believe that ye receive”…from Mark 11:24

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23 NKJV

“We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe and therefore speak.” 2 Corinthians 4:13 KJV

“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.” Hebrews 4:12-13 NLT

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12 NKJV

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:21 NKJV

“Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Luke 10:19 NKJV

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:2-4 NKJV

“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith. And who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood.” 1 John 5:4-6 NASB

“The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.” Psalm 97:5 NASB

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” Jude 1:20 NKJV

Exodus 15:1-2; 2 Samuel 22:4; Psalm 100:4; Psalm 106:1; Proverbs 4:20-22; Jeremiah 1:12; Acts 16:25-26; 2 Corinthians 2:14; Hebrews 12:2; Hebrews 13:15

*In A Better Way to Pray, by Andrew Wommack, there is a complete chapter entitled, “Speak to Your Mountain.” In another chapter, Andrew shares the story of his son being raised from death back to life. As he said on his daily program, the book is not about the exact right way to pray, but about some ways he has found that have proved to be better in his own life. The book is available at http://www.awmi.net as well as The New You and the Holy Spirit.

Kenneth Copeland has shared the story of how some pastors and believers in Germany, encouraged by Kenneth Hagin’s book on the authority of the believer, in addition to praying, began speaking to the “mountain” of the Berlin wall, which existed at the time, to be removed, and, in time, saw it come down. The book, The Believer’s Authority is available at http://www.rhema.org

At times, it may be that after speaking to a “mountain,” God will show you a course of action to take regarding its removal. If any type of ailment is a mountain in your life, Andrew’s book and website with healing testimonies are very encouraging. And the Copeland’s magazine, Believer’s Voice of Victory, has featured many healing stories. I like the ones where people immersed themselves in the Word and saw their mountains move. (See archive post, Immersion in God’s Word, for some healing scriptures…and recorded scriptures can be found at You Tube.)

Likely, many of you have already heard the story of Christopher Duffley, but if any of you have not, you may enjoy going to his website, http://www.christopherduffley.com or looking up his singing on You Tube, where he sings such songs as “Open the Eyes of my Heart,” (when he was so very young), “I Can Only Imagine,” “This is Amazing Grace,” and others.

Have a blessed day!

If you need specific prayer, many ministries are there to help. You can submit your request for agreement in prayer either online or by phone. The following are some ministries to choose from:

http://www.awmi.net
http://www.kcm.org
http://www.oralroberts.com
http://www.josephprince.org
http://www.rhema.org
http://www.cbn.com

“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.”
Matthew 18:19 NKJV

by L. Mudrak
Guest Contributor

On and after Memorial Day, we think about those who gave their lives for our freedom, and we want to thank those who are still serving. They protect us from the harm of other nations that don’t have good intentions.

The following devotional by Ken Claar speaks of the protection our God gives us every day. We may have good days and bad days, but God is there.
__________________

When I was young, my brother and I used to visit our grandparents. They lived in a rural area near a narrow railroad track. We used to walk along it and explore.

One day, when I was six years old, I heard a strange sound and went over into a thicket of bushes and blackberry vines to investigate. The sound was coming from a hornets’ nest. In my panic to get away, I became trapped in the spiny vines.

My brother, who was 12, rushed in and untangled me from the vines, ignoring all the stings he was getting. He freed me and took me to Grandma’s house, where I was treated for the stings. After I had been cared for, we discovered that my brother had ended up with twice as many stings as I had and still had hornets in his jacket attacking his arms.

Though my brother has since passed on, I am reminded that I still have a protector in Christ. Jesus freely went to His death to save us. And He still helps us whenever we get into a “nest of hornets” that we can’t seem to escape. Psalm 37:24 is God’s promise and our hope for those blackberry-vine days.

“Though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.” Psalm 37:24 NIV
________________

Years ago, I was picking damson plums at our neighbor’s house. I managed to get stung by bees or wasps (or whatever they were). My face swelled up and I couldn’t see past my swollen cheeks, so I had to take a day off work. I looked a mess, especially since I had just gotten a perm. Yes, my hair was swollen, as well as my face!

Perhaps you feel like you’re in the middle of a hornets’ nest of problems. Your God is there for you, to take the stings of people’s words and/or actions. He loves you, and He’ll take the pain from you. Choices we make sometimes put us in harm’s way, but we always have a protector who never gives up on rescuing us.

“I sought the Lord and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears…
The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.”
Psalm 34:4,7 and see the entire Psalm
Also be blessed by Psalm 91

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 15:57

“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.”
2 Corinthians 2:14

“Whoever offers praise glorifies Me, and to him who orders his conduct aright, I will show the salvation of God.”
Psalm 50:23

“Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.”
Hebrews 13:15

“In God we boast all day long, and praise your name forever.”
Psalm 44:8

“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all….” 1 Timothy 2:1-6 NKJV

So we come to God in thanks for our President and all others in places of authority–God grant them wisdom, cooperation, and protection in these times. We especially pray for any who don’t know the Lord in a personal way, to come into the knowledge of Him.

Father,

Our fervent prayer today is for our country, the beautiful U.S.A.
The news reports regarding it have been very dark each day.

The rioting and looting are a war on those police who are good.
We ask for continued courage for them as they serve in every neighborhood.

We pray for their protection–through the covering of Psalm 91,
as well as for every American, who is someone’s mother, father, daughter, or son.

We’re seeing that due to lawlessness, more people have been hurt or have died.
It’s only our prayers and looking to You that can stop this dangerous tide.

We ask You for restored law and order, for without it, no one can thrive.
We know Your Word has said there are demonic forces with which we strive.

Yes, wrongs have happened in America, and those things must be addressed.
But help people to pray and to work together, in a way that keeps us blessed.

The devil would seek to divide, while You, Lord, want people to unite.
We thank You for an awakening to love…through Jesus, this world’s light.

In Jesus’ name, we, your people, pray

Amen

“…’Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of Hosts.”
Zechariah 4:6

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints….”
Ephesians 6:18 KJV

At times, people wonder why God “permits” some things;
but, really, we know it’s from Him that all hope springs.
Our adversary is the devil, the scriptures clearly state;
so prayer and keeping faith in God will determine our fate.

The tenacity of a bulldog with a bone may be required
to see the manifestation of some things we’ve desired.
I will say of the Lord, He is my God in whom I trust–
Voicing God’s Word is wise, is creative power, and is a must.

“The Word of the Lord is proven,” forever His Word is true.
“This I know, that God is for me” applies firmly to you.
Don’t fall for the devil’s lies, giving in to despair–
God knows all of your concerns, and He definitely does care.

Faith and patience in many things are often the key–
so say it always, with sure conviction, “Jesus loves me!”
As for God, His way is perfect–we’re never forgotten.
This we know, through faith in the Son, whom God has begotten.

P. A. Oltrogge

“…For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5 NKJV

“Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.” Hebrews 10:35 KJV

“I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.” Psalm 91:2 KJV

“He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.” Deuteronomy 32:4 NKJV

“As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.” 2 Samuel 22:31 and Psalm 18:30 NKJV

“Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call; This I know, that God is for me.” Psalm 56:9 NASB

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7 NASB

“…that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Hebrews 6:12 NASB

Teaching/creative power of God’s Word:
http://www.charlescapps.com
Encouragement despite difficulties at:
http://www.jerrysavelle.org

The following is a recent uplifting Word from the Holy Spirit, received by minister and evangelist Jerry Savelle. This has been shared with his ministry partners (jerrysavelle.org) and also by Pastor George Pearsons of Eagle Mountain International Church (emic.org)

Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

A Word from the Holy Spirit:

Do not fret and do not fear;
I still plan to give you a supernatural year.

It’s not over and you will not fail.
Didn’t I tell you that the gates of hell shall not prevail?

Rest in Me and I’ll see you through,
and I’ll bring to pass all that I said I would do.

So thank your Father in Heaven that you have a choice.
You can choose to fear or you can choose to rejoice.

So rejoice and do not cease.
This is how you tap into My supernatural peace.

“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4

As a follower of Jesus…

You are a disciple taught of the Lord, obedient to His will. Great is your peace and undisturbed composure. You are established in righteousness through Him; therefore, you are far from oppression and fear and terror, for it shall not come near you. No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment (or to accuse) you shall condemn. This is your heritage as a servant of the Lord.

You are like a tree planted by the rivers of water, and you bring forth your fruit in your season; your leaf also shall not wither, and whatever you do shall prosper. You are blessed going out and coming in. You have the mind of Christ and can do all things in Him who strengthens you. Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

You’ve been delivered from the power of darkness and transferred into the kingdom of God’s dear Son, by whom you have redemption through His blood. You look not only to your own interests but also to that of others. You seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all things are added unto you.

You are not anxious but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, you let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, guards your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Goodness and mercy follow you all the days of your life, and you shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 1:3
Psalm 23:6
Psalm 119:164-166
Psalm 121:8
Isaiah 54:13-14, 17
Matthew 6:33
Romans 3:22
1 Corinthians 2:16
Philippians 2:3-5
Philippians 4:6-7, 13
Colossians 1:12-14
2 Thessalonians 3:3
2 Timothy 1:7
1 John 4:4

Blessed be the Lord,
Who daily bears our burden,
The God who is our salvation. Selah
God is to us a God of deliverances;
And to God the Lord belong escapes from death.

Psalm 68:19-20 NASB

A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand,
But it shall not approach you.

Psalm 91:7 NASB

Those who trust in the Lord
Are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
So the Lord surrounds His people
From this time forth and forever.

Psalm 125:1-2 NASB

You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.

Isaiah 26:3 NKJV

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

..words of Jesus in John 14:26 NKJV

We do what we can in the natural, in times of crisis, to protect;
but the real truth is that, ultimately, prayer has the greatest effect.
Remember, Jesus cursed the fig tree, and it withered from its roots and died.
Jesus said to say unto this “mountain”–thereby God’s answers are supplied.

(lessons from Mark 11)
“And Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Have faith in God.'” Mark 11:22

Dear Porch Blog follower,

You’re in my prayers. Together, we continue to pray for all,
(1 Timothy 2)

For specific daily prayer,
9:30 a.m. Eastern USA Time:
http://www.govictory.com

Outreaches:
http://www.samaritanspurse.org
http://www.operationblessing.org