Digging in Deeper: Mark 11:22-24

“Jesus replied to them, ‘Have faith in God. Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, “Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,” and does not doubt in his heart, but believes what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, everything you pray and ask for – believe that you have received it and it will be yours.'” (CSB – Read the chapter)

Have you ever watched a really slick Prosperity Gospel preacher deliver his ace sermon? He will take you on a journey. You’ll be laughing one minute, crying the next, and ready to fork over your whole wallet to do your part to sustain the vital ministry the Lord has called him to do so that you can receive the blessings He wants to pour out into your bank account by the end of it. You will feel empowered to name what you want the Lord to give you, and to claim it boldly in prayer. It is a powerful experience, an encouraging experience, a truly religious experience, and a big, fat load of heresy. Verses like this one, though, would seem to disagree. Let’s talk about it.

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Digging in Deeper: James 5:15

“The prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up; if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”‬‬ (CSB – Read the chapter)

Prayer is powerful stuff. You believe that, right? In spite of our nation’s growing secularity, a sizable majority of Americans still profess to pray regularly. You would think, then, that most of them believe there is some kind of effect or benefit to it. But just how much benefit does it bring? James here suggests there is potentially a lot of benefit. 

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Morning Musings: 1 Chronicles 5:20

“And when they prevailed over them, the Hagrites and all who were with them were given into their hands, for they cried out to God in the battle, and he granted their urgent plea because they trusted in him.”  (ESV)

Here is another gem hiding in the tedium of the genealogies of 1 Chronicles (maybe they aren’t so tedious after all?…).  The warriors of the Reubenites had their urgent plea to God granted because they trusted in Him.  When we trust in the Lord and live out of that trust, we can go to Him in our times of need, in our battles, and He will be our help.  If He was faithful to them as they trusted in Him, He will be faithful to us as well.