We are most familiar with what I call petition, or asking prayers, but Jesus tells us about another kind of prayer; a commandment prayer, sometimes called a decree or proclamation prayer. Jesus used commandment prayers when performing signs and wonders. He teaches us this kind of prayer in Mark chapter 11 and called it a prayer of faith.
First, let us set the stage for this teaching. When Jesus came to Jerusalem for the appointed time, He and the disciples stayed at Bethany - about an hours walk to the temple. One morning, walking to the temple, Jesus desired some figs from a fig tree that He saw. When He saw there were no figs, Jesus commanded the fig tree to die. The next morning when walking to the temple, Peter asked Jesus a question:
Mark 11:21, And Peter remembering, said to Him (Jesus), "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered away." (Remember, this is only 24 hours later.)
11:22, So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God."
11:23, "For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, Be removed and 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."
11:24, "Therefore I say to you whatever things you ask when you pray, believe you receive them and you will have them."
Now Note: You say or command the mountain, you don't ask God to do it. Then we have the spiritual law, speak and believe in your heart. This verse also says whatever you say, and Jesus gives an outrageous example of commanding a mountain to cast itself into the sea. The Bible says whatever I say, if I believe, I can have it happen. Well believing for the Mount Everest to move is mighty big belief, but spiritual mountains in your life are what is symbolized by Jesus’ attention getting example.
Then, in Luke 17:6, And the Lord said, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, Be pulled up by the roots and planted in the sea! and it would obey you."
Another outrageous example! But one that we actually see acted out in God’s nature!
Now, Mark 11:23 is a very important scripture. Jesus tells us that if we speak (confess) any thing we desire and believe in our heart (God's law) that it shall happen, it will take place. Notice again He says, "whatsoever we say." If anybody questions whether what you command is scriptural, you can refer to Mark 11:23. For instance, I can ask for a seven foot angel to guard you and I can get one, if I believe.
This scripture describes how Jesus performed signs and wonders. Note Matthew 12:10-13, Jesus commanded the man with a withered hand to stretch forth his hand. He did and he was healed. How could he stretch forth a withered hand?
Mark 4:39, He commanded the wind to be still. It was. Mark 5:41, He commanded the dead damsel to arise. She did. Mark 7:34-35, He commanded the deaf man's ears to be opened, they were. Mark 9:25, He commanded the evil spirit to come out of the boy. It did. Mark 11:14, He commanded the fig tree to die. It did. Luke 4:35, He commanded an unclean spirit to come out of a man. It did. Luke 5:24, He commanded a man sick with palsy to arise and pick up his bed. He did. Luke 5:13, He commanded a leper to be clean. He was. Luke 7:14, He commanded a dead man to arise. He did. Luke 13:12, He commanded the woman who was bowed to be loosed from her infirmity. She was. Luke 19:42, Jesus told the blind man receive thy sight. He did. John 5:8, He told the lame man rise, take up thy bed and walk. He did. John 11:43, He commanded Lazarus to come out of the grave. He did. Acts 3:6, Peter commanded the lame man to rise up and walk. He did. Acts 16:18, Paul commanded a spirit to come out of a woman. It did.
In John chapter 14, Jesus tells us that we can do these same miracles. John 14:12, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do because I go to my Father."
14:13, "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do that the Father may be glorified in the Son."
14:14, "If you ask anything in my name, I will do it."
Prayer is not a five minute thing, if you truly want to be effective in prayer, you will need to take time and study the word of God. I know this sounds funny, yet as Believers the Word of God is God's Will for our life. We need to know what it says, and when we pray, we ask God to do what He said He would in the Word. But if we do not know the Word, we get all these different kinds of noise to God, trying to con God, trying to make a deal with God, and trying to just tell God "you handle it."
Well my friends those prayers will not work. You have to show your self approved in the Word. Read the Bible. Start small and grow, but read it. It will baptize your imagination and empower your prayer life. And when you visualize that “mountain” that obstacle moving, in the Spirit with your Christian imagination, your better believe it will eventually move. Concieve it. Believe it. Receive it! So help us God. Amen! Amen!
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