Praying to Move Mountains

Mark 11:20-26

Introduction

If we are only being religious without a dynamic relationship with God, then we won’t be able to pray to move mountains. Sin or mere external religion will not work. External religion cannot bear fruit. In fact, Jesus curses external religion when people are just going through the motions but are not really serious about walking with God. Mountain-moving prayer is canceled by (1) sin and (2) a religion practiced apart from a relationship with the one true God and revelation through His Word. External and empty religion will not result in answered prayers.

A mountain is a major challenge or something you can’t get over easily. However, mountain-moving prayers are prayers that allow us to access divine authority and activate that authority in our lives. When we exercise sincere faith through prayer, we choose to have confidence in God’s ability to be bigger than our problem and to trust His power to change the outcome of the problem we face.

In order to see God move in response to our prayers, there are some conditions. Mountain-moving prayers require forgiveness. You have to be willing to forgive others. If you hold on to unforgiveness, you will block the power of prayer. It also requires God’s forgiveness extended towards you. This means you have to be willing to ask for his forgiveness for the sins you’ve committed. Both your willingness to forgive others and your willingness to seek God’s forgiveness puts you in the position to experience the answers to mountain-moving prayer.

Getting Started

1. What is the difference between being in a relationship with God versus engaging in empty or external religion?
2. Based on the answers your group shared in the previous question, how would you classify your current connection with God? Relationship? Empty or external?

Let’s Get Personal

1. What mountains are you currently dealing with? Share your challenges with your group.
2. Have you been praying for God to move those mountains? Why or why not?
3. How did this week’s message challenge you to address your mountains through prayer? How did this week’s message encourage you?

Take the Next Step

1. Take some time to think about your need to extend or receive forgiveness. Is there any unforgiveness blocking you from moving your mountains? Is there any unconfessed sin in your life that could be getting in the way of the prayers you want God to answer?
2. How can you live with a continual awareness of your own need for forgiveness or your need to forgive others? In what practical ways can you see the need when it arises so that you are always able to pray mountain-moving prayers?
3. What does it look like for you to extend forgiveness to others? Talk with your group about what it means to forgive others. How do you move beyond the decision to forgive and actually experience freedom, the freedom of forgiving others and the freedom that comes from receiving the forgiveness God offers to you?
4. Want to go deeper? Take a look at the following passages: Romans 3:27; Isaiah 45:11; Galatians 5:6; Zechariah 4:7; Matthew 18:21-35

Renew Your Mind

“‘What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will bring forth the top stone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’”

Zechariah 4:7