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Sermon: Mover of Mountains [Tell It to the Mountain - Part II]
by Chris Cumming
For those of you who attended the
Feast here last year, you heard me give a sermon about faith entitled,
“Tell It to the Mountain”. Today is part II of this sermon and begins
the exact same way… 11 And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve. 12 And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: 13 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. 14 And Jesus answered and said unto
it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard
it. 20 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter calling to remembrance
saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is
withered away. 22 And Jesus answering saith unto
them, Have faith in God.
In that first sermon I spent less
than 20% of my time giving you Action Steps for invoking this kind of
faith. I DID tell you that this process of attaining the same faith as
God is a lifelong process…not achieved overnight. 23 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. 24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. 25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
1] Say it—with the strongest faith, conviction, boldness. 2] Believe
it
But we all, with open face beholding
as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image
from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
I finished that sermon with a paraphrase of this verse.
“All true Christians with the Holy Spirit see and know Jesus Christ directly and openly. We see Him reflected in Spirit and through the Word of God. We see His glory in everything He does and says.
“We are changed to His image as we
persevere in the Process of Salvation---overcoming sin, invoking Godly
principles and putting on Christ in every aspect of our lives…”from
glory to glory” by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me:
and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the
salvation of God. Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me - That is, he truly honors me; he is a true worshipper; he meets with my approbation. The word here rendered ""offereth"" is the same which is used in Psalm 50:14, and means "he that sacrifices:" here meaning, he that presents the sacrifice of praise. So the Septuagint: "the sacrifice of praise glorifies me." So the Vulgate. The idea is, that the worship which God requires is "praise;" it is not the mere external act of homage; it is not the presentation of a bloody sacrifice; it is not the mere bending of the knee; it is not a mere outward form: it is that which proceeds from the heart, and which shows that there is there a spirit of true thankfulness, adoration, and love.
And to him that ordereth his
conversation aright - Margin, as in Hebrew, "that disposeth his way." Or,
more literally, "To him that "prepares" or "plans" his way;" that is, to
him who is attentive to his going; who seeks to walk in the right path;
who is anxious to go in the road that leads to a happier world; who is
careful that all his conduct shall be in accordance with the rules which
God has prescribed.
Isaiah 43:21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified,
that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. The words of Christ, as well as the
person of Christ, may abide in the believer. It is the teaching of
Christ that gives rise to the proper kind of praying. When the word of
Christ dwells richly within, one may safely ask what he will, and it
shall be done. The teaching is similar to that in John 14:13-14. Verse
8. Discipleship is a growing, dynamic thing. The more fruit we bear, the
more truly are we fulfilling the pattern of disciples, those who learn
of Christ in order to be like him. God is glorified thereby. He is
vindicated and rewarded for his investment in the vineyard.
Ephesians 1:12 That we should be to the praise of
his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
1 Peter 4:11-14 11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name
of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon
you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is
glorified. Luke 7:1-10 7:1 Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum. 2 And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. 3 And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: 5 For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. 6 Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: 7 Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. 8 For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 9 When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 10 And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.
To this point we have discussed
invoking this highest form of faith and allowing the wonders of God to
be done through us, wherein God can be glorified and Christ can marvel.
We are now going to talk about the Pathway. Psalms 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psalms 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Psalms 119:35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.
God Knows Our Ways Psalms 139:3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
Isaiah 26:7 The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.
Don't Take the Wrong Path Proverbs 1:15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:
Proverbs 4:14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
Take the Right Path Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.
Proverbs 4:26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let
all thy ways be established. God is There When the Mountains are Psalms 27:11 Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
Psalms 142:3 When my spirit was overwhelmed
within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have
they privily laid a snare for me. Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
Psalms 77:19
Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great
waters, and thy footsteps are not known.
“It may however be adapted to the case of any individual
in spiritual distress through strong temptation, or from a sense of the
divine displeasure in consequence of backsliding.”
2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted. 3 I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah. 4 Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak. 5 I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. 6 I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. 7 Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? 8 Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? 9 Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah. 10 And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. 11 I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. 12 I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings. 13 Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God? 14 Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people. 15 Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah. 16 The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled. 17 The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad. 18 The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook. 19 Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known. 20 Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
These captives of Babylon meditated on the works of God
and specifically what He did at the Red Sea. The picture is one in
which the Red Sea heard the powerful Word of God AND BECAME AFRAID and
moved aside MAKING A PATH.
Before we began discussing the Pathway scriptures I asked
a couple of questions and said we would get back to them.
God knew He was going to call you to
the salvation process before He laid the foundation of the
world---Billions and Billions of years ago. So I ask again, how did you
possibly survive all those years from birth to baptism? Promises ---Listen to the promises
of God Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Ephesians 3:20-21 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
As we come to the end of this
sermon, I want to leave you with my traditional
“end-of-the-sermon-zinger.” Remember one of the foundational verses I
gave you on Godly Glory?
Isaiah 43:1-7 1 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. 3 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. 4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. 5 Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; 6 I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth; 7 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
Now, if I may I want to leave you with the words of the song you heard at the beginning of my sermon, “Move that Mountain" There looms a mountain up ahead, |