Never Be Without A Mountain!
Sunday’s Monday
I can’t help but wonder when we humans became so confused over God’s word. Over the century’s we humans have softened God’s biblical instructions to the point that our fear of God is virtually extinct. We have reduced God’s blessings to expectation “for” simply being a Christian and given the gospel of Jesus that good old boy concept. The talk of hell, fire and brimstone are seldom heard, as well, not much attention is being placed on, our every action having consequences. Every decision, thought, choice, word, feeling has a consequence, even life has death. Our homes are also slowly turning into electronic havens, where our flesh is allowed to overrule the spirit of family and parental responsibilities are being forced onto others. We Christians are ever so slowly being drawn away from Jesus and taking our families with us, as we continue to pass this generational curse on through time!
Over the years and several thousand conversations later, I have come to the conclusion, that most Christians are into the mountain moving mode, when it comes to God’s word. Most of them often boldly quoted Matthew 17:20 (NIV), He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” It took me a while to catch on, but God got me there eventually. We want to move the mountain because of several reasons, 1- it would prove how spiritual we are, 2- it would be the miracle needed to prove God to the world and 3- who wouldn’t want to move a mountain with mere faith.
But here is the rub! “We will never move a mountain without first using it!” The bible tells us in Luke 6:12 (NIV), One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. The gospel recorded in Matthew, Mark and John also speak of Jesus going up on the mountains to pray and commune with God. Jesus used the mountainside for their seclusion away from the clamor and distraction of people. When Jesus was on the mountainside, God had His full attention as He eagerly longed to hear the voice of His Father. He and God often communed all night, as Jesus sought God’s instructions, His will and His heart for the people of this world. Jesus used the mountains! Now, I’m no bible scholar and I can’t find where Jesus moved a mountain, although I do believe He could have, if he hadn’t chose to use them.
I am quite concerned that a lot of us have lost the way to our mountain and maybe that is the reason so many would like to move it. I have come to understand the full meaning of “People will do more to avoid pain than they will to gain pleasure.” –Tony Robbins. We have learned the art of avoiding accountability through the rejection of responsibility! To better break it down, talk with a lot of the church going youth of today about the mountainside prayer which the gospels speak of and they don’t know what to say. This is shameful for a Christian Nation! The bible tells us in Matthew 14:23 (NIV), After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone. Jesus didn’t have a prayer closet or one particular (comfortable) place where He could go to be along and pray with The Father. (Note) I am not saying pray to The Father because that insinuates one sidedness, I use the term “pray with” exampling a two-way conversation!
As I am writing this, I can feel Jesus asking the question in John 14:9 (NIV), Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Sounds like Peter momentarily lost his way to his mountainside. There is a gospel song titled Wait On That Mountain To Move by Three Bridges and the first line in the song reads You’ve prayed, and you’ve prayed but your mountain’s still there. I really like this song for the spiritual up lifting I get when God takes me between the lines, the mountain isn’t moving because I need it for my prayer life. Without our mountainside experiences we’ll lose touch with God, as our relationship becomes weak and we start “praying to” instead of “praying with” Jesus. When we pray “to” Jesus, we tell Him our need along with what He can do about it and how quickly He needs to act on that need, then it’s amen, out of time, no questions, we’ll talk again soon! But if we’re praying with Jesus, there’s an open conversation going on. Kind of reminds me of what is written in Galatians 3:3 (NIV), Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? If so, it will not work!
Our mountains cannot and will not move until we follow God’s instructions, 1 John 1:9 (NIV), If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. Then the strengthening process can begin by asking God to guide you through Romans 12:1-2 (NIV), Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. God will show you how to find your mountain and use it till He moves it, at which time you’ll find another mountain to commune from until its moved!
I leave you with 2 Peter 1:2 (NIV), Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. Amen
HAVE A BLESSED WEEK BY BEING A BLESSING TO OTHERS!
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