Building with Lego...and Other Spiritual Insights (Mark 11:20-24)

In the morning, "...they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots", or "from its roots" (Wuest; Beck; Rotherham; KJV), [11:20]

"FROM" is (ek), 1537, designating the place of origin or the point where the motion or action proceeded from. Change is initiated in the spiritual realm, where there is no apparent visible change, and you can't see it, until the words spoken produce, like the seeds that they are, the physical result of what has been said. When words of faith are uttered, you don't always see immediate change, but something has begun, "from the root" of the problem or source of circumstance, and the manifestation will be produced so that you will see the effects of faith that have been spoken.

Jesus said, "Have faith in God" (11:22)

"HAVE" is (echo), 2192, meaning, literally, to hold; to take possession of.

The God kind of faith is something that you have ownership of, meaning that there is an action on our part, and we have to do something. It is not simply a natural occurrence, but we develop our spiritual awareness of the reality of that realm, that is more real than this physical, decaying facade we live in. We must constantly strengthen our spiritual perception, to the point that we live in that heightened awareness of spiritual reality and this physical existence becomes secondary.

"For verily I say to you..." (11:23)

"VERILY", is the transliteration (amen), 281, that everyone is familiar with. It means it is certain; solid as a rock; unmovable; an established fact. In other words, what Jesus was about to speak was absolutely reliable and could be completely trusted as a solid fact!

"SAY", is (lego), 3004 [and shall be addressed later in this exposition]

The scripture goes on to state that "whosoever shall say" (11:23)

"SAY" is (eipon), 2036, a word used only in the definite past tense, meaning "whosoever has said," to the mountain...

Be "REMOVED" (airo), 142, where we get the English word "air", implying to "lift", or "take up" or "away", meaning something is removed and dislodged from its present place or lifted up from where it is, to another location. It is basically "airborne". This is quite a dramatic illustration since Jesus was obviously referring to a literal mountain.

Then Jesus says that the mountain is not only levitated, but it is "cast" into the sea (11:23).

"CAST" is the Greek word (ballo), 906, where we get the English word "ball" from and expresses a more or less violent and intense action exerted upon another person or object. The imagery of this is astounding because it not only expresses the levitation of this "mountain" but the hurling of this huge object, with violent force, a considerable distance, from the person commanding this action! It is certain that most people are not focused on throwing mountains like some Olympic shot put or javelin event, but they are desirous to have, as illustrated by the forcible removal of this mountain, the contrary circumstances and negative events or attacks of the enemy, hurled from their lives.

It is not that Jesus intended, then or now, for Believers to start using their words, to start throwing around mountains, but the teaching technique is to use something extreme to illustrate something more mundane and simple. The scripture states that moving mountains would be having "all" faith as 1 Corinthians 13:2 states, "...though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains...". We don't require "all" faith, and the principle can more clearly be illustrated by stating that the bodybuilder who can lift 200 lbs. can, without question, lift 25 lbs. The capability of the more extreme being achievable means that the vastly less extreme is most certainly achievable. Therefore, it is not the moving of mountains that is "amen", or an established fact of guaranteed certainty, but the principle of faith is most definitely an established fact to each and every Believer, and they can use their words to challenge and change and conquer the circumstances they face.

Then the scripture states that they "shall not doubt" in their heart (11:23).

"DOUBT" is the Greek word (diakrino), 1252, from (dia), meaning "two" and (krino), meaning "to judge". The idea of this word is to "judge between two", or to make or show a difference; to separate thoroughly. Basically, this word means that two things are not the same, but there is a difference; there is no agreement or oneness. The scripture is stating that there must be a oneness; no difference.

"HEART" is the Greek word (kardia), 2588, which means the center or core of something, as in the English expression, "the heart of the matter". Our "heart" is basically divided spiritually into our spirit and soul (mind; emotions; intellect), and when our mind is renewed to believe, what our spirit already knows, then there is no hindrance; there is no "doubt", in our heart.

Then the scripture says, "but shall believe that those things which he says shall come to pass" (11:23).

There a couple of interesting observations in this text:

1)"THAT" is the Greek word (hoti), 3754, and is better translated "because"

2) "shall come to pass", is one word in the Greek (ginomai), 1096, signifying immediate creation, or coming into existence.

The phrase is then better translated, "...but shall have faith, BECAUSE those things which he says are taking place; coming into existence, right now!"

These are not just "random words" that bring something into existence that wasn't a previous reality. The Greek language is very specific and states that a person believes, or has faith, BECAUSE those things which he "says" come into existence or are taking place, right now (11:23).

"SAYS", is the Greek word (lego), 3004, which is where the childhood building block game, Lego, derives its name. The word (lego) is a systematic discourse or the specific, thought out, putting together of words to form a concise, structured speech concerning something. What is important is that, unlike perhaps a child building with Lego, these words are not random, they are very calculated, and meticulously put or "built" together.

The next phrase is of future orientation since it declares that what the Believer specifically and methodically "says", comes, immediately into existence, and then, whatever it is, indicating a lot of latitude in what his or her words can construct, that he/she "says", then he/she, shall have, what he/she has said.

What is illustrated, is that something happens, or something is created, and comes into existence, immediately, but there is a "lag time" before it "shows up". The scripture clearly states, in the parable of The Sower and the Seed (Matt.13:18-23; Mk.4:13-20; Lk.8:11-15) that the "seed" is the word, and when the seed is planted it produces and continues to produce 30; 60; 100 fold, but the fruit of that seed doesn't appear immediately, even though the process starts as soon as the seed is sown into the soil. This is exactly what is being declared in this teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lego (words) that you build and structure together, with specific intent, immediately brings something into existence in the spiritual, or unseen realm, just like the seed in the soil; it's unseen, but definitely has the creative power of something that you will see because it will produce whatever type of seed that it is [financial seed; healing seed; deliverance seed; salvation seed; etc]. The creative miracle starts immediately and the fruit of that seed sown will show up whether it is in a month; a week; a day; or a year. The seed we sow with our words, will "grow" and eventually "show", what we already know; that it came into existence when we spoke in faith, and now has manifested for all to see.

Jesus went on to say, "Therefore, [or, "because of what I have just told you"], I say to you, whatever things [meaning absolutely and inclusively: anything!] you desire..." (11:24).

"DESIRE" is (aiteo), 154, and has a 4 part meaning:

1) it is whatever you "ask" for

2) it is specifically whatever you "ask for yourself". You are not asking for someone else, although what you "ask" for could impact or affect the lives of others; the word specifically means something you specifically, and precisely, "ask for yourself"

3) there is a "more forceful and demanding tone" (DNTT, Vol.2, p.855) about this word. You are not simply "asking for yourself", but you are "demanding for yourself".

4) you are "asking" or "demanding" for yourself, "something as one's share" (DNTT, Vol.2, p.855). In other words, there is a legal right that you are enforcing. You have the legal right, and it belongs to you, therefore, you can "demand for yourself" something that is already yours; something that already belongs to you.

Jesus said you engage in this action, "...when you pray.." (11:24)

"PRAY" is (proseuchomai), 4336, from the Greek word group used almost exclusively to translate the English words, "pray" or "prayer", and probably one of the most misunderstood and misinterpreted word groups in the scriptures. The root word (euchomai), 2172, means literally, "to speak out, to utter aloud; to affirm out loud, to make a solemn declaration" about or concerning oneself. It is speaking something, out loud, about yourself. The meaning emphasizes:

1. to affirm boldly and proudly.

2. to make known.

3. to boast.

 In fact, (proseuchomai), in keeping with the meaning and implication of (aiteo), means "to make confident statements about oneself". It can also mean to boast; brag, and assert.

It is almost guaranteed that 99% of people do not picture the literal scriptural meaning of the word (proseuchomai) when they think of the word "prayer" and it is probably also the reason why 99% of their "prayers" don't happen. Whatever they are doing, 99% of the time, they are not "praying", according to the scriptural, Biblical definition, of what God calls "prayer".

You can't act contrary to the Word and expect to get the results of the Word. If we are going to "pray", then we need to follow the scriptural definition and meaning of the word, to get the scriptural results of "prayer".

Jesus went on to say, "believe that you receive, and you shall have" (11:24), or believe [have faith], "because", since the word translated "that" is the Greek word (hoti), 3754, meaning, "because" .

You can believe because you have received.

"RECEIVED" is the Greek word (lambano), 2983, which is active, meaning to "get hold of", and it is, in literary language, "the aorist of immediate consequence", meaning that it happens immediately. Then, and only then, "you shall [future tense] have" whatever it is you were declaring in "prayer".

Basically, verses 23 and 24 are a repetition of one another, stating the same facts in a different format, to communicate the means and method to change circumstances and situations and to bring spiritual reality into physical, tangible manifestation.

Paraphrase Mark 11:23-24:

"Jesus, drew a conclusion, emphatically stating to them, hold onto; grasp; retain and keep, the faith of God; the faith that God possesses, for I am telling you, specifically, with unshakable and established certainty, that whoever tells this mountain, to lift up out of the ground; levitate in the air, and with their words, forces it to throw itself violently into the sea; and has no division between his soul and spirit, but is in total agreement with what is their spiritual authority, they can have total assurance, because what they speak specifically, is taking place instantly, and has come into existence in the unseen spiritual realm, and what happens in the spiritual realm, will manifest in the physical realm, [just like seeds we sow, eventually grow]"

"Because of these facts, I state with certainty to you, that whatever things; it doesn't matter what it is, because the facts remain the same, that you ask for, demanding what is legally yours already because it belongs to you; when you make bold; confident assertions, declaring the word concerning yourself, with all confidence, you can most certainly have faith, because immediately it happens in the unseen and will show up, as it grows up, into the physical realm and you will physically possess what you have declared out loud, boldly with your words"

[paraphrase of Mark 11:22-24 with the imagery and import of the Greek language considered and emphasized].

You are God's Best and God's Best is Yours