Moving Mountains (Mark 11:23)

Mark 11:23 says, "... whoever shall say to this mountain, 'Be removed, and be cast into the sea', and shall not doubt in their heart, but shall believe that those things which they say shall come to pass, they shall have whatever they say."

CREATION ACCOUNT

What is significant about this verse, other than the obvious declaration of authority, to those who believe, is the historical aspect of the illustration that Jesus used.

Many ancient Eastern people groups, including Israel, had a traditional account of creation, with striking similarities. Though these people groups were from varying backgrounds, they held to, an almost identical narrative, in certain aspects. What is fascinating, is that these versions of creation were "common" among the peoples of the ancient East, the "cradle" of civilization.

The basic story line, is that God threw a "mountain" into the mass of water [seas], that covered the earth, to begin with, and from this foundation, He, with His words, formed the rest of the world.

POWERFUL PRINCIPLE

There is no doubt that there was a real mountain to which Jesus was referring, but given the historical background, the statements of Jesus are that much more powerful.

This account may seem fanciful, or even mythical, but the point is that Jesus possibly drew upon this traditional story , held by separate and distinct people groups, concerning throwing a mountain into the sea, to illustrate a powerful spiritual principle.

The principle is, that just as God, in the beginning, used His words to "create" change, so we too can use our words, to "create" change, casting our mountain into the sea.

[Note: As Kenneth E. Hagin so accurately pointed out, this scripture mentions "believing" only once, but "saying" is repeated three times. The principle is that what you say, repeatedly,  about what you believe, is what produces the change.]   

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