Meditations Upon Mark 11:24 - Part One

 

Meditations Upon Mark 11:24

Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

 

This verse is one of the most abused passages in the Bible. Televangelists treat it as if it were their “Magna Carta” for supernatural healing and extraordinary spiritual events. Misguidedly seeking material acquisition and financial gain, many disciples allow them to scratch their itching ears with a vile reductionism of this verse and its context. They eagerly listen to the concept of “Ask it, name it and claim it.”

 

What did those words mean to the people who originally heard them? How did they respond? What did the evangelist intend using those words? Has anything been lost in the translation from Greek to English? Biblical authors wrote in word pictures. What mental image did the evangelist intend for his hearers and readers to formulate in response to his directive? What exactly does it mean to have faith in God?

 

Let’s deconstruct the verses. Does “Have” mean to possess? How does a disciple acquire faith? What is faith? Does referring to synonyms such as belief, trust and reliance suffice to define faith? Admittedly, “in God” presumes God’s existence and acceptance of this concept. How does a disciple ask anything of God? What does it mean to “believe?” How would a disciple prove his or her belief? How would you receive something intangible? The evangelist instructs his readers to affirm that they have already acquired the object of their heartfelt desire without being able to physically hold it. The passage alludes to a forthcoming  time when the objects of a disciple’s prayer will manifest before him or her. What difference will answers  to these questions make?

 

The author of Hebrews defines faith as the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen. Faith demands an unwavering belief that your investment of time, talent, treasure and temperament toward a dream, goal or ambition will yield success. Faith enables you to see success before you practically achieve it. Your belief in your abilities, capabilities, capacities and endowments sustain you as you painstakingly pursue fulfillment of your goals and aspirations. With the inner eye, you can see success before it happens. The spiritual disciplines of prayer, meditation and affirmation are like oil in the lamp to guide your path during darkness, doubt and fear.

 

The evangelist specifies that disciples are to have faith in Almighty God. I posit that he does not disdain belief in one’s own self. Self-esteem is a nonnegotiable attribute for anyone who seeks to achieve anything meaningful. If you do not believe in yourself, then you cannot expect anyone else to do so. Nevertheless, the evangelist specifies that we put our faith in Almighty God. Therein, we assert an unequivocal belief and trust in God’s ability and grace to impart the objects of our petitions. We trust God to answer our prayers in accordance with His sovereign will and divine plan for our individual lives and humankind. A belief in Almighty God requires an assertion of His four immutable characteristics. He is infinite and limitless in knowledge, power, presence and kindness. He possesses the power and prerogative to grant our prayers. Also, He has the sovereignty to deny them for whatever reason He chooses.

 

As it relates to any measure of faith necessary to achieve a favorable outcome, the evangelist in Matthew’s gospel depicts the minimally requisite amount. He says that faith the size of a mustard seed is powerful enough to move a mountain. With a mustard seed’s size of faith, disciples can command mountains to cast themselves into the sea. Practically, this means that disciples can merely entertain an idea that their circumstances can be different. Are you willing to believe that God indeed can heal your major health challenges? We are twenty-first century, global and pluralistic disciples. Many of us uncritically accept the scientific method as the most reliable means of determining truth and reality. However, do we like our first century counterparts genuinely rely upon our Heavenly Father to intervene favorably in our affairs? Notwithstanding science, technology, social science, psychology and reason, is there any merit to petitioning God to intervene within our circumstances? Are we willing to entertain the idea? A mustard seed of faith equates with a humble willingness to believe God will suspend natural law and readjust your situation? Certainly, He will should He elect to utilize you and your predicament to glorify Himself. Like the experientially and existentially exhausted father in Mark 9:23, you may cry aloud, “Lord, I believe but help Thou my unbelief!” A mustard seed of faith is incomplete, but it is not insincere or inadequate.