1. Mountain moving Faith is for DISCIPLES
What is it to have the mountain moving faith that Jesus taught? Lying pastors say it is to pray and believe without doubting to receive whatever good things you want. Foolish churchgoers take this to seek worldly prosperity. When they get wealth, charming children, or any good fortune—they showcase it as evidence of their great faith. Did Jesus preach chasing Worldly glory? No—Jesus preached seeking Heavenly glory. In Matthew 6:33 Jesus said, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God…" And in Matthew 6:19-20 Jesus said, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal." Pastors preach positive psychology of presuming God will shower you with temporary earthly prosperity. But Jesus spoke of faith in God that leads to everlasting heavenly glory. In Mark 11:22-23 Jesus said, "Have faith in God. 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." This is an exciting message. It seems you can accomplish the impossible. But who was Jesus talking to? Jesus did not preach this to crowds looking for miracles, nor did he speak it to religious hypocrites wanting men’s praise. Jesus taught it to his disciples.
Disciples seek God. Disciples seek God by obeying God. Disciples seek God by obeying Him despite the cost. In John 8:31 Jesus said, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed…" In Luke 14:26-27 Jesus said, "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple." The mark of a disciple is continuing in obeying the words of Lord Jesus, despite suffering and despite sacrifice. Mountain moving faith does NOT fit everyone. It is for disciples diligently following after Jesus—His commandments, His teachings and His steps. When Jesus came to the world as a man, he persisted in obeying God despite the suffering. And so, God rewarded him by glorifying him in Heaven as the first Son of God. Disciples who follow Jesus to suffer in this world, may also follow him to become glorified sons of God in Heaven. Romans 8:14,17 says, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God…And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." To become a glorified son of God in the kingdom of God seems impossible—but this is the true mountain moving faith Jesus lived and taught. Follow Jesus’s example to diligently obey God in this world, and become a joint heir with Christ in Heaven.
2. Jesus came as FLESH to be EXAMPLE
Jesus gave up his position as omnipotent God, and came to the world as a mere flesh man. He left us an example of how we also can and should live free of sin. 1 Peter 2:21-22 says, "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin…" God’s call is not to confidently continue in sin because Jesus was crucified. God’s call is to follow Jesus’s steps of doing no sin because He suffered for us. Antichrist opposes this call. The spirit of antichrist spreads the lie that Jesus was not just a flesh man, that he also was God at that same time. The deception is to make it seem impossible to follow Jesus in doing no sin. How could we do what he did, if Jesus was both God and man at that time? But Scripture says Jesus came to the world in the same sinful flesh as you and me. Romans 8:3-4 says Jesus was sent, "…in the likeness of sinful flesh…That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Jesus’s soul left the all-powerful Spirit body of God, and came to the world as 100% man in the same kind of sinful flesh body that our souls are born in. He did this to model how we also can fulfill God’s commandments—by turning away from the flesh’s sinful desire and walking after the holy spirit. This is the way to Heaven. When we die, our flesh body returns to dust, and our soul goes to either Heaven or Hell. To enter Heaven, our soul must be born again with the covering of the holy spirit.
When we’re first born, our soul is born into a sinful flesh body. We are physically alive, but our soul is spiritually dead. If we repent of sin and cry to God for help to live righteously, He gives us the holy spirit. We then are a born-again, spiritually alive soul. In Luke 11:13 Jesus said, "…how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" In John 3:6-7 Jesus said, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." This is just the beginning of God’s plan—a weak spiritual newborn is not meant to remain a baby. It is designed to grow into a spiritually mature son of God. 1 Peter 2:1-2 says, "Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby…" Our potential to grow from a spiritual babe into a strong Son of God is fulfilled when we cut off the flesh and latch onto obeying the words of Jesus.
The flesh body and the spirit body pull in opposite directions. To please God, our soul must choose to put to death the sinful deeds of the flesh through the spirit. Romans 8:8,13-14 says, "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God….For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." The consequence of continuing in sin is spiritual death. If we crush the sinful deeds of our flesh, we may transform from a flesh son of man to becoming a spiritual son of God. This delights God, and He rewards those who become His sons with His kingdom. The proof of transformation is a life with fruits of the Spirit—all goodness, righteousness and truth. Ephesians 5:5-10 says, "For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God… (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord." Do not fantasize about your spiritual status—rather, examine yourself truthfully. Is your mind and life after sexual immorality, desiring the belongings of others, enjoying excessive partying, and committing other filthy sin? Or is your heart and life after doing what is good, righteous and true? Don’t let pastors deceive you with empty flattering words, God’s wrath falls on the disobedient. Those who continue in doing the sinful works of the flesh do not qualify as sons of God to inherit His kingdom.
3. God’s plan to ADOPT Children
God is Creator of all living beings—birds, fish, land animals, insects, angels and people. Men and women are God’s special creation because He made us in His own image. Genesis 1:27 says, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." Our soul, the invisible inner person of who we are, is made in the identical image of God the Creator. We are the only creation designed with the extraordinary purpose of becoming children of God. Even before God created the world, He planned to have children. Although we’re all born creations of God, none of us are born as children of God. The way to become a son of God is through adoption if we qualify. By following the steps of the man Jesus, we also can transform from flesh nature to spirit nature, and grow in holiness to be adopted by God. Ephesians 1:3-5 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will…" Predestinate does NOT mean God decided in advance which specific individuals will or won’t become His children. It means God already decided, even before creating the world, the requirement or criteria to be adopted. It is our choice to strive to meet those standards or not.
God has no bias or partiality to choose one person over another. To be adopted as a son of God, requires becoming like God in character. He is holy, and He desires children who are as holy as He is holy. 1 Peter 1:14-16 says, "As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." Sons of God are those who have become like their Father God in holiness. 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 & right into 2 Corinthians 7:1 says, "… Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." To be adopted as a Son of God, we must do the work to qualify. Cleanse ourself from the filth of all sin, separate from friendship of evildoers, and obey the leading of the spirit to become as holy as God. Romans 8:14-17 says, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God…ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." Those who follow the example of Jesus to do righteous, holy works in this world, will be rewarded with Him as a joint heir in heaven.
4. GLORY according to Our WORKS
Faith in God is evidenced by works of obedience. Faith is not just believing God is exists, even the devils believe that and tremble with fear because of it. True faith requires believing God is real AND believing God will make good on His promise. Hebrews 11:5-6 says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." God’s extraordinary promise is if we diligently obey Him as the man Jesus did, then we also will be glorified in Heaven as His adopted Sons. If we hope for that heavenly glory, the evidence of our faith in God is doing righteous, holy works in this world. James 2:19-20 says, "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?" God’s purpose in creating us is that we grow in spirit to the stature of Jesus. However, all born again believers are not equally persistent in working toward this calling. Only some accept the suffering and cost to be a disciple of Jesus. God will be the most righteous Judge, and reward each person according to their level of diligence and works. Revelation 20:12-13 says, "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works…and they were judged every man according to their works." When resurrected from the dead, we each will be rewarded according to our works of obeying or disobeying God.
In Heaven there are different levels of glory, and in Hell there are different levels of torment. Scripture compares the differing levels of Heavenly glory to the differing levels of glory of the Sun, Moon and Stars. 1 Corinthians 15:41-42 says, "There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead…" It is different intensities of brilliance to see the strong shining of the Sun versus the soft glow of moonlight versus the pin-point glimmer of distant stars. So also, born again souls will be rewarded vastly different magnitudes of heavenly glory according to their diligence and works in the world. God is a righteous judge. An immature child of God will not receive the same level of heavenly glory as a mature son of God. God calls us to follow the steps of Jesus to be as holy as He is holy—clean of all sin, without sin, blameless. Jesus as the first begotten Son of God in Heaven is described to have the glory as the Sun. Revelation 1:16 says, "…and his [Christ Jesus] countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength…" Those who persistent in following Jesus’s example and grow to become Sons of God, they will be rewarded with the same glory as the shining Sun. Matthew 13:43 says, "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father." It seems impossible, but it is the mountain moving faith Jesus taught and lived.
5. Made BETTER than Angels
Disciples who follow Jesus to sin no more, also follow him to become sons of God who inherit their heavenly Father’s kingdom. Rom 8:28-29 says, "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. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren." This is God’s calling and purpose for mankind—that we conform or mold our heart and life into the example Jesus left. Jesus became the firstborn Son of God in Heaven; those who follow his steps in this world will join him as brethren in Heaven. Antichrist denies Jesus came to the world in the same sinful flesh as us, but Scripture says Jesus was vulnerable to the same temptations of the flesh. Hebrews 2:16-18 says, "For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren…For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted." The spirit of Antichrist says Jesus was more than a flesh man, and so we cannot follow his example to do no sin. But the Bible says the man Jesus did not even have the nature or power of angels. Rather he took on the nature of mankind (as the seed of Abraham), and so he suffered being tempted. Now Christ Jesus is God, but because he walked in our shoes as a man, He is able to succor or help us overcome sin’s temptation.
Angels are spirit creatures with more power than humans. But, angels themselves are mere creations of God. However, the man Jesus was made lower than angels. He came to the world in the flesh to experience temptation, suffering and death. Hebrews 2:9-10 says, "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour;…in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same…" Jesus showed the path to transform from a sinful flesh son of man to an obedient spiritual son of God. It is a path of suffering in this present time. But the suffering here is nothing compared to the glory Sons receive in Heaven. Romans 8:17-19, "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God."
Although we start lower than angels, there is hope to be made so much better than angels. No angel can become a Son of God. No angel can inherit the kingdom of God. No angel can become a Son of God. No angel can inherit the kingdom of God. Jesus came in the flesh as a man (made lower than angels), but He is now a glorified begotten Son of God (made so much better than any angel). Hebrews 1:4-5 says, "Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?" Despite their brilliance and power, no angel will be able to call God as Father. And no angel will inherit and rule over the kingdom of God. Hebrews 2:5-8 says, "For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet." Man is God’s special creation with a soul made in the very image of God. Jesus taught his disciples to have faith in God. The faith Jesus taught is not putting on a magic show of casting mountains from here to there, nor is it to gaining this world’s temporary glory. Faith is believing God is real and believing He will reward those who diligently obey Him with Heaven’s eternal glory. The mountain moving faith Jesus taught and lived is becoming a begotten son of God who inherits the everlasting glory of Father God’s heavenly kingdom. Will you go for it?