Mark 11:23: How to Speak to Your Mountain
By Samuel Waterhouse, author of You Were Healed ·
The short answer
In Mark 11:23 Jesus teaches that whoever speaks to their mountain, without doubting in their heart and believing what they say will happen, will have what they say. The mountain is whatever stands against you, and Jesus tells you to speak to it, not just about it.
“And Jesus answering saith unto them, 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. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”
Plain English (GIGAKJV): And Jesus answering says to them, Have faith in God. For truly I say to you, Whoever shall say to this mountain, Be removed, and be cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he says will happen, he shall have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, Whatever you desire when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them.
Say it: three times in one verse
In verse 23 Jesus mentions saying three times and believing once: “whosoever shall say… those things which he saith… he shall have whatsoever he saith.” He didn’t tell us to ask God to move the mountain. He told us to speak to it.
Two places are involved: the heart and the mouth. Speaking without believing is just noise. Believing without ever speaking keeps faith locked inside. When the heart believes and the mouth says the same thing, Jesus gives His word: you shall have what you say.
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”
Plain English (GIGAKJV): Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and those who love it shall eat its fruit.
“We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;”
Plain English (GIGAKJV): We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore I have spoken. We also believe, and therefore speak.
Believe you receive, before you see it
Verse 24 puts things in order: pray, believe you receive, and then you shall have. Most people say, “I’ll believe it when I see it.” Jesus says believe it, and then you’ll see it. That is why Peter could say “ye were healed” (1 Peter 2:24): you are receiving something already provided.
Forgive: the condition Jesus attached
“And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
Plain English (GIGAKJV): And when you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your sins.
Mountain-moving faith and unforgiveness don’t go together. Faith works by love (Galatians 5:6). Keep short accounts: forgive the moment offence comes.
Hold fast
“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)”
Plain English (GIGAKJV): Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering. He is faithful who promised.
This is where most people lose it: not when they pray, but in the days after, when the symptom argues back. Holding fast means you said it and you refuse to unsay it. God’s instruction to the weak is “let the weak say, I am strong” (Joel 3:10), said while still weak.
Put it together
- Have faith in God: His Word is the final fact.
- Say it out loud, to the mountain.
- Believe in your heart that what you say will happen.
- Believe you receive when you pray, before you see it.
- Forgive, every time.
- Hold fast, without wavering.
Say it out loud
“I have faith in God. By His stripes I was healed. I say it with my mouth and I believe it in my heart: I am healed. I forgive, I hold fast, and I have what I say. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Go deeper
You Were Healed
How Scripture says to receive the healing Jesus already purchased. Isaiah 53 word by word, Jesus and the apostles in action, every common objection answered with Scripture, and daily confessions.
Read every verse in plain English, with the King James beside it, free at gigakjv.org.
Church leaders: invite Samuel to teach the Word and pray with people at your church or gathering.
Send an invitationThis article is Bible teaching, not medical advice. Every decision about your health is yours; don’t stop or change any prescribed treatment without talking to your doctor. In an emergency call 000 (Australia), 111 (New Zealand) or 911 (USA). Full disclaimer.