by Dr. Johnnie Blount
The Pattern Jesus Established
Jesus made a profound declaration that challenges every believer: “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do” (John 14:12). This wasn’t merely encouragement—it was a blueprint for how we’re meant to operate in the earth.
When Jesus walked among us, He demonstrated what it looks like to walk in divine authority. He didn’t spend His time pleading with the Father or wrestling against circumstances. Instead, He moved with unshakeable confidence, knowing He had been given authority to speak to situations and expect obedience.
Speaking to Mountains
In Mark 11:23, Jesus revealed a powerful principle: “Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.” This wasn’t metaphorical language—Jesus literally spoke to storms, diseases, and even death itself.
Consider His healing ministry. Jesus took thirty-nine stripes for our health, and when He encountered sickness, He didn’t pray lengthy prayers asking for healing. He spoke directly to leprosy, blind eyes, paralysis, withered hands, and dropsy (edema). Each time, He took His position of authority and commanded the mountain of circumstance to move.
The Authority We’ve Been Given
From the very beginning, God gave humanity dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:28). This authority wasn’t revoked when sin entered the world—it was restored through Christ. In Luke 10:19, Jesus told His disciples, “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.”
Remarkably, this declaration came before they received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. If they had such authority then, how much greater is our potential now that we have the fullness of God’s Spirit dwelling within us?
The Source of Our Confidence
John 14:20 reveals the profound truth of our identity: “In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.” Our power doesn’t come from our own abilities—it flows from the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit dwelling within us. This gives us dunamis power and authority over all spirits, for there is no spirit greater than the Holy Spirit.
From Coward to Courageous
The transformation of Peter illustrates this beautifully. Before Pentecost, he was a man who denied Jesus three times out of fear. But after receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit, this same Peter stood before thousands and preached with such power that 3,000 souls were added to the church in a single day. What changed? He finally believed—not just intellectually, but with the kind of faith that manifests in bold action.
The Gap Between Belief and Faith
Many Christians today believe about the Bible without believing in the Bible. They have confidence in other people’s testimonies but struggle to believe the Word will work for them personally. This creates a dangerous gap between intellectual agreement and living faith.
The question we must ask ourselves is: “Whose report will I believe?” If we truly believe the report of the Lord, we should be speaking to situations with the confidence that mountains will obey us.
Building Unshakeable Confidence
Confidence in God’s Word doesn’t develop overnight. It requires:
- Time in the Word: The Word itself brings faith (Romans 10:17), but we must spend time reflecting on it
- Confession: Speaking God’s promises aloud builds our confidence
- Prayer in the Spirit: Praying in tongues strengthens our inner man and connects us to divine power
As we engage in these practices, we develop the same confidence Jesus demonstrated—confidence that causes us to speak to storms, multiply resources, and see the impossible become possible.
A Call to Action
Jesus walked on water, multiplied loaves and fishes, raised the dead, and caused a temple tax to appear in the mouth of a fish. He said in Mark 9:23, “All things are possible for one who believes.” If we truly believe, we should be speaking to the mountains in our lives and in the lives of others, expecting change to take place.
The world should be pursuing us for answers the same way they pursued Jesus. We have something religious leaders of His day didn’t have—the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit and the authority that comes with it.
From Talkers to Doers
Too many believers remain comfortable discussing, studying, and praying about God’s power without ever demonstrating it. But we’re called to be doers of the Word, not hearers only (James 1:22). We must put legs to our faith and let the Word show itself strong on our behalf.
The pattern is clear: Jesus imitated the Father, and we’re called to imitate Christ (Ephesians 5:1). He said, “I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me” (John 8:28). This is exactly how we should operate in the earth today.
The question isn’t whether we have the authority—Jesus has already given it to us. The question is whether we’ll step into it with the same confidence He demonstrated, speaking to our mountains and expecting them to move.
Challenge: It’s time to move from belief to manifestation, from prayer to proclamation, from hoping to commanding. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in you. What mountains need to hear your voice today?
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