“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.” —Mark 11:23-24
Some New Insight
A few days ago, I received an email and while I do not remember the subject or the author, a statement at the end of the email, enclosed with the signature, caught my eye. It said simply, “Faith isn’t believing that God can do it. Faith is knowing that God will do it.”
The thought struck my spirit, and I began to think about the difference between believing God has the capability of doing something and knowing that God will do something. It dawned on me that in many of my petitions to the Lord, I believed that He had the power to complete them. However, the true question was, did I feel confident that He was attending to my need? I began to realize the truth that faith must believe that God is attending to the need, even as we ask Him to provide for it. Let’s take a look at how we might raise our faith to a higher level. How can I be confident that God is answering my prayer?
The Means and the Source
The believer must first understand this simple statement: Jesus Christ is the source while the Cross is the means. Let me explain. When Jesus died on Calvary, He made a way, He opened the door, and He provided the means by which man might access God. Christ then ascended into heaven and, now, should be seen as the source of all provision.
We as believers are joint heirs with Christ, and everything He paid for through His death on Calvary is now our inheritance. When we have a need, we can go to God the Father in the name of Jesus because of the event of the Cross. It was there that the covenant was cut. It was there that a consistent access to the source of blessing was made available. So, having access by faith, we call upon the Father in the name of Jesus to the source of our blessing and provision. Therefore, we must understand that Christ is the source and that the Cross is the means.
I See it in the Word
The Bible says in I John 5:14-15, “And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us: And if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.”
If what we are petitioning God for is clearly spelled out in His Word and is a benefit or a privilege that is meant for the believer, then we can know with all confidence that we are asking according to His will. As examples, let’s consider God’s ability to provide for our needs, heal our bodies, save the souls of those we love, or raise a standard against the enemy that would destroy us. If we find evidence in Scripture that it is God’s will and desire to do the things for which we are petitioning Him, then we can be confident that when we ask Him to perform what He has said He will do, He will do it! So, my faith goes beyond the truth that God can and moves forward to the idea that God will. Even as I ask, He has already started to meet my request.
History Confirms It
Whenever we face an enemy, an adversary, or opposition of any kind, we are exhorted to look into our past and remind ourselves of what God has already done for us. This knowledge is essential in helping us to establish our faith. It helps us to realize that God not only can, but that God will. How can I be so sure? He’s done this for me in the past, and that gives me confidence that He’ll do this again for me in the future.
I Know He Will!
So, as I pray relative to any situation, I bring it before the Lord in this way: “Lord, I know that what I’m asking is Your will, for I have seen that in Your Word. I’m asking for a healing in my body, and the Word says that by Your stripes, I am healed. I’m asking for Your financial provision, and the Word says that You’ll supply my every need. I’m asking for Your leading, direction, and Your guidance, and the Word says that the Holy Spirit will lead me into all truth. Lord, not only am I assured by the unalterable, immutable truth of Your Word, but I also have history that I recall to my mind. I remember in the past when I was ill, and the doctors couldn’t figure out what the problem was. I remember that You brought me through that, and I’m not sick today because You healed me. I remember times of financial stress, times when I didn’t know how I would pay the bills, but each and every time that I faced a financial impossibility, You somehow supplied the need through sources I couldn’t even imagine. I also remember when I was at a loss regarding how to proceed for many of life’s circumstances and situations—when I didn’t know what to do. You were ever faithful. You guided me by Your Spirit and led me in the right way and onto the path of victory.”
So, now I know that God isn’t just able to heal my body, meet my financial needs, or to give me the direction I need. I’m confident that God isn’t just able; I know that God will!
|
