THEME: Pray Ye the Lord of The Harvest; The Believers’ Life of Prayer
LESSON: Four
TOPIC: The Force and Power of The Prayer of Faith
TEXT: Matthew 9:48; Mark 11:12-14,19-26; Matthew 8:26; Matthew 17:20; 1st Corinthians 13:2
MEMORY TRACK:
By God’s grace, in our previous lesson, we explored why many believers struggle to pray as the Lord commands in the Scriptures. We learnt that one major reason is lack of clarity regarding the purpose of prayer. When the “why” of prayer is not fully understood, our commitment to it begins to wane. Furthermore, many gradually and unconsciously withdraw from prayer, especially when they feel their prayers are not producing the expected results, often due to limited understanding. Unanswered prayers can stem from not recognizing that there are different kinds of prayers with unique rules, and that there are different spiritual age groups within the kingdom of God (each group experiences God’s dealings in distinct ways, and this affects how prayers are answered).
The Prayer of Faith (the Prayer of Changing Things) (Mark 11:12-14, 19-26)
This type of prayers and the principles that govern it were well taught and demonstrated by Our Lord Jesus in our text in the gospel of Mark. Like any other type of prayer, it is a form of praying to God (Mark 11:22-26). It is good to say that without a proper understanding of the word of God, and without being able to properly divide and appropriate the scriptures, a believer may not profit much from this type of prayer. Truth be told, ignorance of the subject of “Prayer of Faith” has caused many avoidable pains.
Many have prayed the prayer of faith when really, they themselves did not have faith at all! Many have prayed the prayer of faith for something so great when they have not necessarily used faith for small things to begin with or used faith as a seed because faith is in measures:
- Mustard seed faith/Little faith (Matthew 8:26/fearful; Matthew 14:31/doubtful; Matthew 16:8/reason/logic); and
- Great/fully developed faith (Matthew 8:10; Matthew 15:28; Luke 7:9)
One of the biggest undoing of us God’s people, with regards to the prayers of faith, is the assumptions that we have faith when we have not taken the responsibilities of receiving faith into our hearts. It is good to say, God is always faithful to His word and principles if and when we apply ourselves to it.
Understanding the Prayer of Faith: some clarifications that can be of help
1. Mountain Moving Faith vs Soul Saving Faith
The seed/word that generates Faith to cast or move mountains is not exactly the same seed/word that saves the soul, even though they are both called “Faith” in the scriptures. Both seeds are likened to mustard seed (Matthew 13:31; Matthew17:20; Mark 4:31; Luke 13:19; Luke 17:6; 1st Corinthians 13:2).
Both seeds are similar but have different characters and fruits. One is a seed/faith that is meant to grow and fill the earth, overtake the realms for God, propagate God’s kingdom dominion life, grow the soul of its recipients (Mustard seed faith of the Son of God, sown by the Son of Man/Jesus Matthew 13:37);
The other seed/faith is a faith one can use to change things around and for one’s advantage. These are possible with the power of God that is within that seed of faith. This Faith also has the capacity to change its bearer when properly used and obeyed (Mark 11:25-26), but the most notable traits of this faith is that it is a faith that changes things, either through prayers to God, or by faith in God through His word (faith seed is in the curriculum or part of the milk course – 1st Corinthians 13:2).
2. Mental accent vs Seed in the Heart
Many times, we as God’s people mentally accent to God’s word that it is true, but as great as that is, it is not faith. For faith to guarantee answers to prayers, or change things at our instance or command, that faith must have been sown in our hearts through our tarrying with the word! By just surfing over the surface of the scriptures casually cannot bring faith, truth be told.
3. Little Faith to Great Faith
Faith, which is the bedrock for the prayers of faith, when received through the word needs to be nurtured and exercised for it to grow. It takes time to move from little faith to great faith, it is not magic. If you do not have this faith, in all sincerity, begin to build it now.
In the meantime, get the best possible help for your challenge through your Pastor (for whatever challenge or situation facing you). Don’t pretend to have faith while watching situations go wrong and worse.
How This Faith Comes
- By revelation! Yes, by revelation! Revelation in this case is not the eyes of your understanding being enlightened – which is the door for the giving of the Faith of The Son of God (Galatians 2:20). Yet the Mountain Moving Faith must be by the revelation of the Holy Spirit/revelation that the Holy Spirit gives or shows. This revelation won’t jump on someone who is not looking for it. So seeking, probing, asking questions are doorways for the seed of this faith to be sown in our hearts by the Holy Spirit! One must be an ardent student and ‘enjoyer’ of the word to be in a place of getting this kind of faith.
- Reading materials, listening to tapes and watching video messages of Ministers sent and anointed by God to preach this faith.
The Prayer of Faith at Work
When the seed of faith or the light of Faith is shed forth in our hearts (which is the first place to start from for anyone who wants to pray the prayers of faith), then it is time to turn it loose through prayers to God, and confession for our desired results.
- An enlightened heart/heart with a mustard seed of faith, would propel and should propel confessions. Such confessions (through the mouth) with boldness change circumstances and situations according to our faith! Hallelujah! (Mark 11:23; Matthew 12:34)
- It is on the basis of faith in the heart, that prayers to God spurs and should spring from. Prayers of faith to God from such a heart, believes that it has the answers even when it may not visibly be there (Mark 11:24).
- Walking in love is a key to keep this faith working (Mark 11:25-26).
Some more things to note with regards to the faith that is aback of the prayer of faith (1st Corinthians 13:2):
- There are different variations of this type of faith seed, hence Apostle Paul in 1st Corinthians 13:2 called it “All faith”. One can have a faith seed for healing and not have for financial prosperity. So, light/seed must be given by the Holy Spirit for different aspects of our lives.
- There are limitations to this type of faith. Your faith, even when it is great and developed, cannot always work for all circumstances. For example, you cannot just use your faith to heal every person on the street. You will need authority upon to go beyond. But your faith can work for you and your household/family/business/ministry (all that God has put in your trust).
- This faith is not a sign of spiritual growth or being right with God.
- This faith is not limited to being used by those who are children learning and using the milk of Christ. A believer who is in the meat of the Word (Faith of The Son) or strong meat of the word (Everlasting Life) can and should use this faith in their lives, even in prayers (they can and will use it better because of better light).
Conclusion
Let us pray!