So often as believers, we feel as if our prayers are never answered. We pray hoping that God will hear us and that we might get the answer if it’s God’s will to happen. This mindset is unacceptable to the heart of God. Prayer is to be an action with the expectation for a response and resolution. Our prayer must be a faith prayer. Hebrews 11:6 says, “Without faith, it is impossible to please God.” As we go into this blog, we want to look at some principles to walk in to see the God results of our prayers.
(1) Know the Word
Romans 10:17 states, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” As we saw in Hebrews, God is pleased by faith. We see here that faith to believe only comes from the word of God. Our knowledge of the Bible, the promises, and covenants that are found and are the foundations and the development of the faith that will please God. In Mark 11:22-23, the Bible says, “…Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes those things that he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.” This is a powerful scripture. Jesus said that faith has mountain-moving power. We find in the Bible that faith comes from hearing the word. This is why it is so important that we are students of the word. Jesus said in John 8:31, “If you abide in my word, you are my disciples indeed, and you shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” In 2 Peter 1: 3-4, Peter writes, “as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature.” Knowing that all the promises belong to you establishes the fact that God desires your breakthrough. This is to His glory every time you win. 2 Cor. 1:20 states, “For all the promises of God in Him (Christ) are Yes, and in Him (Christ) Amen, to the glory of God through us.” You are to be the receiver of all the promises in Christ. This strengthens our resolve as we pray through. It’s not an “IF” prayer, but an “EXPECTANT” prayer.
(2) Know the Miracles
Jesus’s entire ministry was marked by a constant flow of the Holy Spirit. Everywhere Jesus went He healed the sick, cast out devils, and even raised the dead. His disciples watched every day as Jesus performed miracle after miracle. Jesus proved to the man covered in Leprosy that healing belonged to him. A woman touched the simple hem of His garment and was instantly healed. Healing power flowed from Him. Acts 10:38 states, “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil, for God was with Him.” In Matthew 14: 13-21, we see how Jesus also was concerned with the needs of the people. After being with Him for the entire day, He made sure they were all fed. Jesus multiplied the fish and bread enough to not only feed them but to have an abundance left over. Jesus is a need-meeting God. This builds confidence that God will provide what we need, even if it’s a miracle. There is no lack in God, and His ability to supply and provide is truly evident.
(3) Ask As Jesus Said To
In Matthew 6:25-30, Jesus tells His disciples and the people not to worry about your life, what you’ll eat, or what you’ll wear. All these things the Father wants to supply you with. The world fears and worries about all these things, but we are not to fear. In vs 33, Jesus says, ”But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” When we have knowledge of the will of God according to His word, and we know the kingdom promises that belong to us, we then have the right to ask in faith knowing that God will supply. Nowhere in this does Jesus say, “And these things MIGHT be added to you.” No, He says, “And all these things shall be added to you.” In Matthew 7:7-8 Jesus says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks will find, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” In the above verse, the word means to ask and keep on asking until you receive, keep on seeking until you find, and keep on knocking until the door is opened. When you know it is in the will and the word of God, God will answer. It is up to us to stay focused, pray through, and know that it is God’s will to heal and provide the breakthrough needed in our lives. Faith that is evident and active is faith that pleases God, and when we stand waiting on His response, we know that He will always answer according to His word, we can have the confidence that we can have whatever we need. Just stand strong until the promise arrives, the healing is manifested, and the breakthrough is applied.
Blessings,
Pastor Richard Giovannetti