When You Pray, Believe! : By James Lantz
God’s miracle working power is often referred to in the new testament as the power of God or the strength of God. God’s anointing and God’s grace also refer to God’s ability and empowerment. One way that God’s power is released or God’s grace is received into our lives is through believing prayer. God’s miracle working power of the spirit realm is governed by certain laws similar to the laws that govern electricity. Electricity can enrich our lives by powering many things that bring convenience and comfort into our lives or if not handled properly can kill us. In recent times God graced man with understanding and ability to harness electrical power even though electrical power was available for thousands of years. God’s miracle working power has also been available to bless mankind since the creation of man. The power company provides the electricity, and under normal circumstances, we have all the power we need brought through the electrical wires right to our house just waiting for us to place a demand on the power. We place a demand on the power simply by turning the switch on! The power of the Almighty needs no electrical lines, no transformers, no cell towers, no battery back up. God’s miracle power is always on and at full power available to anyone and everyone who places a demand through faith. The power flows when we flip the switch of faith on! There are many factors that enter in concerning how much power will flow when we believe God but let it be suffice for now to understand that releasing our faith causes the power
We flip the switch of faith on by believing when we pray!
to flow. Eph. 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, God said that it is impossible to please Him without believing that He is the All Sufficient One and that He will reward you with the answer to your prayers. Heb. 11:6 GNT No one can please God without faith, for whoever comes to God must have faith that God exists and rewards those who seek him. There is no way that God will be pleased with those who reject His love, mercy, and provision that He has given us through Jesus Christ the redeemer. We bring glory to God when we believe His words and receive through faith. Rom. 4:20 NLT Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. God’s people who rejected taking possession of the great and goodly cities, their fully furnished mortgage free houses, orchards and vineyards that they didn’t plant, and wells that they didn’t dig greatly displeased the Lord. Ps. 106:24&25 Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word: But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord. 1 Cor. 10:5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Faith is the victory! We overcome the enemy when we believe! Jesus spoke to Martha beside Lazarus grave, Did I not say, that if you will believe you shall see the glory of God. With God, it’s not seeing is believing but rather believing is seeing!
Jesus spoke about releasing your faith when you pray. Mark 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. While we are making our request to our heavenly Father we are to believe that He gives it to us at that very moment. We are to be assured of this because of God’s great ability, God’s great desire to bless His children and because we are asking according to His word which is His will.
The NIV reads – whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
The AMPC reads – whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will [get it].
The NLT reads – you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.
The greek word translated receive or received is also translated take in other places in the new testament. You could say, believe that you take the things you desired when you pray. This concept of believing God
Faith takes what God gave by His grace!
is not new but portrayed and taught throughout the scriptures. Anyone who has done anything in the kingdom of God has done it by faith. Noah saved his family from judgement through building the ark by faith. Jesus preached that you must repent and believe the gospel! Mark 1:14&15 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. Jesus said, the work of God is to believe! Imagine that, as important as it is to act on your faith it is your faith that allows you to accomplish the impossible. Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. The righteous shall live by their faith!
Believing is not an option with God. He that believeth shall be saved and he that believeth not shall be dammed. Refusing to believe God is evil. Heb. 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. We enter into God’s rest by faith. When we summit and commit ourselves to walking out God’s plan for our life we enter into that place of rest where God becomes our source and supply. Heb. 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. The protective wall of blessing is in place and the evil one touches him not! Pro. 16:7 When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Blind Bartimaeus cried out to Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me. Jesus stood still and commanded that he be brought to Him. When he came near, Jesus said, what would you like Me to do for you? And Bartimaeus said, Lord, I want to receive my sight. Jesus said, receive your sight, your faith has made you whole! (see Mark 10:52 & Luke 18:42) We know that Bartimaeus believed the words of the Master because Jesus said that he was healed because he believed! Bartimaeus called Jesus the Son of David, he believed Jesus was the Messiah, the anointed one. Bartimaeus cried out in faith and even got louder when others told him to shut up. You can’t shut faith up, faith talks! He threw his beggar’s coat aside because he wouldn’t be needing it anymore. When you believe you are getting your healing you are not holding on to your beggar clothes because now you can work and be a productive member of society. When Jesus asked Bartimaeus to declare what he wanted, he spoke exactly what he was wanting and believing.
The early disciples knew what they wanted from God. After the lame man was healed through faith in the name of Jesus they lifted their voice to God with one accord. They asked God for boldness to speak His word and that He would stretch forth His hand to heal and that signs and wonders would be done by the name of His holy child Jesus. They were asking God for what we know to be the gifts of the Spirit to be poured out on men and God gloriously did throughout the book of Acts. John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Mt. 16:25 WNT For whoever desires to save his life shall lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake shall find it.
