Prevailing Faith and Prayer, Part 2
Have you ever needed an urgent answer to prayer? Maybe a crisis forced you to cry out to God for a breakthrough. Many of us have experienced this at some point in our lives.
Aren’t you glad to know that God’s word says that “nothing is impossible with God!” When situations seem hopeless, always remember that we walk with Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, and He has promised that when we ask believing, we shall receive!
Our circumstances do not limit God! However, we must learn how to prevail in faith and prayer to see the greater breakthroughs He promises to bring.
“Prevailing prayer is that which gets an answer.” Charles Finney
I have shared over the past few weeks about “Characteristics of Faith,” which include that faith hears, sees, speaks, endures, and receives what is promised before the manifestation in the natural realm. Let’s continue this week by connecting faith to the power of prayer.
Prevailing Faith leads to Prevailing Prayer.
The lesson of the withered fig tree teaches us the importance of steadfast faith and prayer, forgiveness, and Jesus’ authority. Mark 11:20-24:
20 Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.” 22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 23 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 that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. NKJV
Jesus’ action in cursing the fig tree teaches us about the necessity of having God’s faith and passion in prayer. When faith wavers, prayer weakens.
Faith weakens when we wrongly believe it is not God’s will to answer our prayers. While there are times when people pray with selfish motives or outside of God’s will, many requests align with His desires. For example, it is God’s will for you to be healthy; He wants to heal the sick, save the lost, give His people victory over fear and oppression, and meet your daily needs, among other things.
I’ve discovered that hearts devoted to Christ remain steadfast in faith and prayer, grounded in confidence in God’s promises and a personal relationship with Him.
A key to prevailing prayer is having a forgiving spirit.
Mark continues the story of Jesus and the withered fig tree by stating:
25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” Mark 11:25-26 NKJV
You can’t walk in the fullness of grace while holding onto unforgiveness. The power of faith and prayer is connected to your ability to flow in the Spirit, unhindered by offense or resentment.
Love transforms us; faith and hope uphold us! Let love and grace complete their perfect work in your life—live in forgiveness!
Understand that faith to move mountains begins with trusting that God hears your prayers and is willing to answer!
When you have “God’s faith,” you should expect impossible situations to change. Jesus is the source of your faith—He is the greater one within! You are united with and filled by Christ through the Spirit. Consider what Jesus said about God dwelling in us as we believe:
“15 If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” John 14:15-20 NIV
Paul also states that the fullness of God dwells in Christ and that we are filled with Him.
“9 All the fullness of deity lives in Christ’s body.10 And you have been filled by him, who is the head of every ruler and authority.” Col 2:9-10 CEB
Jesus is the fullness of God, and we, the Church, are the fullness of Christ. Jesus is in us, and He is the fullness of every spiritual blessing. Everything related to life and godliness is found in Him.
How should this reality affect our faith and prayer?
The fullness of God dwells within us; therefore, we are not trying to reach God “out there” somewhere; rather, we commune with God spirit to Spirit. God dwells in the innermost being of the person who follows Jesus! Prevailing faith and prayer flow from the Holy Spirit within us.
Paul also tells us that the Holy Spirit assists us in our prayer life.
“In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;” Rom. 8:26 NASB
There are moments of prayer inspired by the Spirit that transcend our words. Within us, there are stirrings and groanings that God wishes to release. Listen, you have a “River of Life” flowing within—don’t dam the river of God’s presence!
Paul also writes to the Ephesians about God working within us.
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,” Eph. 3:20 NKJV
Where is this power? Is it out there? No, it’s Christ within you!
Jesus, by instructing the disciples to “speak to mountains,” was preparing them for situations where they would need to use His authority (Matt. 28:18-19) in the spiritual realm to influence the natural world.
We have been given Jesus’ authority, the very authority of His name, and we are filled with the Holy Spirit, who empowers our walk with God, our faith, and our prayer life.
When you have God’s faith, you begin to pray and speak with confidence that the promise has already been received and is on its way.
“The mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.” Matt. 12:34b NASB
Confessing God’s truths builds structure in the Spirit, creating a framework of faith that influences our lives. Faith says, “I’m about to speak something I have no reason for. God is good, I will declare it.” Faith says that I will look through the darkness or emptiness of the situation and declare what God says.
Jesus’ authority questioned
27 Then they came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him. 28 And they said to Him, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?” Mark 11:27-28 NKJV
Notice how these leaders question Jesus about His authority? A religious spirit was at work, trying to weaken Jesus’ faith and confidence.
Similarly, a religious spirit will try to convince you that you are “full of yourself,” prideful, arrogant, etc. No, you are full of Christ, confident in Him—not in your abilities! Confidence in Christ often appears as pride to the religious.
In Acts 3, a man who had been lame since birth receives miraculous healing through the ministry of Peter and John. The religious leaders imprison them, and the following day, they are questioned:
“They had Peter and John brought before them and asked, “By what power or in what name did you do this?” Acts 4:7 CEB
Similar to Jesus, they challenge the authority of these disciples in an effort to accuse and undermine their faith.
Remember, all authority belongs to Jesus, and he has commissioned you and me to go in the authority of his command and name! To prevail in faith and prayer, know your position and authority in Christ, and stay confident in him despite contradictions!
A desperate world needs a bold church in this hour!
Stay humble, yet hold on to your confidence in Christ’s authority, promises, and Spirit within you—you are praying from His victory and power!
