I love the operation of the word of knowledge. It is one of the spiritual gifts Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians 12. The word of knowledge is supernatural insight about a situation or circumstance you have no prior knowledge about. The word of knowledge is often used with the gift of healing to build faith for both the recipient of healing prayer and for the person praying.
I was reminded last week of a very distinctive word of knowledge I received a few years ago in a meeting about a “gallbladder problem.” I shared with the congregation that night a word regarding a problem with someone’s gallbladder and that the Lord wanted to heal it. A man came forward, who happened to be the bus driver for our ministry team, saying he had the problem and was in pain. He went on to tell me that his gall bladder was full of gallstones and the doctor wanted to remove it surgically.
As I began to pray for the man, the Holy Spirit came on him in power. The man double over, still standing, and my hand became very hot as it rested on his abdomen while praying. After a couple of minutes of praying with the man bent over, he suddenly stands upright. I knew something significant had happened. He told me then, “I believe I am healed, all the pain is gone, I will know for sure tonight when I eat something.” I saw him later eating spicy pizza at our team dinner, and he came over to me, “I’m eating this hot, spicy pepperoni pizza and I feel fine! I couldn’t do this before, Jesus has healed me!!!”
One simple word, “Gallbladder,” released the faith of God in the man who needed a healing and with me to see Jesus heal him. When we hear Jesus say “Come!” everything changes! You may even walk on water!
We looked last week at the withered fig tree in Mark 11 and discussed how you and I can receive faith that will move mountains. I want to continue this week our discussion of “Mountain Moving Faith.”
Always remember, faith to move mountains begins with believing God hears your prayers! We looked last week at the importance of having God’s faith—something that is imparted to you by God.
When you have the faith of Jesus in your heart, impossible situations change, and prayer is answered. It begins with keeping your eyes on Jesus, who is the author and finisher of your faith (Heb. 12:2).
Faith is substantive in nature. Faith sees the promise fulfilled while positioned in hope. Faith makes a demand on the promises of heaven.
Faith perceives as fact what is not revealed to the natural senses. Faith takes hold of things (God’s promises, his revealed will) that the senses cannot perceive and views them as a real fact. Faith makes invisible realities available on earth.
The fulfilled promises and answers are first realized in the unseen eternal realm before they materialize in our earthly world. Your answers are connected to God through his promises in another realm—a heavenly kingdom—where you are already seated with Christ.
The eye of faith observes the unseen eternal realm, where the fulfillment of God’s promises resides. Faith enables you to know that those unseen realities are real and that they have substance now.
Faith pulls God’s promises and hidden realities into being. Faith realizes that answers are “in motion” before the “mountains” start to move.
Faith at its base level is simply trusting God. God’s word says that he honors faith—it pleases him. Faith moves God’s heart, causing the release of his grace (empowerment) to aid and provide for us (Heb. 4:16).
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Heb. 11:6 NKJV
Smith Wigglesworth, 20th-century healing evangelist, known for his strong faith in God’s promises, said, “God rejoices when we manifest a faith that holds Him to His Word.“
While you can position yourself for an increase of faith through reading God’s word, worship and prayer, faith is also a gift imparted to your heart from God.
Faith is both a fruit of the Spirit and a gift from God. Faith is not just an intellectual understanding of God’s promises, but a revelation to the heart by his grace. Faith is not optional for the follower of Christ; it is essential. Those who fulfill their dreams have extraordinary faith. Dreamers need faith to overcome roadblocks to destiny.
Genuine Christianity, led by the Holy Spirit, opens the mind to the potential of being completely transformed to think like heaven—to have God’s perspective. God desires something more than just your “good behavior,” he wants to mature you, and his church, into the fullness of Christ, to function with a mindset that nothing is impossible with God.
The moment you take your eyes off Jesus, you lose sight of the primary goal of your faith. He is the goal, your destination and the reason you do what you do. Faith to move mountains begins and ends with Jesus. Jesus is your source of life, your greatest joy, and the motivation to ask bold requests of the Father.
Belief is an assurance of the mind; faith is an assurance of the heart. Dr. Charles Price wrote in his book, The Real Faith for Healing, “You can believe a promise, and at the same time not have the faith to appropriate it.”
Remember the story of Abraham and Sarah believing God for the child of promise? They are past the age of childbearing, but Abraham and Sarah didn’t trust themselves; they simply believed that what God said was true and that God would fulfill all that he had promised to them (Rom. 4:3;16-22).
Abraham was convinced that God, “who gives life to the dead” (Rom. 4:17) was able to bring resurrection and creative power to bear upon things that do not exist.
Every aspect of God’s kingdom manifested here on earth in people, churches and in life is first received as a seed of faith, then believed, prayed and declared.
Right now, you have resurrection power attached to your prayer life! You can look on things that are dead and pray and declare LIFE! This is faith to move mountains!
To pray with assurance of answered prayer, you must have the faith of God, which comes from knowing the will of God.
Let’s examine how faith hears, sees, speaks, endures, and receives!
Faith Hears
Faith comes through a posture of hearing and listening. Many agendas today are based on yesterday’s experience. Faith comes from hearing now!
Consider what Paul wrote, “faith comes by hearing (understanding), and hearing by the (a) word of God.” (Rom. 10:17 NKJV emphasis added) The word of God builds the faith of God to move mountains!
Abraham had heard but heard a NOW word on Mount Moriah to spare Isaac. We often kill our Isaacs (promises) because we don’t hear presently what God is saying NOW! We frequently like what God said, not what He is saying NOW.
It takes an ongoing sense of God’s presence to not miss the gentle “whisper” of what he is saying presently. Must cultivate a lifestyle that senses His presence. This builds confidence to pray according to his will and have faith to move mountains.
Faith Sees
Faith always sees through God’s eyes and from His perspective. God said to Abraham God, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are north, south, east, and west, for all the land you see I will give you and your descendants forever.” (Gen. 13:14–15)
See from God’s perspective and his vision for your life. Learn to see from your new identity in Christ, not from past failure or wounds. Live free of anything that will obscure your vision and capacity to see. Hurts, offenses, judgments rob us from “seeing” clearly what God is saying. Jesus said that the “pure in heart shall see God.”
The Spirit of Christ enlightens the heart of everyone. Yet, many people are unaware of his presence all around them and they are unable to “see.” These people have no perception. You can’t behold what you don’t see!
Faith Speaks
Faith speaks and proclaims what we believe. “The mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.” (Matt. 12:34b) Confessing God’s truths builds a framework in the Spirit that affects your life.
Faith says, “I’m about to speak something I have no reason for. God is good, I will declare it.” Faith says that I am going to look through the darkness or emptiness of the situation, and declare what God says. Faith is assured of the title deed of heaven’s promise before the realization on earth. Only Jesus can give this type of faith!
Faith Endures
Paul admonishes, “Don’t grow weary in well doing, for in due season you will reap and not faint.” (Gal. 6:9) Harvest comes by patience. Faith perseveres because of the word that God has spoken.
The writer of Hebrews states says that “through faith and patience we inherit the promises.” (Heb. 6:12) Patience undergirds our faith as we await the fulfillment of the promise.
Faith Receives
Faith receives the reality of the promise before it is manifested in the natural realm.
Consider what Jesus said in response to the withered fig tree we examined last week, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24) The genuine faith that comes from God receives the answer as fact before it arrives.
Only Jesus can give this type of assurance! If you need more faith, position yourself in prayer, worship, and God’s word to draw close to Jesus—then ask him for more faith expecting grace to be given and faith to enlarge! Faith to move mountains is rooted in an abiding relationship with Jesus.
Genuine faith is to know Jesus well enough to know what he wants to do in any situation!
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