Written by: John Sernaque
Dear Reader,
Books / Pr - Prayer (2002) / Chapter 6—The Prayer Of Faith
God Answers the Prayer of Faith With Power—When men are as devoted as Elijah was and possess the faith that he had, God will reveal Himself as He did then. When men plead with the Lord as did Jacob, the results that were seen then will again be seen. Power will come from God in answer to the prayer of faith.—(Gospel Workers, 255.) {Pr 56.4}
Understand the Science of Prayer—
Prayer and faith are closely allied, and they need to be studied together. In the prayer of faith there is a divine science; it is a science that everyone who would make his lifework a success must understand. Christ says, “What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” Mark 11:24. He makes it plain that our asking must be according to God’s will; we must ask for the things that He has promised, and whatever we receive must be used in doing His will. The conditions met, the promise is unequivocal. {Pr 57.1}
For the pardon of sin, for the Holy Spirit, for a Christlike temper, for wisdom and strength to do His work, for any gift He has promised, we may ask; then we are to believe that we receive, and return thanks to God that we have received.—(Education, 257, 258.) {Pr 57.2}
The polar opposite of faith is fear. When our faith is up, fear is down. However, when fear is up, our faith is down. God tells us be not afraid, only believe. Elijah and Jacob were men of faith, as they believed entirely on the promises of God. They lived according to the Word of God and always prayed for God’s will. They called on God’s promises, and God delivered them. They received Power from God in answer to their faithful prayers. Whatever they received, they used in doing God’s will. If we study and understand prayer by faith, we too will receive the rewards as our patriarchs and prophets.
Our Father, which art in heaven,
We come into Your presence in thanksgiving and praise. We thank You for giving us yet another opportunity to bring our petitions before You. We bring our prayers in faith, as did Elijah and Jacob, knowing that You have told us to not be afraid, only believe. Our patriarchs and prophets called on Your promises, and You delivered them. We too call on Your promises and pray that You deliver us as well. We pray You reveal Yourself to us, and that we may remain in Your presence continually. It is our prayer that we can meet You face to face one day where You await us in heaven. We have made mistakes in our lives, and are truly sorry and humbly repent of all our sins. Dear Lord, we pray that You forgive us, that You blot out, as a thick cloud, our transgressions, and, as a cloud, our sins: that we can return unto You, for You have redeemed us. Praise God and glory in Your name. We pray for Your wisdom and understanding. Help us when we open up Your Word to understand the divine science of prayer so that we exercise faith together with prayer. Christ Jesus has told us to believe on what we desire, and that when we pray, to believe that we will receive, and we will receive. Let us pray according to Your will and whatever we receive, help us to use it in doing Your will. We thank You for receiving that which You have promised. We pray for a Christlike character that You may work in us, to do and to will of Your good pleasure. We pray to be as devoted as Elijah and Jacob and possess the faith they had that we may receive the Power in answer to the prayer of faith. We thank You for hearing and answering our prayers and for giving us the victory over sin, in the name of Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.
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