As you study the Bible, you will notice God never does anything until He says it. That's the way He works. God has done nothing in the earth without first speaking it. Even now, it seems that God will do nothing in the earth unless it is spoken, prophesied or called for by the prayer of faith. Romans 4:17 tells us that God "quickeneth the dead and calleth those things which be not as though they were." In other words, God speaks the end result.
One of the keys to understanding the truths of the New Covenant is having a revelation of the gift of grace. The apostle Paul gives us clear insight in this matter in Romans, Chapters 4-6. Romans 4:13 NIV says, "It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith." Verse 16, "Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all."Here Paul indicates the way we enter into grace is through faith.
There is tremendous power in believing. Jesus said, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." (Mark 1:15) God doesn't just tell us to believe, but His Word explains specifically what and how we are to believe. Mark 9 records the story of a young boy with an evil spirit who was brought to Jesus. After describing his son's condition, the boy's father said, "…if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." (Mark 9:22) Notice he said "if" you can do anything. His knowledge of Christ's abilities limited his belief.
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1) Faith is the substance of things, but hope is a very important part of the faith connection. Sometimes people say, "You don't get anything by hoping." And that's true to a certain extent, for there is no substance to hope. But hope is a very important partner to faith. Hope is the goal-setter. Faith is the substance of things hoped for. The substance of "things" - what things? The things you hoped for. What do we hope for? We hope for the things that God has given us.
God gave Israel the Promised Land. It was theirs as far as God was concerned, but they had to seize the God-given opportunity to possess it. God told them that He would send an angel to drive out the enemies before them. But an angel wouldn't do it on his own, God's people had to be obedient in order to get angelic help. (Exodus 23:20-23) They knew what God said, but they didn't take advantage of their opportunity to possess the land of promise. They fixed their attention on the problem rather than God's promise.
The message of faith and confession that I teach is based on true principles of the Bible. When these principles are misunderstood some people attempt to believe God for millions of dollars when they haven't learned to believe God for the money to pay their light bill. Some have overloaded their faith. Some are operating on little faith and trying to believe for millions. To be successful in life we must all learn to operate on our own level of faith.
Let's read I Peter 2:24, "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." The WORD says you were healed. Sickness is a curse of the law, and Galatians 3:13 says, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us...." Matthew 8:17 says, "That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses." He took your infirmities and bare your sicknesses. Learn to read the scriptures with a personal identification.
In Ephesians 6:10-18, Paul is talking about prayer armor. In verses 10-11 he says, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." Notice Paul did not say, "Be strong in your own might," but "in the Lord." It is His might. It is not something we have to work up to. We must simply be obedient and be clothed in His might. Put on the whole armor or, as the Greek says, the complete armor of God.
"Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, 'Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.' And they launched out. But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, 'Master, Master, we are perishing.' Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm. But He said to them, 'Where is your faith?' And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, 'Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!'" (Luke 8:22-25)
One of the keys to answered prayer is to believe you receive when you pray. "...What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." (Mark 11:24) The faith principle of Mark 11:23 states that you can have what you say. It is a faith principle which you can employ every day by speaking right words. Another key to answered prayer is to speak in agreement with your prayers daily. Control the words that come out of your mouth. For example, one day I was having a problem with a tractor. It had given me trouble a couple of times and I wanted to say, "That thing comes apart every time I take it to the field." I knew better than to say it, but it just rose up within me and it wanted to come out so bad.
Follow Up
