PREVAILING IN PRAYER BY THE WORD (3)

“So then FAITH comes by hearing, and hearing by the WORD of GOD” – Romans 10:17

FAITH is fundamental to PREVAILING IN PRAYER BY the WORD because Faith comes by hearing God’s Word: “So then FAITH comes by hearing, and hearing by the WORD of GOD” (Rom.10:17). Faith in God’s Word of Promise is critical to redemption’s reality. Not to believe God’s Word is to make Him a liar and a perjurer. It’s been said that “God moves mountains, but FAITH and PRAYER move God.” Little wonder, James speaks of the Prayer of Faith: “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them PRAY over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lod. And the PRAYER of FAITH will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up” (Jam. 5:14-15a). There are the elders, and there is the anointing oil, but it is the Prayer of Faith in the Name of the Lord that saves or delivers the sick!

There are many examples in the Bible, of people who had influence with God through prayer, and in every instance, we find that FAITH was present. The reason for this is given in Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” Wherever there is prevailing prayer, there will first of all be faith. If our prayers are met with silence, we should not give up. Our faith will produce if we perist in praying to prevail.

One woman whose faith touched the Lord in such a way as to prevail in her petition was the Syrophoenician mother who came to Jesus and cried out to Him: “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed” (Mt.15:22b). Seemingly untouched by her cries, Jesus “answered her not a word” (Mt.15:23a). This did not dissuade the woman, however, and she persisted in faith. If our prayers are met with silence, we should not walk away. Our faith will be strengthened and rewarded if we will keep praying, keep prevailing.

The disciples appeared unmoved by the woman’s pleas as well, and asked Jesus to send her away because she was persistent in her petition. Still, she pressed on. Then Jesus told her, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Mt.15:24b). The woman could have taken offense and given up, but instead she came and “worshipped him, saying, “Lord, help me” (Mt.15:25). What stunning words! Our prayers do not need to be fanciful or sophisticated to be effective; they just need to be from the heart – the Faith-filled heart.

Jesus addressed her again, saying, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs” (Mt.15:26). Refusing to be put off, the woman reasoned with Him, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table” (Mt.15:27). Jesus was moved, and He responded, “O woman, GREAT is your FAITH! Let it be to you as you desire” (Mt.15:28). Her daughter was healed from that very hour! If a woman that was not operating in the Abrahamic covenant could tap into the Messiah’s message and display such commendable, victorious, and unstoppable faith, how much more the Believer in Christ!

Beloved, remember: Your Faith is Key to Prevailing in Prayer by the Word! “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the VICTORY that overcomes the world – OUR FAITH” (1Jh.5:4). Oswald Chambers said: “The prayer of the feeblest saint on earth who lives in the Spirit and keeps right with God is a terror to Satan…The very powers of darkness are paralysed by prayer. No wonder Satan tries to keep our mind fussy in active work till we cannot think to pray.”