Powers Producing Results
Faith is the key force in prayer. Over and over Jesus told the people he healed that their faith had produced the result. (Matthew 9:22, 9:29, Mark 5:34, 10:52, Luke 7:50, 8:48, 17:19, 18:42) Jesus also testified that if we have faith, and do not doubt, nothing will be impossible to us. (Matthew 17:20, 21:21) All things are possible to the person who believes (has faith in God).
Faith is a power that works in us (Ephesians 3:20) that God uses to do what we ask: to produce results in prayer. The key question for a given prayer is if there is enough faith working in us to produce the results of our prayer. We need the truth regarding some additional questions if we are to perfect prayer.
When we pray, our faith will be tested and proven to be true faith sufficient to receive the results prayed for, or proven insufficient.
The fear of the Lord sounds like the last thing one would ever want, but it is the most important thing of all to have. It is the beginning and principal part of knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. Of wisdom God says that “all the things you can desire are not to be compared to her.” (Proverbs 3:14, 8:11)
What is fear of the Lord and why is it so important?
Disobeying God, doing things that are displeasing to him, and not being submitted to him are certainly conditions under which suffering, loss, and destruction may occur. God may permit the loss to occur, or he may act to cause us to suffer destruction or loss. In this case, fear of the Lord includes fearing God as the source of loss. This motivates us to avoid the conditions of disobeying him and doing things displeasing to him.
Consider the examples where destruction came from God.
Giving is a key part of prayer to receive from God. When we ask God we receive according to what he gives to us and he gives to us according to just application of spiritual law.
Jesus told us the spiritual law of giving.
Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure-- pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return. (Luke 6:38)
Hope is the belief that, under certain conditions, gain or blessing is occurring or will occur. Hope motivates us to
seek those conditions and avoid other conditions.
seek the source or means to receive the gain or blessing
seek the means, strength, and will to overcome and endure against forces working to withhold the gain or blessing
The belief that, under certain conditions, gain or blessing will occur may come from the testimony of the Spirit of truth. It always points to God as the only reliable source and God’s means as the only reliable means to experience gain or blessing. Hope that is based on other things is false, or tare, hope.
Joy is the belief, based on the testimony of the Word and Spirit of God, that we, or someone we love, is, or soon will be
living in unity with God
living a life fully pleasing to God
living being led by the Spirit of truth
living with steps ordered by the Lord
living free from sin, death, debt, and all power of the enemy
bearing fruit that brings honor and glory to God
especially fruit that brings others into a life of joy
Love is another key force in prayer. Faith works by love. God’s will is that we love.
Love is a key in overcoming fear.
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: (1 John 4:18)
What is love?
Love is a manner of life: the way a person prays, plans, acts, speaks, thinks, desires, and believes.
Love is a manner of life characterized by an active desire that others live lives of shalom (peace, safety, health, truth, prosperity, right relationships between themselves, God, their neighbors, and creation).
After he (Abraham) had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. (Hebrew 6:15)
For you have need of patience, that, after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise. (Hebrews 10:36)
Patience is one of the requirements to receiving results in prayer. Even if it is something God has promised, we must do the will of God and have patience, if we are to receive the promised results.
Patience is constant, unwavering faith. It is believing without wavering that God is a reliable source of the result we are seeking. It is believing without wavering that God is a source that can be trusted to answer the prayer: he has the supply needed and he won't withhold the supply.
The dictionary defines thankful as: aware and appreciative of a benefit. It defines appreciation as:
recognition of the quality, value, significance, or magnitude of people and things.
A scriptural definition of thankfulness is: aligning one’s life according to a true measure of the value to God of people and things.
Thankfulness should not be grounded in selfishness. In other words, it should not be based on the our perception of a benefit something or someone else provides to us. Rather, it should be based on the value God places on the person or thing. God doesn’t value based on benefit to him. He places value based on the benefit a person or thing provides to others.
God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)
When we are thankful we contribute a benefit to others. When we are unthankful we take away from others.