What Saith the Scripture?
http://www.WhatSaithTheScripture.com/

What is the Prayer of Faith?

"And the Prayer of Faith shall save the sick, and the LORD shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him"
(James 5:15).

by Katie Stewart
3-12-2000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

The only verse in Scripture that contains the phrase, "Prayer of Faith", is James 5:15. Though spoken of only once, the prayer title conveys an assurance of success in prayer. The conviction that life, if lived with Faith in God, rewards with an Eternity spent in God's presence, encourages us to believe that Faith accomplishes whatever it sets out to do. "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our Faith" (1John 5:4). With the Promise of victory beforehand, prayer linked by Faith that is founded in God assures itself to be both rewarding and exciting in "exploits" for God. "The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits" (Daniel 11:32).

Many times prayer does not yield the desired results we yearn for. "Hope deferred maketh the heart sick" (Proverbs 13:12). Hope precedes all prayer, but only when the answer comes do we recognize the difference that Faith makes in praying. "But when the desire cometh, it is a Tree of Life" (13:12). Picture lightning. When God's will makes contact with our hope, Faith is established and grace races down the lightning rod of experience. Faith is the way you use God's grace. It's our part to exercise the Faith God authors, but its God's part to finish it.

1. The "Prayer of Faith" is prayer that ALWAYS GETS ANSWERED. If the "Prayer of Faith" is for the sick, "the LORD shall raise" the sick up. If the "Prayer of Faith" is Godly repentance, then sins "shall be forgiven".

2. The reason that the "Prayer of Faith" always gets answered is because of the very nature of Faith. "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). "Faith is... substance" and "evidence". Faith can't be held in the hand, or gazed upon with the eye, but Faith in God and His character is MORE real than anything your bodily senses can physically verify. Faith based in the Word of God is as realistic as "substance" and "evidence" gets. Nothing in this world is more real. Therefore, Faith always produces fruit and the "Prayer of Faith" always gets answered. Faith IS ALWAYS SUBSTANCE!

3. Since the "Prayer of Faith" is always answered, IT MUST ALWAYS BE ACCORDING TO GOD'S WILL.

4. Since the above points are absolutes, THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS to them. For the "Prayer of Faith" to be the "Prayer of Faith", these elements must be present.

The "Prayer of Faith":

  1. ALWAYS GETS ANSWERED
  2. IS ALWAYS SUBSTANCE
  3. MUST ALWAYS BE ACCORDING TO GOD'S WILL
  4. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS



ALL Prayer Hinges On the Covenant

"And I, behold, I establish My Covenant with you, and with your seed after you... Now therefore, if ye will obey My Voice indeed, and keep My Covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the Earth is Mine" (Genesis 9:9; Exodus 19:5).

Our first prayer to God, the prayer of repentance that brought us into the family circle of Heaven, was our beginning to build upon the foundation, which is Jesus, for all our future prayers. "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 3:11). That first prayer was our promise (our affirmation of His Covenant) with God that we belonged to Him, and He to us. All prayer, therefore, is valid and honourable before God if we've kept our Covenant with Him. Our walk with God is a binding "all or nothing" agreement-- Covenant-- it's black or white, Heaven or Hell. The LORD has given on the Cross, and continues to give, His infinite 100%. We give Him our finite 100%. "Be ye therefore perfect [your 100%], even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect [His 100%]" (Matthew 5:48). "Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work" (John 5:17).

He gives His 100%:

1. The LORD Covenants (promises) "all or nothing" forgiveness

2. The LORD Covenants (promises) "all or nothing" of His Spirit

We give our 100%:

1. Our Covenant (promise) is "all or nothing" love

2. Our Covenant (promise) is "all or nothing" obedience

3. Even so, in our walk with God, our Covenant (promise) is "all or nothing" Faith in Him for everything in this world, and in the next.

Note: Only a clean heart-- that is, repentant and/or walking without known sin-- can offer to God the sweet-smelling sacrifice of prayer.



Two Kinds of Prayer

The two kinds of prayer addressed here are basically the same, but differ in results.

  1. The "Prayer of Faith" always secures the answer.
  2. The Prayer That Demonstrates Faith by the mere act of asking, yet does not secure the answer.

The Prayer That Demonstrates Faith must be in the general will of God, for He will definitely not answer anything we know to be unscriptural "Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the LORD is" (Ephesians 5:17).

But the "Prayer of Faith" must be His specific will.



Only the Holy Spirit Authors the "Prayer of Faith"

Even after all your best intentions are prayerfully carried out, it is still only the Holy Spirit Who can make the difference between the Prayer That Demonstrates Faith in asking and the true "Prayer of Faith". The "Prayer of Faith" must be in the specific will of God. Only the Holy Spirit that can lead and inspire the direction that we are to take in fulfilling God's specific will.

Persevering in prayer is essential to the "Prayer of Faith", or else the answer that surely would have come-- won't.

Note: If persevering in prayer proves impossible because the answer is a definite, "No", then there was no Securing Faith. The prayer was Prayer That Demonstrated Faith, but wasn't ever inspired by the Spirit according to God's specific will. Therefore, He didn't answer it.



Prayer That Demonstrates Faith in Asking

When you pray you are petitioning God in either Faith or hope. Prayer That Demonstrates Faith by the mere task of asking is praying in hope. Hope yields anticipation, but does not secure the answer. But even though this kind of prayer can't bring forth the answer you seek, Prayer That Demonstrates Faith by the mere task of asking glorifies God because it seeks God as the Giver and is in obedience to the command

Every prayer ought to be prayed in Faith. When we pray, we are commanded to believe God and to take Him at His Word. We have no right to doubt God.

We are to pray about all things, exercising our Faith in God and His Promises.

But how can we know the prayer was prayed in Faith? You can "feel" you prayed in Faith, and you ought to believe you did. However, you won't know it by sight until the "substance" and "evidence" (Hebrews 11:1) of Faith, which isn't visible at first, becomes visible at the arriving of the answer.

Paul is an example of walking by Faith-- yet praying a prayer that was NOT in Faith.

It was not the LORD's specific will to remove Paul's "thorn in the flesh". It is always the LORD's general will to heal. "Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses... and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities" (Matthew 8:17; Luke 5:15). Paul prayed as he ought to have. Paul believed as he ought to have. But since the Holy Spirit knew God's specific will in this particular matter, He did not excite securing Faith in Paul. This is an excellent example of how a Faithful Servant couldn't pray the "Prayer of Faith", but instead prayed Prayer That Demonstrates Faith in the mere asking.



Faith: Quantity Or Quality?

"How much" Faith is needed to pray the "Prayer of Faith"? There can be a great deal of confusion on this point, because we often think of Faith in terms of quantity, when instead we should think of quality. While it does take Faith to begin to pray at all, the "Prayer of Faith" needs a higher degree of quality to persevere until the answer comes. It takes a better grade of Faith to persevere in prayer than to just begin praying. "Do I have enough Faith to expect God to answer this prayer?"

QUANTITY can be seen in this lowly, smallest of small seeds, the mustard seed.

When responding to the Apostles' desire for more Faith, "Increase our Faith" (Luke 17:5), the LORD Jesus said that the smallest amount of Faith, even "as a grain of mustard seed... which indeed is the least of all seeds" (Luke 17:6; Matthew 13:32), was enough to do even the impossible, i.e., "ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you" (Luke 17:6). The smallest QUANTITY of Faith is equivalent to the smallest of all seeds. The smallest of all seeds can accomplish the impossible. Therefore, as far as QUANTITY is concerned, any Faith is enough Faith.

God isn't unfair in His dealings with men. "God is no respecter of persons" (Acts 10:34). The LORD gives "The Measure of Faith" to all men, therefore, no one has a reason to boast because no one has an unfair advantage in their "walk by Faith" (2Corinthians 5:7). "For I say... to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man The Measure of Faith" (Romans 12:3). "The Measure of Faith" that is "dealt to every man" is even "as a grain of mustard seed", and is enough to do anything needed, even the impossible.

Any QUANTITY of Faith is enough Faith. There are no levels in amount or quantity. The LORD gives us "The Measure of Faith" (Romans 12:3). If you have ANY "Measure of Faith", even if "The Measure of Faith" is "as a grain of mustard seed", then you have enough "Measure" in life to accomplish anything-- even moving mountains.

QUALITY can be seen in this lowly, smallest of small seeds, the mustard seed.

Quality of Faith is another matter. While there are no levels in the quantity of Faith possessed, there are levels of QUALITY, i.e., "strong" versus "weak".


You build strength in Faith the same way you build strength in muscle-- by exercise. The way you use Faith, the areas of life in which you apply Faith, the advantage you take in the opportunities the LORD lays before you-- these are the means by which Faith grows strong. Do you seek reliance upon God only, and trust Him even when the situation gives you other options? This not only pleases Him, for "without Faith it is impossible to please Him" (Hebrews 11:6), but this exercise of Faith causes you to trust God more.

Faith is like a mustard seed. It grows in strength and might, in glory and perfection. "The Kingdom of Heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed... which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof" (Matthew 13:31-32). To be one of these "birds of the air" that "come and lodge in the branches" of "The Kingdom of Heaven" is to have "The Mighty One" declare, "all flesh shall know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, The Mighty One of Jacob" (Isaiah 49:26). This is QUALITY of Faith grown to its "greatest", most glorious potential!



Concerning the Use of the Phrase "Little Faith"

There are five times in Scripture where the phrase "little Faith" is used:

  1. Matthew 6:30 "Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little Faith?"

  2. Luke 12:28 "If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will He clothe you, O ye of little Faith?"
  3. Matthew 8:26 "And He saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little Faith? Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm."

  4. Matthew 16:8 "Which when Jesus perceived, He said unto them, O ye of little Faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?"
  5. Matthew 14:31 "And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little Faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"

In "Strong's Concordance" we find "little Faith" as meaning "trusting too little", i.e., "Faith"-- singular in quality (not plural, as in quantity):

3640 oligopistov oligopistos {ol-ig-op'-is-tos}

from 3641 and 4102; TDNT - 6:174,849; n f

AV - of little faith 5; 5

1) of little faith, trusting too little

Also, in "Strong's", "little" can mean "of number: multitude, quantity, or size"; but it can also mean "of degree or intensity: light, slight", i.e., quality.

3641 oligov oligos {ol-ee'-gos}

of uncertain affinity; TDNT - 5:171,682; adj

AV - few 14, (a) little 7, small 5, few things 4, almost + 1722 2,
a while 2, misc 9; 43

1) little, small, few
1a) of number: multitude, quantity, or size
1b) of time: short
1c) of degree or intensity: light, slight

Therefore, to rightly divide the Spirit's meaning of "little Faith", and determine if Faith could be in quantity, as opposed to just quality, we must study the context.

The first two references of "little Faith" in Matthew 6:30 and Luke 12:28 are parallel passages.

Matthew 6:24-33 "24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the One, and love the other; or else he will hold to the One, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. [In other words, choose the single master you will love and hold to-- God or the world.] 25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought [or, don't worry] for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life MORE than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought [or, worrying] can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall He not MUCH MORE clothe you, O ye of little Faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His Righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

If our Heavenly Father completely meets the need of all life in the natural world, "Are ye not much better than they? " Which master deserves your trust? Hasn't the Father earned perfect Faith, of the highest quality and degree of intensity? To fall short of that is to trust "too little", or have "little Faith".

The third passage of "little Faith" is in Matthew:

Matthew 8:23-27 "23 And when He was entered into a ship, His disciples followed Him. 24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but He was asleep. 25 And His disciples came to Him, and awoke Him, saying, LORD, save us: we perish. 26 And He saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little Faith? Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. 27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him!"

Again, we find that "little Faith" means to fall short in quality of trust, or to trust "too little", which can dangerously lead to fear. "Why are ye fearful, O ye of little Faith?" And when fear isn't handled properly, i.e., "What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee" (Psalm 56:3), it leads to sin, i.e., "But the fearful, and unbelieving... shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8). High quality Faith "will trust in Thee".

The fourth passage of "little Faith":

Matthew 16:5-12 "5 And when His disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. 6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. 7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread. 8 Which when Jesus perceived, He said unto them, O ye of little Faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? 9 Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? 10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? 11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? 12 Then understood they how that He bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees."

Jesus was trying to warn His disciples about "the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees" by using "leaven" as an illustration of Truth. But instead of seeing the broader picture of Faith, the disciples, in their "little Faith" could only misunderstand Him. They forgot His past demonstrations of miraculous supply. "Do ye not yet understand, neither remember... How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?" It was only after the reproof, that "then understood they how that He bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees." If the disciples had a zealous quality of Faith, if they had trusted Jesus more for the supply He had previously shown them, then they wouldn't have tripped over His lesson.

The last passage, still in the Book of Matthew:

Matthew 14:25-31 "25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28 And Peter answered Him and said, LORD, if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water. 29 And He said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, LORD, save me. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little Faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"

The disciples thought they saw a ghost walking on the water. Jesus calmed their fears by identifying Himself. Peter was beginning to demonstrate Faith in this identifying process by saying, "LORD, if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water." But Peter's Faith was low quality. He trusted "too little", and his "little Faith" turned into "doubt" as he took his eyes off the Author of Faith (Hebrews 12:2) and placed them instead on the object of defeat. Peter wavered from Faith, changing his ultimate purpose-- "he was afraid" (Matthew 14:30)-- but, quickly returned to his condition of "little Faith", when he cried, "LORD, save me" (14:30).

"Little Faith" is still Faith. But remember, "little Faith" means to fall short in quality of trust, or to trust "too little", which can dangerously lead to sin.



Faith Versus Doubt

When a Christian, who is to "walk by Faith" (2Corinthians 5:7), finds himself about to do something morally questionable, and proceeds against his conscience, without clearing the matter by determining, "what saith the Scripture?" (Romans 4:3), this person is clearly in doubt.

Faith secures all. Doubt receives nothing.

If you know "beyond a shadow of doubt" that God's will for you is to curse a fig tree, or move a mountain, and you refuse to believe Him for it, then you drop from one, who trusts God to use you to do the impossible, to one who doubts God. "And he that doubteth is damned."



One Faith But Different Areas of Application

When the LORD is allowed, by you, to prove Himself Faithful, the accumulated experience will strengthen your boldness and cause you to exercise Faith in even more areas.

As we continue on the Path of Light (Proverbs 4:18) that is Life to the Christian, "be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you" (1Peter 3:15). "Jesus answering saith unto them, Have Faith in God" (Mark 11:22). Pray the "Prayer of Faith" for others. The one time "Prayer of Faith" is declared in Scripture is in intercession for others. "And the Prayer of Faith shall save the sick, and the LORD shall raise him up" (James 5:15).

More Areas of the Application of Faith (As Demonstrated in the Book of Hebrews, Chapter 11):

1 Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

3 Through Faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

4 By Faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

5 By Faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

6 But without Faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

7 By Faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by Faith.

8 By Faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, OBEYED; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

9 By Faith he sojourned in the land of Promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same Promise:

10 For he looked for a City which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

11 Through Faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged Him Faithful Who had promised.

12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

13 These all died in Faith, not having received the Promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the Earth.

14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a Country.

15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

16 But now they desire a Better Country, that is, an Heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a City.

17 By Faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the Promises offered up his only begotten son.

18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

20 By Faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

21 By Faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

22 By Faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

23 By Faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.

24 By Faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater Riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the Reward.

27 By Faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing Him Who is Invisible.

28 Through Faith he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest He that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

29 By Faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

30 By Faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

31 By Faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

33 Who through Faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained Promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the Earth.

39 And these all, having obtained a good report through Faith, received not the Promise:

40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

.

"Blessed be the LORD for Evermore. Amen, and Amen"
(Psalm 89:52).


What's New
.
Homepage Holy Bible .Jehovah Jesus Timeline .Prophecy Philadelphia Fellowship Promises Stories Poetry Links
WhatSaithTheScripture.com
Purpose ||.What's New || Tribulation Topics || Download Page || Today's Entry
Topical Links: Salvation || Catholicism || Sound Doctrine || Prayer
Privacy Policy
.