Prayer for the Building Up of Faith

INTRODUCTION

As I was praying about the prayer topic for this podcast, I just heard the word “Faith” over and over in my mind.  So, today, we will be praying for the building up of faith.

Since our prayer topic today is on Faith, we will skip the Faith Builder verse for this podcast.

But we will begin with our prayer of Thanksgiving.  Just a note:  All scripture references are from the English Standard Version (ESV).

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

EPHESIANS 5:20

. giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

PRAYER TOPIC 

Faith is a critical attribute of a believer in Christ.  Without it how can you believe in Jesus Christ?  How can you believe he took away your sins?  How can you believe in an eternal reward?  

Faith is essential to the believer as the Lord reminds us:

HEBREWS 11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

It wasn’t the keeping of the law that made Abraham righteous.   The law did not even exist except for the covenant of circumcision in Abraham’s time.   The law came later with Moses.  Romans, Galatians, and James all agree about Abraham’s righteousness.  We’ll just use the James 2:23 scripture

JAMES 2:23

and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.

Believing God, that’s what Faith is.   Trusting in him and his Word.  Jesus told us:

MATTHEW 4:4

But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

This is backed up by Habakkuk:

HABAKKUCK 2:4

“Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.

Which is echoed in the New Testament in Romans and Galatians

ROMANS 1:17

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

GALATIANS 3:11

Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Faith is Essential for Effective Prayer.  You can throw up prayers where you are hoping God will do something.  Those will most likely result in disappointment.  Your prayers need faith behind them.

MATTHEW 21:22

 

And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

MARK 11:24

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

What is possible with faith?  What can Faith accomplish?

MATTHEW 21:21

And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.

MARK 9:23

And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”

How much faith do we need?

MATTHEW 17:20

He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

LUKE 17:6

And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

Faith can be strengthened

LUKE 22:32

but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

Acts 16:5

So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.

ROMANS 10:17

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Now, there are many that would saying studying the scriptures is what this is referring to.   That can help, but that is not what it means.   There are two words in Greek translated to the “word” and they are Logos and Rhema.  Logos generally refers to the “written word of God.”   Rhema is more directed, more specific to you.  Now, it is true that God will often speak to you through the written Word and you will know it is a specific directed Word for you in that moment.  It is Rhema to you.  So yes, meditate on the scriptures, but keep your spiritual ears open for him to speak specifically to you.   That comes with faith.

So we can Pray for faith.  We can focus on God’s word to us.

PRAYER FOR THE LOST

Nigeria

Population approximately 140 million

The split between Islam and Christianity is interesting. Some reports indicate more Muslim adherents than Christians and other report the opposite.  It is impossible to tell for sure.   However, what is important is a large number are still lost regardless of the specific numbers.  

There is a major Christian crusade planned for next month in Nigeria, so we want the Lord to move on that.