We are finishing our series of messages on a Victorious Life Through Effective Prayer today and sharing the key of praying in faith.

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Downloads and Links

Watch the video of this teaching at https://www.celllifechurch.tv/victorious-living-through-effective-prayer-pray-in-faith/ or on our YouTube channel.

Introduction

Today we end our series on prayer entitled Victorious Life Through Effective Prayer. Over the past month, we have talked about being kingdom-minded. We discussed how we are victors and not victims for Jesus has made us overcomers. Last week, we discussed the importance of 2-way communication in our prayer life as a part of praying is waiting and listening for the Lord to speak to us.

Today as we conclude on living a victorious life through effective prayer, we are going to focus on praying in faith. The Bible talks a lot about faith. It is the cornerstone of Christianity. It is believing who God says he is and putting our trust in Him. Sometimes, we doubt or get discouraged when we either do not hear God speaking or do not like what he is telling us to do. There are promises in the Bible about prayer offered in faith.

Mountain Movers

Throughout the Bible, there are stories of God doing amazing things through his people. We see him even defying nature with things like causing the sun to stand still and turning water into blood or wine. He has caused an ax head to float and caused a donkey to speak. We read throughout Jesus’ life how he caused blind people to see, multiplied food, healed the sick, and cast out demons.

God has not changed, he is the same yesterday as he is today. He is still defying nature and performing miracles.  He promises us that we too can move mountains. Let’s read this promise in Mark 11:23.

Mark 11:22-25

(22) “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. (23) “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. (24) Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (25) And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

When we pray in faith, we are mountain movers. You can tell a mountain to move and if you do not have any doubt in your heart and believe wholeheartedly that it will happen, it will be so. God continues to perform miracles today.

Most recently, while ministering to the church in Pakistan, a woman came forward with her baby girl. Pastor Tahir said that we had prayed for her several months ago to have a baby. She had been barren for 15 years. This little baby in the mother’s arms was her new daughter. The Lord had answered our prayers and gave a child to the childless.

Offering prayers in faith is part of having a victorious life through effective prayer.

Help My Unbelief

Doubt can creep in and tell us that God did not mean what he said. Doubt can say that Jesus only heals other people and not us. Doubt and insecurity say, “I am undeserving of a miracle”. But with God, all things are possible.

When we struggle with doubt and unbelief, we need to pray the honest prayer of asking Jesus to help us with our unbelief just as the father of a demon-possessed child did. Let’s read Mark 9:17-29.

Mark 9:17-29

(17) A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. (18)Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.” (19)“You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” (20) So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. (21)Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. (22)“It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” (23)“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” (24) Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (25) When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” (26) The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” (27) But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. (28) After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” (29) He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”

When doubt comes, pray for help. You are an overcomer. You know that Jesus can answer prayers and perform miracles, but do you believe it? This boy’s father was having trouble making a connection with his mind. His heart wanted to believe but his mind was rationalizing and saying it could not be done.

James 1:6 reminds us to ask God and not doubt that he will answer our prayers.

James 1:6

(6) But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

God is for you. He is not against you. He has good plans and purposes for you. Offer up prayer in faith as he will answer you. Maybe not the way you expect or when you want him to, but he will answer.

Powerful and Effective Prayers

The final aspect of living a victorious life through effective prayer is realizing that our prayers are powerful and effective. When a Christian offers a prayer in faith, it is powerful. James reminds us of this power in James 5:15-16.

James 5:15-16

(15) And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. (16) Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

As we offer prayer in faith, we can heal diseases and make people well. The Lord will raise them up. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective!

To offer prayers in faith simply means that we have the confidence that God will show up and show off. Let’s read Hebrews 11:1.

Hebrews 11:1

(1) Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

This is putting our trust in the Lord that he is capable and willing to answer our prayers. Those who follow Jesus and make him the Lord of their lives have powerful and effective prayers.

You have the power to pray things into existence. You have the power to break down every stronghold. You have the power to heal the sick, move mountains, and change your community through prayer. Part of living a victorious life through effective prayer is offering a prayer in faith knowing that your prayers are powerful and effective.

Conclusion

Today, we explored the power we have as believers when we offer up prayer in faith. We become mountain movers with powerful and effective prayers. When doubt creeps in, we can seek the help of the Lord by asking for him to help us in our unbelief.

We hope you have enjoyed this series on prayer and have learned some takeaways for living a victorious life through effective prayer. We encourage you to go back and review the previous teachings and videos that you may have missed.

A Victorious Life Through Effective Prayer is lived by being kingdom-minded, knowing you are a victor, not a victim, having 2-way communication with God, and praying in faith.

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• Victorious Life Through Effective Prayer – Being Kingdom Minded
• Our Heart Must Be Fertile
• The Grace of God