When a person asks Jesus into their heart and salvation is ignited within them, the growth process begins. The process always is met with challenges – and those challenges will always be directed toward the faith you are learning about and attempting to walk in.
As a relatively newborn Christian believer of 1 ½ years, I was met with a challenge that enlarged my understanding of faith, and the prayer of faith. At this juncture in my walk of faith I thought if all of heaven’s resources were available to me because of what Jesus did for me through His death and resurrection and my salvation, my “asking” could and should be a BIG ASK! I also thought that my asking in prayer would automatically release the “BIG” in my request. I believed I had the scripture to back it up (Mark 11:25 “and whatsoever you ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive”). But, I learned a very valuable lesson that I have never forgotten.
At this time I knew the Lord had called me to minister in a small, neighborhood church in another city. Actually, my ministry there was more for my training than anything else. It turned out to be a short, temporary assignment. When the time came for me to return home, I needed the money for my air fare. The ministry I was a part of in that church was done without pay – which meant I didn’t have the money I needed for the trip. SO I PRAYED! And I asked God for the money. AND I ASKED BIG! (at least to me it seemed big). But what I didn’t know was that God was going to use this to teach me about faith, believing, and FAITH THAT ASKS BIG! Keep in mind as I tell you the rest of the story, I was a relatively new Christian “learning the ropes” (as they say). I prayed … I asked God for $2,000. I felt that wouldn’t be too hard for God. Then I went about my business and left it with God – that is, until after about a week, when nothing happened. So, I prayed again, even more earnestly. A few more days passed and now I was very anxious. I prayed again, whereupon God spoke to me. He said, “Ken, do you really believe I’m going to give you $2,000?” That kind of shook me, but I said, “yes”. He then repeated what He had said. “Ken, do you really b e l I e v e I’m going to give you $2,000?” Now I was hearing something different than the first time. The emphasis was on the words really believe. I then responded (without the confidence I had at first), yes? He said to me, “how much money do you believe I’ll give you”. I started to back up on my request as I started to realize the amount I asked for was something I desired more than an amount I had faith for. In my mind I began to reduce the amount I was asking for. Then He said, “how much do you really believe for me to give you? What amount do you really HAVE FAITH for me to provide for you?” That amount became $300. I then said I can believe and have faith for $300! Then, silence. That was it, and I felt peace. This lesson taught me that whatsoever I ask for, I must truly make that request with the faith to back it up. A prayer of faith is not synonymous with making a wish. And faith is not a wish. If your faith is a wish, it isn’t faith.
In Matthew 9:28, two blind men followed Jesus “crying, and saying, son of David, have mercy on us.” They weren’t crying as one might think in today’s vernacular. They were shrieking, screaming and calling out to Jesus to get His attention so that He might meet their need. So they pursued Jesus with the crowd, all the while calling out to Him. This was passion! This was determination and unyielding persistence! They weren’t worried about who might be offended or who they were interrupting. And they didn’t care who they were annoying by their screams. They had one thing, and one thing only on their minds. They wanted their need met. They wanted to be able to see – and the Healer was right in front of them! And Jesus saw them …and said, “do you believe that I’m able to do this? They said to him, yes, Lord.”
Now that is faith – where you are so focused on Jesus that your need, and your conviction that He can and will answer it, must bow and yield to His power to provide whatever your need!
So, I did what you might have done sometime in your life. I searched the pockets of all my pants, shirts, coats, jackets and robe. Then I searched all my dresser drawers, closet, etc. I took all I found and added it up. It didn’t add up to $300, so I knew it was coming – and IT DID!
There is no shortcut to the life of faith. As with the human body, faith must be exercised in order to grow and be strong in the power of His might (Eph. 6:10). Faith is the “becoming” process of all God has intended for each of us to be. It is “the plan” at work. Faith is both the pathway to God and the process by which we can lay hold on the riches of God’s resources in heaven. Mark 9:23 “If you can believe, all things are possible to him that believes”.
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