Greater Is He Who Is In You…

The prayer of faith is powerful. But like anything else, if you don’t use it, it remains powerless. The lack of use then prompts the question, “Do we really believe it works?” If we did, we would use it and do so frequently. If we don’t believe it, why? Did we pray once, and nothing changed? Did something bad happen, and we are stuck because we blame God? And if we blame God, we can either think we are punishing Him by not talking to Him or because He didn’t end up being the big Santa in the sky; we’ve decided we won’t ask for anything. 

All of these thoughts or questions lead to the bigger question. Do we really know God? To know Him is to know His thoughts about us and life and His way of doing things. He said in Isaiah 55:8-9 8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. (NJKV)

God said that King David was a man after His own heart because David continually conversed with God telling Him that He loved His precepts (thoughts), judgments (justice), and ordinances (established decrees for living). Moses would climb the mountain to “know God,” wanting Him to show him His glory (His divine nature and character). These men wanted God and not His hand. God then showed them His hand because they knew Him. They desired a real relationship with God and asked of Him continually. Because they knew God and His power, they didn’t doubt God or His compassion. They humbled themselves and didn’t question God’s methods because to do so would imply that they knew better than God.

They understood that God is the almighty, all-knowing, all-powerful creator of all that is seen and unseen who desires a relationship and wants to be known by us. He will hear and answer our prayers when we pray in faith believing. But believing comes from knowing, and knowing produces trust. Trusting is the silent but firm foundation that faith is built on.

When we look at Mark 5, we see that those who understood the power of God were not His disciples. It says that Jesus crossed the sea to the Gaderenes, and the demons saw Jesus coming afar off. Immediately upon getting out of the boat, the possessed man was there with the demons pleading not to be tormented by Jesus. If only we had the faith of those demons, we would see the miraculous power of God. It’s a sad state of affairs to know that demons have more faith than we do. If the devil knows to be afraid of what you carry, you need to be aware of the power you carry. That power can change your circumstance when you operate in faith.

But often, we do what the people of that region did. Jesus didn’t operate the way they wanted Him to, so they begged Him to leave their country. Can you imagine that? Because they didn’t like His ways, they rejected their savior. Let’s not be guilty of that. Let’s spend the time it takes to know our God and His ways, and in so doing, we can find freedom and deliverance from the schemes of the enemy and healing for our souls.

If we are believers, let’s believe! Let’s believe in who God is and what He will do for those who trust Him. Let’s make it our mission to know our God, and let’s welcome Him into our cities, states, and countries and see revival sweep our land. The power of God is real. So let’s believe in faith and watch God move.

Stand in the Gap

The world is screaming, “How could you?” The President of the United States left thousands upon thousands of Americans and innocents in harm’s way as he pulled our military out of Afghanistan. The decision to leave behind our people flies in the face of our own military code of “No man left behind.”

Immediately we saw who the real American leaders were. People like Glenn Beck and the Nazarine Fund and Kenneth Copeland Ministries, who raised over 22 million dollars in just two days to go and get people out, all those who gave that money, and then, of course, our honorable veterans who said, “not on my watch.” These people who seemingly had no way to make a difference made the most significant difference.

In scripture, this is the kind of person God calls. In Exodus, two midwives refused to kill innocent babies though Pharaoh commanded it. In Esther, Mordecai stopped an attempt on the Kings life. Esther understood her position to save a nation came at the risk of her life, but she answered that call. David, who was just a boy, ran toward a giant to save his nation when the king refused to fight. Samson took on entire troops by himself and won. God’s prophets wielded their authority and appointed kings, and removed others. Jael took a tent peg to King Sisera’s head. Disciples repeatedly were thrown in prison for bringing truth, healing, and freedom to those who were bound. Jesus allowed himself to be put on a cross and die for the world’s sin when we could not. That is a hero, and the scriptures are riddled with them.

What kind of person are you? If you see a crime happening, do you report it? Do you try to stop it? Or do you look around and say, “that’s none of my business.” If you call yourself a Christian, you are called to be an intercessor. Someone who intercedes on behalf of another. We are called to stand and make a difference. We are those who are full of faith and refuse fear. We are the body of Christ. If you attack one of us, you’ve attacked all of us.

It’s time to stand and be counted among the brethren and live as overcomers!

Jaime Luce