By Faith, I Have God’s Blessings
It is important for each believer to know assuredly what he/she believes and why. This assurance comes when we know what the Scripture says about us. We can know what we believe. We can have faith in God’s word, because He is not a man that He can lie, and His word is true.
Psalm 119:160 King James Version (KJV)
160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth forever.
The Privilege of Prayer – The Exercise of Faith
Jesus taught his disciples about the importance of faith as recorded in Mark 11:22-24.
22 Jesus replied, “Have faith in God [constantly]. 23 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea!’ and [a]does not doubt in his heart [in God’s unlimited power], but believes that what he says is going to take place, it will be done for him [in accordance with God’s will]. 24 For this reason I am telling you, whatever things you ask for in prayer [in accordance with God’s will], believe [with confident trust] that you have received them, and they will be given to you.
This scripture emphasizes the importance of knowing God’s will in a matter. We learn God’s will from His Word. When we pray according to what God thinks and desires, and believe those things will happen, we are assured that our prayer will be answered.
The importance of forgiving others is expressed as a condition for getting prayers answered. This is of utmost importance.
Mark 11:25 New King James Version (NKJV)
25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.
Declare: “I have the assurance that if I pray God’s will in a matter and believe it will take place, I will receive what I have prayed for. I have the responsibility to forgive anyone who offends me.”
Jesus, My High Priest
In Romans 8:34, the Apostle Paul wrote that Jesus Christ who died and rose again, “is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.”
Hebrews 4:14-15 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)
14 Inasmuch then as we have a great High Priest Who has [already] ascended and passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession [of faith in Him].
15 For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin.
Declare: “I have a great High Priest, Jesus the Son of God, who listens to what I say and understands how I feel. He also intercedes for me before God.”
Holy Spirit – My Helper in Prayer
There are times when the circumstances of life are so overwhelming, we do not know what to ask God to do for us. We may be asked to pray for another person, group, or nation and the problem is so great, that we can not form a rational request for God’s help. It is at these times when we have the privilege of releasing the Holy Spirit within us to pray according as the scripture states, according to the will of God. What a comfort to know that when our minds are at their limit, Holy Spirit can petition God for the perfect answer.
Romans 8:26-27 New King James Version (NKJV)
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession [a]for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Declare: “Holy Spirit helps me pray correctly when I don’t know what to ask for.”
Purpose for my Life
It has been particularly comforting to me to realize that God wrote plans for my life even before I was conceived. As His child, I can ask Him to show me these plans so I can fulfill my purpose regardless of present circumstances in my life.
Psalm 139:16 Amplified Bible (AMP)
Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were appointed for me,
When as yet there was not one of them [even taking shape].
Ephesians 2:10 Amplified Bible (AMP)
10 For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].
Declare: “I have a book about every day of my life that God wrote before I existed. I have good works to do which God planned for me to accomplish before I was born.”
The Gift of Grace
It is important to realize that God not only planned good things for us to do but He promised to help us complete our purpose. Grace is a promised gift to us. Strong’s Concordance defines grace, #5485, as the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life, including gratitude, acceptable, benefit, favor, gift, gracious, joy, liberality, pleasure, thankworthy. Some teachers simplify the meaning to be God’s unmerited favor. We do nothing to deserve it. God graciously gives us His blessings because He loves us. God’s grace supplied to us as believers is a part of the “good news” that Jesus brought to all who will believe in him.
Acts 20:24 Amplified Bible (AMP)
24 But I do not consider my life as something of value or dear to me, so that I may [with joy] finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify faithfully of the good news of God’s [precious, undeserved] grace [which makes us free of the guilt of sin and grants us eternal life].
Ephesians 4:7 Amplified Bible (AMP)
7 Yet grace [God’s undeserved favor] was given to each one of us [not indiscriminately, but in different ways] in proportion to the measure of Christ’s [rich and abundant] gift.
2 Timothy 1:9 Amplified Bible (AMP)
9 for He delivered us and saved us and called us with a holy calling [a calling that leads to a consecrated life—a life set apart—a life of purpose], not because of our works [or because of any personal merit—we could do nothing to earn this], but because of His own purpose and grace [His amazing, undeserved favor] which was granted to us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago], God created each believer to perform specific tasks, good works in His Kingdom. He promises to help us by influencing us to become the people we are to be in order to successfully complete our assignments. Every God-given task is important to Him. This is a significant understanding for everyone, no matter what your station in life.
Declare: “I have God’s grace, His unmerited favor, according to the measure of the gift of Christ. I have been delivered, saved, and called to holiness according to God’s purpose for my life. I have grace to fulfill that purpose in Christ. I have God working in me so that I can fulfill the purpose He determined for my life before the world began.”
God – My Shield of Favor
The shield of favor is a blessing I have cherished since I discovered this verse in the Old Testament Psalms. God surrounds the righteous person with favor as if there was a shield, a vital piece of armo. I have prayed and declared this promise before sales presentations, conventions, significant meetings, and cattle sales. Having God’s favor is priceless!
Psalm 5:12 Amplified Bible (AMP)
For You, O LORD, bless the righteous man [the one who is in right standing with You];
You surround him with favor as with a shield.
Declare: “I have a shield of favor around me, which is God himself.”
God’s Healing Power
Isaiah 53:4-6 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)
4 Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment], yet we [ignorantly] considered Him stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God [as if with leprosy].
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord has made to light upon Him the guilt and iniquity of us all.
1 Peter 2:24 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)
24 He personally bore our sins in His [own] body on the tree [as on an altar and offered Himself on it], that we might die (cease to exist) to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.
Declare: “I have healing, health, peace, forgiveness, and right standing with God because of the punishment Jesus suffered.”
Angels to Help Me
Psalm 103:20-21 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)
20 Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, you His angels, you mighty ones who do His commandments, hearkening to the voice of His word.
21 Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, all you His hosts, you His ministers who do His pleasure.
Hebrews 1:14 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)
14 Are not the angels all ministering spirits (servants) sent out in the service [of God for the assistance] of those who are to inherit salvation?
Declare: “I have angels who listen when I speak God’s words. They work to perform those words on my behalf.”
Spiritual Offensive Weapons
Ephesians 6:13-17 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)
13 Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].
14 Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,
15 And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.
16 Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].
17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.
Declare: “I have the whole armor of God and will be able to stand against the evil around me. I have God’s true word, His righteousness, I am in right standing with him. I walk in His peace. I have a shield of faith by which I will stop all the darts of the devil. I have a helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. I have the ability of God to help me stand against all evil.”
Application:
- Pray for Holy Spirit to help you fully understand and believe the scriptures in this teaching.
- Read aloud the scriptures and the “Declare” sections daily. This is like following doctor’s orders when taking medicine. Satan talks to us daily, so our counter to his attacks should be daily.
- Expect a change in your thoughts and perceptions about yourself and what you have as a believer in Jesus.
- Thank God for the finished work of Jesus and His work in your life to perfect you into his image.