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HELEN SANDERS
6-3-2022
PRAYING WITH EXPECTATION
Hebrews 11:6 tells us, “But without faith it is impossible to please him (God).”
So, what is faith? A simple definition is believing God meant what He said. So, what has God said? You learn that by reading the bible. It is full of promises for us. From knowing who to choose to marry, how to raise children, healing, finances and more.
Faith is also an action word. It believes without seeing. It expects the prayer that one prays to be activated by faith. It doesn’t doubt. It doesn’t have to see, because it believes God’s promises are for them.
Do you remember when Peter went to pray for a disciple named Tabitha that died? He had heard that she had been sick and went to her home, but she had already died. They brought him into the chamber where she was at. Widows were all weeping and looking at some of the things that Tabitha had made. In Acts 9:40 it says, “But Peter put them all forth (out) and kneeled down and prayed.” He simply said, “Tabitha arise” and she opened her eyes.
He put them out because they were in a state of mourning. They had no belief that she could be raised from the dead. Peter wanted faith to be in that room, and it was there in him. Their weeping would not stop faith, so he had to put them out.
When Lazarus died, Jesus showed up four days later. The Jews believed that a spirit could come back into a body up to three days after death. He deliberately stayed away until the fourth day, to demonstrate faith in Him and the power of the resurrection. He told Martha in John 11:25, “…I am the resurrection, and the life…” She didn’t understand. She was looking at a future time, but not in the present situation. You see, being the resurrection and being life, Jesus had the power to raise Lazarus from the dead.
He proved to them that were at the gravesite that “resurrection life” was for the “now” situation, not the future. The fourth day went beyond their human reasoning. In their minds it was an impossibility. When he said “Lazarus, come forth” then Lazarus came out of the grave. I truly if Jesus had just said “Come forth” that every dead person that trusted in Messiah would have come forth.
Jesus said that all power was given to him from the Father (Matthew 28:18) but better than just that, it is for us. (John 14:12-13.) He has given us authority to use His name and do what He did. We just have to believe for it, and not doubt. We must pray with expectation that it will happen now, whatever it is that we need. If we don’t “expect” it (that’s faith) then we won’t get it.
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