Our perspective on any issue matters, especially on matters of eternal destiny. Our perception of God affects our faith and the way we pray to Him. Those who think small of God, who regard God as a weakling, hardly experience His power. On the contrary, those who think highly of God and have the right perception of His Omnipotence pray from the standpoint of victory and divine possibilities. When our perception of God changes, it also affects the way we pray.
Paul had to pray for the Christians at Ephesus that God would open their eyes of understanding to know how mighty and awesome God is. Paul knew that if they had a revelation of who God is, that would influence their faith and behaviour. “Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know…” (Ephesians 1:15, 17-20 NKJV).
Jesus prayed with optimism, confidence and faith because He knew who His Father was and the power His Father has. He knew Satan could not stop His prayers from being answered. Therefore, when Jesus got to Lazarus’ graveside, His prayers were simple and profound. He prayed, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me” (John 11:41-42 NKJV).
After His prayer, His next action was a command, “Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” (John 11:43 NKJV). The result was immediate and instant: “And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave-clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go” (John 11:44 NKJV).
Jesus’ words are Spirit and life. His words quickened dead Lazarus and brought him back to life. His words opened the doors of death for Lazarus to walk out free.
Consider Elijah’s prayer, when he confronted the prophets of Baal. He was bold, authoritative and assertive. His prayers were not self-exalting, but God-glorifying. His prayer was a summon of God’s power against Baal. Not surprising that God appeared in a fire to show His supremacy and power over other deities. “And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, “LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You are the LORD God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.” Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench” (I Kings 18:36-38 NKJV). May we have a revelation of who God is! There is no doubt that our perspective of God affects our faith in Him and influences our prayer and the results we get.
Contact:pastoracukachi@gmail.com
