A Praying Faith Keeps the Commandments of God

Tip! The Holy Bible says in (John 5:13) this statement about prayer: "And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him."

In his Second Epistle, Peter has this idea in mind when speaking of growth in grace as a measure of safety in our Christian life, and this leads to fruitfulness.

"And besides this," he declares, "giving diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness."

In this process of adding all the other graces of the Spirit together, notice that our faith is the starting point. Faith is the foundation on which other things are to be built. Peter does not instruct his readers to add to works or gifts or virtues but to faith. Everything depends on starting right in this business of growing in grace.

There is a Divine order, of which Peter was aware; and so he goes on to declare that we are to give diligence to making our calling and election sure. This election is granted certain adding to faith which, in turn, is done by constant, earnest praying. Consequently faith is kept alive by prayer, and so is every step taken by us, in this adding of grace to grace, is accompanied only by prayer.

The faith that creates powerful praying is the faith that centers itself on a powerful Person. Faith in Christ's ability to do and to do greatly is the faith that prays greatly.

Thus the leper laid hold on the power of Christ. "Lord, if You will," he cried, "You can make me clean." In this instance, we are shown how faith centered in Christ's ability to do, and how it secured the healing power.

It was concerning this very point, that Jesus questioned the blind men who came to Him for healing:

"Believe you that I am able to do this?" He asks. "They said unto Him, Yea, Lord. Then touched He their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you."

Tip! Jesus said they were to do even greater works than He had achieved during His ministry in the world. Wow! Then our Master went on to show them that by praying in His Name, Jesus, this is the channel through which the authorized power is acquired to carry out the works that glorify our Father in the Son.

It was to inspire faith in His ability to do that Jesus left behind Him, that last, great statement, which, in the final analysis, is a ringing challenge to faith. "All power," He declared, "is given unto Me in heaven and in earth."

Again: faith is obedient; it goes when commanded, as did the nobleman, who came to Jesus, when He was here on earth, and whose son was grievously sick.

Moreover: such faith acts. Like the man who was born blind, it goes to wash in the pool of Siloam when told to wash. Like Peter while fishing on the lake, it casts the net where Jesus commands, instantly, without question or doubt. Such faith takes away the stone from the grave of Lazarus promptly.

A praying faith keeps the commandments of God and does those things which are well pleasing in His sight. It asks, "Lord, what will You have me to do?" and answers quickly, "Speak, Lord, Your servant hears."

Obedience helps faith, and faith, in turn, helps obedience. To do God's will is essential to true faith, and faith is necessary to total obedience.