[Course 44 Index] [Prayer-School Index] [Prayer Mini-Series Index ] [Prev Lesson] [Next Lesson]
We have been talking about the relationship between faith and prayer. And I have given you four "ingredients" of how to grow in faith and to become more effective in intercession.
We already discussed the first two points in an earlier lesson, but let me review them quickly for you before we move on to the final two.
See Our Potential As God Does
The way that we see ourselves often doesn't match the way that God sees us. We tend to focus more on our known faults, limitations and weaknesses while God tends to focus more on our potential. He looks at us and He knows that He can do through us as we submit to His will for our lives. This was true in the life of Gideon, who saw himself as small and insignificant. But God (Who sees all times at once) saw Gideon as a mighty warrior even before Gideon had done single thing for the Lord.
Move Past The Fear Of Failure
When we focus on our fears, we empower their results, and that limits what we allow the Lord to do through us. When we give into our fears, we give up on our faith. We invite the enemy to build strongholds in our mind, where God intended a monument of faith to go up.
So instead of entertaining our fear and imagining potential failure, we need to pursue the possible results with God as you address the issue in prayer with Him. Instead of thinking the worst, pray for the best thing that could happen, and trust that God is able to work His glory in your life.
Ok, now we are caught up to where we ended the last lesson, so let's move on...
How To Tap Into God's Life-Changing Power
Another part of rearranging our self-opinion to line up with God's opinion is to realize the power of Christ in us. Listen to how Paul described that process: "...the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ" (Colossians 1:25b-28).
"Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us" (Ephesians 3:20).
Notice the phrases, "what is the riches of the glory of the mystery which is Christ in you, the hope of glory," and, "exceeding abundantly, beyond...according to the power that works within us." We have resources at our disposal that no one in the Old Testament had. For example, God walked with Adam, but God didn't live inside Adam. God lives in us.
There is a store of unrefined potential in each of us. But for that gold to be separated from common quartz and other slag, God must be allowed to sift the raw ore. We must cooperate with His work: "So then, my beloved, work out your destiny [my substitution] with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure" (Philippines 2:12-13).
God uses protracted prayer to unleash the potential in us.
Some methods of refining gold are similar to how God refines our potential. Electrolysis is employed at all of the United States mints. Anodes of crude gold from the mines and cathodes of pure gold are suspended in an electrolyte of gold chloride and hydrochloric acid. When current is applied, gold dissolves from the anodes and deposits on the cathodes. Impurities remain behind. Although a slow process, electrolysis yields nearly pure gold--as much as 999.9 fine (http://www.britannica.com/ebi/article-201603).
In like manner, God may bring someone into your life that has attained a dream like ours in a God-honoring manner. We are tempted to follow satanic shortcuts, a move that nullifies God's blessing. That's because the narrowing path is a harrowing path. Then, that individual's path challenges us to stay true, to follow the narrow course, despite the troubles we encounter along the way. We leave thoughts of taking the easy way out behind. Though this is a slow process, God doesn't mind. 999.9 per cent fine gold is the only coin He'll put His stamp on.
Also, consider the seeds God has planted in your life (Matthew 12:31- 33; Mark 4:3,8). Consider the prophetic promises that have been sown in your life, or when He quickened a portion of the word to you in your quiet time or during a message (Romans 10:17).
We don't know what God's planted inside us, until we obediently tend His garden. Big trees grow from tiny seeds. The current tallest tree is named Hyperion, a Sequoia Redwood measuring at 379.1 feet. The tree was discovered in Redwood National Park during summer 2006. Would you believe such a tree originally grew from a seed, that was only 3-4 millimeters long and 0.5 millimeters broad, with two wings 1 millimeter wide? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sequoia).
Similarly, God intends to raise tall trees from the tiny seeds He plants in our lives (Isaiah 55:11).
How To Determine If A Dream If God-Given
Another obstacle that faces a believer is the question, if they heard God right? Or is the dream their own needs seeking fulfillment.
For instance, many a guy or gal has entered a pastor's office, so convinced that the person they have in tow is the one they are supposed to marry, that God can't tell them otherwise. In other instances, some dreams have a glamorous side. Media images reflect the fruit of the finish line. They seldom show all the years of dedication and drudgery needed to cross that line (1 Corinthians 9:23-27).
How can you tell is a dream is from God? No one of the following principles alone should be the deciding factor in deciding whether you should follow a dream. Many are the same principles you would use to decide whether a prophetic word is from the Lord.
We've already mentioned one. Does the dream line up with the prophetic words said over you? Does the dream violate the Word of God? Have you asked God to take away the vision, only to find its grown stronger over time (Jeremiah 20:9)?
God is very gracious with His children. Many Christians criticize Gideon for the tests he put God through before he took up the Lord's call on his life. If the truth were told, few of those same believers would begin a faith journey without the Lord showing them a sign or two. The fleece request was the first time God answered one of Gideon's prayer requests. God doesn't mind us testing the waters, if we are truly willing to pursue our destinies. You don't have to be special, as long as you treat God special by obeying Him.
When you discover your God-given dream and commit to it, there's no telling how far you'll go or what kind of impact you'll make.