It can be tempting for us to pray to God and ask Him to do things that seem impossible for us. After all isn't that what faith is all about?

If we are asked to give an example of faith in action the answer will often be something like this - "When we are facing problems, faith is recognising that we cannot do it in our own strength and turning to God and petitioning Him to come to our rescue and then holding on in expectation/faith until He does!

Does that seem familiar? Fervent faith would then be doing the above with intensity of mind and heart!

Our examples should be taken from the bible though, so let's look at an incident in the book of Mark, Chapter 4, and see what it tells us about faith.

Mark 4:37-39 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he (Jesus) was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”
And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Notice what happens here in this incident. Does this not follow what many would expect from people of faith?

A. They knew to go to God/Jesus when the problem was beyond them.
B. They petitioned God/Jesus to help them.
C. He solved the problem in quick time so one would think, "Effective prayer"!

So far this would be considered a textbook case of great faith! Yet this is what Jesus said to them -

Mark 4:40 “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”

Notice, Jesus considered these actions / reactions by the disciples as that of people having NO faith!

Why was this?

Jesus has delegated to us all authority and power. He expects us to command those things that He has placed in our power, to be done, "in His Name". He does not expect us to come running to Him, asking Him to do what He has put us in charge of!

That's right! When He left Jesus put us (His disciples) in charge!

Mat 28:18-20 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Jesus has all authority as this passage tells us and as His disciples of this age we have been passed the batton to use it all now, as we follow the guidance of Holy Spirit!

Mat 10:7-8 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.

We have His word the bible to show us what is His will and what He has placed under us. We are to learn and apply! Ie., Bible study; Prayer; Walking in the Spirit!

And, here in the word, Jesus tells US to heal the sick. As my language teacher would have said, "The YOU is understood!

Jesus does not say, "You can wake me up anytime to do miracles for you! What He says is that WE have the authority to command the miracles and have them happen!

And, when we command healing, etc, Holy Spirit in us will supply the power to do God's will on earth, as it is in heaven.

Jesus said that 'As the Father sent Him into the world, He was sending us!' So we have the same 'raising from the dead' power in us as Jesus did! And, we should be commanding the same things to happen as Jesus did, when similar circumstances exist.

Remember - Jesus defeated Satan and left US in charge! So...

Mat 10:7-8 ... proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.

Best wishes for Grace and The Peace of Jesus.

Attlee.