Our prayers affect people, but people have a will that God won't override. Because of a person's will, it can take years for God to change an unwilling person.
The prayer of faith doesn't apply to people, it only applies to things. Let's examine Scripture which give instructions about the prayer of faith.
Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.Notice how the prayer of faith isn't designed to ask God to move in a person's life, but it's designed to ask God for natural and spiritual things that we need.
(Mark 11:24)
We must pray in faith in order for God to answer this type of prayer. Let's look at an additional text.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.Notice how the prayer of faith is used to pray for wisdom and not for a person. When we pray for people, on the other hand, we make supplication to God for them, asking God to move in their lives.
For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
(James 1:5-8)
This is not a prayer of faith; it's a prayer of intercession that could take years to be fulfilled.
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Joe Cameneti Sr. is the lead pastor of Believers Church, located in his hometown of Warren, Ohio. Pastor Joe, along with his wife Gina, pioneered Believers Church in 1983 following his graduation from Bible School.
In addition to leading a thriving local church, Pastor Joe is the host of a weekly show called "BCTV." The program is aired locally, reaching over 30,000 people each month.
Pastor Joe is a gifted communicator, skilled in the art of building bridges to unchurched America. Transparent and authentic, you'll walk away challenged and encouraged to connect with God in a deeper way.
