Central Truth

Faith and prayer are inseparably linked in their efficacy for the believer. Prayer without faith is ineffectual. Faith in the things prayed for allow us to see the fruits of our prayer as if they have already come to pass. Faith is the knowledge of things hoped for.

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Reflections

Chapter 11 marks the beginning of the Jerusalem ministry of our Lord, which is commonly referred to as passion week. The week begins with His triumphant entrance into Jerusalem on the back of a colt while being hailed with shouts of "Hosanna" from enthusiastic followers. Within the week these same followers would witness our Lord's crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection.

The week is filled with other activities including the cleansing of the temple, which our Lord refers to as a "house of prayer." What clearly seems to occupy our Lord's attention is prayer. During this most pivotal week in our Lord's life, which will end in His death and resurrection, His prime focus is prayer. Prayer that is based on a faith that sees the coming to pass of all those things requested. This faith is not a blind faith but a knowledge of things already coming to fruition. The source of power in this faith is prayer that is empowered by God's omnipotence and limited only by God's sovereignty. This is a faith pleasing to God. Belief in such prayer is indeed faith itself since it is knowledge of things hoped for. We are told to ask in the knowledge that all this has already come to pass. Since God's power and authority know no bounds so likewise our prayers of faith are limitless in their scope and accomplishment.

If we thought of ourselves as the source of this power we would be as mistaken as the colt that carried our Lord thinking the Hosannas were for him. I have been relieved to know that the responsibility for the granting of fruit from my prayers is not mine. I share with the apostle Paul the knowledge that the God and Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ has blessed us in the heavenly realm with all spiritual blessings. Indeed the passion of the Christ for faith and prayer shall be our passion.

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Discussion Questions

1. Is there a prayer without faith that is beneficial to the believer?
2. How does doubt hinder our prayers?
3. What does our Lord teach about the role of forgiveness in answering prayer?

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