And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. 1 John 5:14, 15

This passage of scripture describes the terms of the working relationship that exists between Jesus Christ and His Church. The fact that there is such a relationship is stated in 2 Corinthians 6:1 where it says, We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. In this Holy alliance or partnership, our part is simply to ...have faith in God. (Mark 11:22).  It is further asserted in that same passage found in the Gospel according to Saint Mark, that, if we have faith, or confidence, in God, we could move mountains. By operating under the terms of our working relationship we are enabled and empowered to perform what is otherwise to us impossible. Having that level of faith would find us living with an unshakable expectation that when we pray, it is done.

The apostle Paul, writer of the majority of New Testament books, expresses what all who strive to achieve this ultimate level of faith often feel. His remarks betray that inner wrestling within the soul that all who would glorify God must overcome. He says in one place, that, "...to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not..." (Romans 7:18) This feeling is due in full measure to the fact that "...it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps..." (Jeremiah 10:23). Our faith then is not in men, it is not even to be placed in our own selves, "...the steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD...." (Psalms 37:23)

Confidence is defined as ‘the belief that one can have faith in or rely on someone or something’. In this case we are considering someone on whom we can rely, and that someone is God Himself. The saint of God is to be a reflection of the God he serves, living a life and conducting a ministry that causes all who see their good works to glorify God.

The solution to our human frailty is to obtain the confidence that Christ had. Listen to His prayer:

...And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. John11:41, 42

But how are we to exercise ourselves to the same level of spiritual power that Jesus demonstrated? The Bible invites us to "...come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we might obtain mercy, and find grace to help in the time of need." Hebrews 4:16 Such boldness only comes from being in agreement with two very important points.

1. We cannot ask anything of God with confidence, until there is a perfect union between you and God.

2. The foundation of faith is confidence in, and loyalty to God.

To be useful to God requires us to be in a right state of mind and heart at all times. Humility and obedience must be the outstanding characteristics of the people of God. This cannot be neglected at all, because you cannot schedule when God will manifest opportunities for us to minister to those in need of a blessing from the Lord. It is in living this kind of consecrated life, that when we are disposed to call upon Him, we can have the assurance that He is right there and that He will answer us speedily. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saves such as be of a contrite spirit. Psalms 34:18

When Jesus prayed, he was not moved by the circumstances He was praying about. He prayed only from a perspective of glorifying the Father. If we are not very careful, the sight of what we pray for will intimidate us and cause us to measure our words. Such measurement is a reflection of doubt, and so we pray with less than perfect faith. Jesus said that if we have faith as a grain of mustard seed...nothing shall be impossible unto us.

The opposite then, must also be true, that if we have doubt, no matter how small the measure it will render us powerless against, the sickness, and disease, and bondage, and demonic oppression that we encounter in the world around us. Our motivation in ministry must be to ...do always those things that please the Father. We must remember that ...without faith it is impossible to please Him... (Hebrews 11:6) therefore we must pray looking ... not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18) We are called upon by God to pray the prayer of faith over those whose lives the devil has ravaged with sin and sickness, that we might affect deliverance in their lives to the glory of our savior. We are to pray for the sick wherever they are found. We are to pray with boldness and with confidence. You can never pray “the prayer of faith” (James 5:15) if you look at the condition of the person who needs prayer. There is only one place to look, and that is to Jesus the eternal one. We must get our eyes off of conditions and symptoms, no matter how bad they may be, and look to Him who is "...the author and the finisher of our faith..." (Hebrews 12:2). Then, will we be able to pray “the prayer of faith”, and the nations of the earth will be blessed because of Him who has "...called us out of darkness, into His marvelous light... and then shall we truly ...be unto the praise of His Glory".  

"Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders (the spiritually mature) of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. James 5:14, 15

This is the confidence that we have in our great God and savior Jesus Christ. May His power and grace be manifest in all those who trust in Him.