Text: 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4
“Ours is the hour for men of faith. In the Old Testament the three Hebrew children had a defiant faith. They cried, ‘Our God…is able to deliver us for the burning fiery furnace.’ Of God’s ability they had no doubt, though of His plan they were not quite sure. As a matter of fact God did not choose to deliver them from the furnace but in it.” Their faith, however, had gone beyond getting into the fire. They said, ‘Our God…is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, but if not, be it know unto thee, O king, that we will not…serve they gods nor worship the golden image.’ Their faith believed when it could not see.” (Ravenhill, 1962, p. 27)
Uniting the text with Ravenhill’s quote are words from Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians (1:3 ESV), “remembering before our God and Father your work of faith (emphasis mine) and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” For the apostle that ‘work of faith’ produces both a love in the heart of the believer and patience in persecution; Ravenhill’s illustration of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego emphasizes “faith’s work.” Yet, in Revival Praying he adds that prayer is faith operating. “Often we hear the prayer, ‘Lord, Thou art able to do this.’ That prayer is very good and may build up the confidence in the pray-er. But—and this is important—to say ‘God is able’ is not faith’” (page 28).
The faith point Ravenhill makes is to not limit God to being able to move in response to one’s request; rather, we must pray in faith that God will respond to our petition. In the raising of Lazarus, Mary and Martha both knew the Lord was able to ‘heal’ their brother—one before he died (Mary, cf. John 11:32) and one on the day of resurrection (Martha, cf. John 11:24), but neither had the faith that Jesus would do it now.
PRAYER FOCUS
As you pray for revival today, exercise your faith above God being able to move on the hearts of men, but know that He will. Pray Matthew 18:14, “So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish” and “…Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” (Mark 11:22-24 KJV).
