In Matthew 21:19-21 we find an example of Jesus getting instant results with His faith.
And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. – Matthew 21:19-21
We should all have the attitude that we are going to receive instant results. Jesus actually spoke to the fig tree; He spoke to the situation. We sometimes develop the attitude that receiving from God has to be a long, drawn out process. We think we have to confess the Word thousands of times and wait weeks, months, and years. This is not so. The reason why we spend so much time confessing the Word is because we aren’t developed in our faith to begin with. The times we say we are “waiting on God” and “standing in faith,” we’re actually developing ourselves, our faith, so we can pray in faith and receive. The disciples were amazed at the quick results that Jesus obtained. Jesus spoke and that fig tree died. They saw the manifestation, the withered tree and marveled at how soon it happened.
We can do this if we develop instant faith. We have enough faith to pray, but not enough to receive what we are praying for. The key is to spend our time developing ourselves before we pray. Read the word over and over until the logos Word becomes rhema Word in your spirit. Have the faith in your heart, not just in your head. The purpose of confession is to convince yourself that God will work for you. Jesus is talking to us. He is saying, “For verily, insert your name, I say into you….(Mark 11:23).” We need to learn to believe God and recognize that He is our source. Jesus spoke to the tree and said that we could too. Our prayers don’t have to be long and drawn out – they just have to be in faith.
It does take time for some things to develop or mature, but if we have instant faith that all things we ask in prayer, believing, we will receive in an instant fashion. You might ask, “what do I have to do to get this instant faith?” Read God’s Word and put it inside you. In Mark’s Gospel, we find the 11th chapter telling the same story and Jesus states that the faith of God is that which is believed in the heart and spoken with the mouth. What you say and believe, without doubting, you will have. If you don’t presently believe something, continue to speak it over and over; it will eventually register in your heart as the truth. Pay attention to what you say; faith comes by hearing.
We can develop negative faith or faith in the problem. Remember, you cannot lie when you are speaking God’s Word. Every man and circumstance is a liar when it is contrary to God’s Word. The Word of God will work for you eventually. How fast? As fast as it takes you to believe it. Rebuke the devil and resist wrong thoughts by thinking on the Word, speaking the Word, and believing the Word. God will send a bird with a solution if He has to. God sent ravens to take food to Elijah. God sent a fish with a coin in its mouth to Peter to meet his financial obligations. Short-circuit the devil by speaking God’s Word. We don’t pray BIG enough anymore. We don’t believe BIG enough. We should get to the place where our faith is developed so we can believe God for other’s needs. I lay down my wants, desires, and life to pray for others and it is the greatest blessing I know. God is a BIG God and we have preached him as a puny one for too long. He opens the blind eyes, and deaf ears, and causes the dumb to speak, the lame to walk and the dead to rise. We have a BIG GOD!
The bigger we pray, the more we honor God. We acknowledge that He is our source and is bigger than our problems. It delights God when we bring Him our problems, tests, and trials. Stop dwelling on the problem. God will supernaturally help you if you will turn around by faith. The book of James tells us that the effectual, fervent prayers of a righteous man availeth much. You are an overcomer when you walk in light of the Word. Some people say that Peter walked on the water, but he did not. He walked on the faith he had in Jesus’ Word. The Word held both Jesus and Peter up. If there had been no water beneath them, they would’ve walked on air. God upholds His Word and those who walk on it. Convince yourself that God’s Word is true. Believe God, glorify God, magnify God, and trust God. He is here for you!
