The Taking of Faith

Mar 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

The words in bold, "you receive them" is translated from the word, Lambano, in Greek. The simplest meaning of Lambano is "to take". Indeed several Greek scholars overwhelmingly translate the word as "to take", especially Thayer. There is a passive element to the word - as in "to passively receive", but taking into account the meaning that Greek scholars themselves give, the evidence leans towards translating the active, not passive meaning of 'taking' about 70% of the time. 

In other words, when you pray for whatever you need, desire or require, take and grasp these things by faith in God, and you will posses the reality and manifestation of these things.

Taking what God has promised and given

The implications are clear - God has promised what He has promised - healing, holiness, His Holy Spirit, Salvation, wholeness, wisdom, guidance and direction. We have to ask, pray and believe, taking from God's finished work and treasuries of heaven the things He Himself wants to give us.

"So don't be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom." Luke 12:32, NLT

Everything that Glorifies Christ as King over your life, God is willing to give, actually in the finished work of Christ, in the spirit realm, these things are already given. We are already blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. We need to start taking the things which are promised over our lives.

Active Taking

Lambano is used 261 times in the new testament. The word has very common everyday uses in the case of objects, Jesus 'takes' His robe (puts it on), Pilate 'takes' water to wash his hands, the woman 'takes' yeast and hides it in the flour, the servants of the king are 'taken' to be killed, Jesus 'takes' the vinegar when offered at the cross.

With regards to spiritual matters, John the Apostle says those who have "received" Jesus, (taken Jesus as their savior) God gave the right and authority to become Sons of God. John also says from Jesus, who is full of grace and truth and glory, we receive, or 'take,' Lambano His overflowing measure of grace upon our lives. Paul says take up the whole Armour of God, the word there is "analambano" which is to take it to yourself. It implies take this up and make this your very own.

With Reference to what Apostle John says about "taking" Jesus as Saviour: How are we saved? Passively? I made a decision to "take" Jesus into my life as Saviour and God, as I am sure that you have. If  that is how we are saved, why should we think that things are any different in spiritual matters after we are saved?  Sometimes the Spirit of God comes nearer to spoon-feed you. Young babies have to be spoon fed, but even then they exert effort to eat and drink. Grown men (spiritually speaking) should have the power to take the things of God to themselves to feed themselves with the word of righteousness. Incidentally, "Lambano" is used to describe "eating" the word of God too, and repeated several times in the bible.

Spiritual Assertiveness 

"The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing their way into it." Luke 16:16

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Phil 3:14 

The things of the kingdom of God do not fall as ripe fruit off a tree. Ask Hannah, who asked God for Samuel, ask the Samiritan Syro-Phoenician woman who begged Jesus to heal her demonized daughter three times, despite being called a puppy or a dog. Take the promise of God and hold fast with faith. God is willing to heal. We need to persist in the taking.

Pressing in and Taking Hold

Paul says in Philippians: "Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus." Phillippians 3:12 NASB

On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, "Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.'" John 7:37-8 NLT

In the above verse, Jesus doesn't say, "ask me to give and I will give it to you" but come to me, believe in me and drink, take it.

Do you remember the woman with the issue of blood? She made a demand on Jesus without Jesus even being aware, without Jesus saying "I want to give to you". She received her full healing simply by saying to herself continually, "If I may but touch the hem of His garment I will be healed." She believed He was the messiah, the anointed one, the healer, the Saviour. She took of the overflowing power on Christ's person for herself. Jesus was shocked. He felt power flow from Him but did not know how or who or why. How did He react? He was pleased! "Daughter, your faith has made you well" - Daughter! She gained a God given identity from Jesus through the taking of faith!

Clearly, He is no respecter of persons. These principles are universal. He asks all to come to Him to eat, to drink without money, without price, for all and everyone to be saved! Wisdom (proverbs 9) invites everyone to her banquet. Jesus also invites the world to the wedding banquet of the Lamb. Clearly God likes us to take from His abundance. Where will you go? Make yourself cisterns that are broken, or come to the source of living waters - Jesus Christ? Where will you satisfy the hunger in your life?

Lambano with regards to the Holy Spirit

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:13

God is willing to give us the Holy Spirit in power, Christ has been crucified, to take away our sin and His righteousness has been credited to our account. Jesus own righteousness, which we are exhorted in Romans 5 to 'Lambano' to take the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness so as to reign in life. The Holy Spirit has been promised to the believer to empower our lives, now we need to take it receive it in our hearts, according to the promises given.

The teaching ties with what Jesus says in Mark 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. The taking of faith always comes before possession.

The following words in bold are 'Lambano' in Greek.

Acts 1:8 KV
8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Acts 8:15,17 NKJ
15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.
17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Acts 19:2 NKJ
2 he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said to him, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit."

Galatians 3:2 NKJ
2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Hebrews 4:16 
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

The core to taking is desire - if you don't want it, you won't seek it and neither will you take it.