Answered Prayer

In many passages in the bible we are given promises from God Himself that He not only listens to the prayers of His people, but that He loves to answer our prayers positively. These promises have for some become a source of concern. For many of us the reality of the prayer experience seems altogether something else. People who have been prayed for – left unhealed. Situations prayed for – get worse instead of better.
Prayers for the sins we struggle with seemingly left unanswered and the struggle continues. So what is going on when our experience of prayer seems so different from the promises found in the Word. What is happening when the Word of God seems to promise us so much yet in daily life we see so little? Is this the sort of prayer that was the experience of Jesus and the early Christians?

The answer to these questions is that God has established through His Word, Spiritual laws that govern our relationship with Him. These laws have been given to us that we might know how to claim His promises and live under His grace.
It is important to recognise that God Himself is not bound by these laws, but that they are Spiritual signposts to help His people find His blessing. To give evidence for these laws we only have to look at the issue of salvation. Scripture makes it clear that to receive Salvation we must first come to a place of Repentance and Personal faith in Jesus. Without these two realities being present, New Birth cannot take place. Forgiveness is another example of these divine laws at work. Jesus made it clear God loves to forgive His children, when we come to Him and acknowledge our sins to Him. However Jesus made it clear that if we hold grudges and unforgiveness against others then we ourselves will not be forgiven . Spiritual Laws also apply to the power of answered prayer.

In Matthew 7 v 7 we see Jesus Himself declaring a startling fact!! This fact is that God WILL answer your prayers. Three times Jesus declares that absolutely God WILL DO IT. He doesn’t say maybe, or perhaps, in some ways but not in others – He says it will, you will, it will happen!! If we believe the Word of God is true and if we believe the promises of Jesus are secure then we have to believe that the reality of answered prayer is God’s ordained way for all of us. The Lord is looking for a people who will believe in His promises and open their lives up to His goodness and love.

To move in the power of answered prayer we must be prepared to let go of the failings of the past and relearn the principles God has given us in His Word. The pathway to answered prayer is one that takes learning and experience. When a toddler is learning to walk, and he falls over, he does not say to himself, “ well I fell down that time, I ain't going to try that again!” He does not just sit there and say, “ No way I’m having another go at that –I will just fall right back down again!!” No we all know what happens, he gets back up again, with new hope and determination and tries again and again until he can outrun the best of us.

The same goes for us in the area of prayer. If we are to see the reality of answered prayer in our lives then we need to put the disappointments behind us, learn what scripture says and try again with a renewed sense of hope and confidence.

Jesus calls His people to persevere in prayer. The original words that Jesus used, highlight this to us:-

Ask and Keep on asking, seek and keep on seeking, knock and keep on knocking. These words call us to be a people of perseverance. They call us to be a people who seek after the things of God as one seeks after a valuable possession that has gone missing. We are called to knock on the door of God’s grace and mercy with the persistence of one who knows that God will answer us. God loves to bless His people and give us good gifts, but He is also a protective giver who will not give to His people anything that will harm us. So therefore God can be trusted to give to us exactly what we need.

7 SPIRITUAL RULES OF ANSWERED PRAYER

So what are these Spiritual rules that govern the development of answered prayer in our daily life?

Perseverance in Prayer –We have already looked at this.

A Humble Heart – When we come to God we should do so as one who is empty handed and in need. Words in Scripture call us to approach God as:- A servant would a King A Child would a Father, A beggar would a Person of substance. If we are going to receive in prayer then we need to leave our pride at the door – We need to approach God with a humble heart and a willingness to receive.

A life of Faith – Jesus many times linked the importance of real faith with the power of answered prayer. Jesus said, “ if you have faith as small as a mustard seed you can say to this mountain throw yourself into the sea and it will happen!” Faith is the key that unlocks God’s blessing. Scripture makes it clear without faith we cannot please God.

Confidence in God NOW – The Bible calls a man who seeks the things of God, or asks of God, but doubts in his heart, double-minded. Scripture says this results in instability of faith and the experience of unanswered prayer. God will not answer the prayers of those who do not believe or trust Him for what they ask for.

A nature that abides in Christ – In all things God is looking for a people who allow His word and Spirit to abide in the centre of their lives and behaviour. He is looking for people who desire to know His heart and who will be obedient to His will. We are promised that if we live a holy life and seek to be obedient to Christ then we can ask for what we want and we will be given it. Jesus said “If you abide in me and I in you ask for whatever you want and IT WILL be given to you”

Forgiveness for others – God loves us so much that he freely pours out His grace upon our lives. His expectation of us is that out of that position of being forgiven, accepted and loved, we will go and do the same to others. Unforgiveness towards others blocks up the channels of God’s grace in our lives and leaves us in a position of unanswered prayer.

Use of God given Authority – God has already given you the name of His Son and the promises of His Word. So already we should be able to apply this authority to sort out many of the issues that face us daily.

How to Respond

With all TRUTH that God gives us the question is how should we respond?
Scripture makes it clear that with any teaching we should test what is being said in light of the Word of God and if it is found to be true then we should obey it. In this case that means we need to prayerfully examine our life and lifestyle and see if we are meeting the Spiritual Laws that govern answered prayer. If we are then we need to persevere. If we are not then we need to sort those things out between ourselves and God.

Here are some Scripture references to test the Biblical root of the teachings found within this tract.

Monday:- Matthew Ch 7 v 7 – 11, 2 Chronicles Ch 7 v 14 – 15
Tuesday:- John Ch 15 v 7 – 8, Proverbs 16 v 2 – 7
Wednesday:- Mark Ch 11 v 22 – 26 James Ch 1 v 5 – 8
Thursday:- Romans Ch 8 v 26 – 28 1 Corinthians Ch 2 v 10 – 12
Friday:- Jeremiah Ch 29 v 11 – 14 1 Peter Ch 3 v 8 – 12
Saturday:- Ephesians Ch 1 v 16 – 23 Psalm 24 v 1 – 22

God loves to answer our prayers, Jesus promises that God WILL answer our prayers– So the question is, do our lives match the spiritual conditions that WILL make answered prayer a daily reality for all of us – For this is the promise of God!!