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Answered Prayer |
Dear Brethren,
The disciples, in the beginning stage of
their Christian development, had asked Jesus to teach them how
to pray. Jesus’ purpose in responding as He did was to give
them the essential guidelines necessary to build the framework
in which their prayers would be developed (Matthew 6:9-13).
This education process enabled the disciples to understand the
Father’s priorities over their own wants. Each phrase that
Jesus gave them painted a portion of the mosaic that makes up
the complete picture of fellowship with the Father.
If the outline Christ had just taught them had been meant to be
a complete prayer in itself, it would have contained elements of
“thanks,” “praise,” “healing,” “asking in Christ’s name,” and
many other important components. It does not contain these
elements because it was not meant as a prayer to be memorized
and recited. Its purpose is to help Christians know the Father
and His plan so that we can conform our lives accordingly.
Later, Christ also taught His apostles to pray “In His Name.”
We do not pray by our own authority or to establish our own
agendas. We are subject to Christ’s authority, so we must ask
by His permission and approval. We have the scriptural examples
to show us that our prayers must be sanctioned by Christ’s
authority. Jesus said, “Whatever you ask in My name, that I
will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
(John 14:13) “…whatever you ask the Father in My name He
may give you.” (John 15:16)
Have you ever cried out to God in
prayer, “Oh God, help me?” Oh God, heal my child?” How many
times have our prayers been answered? Answered Prayer is a
proof of God. “If my people, who are called by my name,
shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn
from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will
forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2Chronicles
7:14) “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall
find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that
asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks
it shall be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)
As Christians, our purpose in life is
the same as Christ’s purpose was when He came to this earth –
the establishment of the Kingdom of God. Today, Jesus is
working through us! With this wisdom, we are able to have the
faith that our prayers will be answered when we obey God and ask
according to His Will. When these two requirements are met, the
Father answers prayer. “This is the love of God, that we
keep His commandments… Now this is the confidence that we have
in Him, that if we ask anything according to
His Will, He hears [answers] us.” (1 John 5:3,14)
“Anything!” That means answered prayer! When we are obedient
and ask “according to His Will,” God actually responds in a
positive way to fulfill those requests that are compatible with
His overall plan. God answers the prayers of those whose lives
comply with His perfect way. 'Righteous' means commandment
keeping. James 5:16 attests to the benefits of petitioning God
in this manner. “The effective, fervent prayer of a
righteous person avails much.”
Our Father seeks those who will worship Him in spirit and
in truth (John 4:23-24). What an incredible thing it is that
God would even care what frail man thinks! David expressed this
thought so poetically in Psalms 8:4, “What is man, that
thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest
him?”
When we grasp our insignificance in relation to the
Almighty God, we cannot help but come before Him with a
thankful, humble and contrite spirit – not only toward God, but
toward our fellow man as well. Jesus revealed that He would
back us up in our requests to His Father when He said, “ask the
Father in My name.” God is aware of every prayer, right or
wrong, that has ever been said. He hears, that is, He answers,
He responds, when our prayers are in accordance with His Will.
We cannot know all the intricacies of
the working of God’s Will. So often we do not know what to ask
or how to pray. In the flesh, we are too weak to put into words
the spiritual requirements of our lives. Our responsibilities
often overwhelm us. Thankfully, our heavenly Father knows our
hearts better than we know them ourselves. He also knows our
needs better than we can describe them. He willingly makes up
for the shortfalls of our prayers when we come humbly before Him
in a thankful and contrite attitude of prayer.
“The Spirit helps where we come short: for we do not
fully understand what we should pray for as we should, but the
Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which
cannot be expressed sufficiently by us. And He that searcheth
the hearts knows what is the intent of the Spirit, because it
maketh intercession for the saints according to the Will of
God.” (Romans 8:26-27)
After our baptism and having received God’s Holy Spirit, we are
able to go daily to the throne of the Father and converse with
Him. Daily in prayer, we are able to evaluate our lives to
conform to the perfect Will of God. In that way we grow in
grace and knowledge. "Let us therefore come boldly unto the
throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to
help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)
***
Sermon:
"Answered Prayer" 
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