Our Bible is filled with answered prayers from beginning to end. We are commanded to pray, and God has promised to answer:
JEREMIAH 33:3
3 Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
IN THE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURE, THERE ARE TWO REQUIREMENTS FOR ANSWERED PRAYER.
JOHN 15:7
7 If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Firstly, we are to abide in Him – that is – to continue in Him: remaining in His perfect will at all cost.
ROMANS 12:1-2
12 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Secondly, His Words are to abide in us, becoming a vital part of our lives. We are to be filled with – and guided by – His Words.
COLOSSIANS 3:16-17
16 Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.
IF YOU MEET THE TWO REQUIREMENTS – YOUR PRAYERS WILL BE ANSWERED
1. Sometimes – the answer is immediate. Peter walked on water to go to Jesus, and as he began to sink, he prayed, “Lord, save me.” The answer was immediate.
MATTHEW 14:22-31
22 And straightway Jesus constrained His disciples to get into a ship, and to go before Him unto the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.
23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, He was there alone.
24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
28 And Peter answered Him and said, Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water.
29 And He said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
2. Sometimes – the answer is delayed. ANY delay is according to His perfect will.
ROMANS 8:28
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.
A good example of delayed answer to prayer is the resurrection of Lazarus. Mary and Martha sent for Jesus because Lazarus was sick – and Jesus delayed His visit until Lazarus was dead and in the tomb for four days. Then He raised him from the dead. The answer was delayed – not denied.
3. Sometimes – the answer is no. When God answers with a “no,” He always accompanies that “no” answer with peace and grace – if you will receive it!
PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
2 CORINTHIANS 12:7-10
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
4. Sometimes – the answer is different than what we expected! Pray for patience – and God sends you tribulation.
ROMANS 5:3
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience. . .
God answers all of our prayers – not according to our wishes – but according to His perfect will.
This concludes The Study of Prayer. Coming up next – A thorough study of faith.
The Vine Vigil 