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Excellent sermon on the principles and conditions of answered prayer by Dr. Curt D. Daniel.
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14 CONDITIONS OF ANSWERED PRAYER by the editor of www.georgemuller.org The following are conditions of answered prayer that I have found through out the Bible: 1. HAVE THE GLORY OF GOD IN MIND Ask yourself: “Is what I am praying for going to bring glory to God?” If it will not bring glory to God, God will not answer. “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:13). “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31). 2. GO TO GOD IN PRAYER THROUGH JESUS God will not accept you unless you go to Him through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus" (1 Tim. 2:5). 3. ASK IN JESUS NAME Ask in the name and authority of His Son, the Lord Jesus, who alone is worthy. “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it" (John 14:13-14). 4. ASK ACCORDING TO HIS WILL Ask according and in submission to perfect His will by saying “Not my will, by thy will be done” (Luke 22:42). “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10). “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him" (1 John 5:14-15). 5. OBEDIENCE If you live a life of disobedience and rebellion, God will not answer. “And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight" (1 John 3:22). 6. ABIDE IN CHRIST If you abide in Christ, you will surely have the “mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:16) and ask things pleasing to God. “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you" (John 15:7). 7. BELIEVE We must believe that God is able to do what we ask Him. God does not like unbelief. “So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them” (Mark 11:22-24). “Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes" (Mark 9:23). “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways" (James 1:6-8). “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (Heb.11:6). 8. DON’T ASK AMISS (IN THE WRONG WAY & WITH WRONG MOTIVE) If we ask for something that is not for our spiritual good and for the glory of God, God will not answer. “You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures” (James 4:2-3). 9. DON’T HARBOR SIN If we have unconfessed sin, God will not hear. "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me" (Psalm 66:18). "Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear" (Isaiah 59:1-2). "When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood" (Isaiah 1:15). 10. FORGIVE OTHERS Make sure you are not harboring unforgiveness towards someone before coming to God in prayer. "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses" (Mark 11:25-26). 11. ABIDE IN THE WORD OF GOD If you abide in the Word of God, you will surely ask things that are in the will of God. “One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination" (Prov. 28:9). “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you" (John 15:7). 12. BE PERSISTANT Persevere and be persistent in your prayers! "And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs. “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened" (Luke 11:5-10). "Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ” Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”" (Luke 18:1-8). "Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour" (Matt.15:21-28). 13. DELIGHT IN GOD Delight in Him! Let Him be your chief delight and the joy of your heart. “Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4). 14. WAIT ON GOD Wait on God! His timing is best! "For since the beginning of the world Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, Nor has the eye seen any God besides You, Who acts for the one who waits for Him" (Isaiah 64:4). "Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!" (Psalm 27:14). "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass" (Psalm 37:7). 
7 PRINCIPLES OF PRAYER by the Editor of www.georgemuller.org 1. CONFESS “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy” (Prov. 28:13). 2. THANK “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6). 3. SUPPLICATE “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” (Eph. 6:18). 4. PERSEVERE “…Being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” (Eph. 6:18). 5. PERSIST “I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs” (Luke 11:8). 6. WAIT “For since the beginning of the world Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, Nor has the eye seen any God besides You, Who acts for the one who waits for Him” (Isaiah 64:4). 7. SUBMIT “…Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10). This is a good article on prayer by Charles Spurgeon. It is taken from Spurgeon's Morning & Evening Devotional: "Therefore will the Lord wait that he may be gracious unto you" (Isaiah 30:18). God often DELAYS IN ANSWERING PRAYER. We have several instances of this in sacred Scripture. Jacob did not get the blessing from the angel until near the dawn of day-he had to wrestle all night for it. The poor woman of Syrophenicia was answered not a word for a long while. Paul besought the Lord thrice that "the thorn in the flesh" might be taken from him, and he received no assurance that it should be taken away, but instead thereof a promise that God's grace should be sufficient for him. If thou hast been knocking at the gate of mercy, and hast received no answer, shall I tell thee why the mighty Maker hath not opened the door and let thee in? Our Father has reasons peculiar to himself for thus keeping us waiting. Sometimes it is to show his power and his sovereignty, that men may know that Jehovah has a right to give or to withhold. More frequently the delay is for our profit. Thou art perhaps kept waiting in order that thy desires may be more fervent. God knows that delay will quicken and increase desire, and that if he keeps thee waiting thou wilt see thy necessity more clearly, and wilt seek more earnestly; and that thou wilt prize the mercy all the more for its long tarrying. There may also be something wrong in thee which has need to be removed, before the joy of the Lord is given. Perhaps thy views of the Gospel plan are confused, or thou mayest be placing some little reliance on thyself, instead of trusting simply and entirely to the Lord Jesus. Or, God makes thee tarry awhile that he may the more fully display the riches of his grace to thee at last. Thy prayers are all filed in heaven, and if not immediately answered they are certainly not forgotten, but in a little while shall be fulfilled to thy delight and satisfaction. Let not despair make thee silent, but continue instant in earnest supplication. "...The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months" (James 5:16-17). Prayer avails much! You are not wasting your time when you pray for God is an awesome God and a prayer-answering God! Much can be accomplished through prayer! Sometimes the only thing and the only recourse is to pray when everything fails! Think of Elijah of how God changed the course of nature and put aside the laws of nature for a temporal time because of prayer! Do you think Elijah is an exception? Consider George Muller, the great man of faith: for him answered prayer was the rule rather than the exception. God did great things through George Muller, even changing the course of nature and setting aside the laws of nature because he prayed. It was said in his autobiography that one time God changed the weather to his favor. Towards the end of November, 1857, it was discovered that there was a major leak in the heater boiler and repairs was crucial for the warmth and comfort of the orphan children. Muller tried all recourses to no avail. But then he turned to the Lord in his time of distress. The repairs to be done would last for many days leaving the children in utter discomfort in the winter. A day or so before the repairs were to be done; a cold north wind blew unmercifully. The repairs had to begin but how can all the children keep warm for days? George Muller turned to the Lord for the answer. He prayed by faith and said: "Lord, these are Thy orphans: be pleased to change this north wind into a south wind, and give the workmen a mind to work that the job may be speedily done." The Lord took heed of George Muller’s cry and changed the north wind into a warm south wind so that no fire was needed to keep the children warm. Also He gave the workers “a mind to work” so that the repairs were done in no time. So take the example of George Muller to heart and always pray and do not lose heart (Luke 18:10) for prayer “avails much.” Do you think that George Muller is also an exception? No, even George Muller acknowledged that his faith was no different from your faith and my faith but it was a little more developed because of the severe trails God brought his way to cause him to trust in Him alone for the answer and the provision. Here is an excerpt from George Muller’s autobiography of this incident: Towards the end of November, 1857, it was found that a serious leak in the boiler of the heating apparatus of house No. 1 would make repairs at once necessary, and as the boilers were encased in bricks and a new boiler might be required, such repairs must consume time. Meanwhile how could three hundred children, some of them very young and tender, be kept warm? Even if gas-stoves could be temporarily set up, chimneys would be needful to carry off the impure air; and no way of heating was available during repairs, even if a hundred pounds were expended to prevent risk of cold. Again Mr. Muller turned to the Living God, and, trusting in Him, decided to have the repairs begun. A day or so before the fires had to be put out, a bleak north wind set in. The work could no longer be delayed; yet weather, prematurely cold for the season, threatened these hundreds of children with hurtful exposure. The Lord was boldly appealed to. "Lord, these are Thy orphans: be pleased to change this north wind into a south wind, and give the workmen a mind to work that the job may be speedily done." The evening before the repairs actually began, the cold blast was still blowing; but on that day a south wind blew, and the weather was so mild that no fire was needful! Not only so, but, as Mr. Muller went into the cellar with the overseer of the work, to see whether the repairs could in no way be expedited, he heard him say, in the hearing of the men, "They will work late this evening, and come very early again to-morrow." "We would rather, sir," was the reply, "work all night." And so, within about thirty hours, the fire was again burning to heat the water in the boiler; and, until the apparatus was again in order, that merciful soft south wind had continued to blow. Goodness and mercy were following the Lord's humble servant, made the more conspicuous by the crises of special trial and trouble. Written by the editor of www.georgemuller.org Christ is our greatest example in prayer. He knew the importance of prayer. Even though He was God in the flesh yet You find Him always in touch with His Heavenly Father. Christ “prayed without ceasing.” He was always in touch with God. Now if prayer is important to Christ; how much more to us? Christ is our example in prayer in seven ways: 1. CHRIST STARTED THE DAY IN PRAYER Christ started the day in prayer. He knew how important it is to start the day in prayer. If it was important to Him; how much more to us? "Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed" (Mark 1:35). 2. CHRIST KNEW THE IMPORTANCE OF SPENDING TIME WITH GOD ALONE Christ would get away often from the crowd and pray. He had to be alone with God. He knew the importance of spending time with God alone and to get away from all the busyness of life. Like the hymn says: “Take time to be holy, the world rushes on; spend much time in secret with Jesus alone.” "And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there" (Matt. 14:23). 3. CHRIST KNEW THE IMPORTANCE OF PRAYING WITH OTHERS ALSO Christ knew the importance of praying with others and not only alone. That shows how important the prayer meeting is for sometimes our burdens are too difficult to bear by ourselves and we need others to pray with us. "Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray" (Luke 9:28). "And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”" (Matt. 26:37-38). 4. CHRIST WAS PERSISTENT IN PRAYER You would find Him in the garden before His betrayal, going to God over and over in His agony. That is how we ought to be. We ought to be persistent in prayer. "Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words" (Matt. 26:36-44). 5. CHRIST PERSEVERED IN PRAYER Christ preserved in prayer. He would often continue in prayer all night. Like the scripture says: “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving” (Col. 4:2). "Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God" (Luke 6:12). 6. CHRIST HAD FAITH WHEN HE PRAYED Christ had faith that His Father would hear Him and that He would answer. Faith is very important to God “For without Faith it is impossible to please Him” (Heb. 11:6). "Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me”" (John 11:41-42). 7. CHRIST PRAYED ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD Christ made known His requests to God but then surrendered and submitted to the perfect will of God. This is how we should pray for scripture says: “If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14). "And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will”" (Mark 14:36). Written by the editor of www.georgemuller.org Below are three of God’s attributes that are of great comfort to us when we are distressed and grieved by various trials (1 Peter 1:6). Remember to bring them to mind whenever you are going through severe difficulties.
1. God is Omnipotent God is omnipotent. He is all-powerful. He is the Lord God Almighty (Rev. 4:8). Nothing is too hard for Him! Three times in the scriptures, God brings the question before us: “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” God made the heaven and the earth and is there anything too hard for Him? He spoke and brought the world into existence! God is bigger than our trials and He is the Sovereign God of the universe. He has everything under His control. God can just speak and change our circumstances. Remember what Oswald Chambers said: "We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties." "And the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son”" (Gen. 18:13-14). "‘Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You" (Jer. 32:17). "“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?" (Jer. 32:27). 2. God is Omniscient God is omniscient. He is the all-knowing God. He has absolute perfect knowledge. You might think that no one understands what you are going through but there is someone who understands and knows – and that person is the Lord Jesus who is “God manifested in the flesh” (1 Tim. 3:16). Like the old hymn says: “No one understands like Jesus, He’s a friend beyond compare; Meet him at the throne of mercy, He is waiting for you there.” The bible says that “we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:15-16). "O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether" (Psalm 139:1-4). "I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy, For You have considered my trouble; You have known my soul in adversities" (Psalm 31:7). 3. God is Omnipresent God is omnipresent. He is present everywhere. You might think God is up in Heaven and He doesn’t see or care about what is going on in your life. Well you are wrong! God sees and cares. The bible says: “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit [give attention to or care for] him?” (Psalm 8:3-4). The bible says that His eye is on the sparrow and surely He watches you and me (Matt. 10:29-31; Luke 12:6-7). He was “The-God-Who-Sees” to Hagar when she in distress in the wilderness (Gen. 16:13) and He was “The-God-Who-Remembers” to Hannah when He saw and remembered her affliction and opened her womb (1 Sam. 1). "Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” Even the night shall be light about me; Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You. For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You" (Psalm 139:7-18). Written by the editor of www.georgemuller.org What is prayer? It is simply talking to God. C.A.R.M. (Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry) defines prayer on their web site as “a privilege and an obligation of the Christian where we communicate with God. It is how we convey our confession (1 John 1:9), requests (1 Tim. 2:1-3), intercessions (James 5:15), thanksgiving (Phil. 4:6), etc., to our holy God.”
The Bible has a lot to say about prayer both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. One of the earliest references to prayer in the Old Testament is found in the Book of Genesis. In Genesis 4:26 we read, “And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the LORD.” My favorite book in the Old Testament that talks about prayer is the Book of Psalms. The Psalms is the “hymnbook” and the “prayer book” of God’s people. The Psalms was mostly written by David, “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Sam. 13:14). The Psalms contain many prayers of David when he is in all kinds of circumstances like depression, discouragement, joy, and hope. In Psalm 55:16-17 David says, “As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me. Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice.” Daniel was a man of prayer. It says in Daniel 6:10, “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.” Our Lord Jesus, taught us to how to pray in the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. The first principle we learn is to address God as “Our Father.” This is a privilege of which only Christian’s can enjoy. When a person becomes a Christian, he becomes a child of God. Galatians 4:6 says, “And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’” The Lord’s Prayer contains the basic elements of what our prayers ought to be. It ought to consist of adoration (“Hallowed be Your name” – Matt. 6:9); confession (“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” – Matt. 6:12); and supplication (“Give us this day our daily bread” – Matt. 6:11). The Epistles have a lot to say about prayer. Paul says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7). Peter says in 1 Peter 4:7, “But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.” James says, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16). Written by the editor of www.georgemuller.org "Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.” And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road" (Mark 10:46-52).
1. Be Persistent Blind Bartimaeus was persistent in his prayers. He did not give up after his first cry of mercy to the Lord Jesus. Though he was not heard the first time, yet he was persistent in his cry until the Lord heard him and answered his prayers. Jesus said: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Matt. 7:7-8). God wants us to keep asking; to keep seeking; and to keep knocking. The Lord Jesus said that the man who came to his friend at midnight (Luke 11:5-8) was heard because of “his persistence” (Luke 11:8). 2. Be Persevering Blind Bartimaeus persevered in his prayers despite many obstacles around him. He overcame all discouragements of people around him that tried to hinder him from crying out to the Lord Jesus for healing. The bible says that we are to pray “always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication” (Eph. 6:18) and that we ought to “continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving” (Col. 4:2). 3. Be Specific Blind Bartimaeus was specific in his prayers. He told the Lord Jesus what he desired. The Lord Jesus asked him “What do you want Me to do for you?” (Mark 10:51) and Blind Bartimaeus answered “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight ” (Mark 10:51). We need to be specific in our prayers. Though God knows everything we need before we ask (Matt. 6:8) yet God wants his children to come with specific needs crying out “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matt. 6:11). 4. Be Believing Blind Bartimaeus had faith that the Lord Jesus was able to heal him. If he did not have faith, he would not have bothered to cry out to the Lord Jesus. Jesus told Blind Bartimaeus, before healing him, that “your faith has made you well” (Mark 10:52). Even so we need to have faith in the prayer-answering and prayer-hearing God. Jesus said “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them” (Mark 11:24). God does not like unbelief in His people and often does not work when there is unbelief in His people (Matt. 13:58; James 1:5-8). The bible says that “without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6). 5. Be Thankful Blind Bartimaeus was thankful after he received his healing from the Lord Jesus. He did not forget His benefits. He was not like those nine lepers who turned away and quickly forgot what the Lord Jesus did to them (Luke 17:11-19). We read in the second account of the story of Blind Bartimaeus in Luke 18:43 that after he received his sight, Bartimaeus followed the Lord Jesus “glorifying God and all the people when they saw it, gave praise to God” (Luke 18:43). Even so we ought to be thankful. The bible says when we come to God in prayer we are to bring our thanksgiving also. We read in Philippians 4:6-7: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7). Written by the editor of www.georgemuller.org Pour Out Your Heart Before Him
"In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us." (Psalm 62:7-8) THE Psalmist said in Psalm 62:8: “Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.” God is the only Person we can fully pour our heart to. There are some things that we hide from family members and even close friends. We are ashamed to reveal everything to them. We try to make a good appearance before them. But God is the only Person that we can truly open our heart to. He knows everything and there is no reason to hide anything from Him. He is all-knowing and omnipresent. God is the only Person who will not judge us if we open our hearts to Him. Friends might judge us and slander us but God will not. There are two great examples of people in the bible who poured out their hearts to God. My favorite one is Hannah. The story can be found in 1 Samuel chapter 1 and 2. Hannah was barren and could not conceive. The Lord had closed her womb. Peninnah, the other wife of Elkanah, her husband, had children but Hannah was barren. Peninnah, her rival, provoked Hannah to misery day by day because the Lord had closed her womb. Hannah went to the right source. She did not fight with Peninnah but committed herself to the Lord. She went to the Lord “in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish” (1 Samuel 1:10). She told the Lord to remember her and to look on her affliction. It says in 1 Samuel 1:15 that she “poured out her soul before the LORD.” The Lord was gracious and remembered Hannah and gave her a son which she called “Samuel” which means literally “Heard by God.” Hannah was so joyful that she gave her son back to the Lord and consecrated him to the Lord. The Lord was more gracious and blessed Hannah with three other sons and two daughters. The second great example of someone who poured out his heart to God is David. The Book of Psalms is filled with David’s prayers as he was in anguish of heart and soul. David learned at a young age to go to the Lord in times of distress for no one else could give him comfort and no one else could relieve him from his distresses. David says in Psalm 4:1: “Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.” In Psalm 142:1, David says: “I cry out to the LORD with my voice; with my voice to the LORD I make my supplication. I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble.” So learn the example of Hannah and David who went to the Lord in their times of distress. Take their example to heart. David was the psalmist who said: “In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us” (Psalm 62:7-8). David knew that the Lord was his only refuge and his only strength and therefore he can say to you and me to “pour out your heart before Him” for He alone is our refuge and strength. So remember to go to God in your times of distress for He is willing and more than willing to receive you and answer your prayer. 1. CONFESS “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy” (Prov. 28:13). 2. THANK “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6). 3. SUPPLICATE “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” (Eph. 6:18). 4. PERSEVERE “…Being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” (Eph. 6:18). 5. PERSIST “I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs” (Luke 11:8). 6. WAIT “For since the beginning of the world Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, Nor has the eye seen any God besides You, Who acts for the one who waits for Him” (Isaiah 64:4). 7. SUBMIT “…Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10). Written by the editor of www.georgemuller.org |
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"The vigor of our spiritual life will be in exact proportion to the place held by the Bible in our life and thoughts."
- George Muller
- George Muller