Re: [FamilyofGod] Prayers and Answers
SHELLEY
Moderator
Awake4HisReturn@yahoogroups.com
CO-OWNER
The_Glitter_Room@yahoogroups.com
OWNER
JESUS IS MY TOWER OF REFUGE & STREANGTH
Let every breathe, all that i am, never cease to worship you.....
Thank you 4 my healings!!
From: Michael J. Knight <michaelnight82@yahoo.in>
To: FamilyofGod@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thu, November 18, 2010 4:27:55 AM
Subject: [FamilyofGod] Prayers and Answers
Prayers and Answers
Every day we go to the Lord in prayer for various things and we know that our Lord has commanded us to be in communion with Him all the time in prayer. But, is our prayer in line with the will of God and are we pondering on the answers God give to our prayers? Bible says, "Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven and you on earth; therefore let your words be few." (Ecclesiastes 5:2). Our Lord Jesus Christ says, "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words." (Matthew 6:7). So we need to take note of our prayer requests and see to that it is pleasing to our Lord God.
By the grace of God, let us meditate on the word of God and see how the Lord answered some of the prayers and learn from them to pray according to the will of God.
In Luke 18:9-14, our Lord Jesus Christ says about the prayers of two persons. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men--extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' (Luke 18:11-13)
And the Lord says, "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 18:11-14). God answered the humble prayer of the tax collector pleading for mercy; but did not answer the prayer of Pharisee who trusted in himself, his righteousness and despised the tax collector. We are made righteous only by the blood of Jesus Christ and we should always be humble in our prayers. Also we should never esteem ourselves than others in our heart and despise others.
In Luke 9:51-56, we read that on the way to Jerusalem, our Lord Jesus Christ entered a village of the Samaritans; but they did not receive Him. Bible says, "And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?" (Luke 9:54).
The Lord didn't answer the request of James and John, but in fact rebuked them. (But He turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them." And they went to another village." Luke 9:55,56). They made the request without understanding the love of Christ and the purpose of His coming to earth in the form of a man. Our prayers should always be with the same compassion of our Lord Jesus Christ for the lost; and we should always remember that our Lord Jesus Christ came to this world to give us life and not to destroy.
In Luke 8: 26-40, we read about Jesus Christ delivering a man who was possessed with "Legion". The man who got delivered made a request to the Lord "to be with Him." (Now the man from whom the demons had departed begged Him that he might be with Him. Luke 8:38)
But Jesus sent him away, saying, "Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you." And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him. (Luke 8:39). We see here, the man requested his desire; but the Lord Jesus Christ had different plans for him and answered him to do His will. And Bible says, "So it was, when Jesus returned, that the multitude welcomed Him, for they were all waiting for Him." (Luke 8:40). Our Lord has the best plan for our lives, so let us pray for the Lord's desire to be fulfilled in our lives and not our desires. We may have desire to serve the Lord in a way, but what is needed from us is to do His will in His way. And as we fulfill His desires, it will pave way for Him and bring glory to His name.
In Luke 17:1-6, our Lord Jesus Christ was teaching His disciples about offenses and forgiveness. The Lord said, "Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him." (Luke 17:3-4). After Lord Jesus Christ commanded them to forgive, the apostles made a request to increase their faith. (And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." Luke 17:5).
But the Lord didn't give a reply for their request, but gave a different answer. So the Lord said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. (Luke 17:6). By faith we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and here we see our Lord saying "that faith is sufficient to move the mountains of unforgiveness." We don't have to ask for mountains of faith; but His grace and our trust in Lord Jesus Christ is enough to move mountains of unforgiveness and forgive others.
In Luke 10:38-42, we read Jesus Christ and his disciples spent time with Mary and Martha in their house. Martha was serving the Lord and since Mary didn't help her, made a request to the Lord – "Tell her to help me." (But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me." Luke 10:40).
But the Lord answered, "sitting at His feet is all needed". (And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:41,42). Here we see Martha complaining about Mary and telling the Lord to say to Mary to help her. We should never go the Lord and tell Him what to do or complain about others or tell Him to say to other people to help us. But we should sit at the feet of Jesus Christ, learn from Him and serve the Lord and one another as He commands.
Dear brethren, we have seen how the Lord answers to some of the requests. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to teach us to pray and learn from the Scriptures to pray according to the will of God. As we meditate upon His words, may the Lord give us understanding to know His ways and help us to pray according to His will.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. (2 Corinthians 13:14)
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (Romans 8:26)
Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:27)
What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. (1 Corinthians 14:15)
Love & Prayers,
Michael J. Knight.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/A-C-T-S/
What we are is God's gift to us. What we become is our gift to God.
Post a Comment