Preacher: Rev. Dr. Andrew K. Ankamah
HOW TO GET ANSWERS TO YOUR PRAYERS.
TWO QUESTIONS TO ANSWER:
DOES GOD ANSWER THE PRAYERS OF EVERYONE, TRUE OR FA LSE?
WHOSE PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED AND WHOSE PRAYERS ARE NOT ANSWERED?
THE ANSWER IS FOUND BELOW:
“For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” 1 Peter 3:12 NKJV
THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE UNRIGHTEOUS (SINNERS): God listens and answers the prayers of the righteous. God’s ears are opened to the prayers of the righteous. On the contrary, God’s ears are closed to the unrighteous. This proofs that God does not answer the prayers of the unrighteous. However, if the sinner wants to be saved, God can forgive them and be saved. In that instance, God will listen to them to give them the salvation, after which their prayers are certain to be answered by God if they live according to God’s instructions and the word of God.
ASKING AMISS OR WITH WRONG MOTIVES:
“You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” JAMES:4:3 (NKJV)
God will NOT answer the prayers if there is a wrong agenda or motive for the prayer.
ASKING VERSUS FAILING TO ASK:
“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”. MATTHEW 7:7-8 (NKJV).
God will not spoon feed us. Failure to ask, failure to receive.
HOW DO WE ASK GOD FOR THE THINGS WE NEED?
“Hear my prayer, O Lord, And let my cry come to You.” PSALMS 102:1
PRAYERS
“pray without ceasing” 1 THESSALONIANS 5:17 (NKJV)
FASTING
“However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” MATTHEW 17:21 (NKJV)
Sometimes, prayers alone are not enough to receive answers to our prayers. We can expedite or enhance answers to our prayer requests by adding fasting to our prayers.
ASKING IN HIS NAME:
“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. (NKJV)
FAITH AND DOUBT:
“So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done”. MATTHEW 21:21 (NKJV).
Jesus’ own words state that we can move mountains if we have faith as small as a mustard seed.
REMEMBER ME:
Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom”. And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” LUKE 23:42-43 (NKJV).
There was an instant answer from Jesus when one of the two people crucified with Jesus, asked Him to remember him. Although sometimes we may not receive answers to our prayers instantly, when we ask God to remember us, He will do so and answer our prayers for us.
THANKSGIVING:
After we have prayed, even before the prayers are answered, we should thank God in advance of receiving answers to our prayers.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;” Philippians 4:6 (NKJV)
LET YOUR PRAYER REQUESTS BE TIED TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD:
That means, make a promise or a vow to God that when your prayers are answered you will fulfil that vow. This is like making a covenant between you and God. God would certainly answer such prayer. Connect your heart to His kingdom. The book of Colossians state “Set your minds on things above and not on earthly things.” For example, you can tell God that if He heals you, you will serve him more and more. Likewise, you can say that if God answers your prayers, you will evangelize and win more souls for God’s kingdom. But if your prayers are answered and you have the child or if it is a job, and you get a job, those you the child or your job to be an excuse to go to church to serve Him. Remember He can take it back from you.
It is my prayer that you have received this message into your hearts. If so it would go a long way to help with your Christian walk as we all prepare for the second coming of Jesus.
BY PASTOR REV. DR. ANDREW ANKAMAH, HOUSE OF FAITH MINISTRIES, PA, UNIVERSITY CITY, PHILADELPHIA, PA.