Pastor Welton Watson, Central Baptist Church Jeremiah 33:3 “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” John 14:13-15 “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it. 15. If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
Now these verses are not just a blanket prayer promise from God, as the “name it, and claim it crowd,” believes, but is a conditional promise, as clearly seen by comparing Scripture with Scripture. The only prayer that God will hear from a sinner, or one who is out of fellowship with God is, “God be merciful to me a sinner,” or “restore unto me the joy of thy salvation.”
The Scriptural mandate to answered prayer is found in the writings of Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God in Romans 8:26,27 “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” The Holy Spirit monitors our prayers and sends those to God that are according to his will, and that meet the conditions to answered prayer. Then Jesus in John 15:7, lays out the basic truth, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you.” The “if” identifies the conditions. Is there a gap between you and the Lord? Is there something standing in the way that hinders your prayer from reaching the presence of God? The gap must be bridged, and that is always on our part. Psalm 51 describes beautifully how to restore fellowship with God so that our prayers be not hindered; verses 2, 7, 9, 10, 12, “Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 7. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 9. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities, 10. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 12. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.” Also, James gives some truth concerning prayer in James 4:3 “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your own lusts.”
Again, there is the condition: The wrong type prayer, asking amiss, and a selfish prayer: that ye might consume it upon your own lusts. It could be the wrong reason or the wrong heart.
Every prayer that God answers is based upon certain conditions: Is it Scriptural, is it Spirit approved, and is it selflessly motivated? God desires to answer our prayers, but there are many hindrances that prevent access to the Throne room. If we try to hide, or defend sin in our lives, and then pray for God’s blessings, we are asking amiss, and should not expect an answer, except we first deal with the sin: “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” Psalm 66:17. (Regard means to consider, or, hold on to; to approve of; to defend).
Remember that God desires to hear and answer our prayers, and Paul tells us to “pray without ceasing,” and with faith. One prayer that God always hears is the prayer from a broken and contrite heart. There are many times we don’t know how to pray, or what to pray for, but God, the Holy Spirit directs our prayers to God. Have a blessed week and pray earnestly.