Answers Flow In Like Bills to the Mailbox

Matthew 21:18-22; Psalms 46; 1 Kings 3:3-14

 

Matthew 21:18. As he was returning to the city in the early morning, he felt hungry. 19. Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it and found nothing on it but leaves. And he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again," and instantly the fig tree withered. 20. The disciples were amazed when they saw it and said, "How is it that the fig tree withered instantly?" 21. Yahshua answered, "In truth I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt at all, not only will you do what I have done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, `Be pulled up and thrown into the sea,' it will be done. 22. And if you have faith, everything you ask for in prayer, you will receive."

   “Whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”  There’s been a lot of disappointment over that little verse.  But have you noticed that what we pray for is mostly at our discretion -- and what we pray to receive is whatever we want!   Actually, some have received such overwhelming abundance and miraculous answers that the others of us tend to cringe in jealousy!  And when we don’t receive, at least not in the way we expect, we often wonder just what we did wrong or what’s wrong with us.  And sometimes we think the Father doesn’t love us enough to render the answer we expect when we pray.

Slandering Yahshua: Six Lies People Tell About the Man Who Said He Was Elohim By Dr. Erwin Lutzer / Tyndale House * Is it true that Yahshua' family tomb was discovered? That he escaped the crucifixion? That he wanted and needed Judas to betray him? Lutzer draws on rigorous biblical research to set the record straight. Learn to stomp out lies and defend the truth about Messiah when speaking with believers and skeptics alike! 128 pages, hardcover from Tyndale.

Stepping Out in Stupidity

(Update, August 14, 2007: I'm sorry to say this, but to update this story we might look to the 23 Korean  Messiahians now in the hands of the blood-thirsty Taliban in Afghanistan and realize, now with their leaders murdered, this was a very stupid and devilish decision to make - and thus send children into a war zone.  However, Yahweh will make something good happen from this, I'm sure.)

   Pastor David Cho of Central Assembly in Seoul, Korea, which, by the way, is the largest church in the world, tells the following story about this promise:

   Once upon a time in a mountain village of Korea, a youth revival was being held by a well-known “faith teacher” who was bringing the gospel of prosperity – name it and claim it – to these poor rural people.  The evangelist had the cooperation of the local churches, some of which were located way down in the valley below.  A host of youth attended the nightly services and some walked great distances from the valley to get there.

   The weather suddenly turned bad and flash flood warnings went out for the area.  Traveling up the mountain for the meeting was ill advised, since the young people were required to cross two small streams on the way up.  One group, meeting at a church in the valley, decided it was indeed raining too hard to make the trip that evening.  They decided to stay below and pray together there at their church. 

   But one young lady admonished the rest:  “Didn’t you hear what the preacher said last night about receiving anything you ask in prayer if you have faith?  All we have to do is pray for safety and we’ll safely make the trip, rain or not.  It’s time to put our faith into action!  I’m going up to the meeting in the mountains!  Now, who’ll have faith and go with me?”  One other girl sheepishly followed.  When it was apparent that the rest had no faith, the two set out into the storm for the meeting on the mountain. 

   No one knows what happened.  They didn’t make it to the meeting and they were never seen again.  Some speculate that the girls were swept away in one of the overflowing streams.  But their bodies were never recovered, so no one knows for sure.  Great foolishness is often mistaken for great faith.

   For a long time after that, the young people who remained behind refused to attend church any longer.  Their faith was shattered.  Eventually, however, the young people returned.  The church elder, wise from many decades of struggle in the faith, explained, “We are mistaken when we believe in something that’s more attractive than it is true.  We are mistaken when we try to make the Father conform to our commands instead of obeying his.  We are mistaken when we take a single page out of the Bible and try to build our existence upon it.”

Prayer of Jabez?

   Genuine prayer is a science founded upon the authority of the Creator of the Universe, who authored its physical laws.  Genuine prayer is totally unrelated to fanciful, contemporary or popular notions about prayer.  A “for instance” might be the plethora of books, tapes, balloons and bottle openers based on the Prayer of Jabez:

"If you truly bless me, you will extend my lands, your hand will be with me, you will keep harm away and my distress will cease" (1 Chronicles 4:10).

This inspired prayer has been transformed into a lucky charm and sold, along with endless products based on it, for millions in profits.  Consider the Prayer of Jabez publicity statement:

"Discover how to release the miraculous power of Elohim in your life! See what God will do for you when you put God's prayer to work!" 

Prayer is not supposed to be like rubbing Aladdin’s magic lamp.  Such claims and products undermine the wisdom and authority of Yahweh and the Scriptures!  He is very disappointed when someone tries to “put the prayer to work” in the manner prescribed by the promoters.

 

Biblical Prayer

   But we know that genuine prayer is not a some lucky charm, but fervent prayer leads one to grow in understanding the Creator’s will for one’s highest and best good.  Those who pray also come to reflect the character of the divine in everything they do and say, to one degree or another.  That character includes both charity and justice.  Yahshua is the only mirror image of the Father (Colossians 1:15).  Genuine prayer helps to supernaturally transform us into images of Yahshua, charitable and just.

   So when he tells people, “Ask and it will be given you if you have faith,” he isn’t simply saying that the Father will automatically respond to our most current whim or what we perceive we might need in the present moment.  On the contrary, Yahshua is encouraging us to come into the harmony of Yahweh’s will for our lives – to become like-minded with our Father – to become one in him.  When we go to prayer after meeting the conditions of faith in Yahweh (which include keeping his commandments and submitting to his will) then we can rest assured that whatever we pray will be heard and answered.

   Sometimes his answer is a definite “No”; sometimes it’s “Wait a while.”  Often, the answer is the “Yes” and we see it manifested in a very short time.  The secret to being satisfied in prayer is trusting Yahweh to hear and rightly respond in his own way and in his own time.  We can always trust his judgment in answering because he’s loved us since before we even existed and planned a perfect life for us, whether we fulfill his will or not.  Father always knows best; and we can learn what’s best for us, too, if we unite with him. 

   Though we might be able to think of prayers that haven’t been answered, if we use wise judgment, we’ll agree that granting some of our petitions might not be in our best interests in the long run.  In fact, some answers might prove absolutely disastrous.  One author put it this way,

“Perhaps the worst punishment G-d could visit upon us would be to answer all our prayers, to break through by miraculous intervention, heal all our diseases, solve all our problems and leave us [as] children, undeveloped”  (J. Wallace Hamilton).  

Shouldn’t we be as glad for the times when the Father says “No” as when he says “Yes”?

   Nor do we need to think that our Father already has his mind made up before our prayers are even spoken.  The mind of Yahweh can change in response to our petitions.  There are examples in the Bible in which an obedient person fervently prayed and changed Yahweh’s mind!  When it was decreed that he would die, King Hezekiah, an obedient and faithful servant of Yahweh, prayed that this decision might be rescinded and that he might be healed (2 Kings 20:5).  Yahweh answered him with the unexpected gift of fifteen more years!  Yes, Hezekiah’s prayer changed the Father’s mind and yours may also.

 

Always a Yes

   Did you know that there are some prayers to which Yahweh always answers “Yes”?  Take for instance Solomon’s prayer, which was read earlier in the service.  Yahweh asked him what he wanted, and instead of pleading for gain, he asked for an understanding heart so that he might choose good over evil throughout his career.  Not only was this request granted, but he also received money and long life in addition.  Solomon’s prayer reminds us of another saying of Yahshua regarding prayer, “Seek first righteousness and all the other great things will be added.”  Yahweh will always answer “Yes” to your prayer for wisdom.  And if you have wisdom, then you have everything.

   Another prayer that always receives a “Yes” answer is a prayer for forgiveness.  You and I carry heavy burdens because we either can’t forgive, are ourselves unforgiven or feel that we can’t be forgiven.  Yet we may always be forgiven and released from the depression of sin if we’ll only confess our sins to him and accept his willingness to deliver us.  There’s no kind of sin or shortcoming that he’s unable to forgive if you’ll only repent and forgive others.  And he’ll completely restore your mutual relationship every time, without exception.  St. John lovingly reminds us that, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). 

   Let me mention a few other petitions that’ll always receive a resounding “Yes.”  We may always receive strength for passing moral tests  (1 Corinthians 10:13); strength to do the Father’s will (Isaiah 41:10); inner peace and assurance (Isaiah 26:3) and for courage to cope in any situation (Psalm 31:24).  I believe that Yahweh will also always answer “Yes” when we pray for these same things for others whom we genuinely feel need heavenly unction.  To these and other such prayers, the answer is never “No”, but always “Yes”.

 

A Conditional Yes

   Did you know that all prayer has a high possibility of receiving affirmative answers under certain conditions?   From Yahshua saying’ that “Whatever you ask, you will receive,” we get a first impression that this promise stands on its own, divorced from his other teachings.  However, in order for us to have all our prayers answered, there are certain conditions that must be met.  If we meet the conditions, we will always receive answers!  These conditions include:

• That our requests be in harmony with the divine will and be for a divine purpose (1 John 5:14). 
• That we be willing to renounce and relinquish all sin in our lives.  If we’ll renounce it, he’ll help us to overcome it supernaturally (Psalms 66:18). 
• That we examine our motives; we mustn’t expect to receive anything that’ll be consumed by our lusting (James 4:3). 
• That we have faith that Father is able; that he will hear and answer (Mark 11:24).
• Finally, that we be willing to subordinate our own will and life to the will and life of our Savior, Yahshua (John 15:7).

   If these five conditions are met, then I can’t image any prayer that will go unanswered.  Furthermore, if we’re keeping the commandments of Yahweh and living the testimony of Yahshua, the Father will certainly speak to our hearts with convincing assurances that he’s on the case.

 

Unexpected Answers Come

   Now I’ve already enumerated many of the promises that are golden to those who love G-d and are called according to his purpose.  One of the greatest promises is that Yahweh will answer your prayer in many cases with a resounding “Yes”.   We mustn’t forget that it’s the Creator’s love for his creation that underwrites every biblical promise.  That love takes a very tangible form – the form of a man – Yahshua – who chose to enter this sick, sordid world to help us rise above it and become unified with him in his multi-dimensional power and authority.  We need never worry, therefore, that any prayer to the Father through him requesting deliverance, discernment, coping-power or pardon for purification will ever be discarded or refused!

   However!  We can never even begin to guess just how Father will bring about the answers we seek.  His ways are not our ways.  He’s all-powerful and we aren’t.  His mind isn’t like our minds.  His is all-knowing and our knowledge is like a pea in a pickle barrel.  He seems to answer in unexpected and even novel ways.  We need to realize that the Father is unpredictable in order that we may stay in blessed anticipation of the wonderful possibilities.  He will make a way where there isn’t one; if need be, he’ll create a way out of nothing.  That’s what a miracle is!  Get ready for yours!

   A few of us know of some tremendous miracles that came to pass as an answer to prayer.  A few months ago I sent you the story of Aunt Myrtle, the missionary in China, who was hiding from the Japanese invaders in her closet, praying that Yahweh would hide her underneath his pinions and she wouldn’t be captured.  Though she was in plain sight, when the Japs opened the closet, she was completely invisible to them, hidden under the wings of an angel.  Did you read that story?  You should.  It’ll bolster your faith for answered prayer.

   I know many other miracle stories.  The most amazing answers come to those who are living day-by-day in obedience to G-d and loving every minute of it.  But for now, let’s consider our own story.  Do you realize that us just being altogether here for Communion is a magnificent answer to prayer?  Whose prayer?  My prayer!  Your being here fulfills my prayers of the past two weeks.  I take my stand with the prophet of long ago who said, “G-d forbid that I should sin against Yahweh by ceasing to pray for you!”

 

Communion

   Don’t you think it’d be wonderful to be in that place of obedience where ALL your prayers would be answered (like mine)?  Aren’t you jealous?  Answers flow in every day like bills to the mailbox!  Well, you can be in that place, and you’re in exactly the right place to start. 

   How come?  Because today, this service concludes with a beautiful gift from Yahshua to you – Communion.  We pray a serious prayer of repentance and we receive forgiveness for all sins.  We then come to Father in a state of cleanliness and holiness, and we partake of the elements of the Communion, which he has transformed for us into Yahshua’ actual body and blood.  Remember, his body was broken to repair the breech between you and your Creator.  His blood was spilt in order for him to be a human sacrifice for your sins.  Today we come together to make all things right again – between us and our god – between each other.  And if you’ll come today expecting your answer to prayer, even a miracle from heaven, you may rest assured that this will be your greatest opportunity to receive intervention, perhaps for the rest of your life.

   Are you ready for answers?  The let’s begin.  {Start Communion.}