Keep Praying!

The Florida based pastor and author HB Charles wrote a book called, “It Happens After Prayer”. And I agree with the sentiment of the title because it, the activity and intervention of God happens after we go to God in prayer. God has so arranged it that we can literally go to him with our requests and have them granted. That was a place to rejoice. God will answer your prayer. If you don’t believe that God answers prayer come join us on Wednesday night at 6:30 and hear the praise reports from people who have experienced God move in ways that can only be explained by the sum, “But, God.” (general examples) The answer to prayer is one of our faith’s greatest witnesses to our God and Jesus continues to instruct us on what effective prayer consists of.

Hanna had a child…

Moses parted the red sea…

Jehoshaphat...

Solomon...

Jonah...

Sampson got his strength back...

Jesus prayed for Lazarus...

1. Persistent Prayer Pays off

Three imperatives are given: Ask, seek, and knock. All three words are communicated in the original language as active present-tense, meaning the asking, seeking, and knocking are continuous happenings. Keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking! And there is a word for someone. There is the possibility, (I don’t mean to over simplify or generalize that this is always the case) But it is a possibility, that the reason why you haven’t received what you prayed for is because you stopped praying for it. (Preach)

It is a really simple principle.

Ask, and you shall receive. You’ve heard the expression, “A closed mouth don’t get fed”

Seek, and you shall find. The seeking implies reliance on God for direction and/or counsel.

Knock, and the door will be opened. I like what the saints used to say, “God opens doors no man can close.” Have you considered that the access to spaces you are yet to occupy are accessible by prayer. Just because you are not in that space, does not mean God is not in that space ahead of you and that that space is reserved for you. If God opens the door than it was for you.

2. God Gives Good Gifts

Jesus now gives us the rational of God’s desire to answer prayer with an illustration of human relationship. Who among you, if when his son asks for bread will give him a stone? Jesus is plucking at the heart strings now. He knows that there is a natural desire to do right by our children. He knows that in a healthy parent child relationship the parent has the best interest of the child in mind.

“If you, being evil...” (elaborate)

“How much more?” (Preach)

Good gifts does not always mean what you asked for. The good gift might be something else that is better for you than what you asked for. The good news is that God is not going to give you something that is no good for you. This means trusting God to do for you what is best for you.

In Luke he gives us the best gift available. He says give the holy spirit. Because all other petitions are secondary to being saved. ("Elaborate)

James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” If he does not change then he will keep giving good gifts. He will keep giving good gifts. He gave the greatest gift when he gave his Son and His Spirit.