Text- Matthew 7:7-8 "Ask and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that askes receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened."
One of devil's major assaults against the body of Christ is to successfully deceive us into questioning the faithfulness of God in answering our prayers. Satan would have us believe God has shut His ears to our cry and left us to work things out for ourselves. This is so untrue!
A man called John Knox prayed with such power that the whole of Scotland was awakened. He prayed with such intensity that the Lord answered. His life has become a classical example on the power of a believer’s prayers.
It is in fact, reported that Mary, Queen of Scots trembled when John Knox went to his knees in prayer. One time she even exclaimed, “I fear the prayers of John Knox more than all the assembled armies of Europe.”
Sadly, to some believers nowadays, praying is like an exercise in eloquent speech that they just seem not to possess. Others see it as a mysterious practice that is exclusive to man behind the pulpit. Multitudes of God's people can now be heard complaining, "I pray, but I get no answers", "I've prayed so long, so hard, without any results", "God is so slow in answering prayers"... and so on.
While it is true that God answers prayers, and delights in doing so, God's law of prayer is crystal clear in the Bible "That men pray everywhere, lifting up Holy hands, without wrath and doubting” 1 Timothy 2:8.
1. HOLY HANDS CONNOTE RIGHTEOUSNESS.
1 John 3:22- “And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.”
1 Peter 3:12- “For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.”
Psalm 24: 3-4 “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully”
The psalmist wrote, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear” (Psalm 66:18)
2. WITHOUT WRATH MEANS YOU MUST HAVE NEITHER GRUDGES NOR OFFENCES IN YOUR HEART.
Mark 11:25 "And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought (anything) against any (anyone)..." If you have anger, bitterness or unforgiveness in your heart towards someone or you are holding a grudge, it can hinder your prayers from being answered.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to trust you absolutely will all my heart, to follow peace with all men, and to live a holy life so that my prayers will be effective.