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."
Yesterday, we started talking on the subject of prayer, and we examined God’s fundamental principle for prayer as stated in 1 Timothy 2:8 "That men pray everywhere, lifting up Holy hands, without wrath and doubting” We discussed on the first two parts of that verse.
Today we will conclude with the third part:
3. WITHOUT DOUBTNG MEANS YOU MUST HAVE ABSOLUTE FAITH IN GOD.
Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Mark 11:23-24 "For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."
James 1:6-7 “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.”
The question is, how many of the people who claim to pray, and blame God for not answering, actually fulfil these three things? Having failed in our own responsibilities, we sometimes seek to hold God to ransom... That's so unfair!
Saints of God, we alone are the losers if we do not get back to watching and praying- we become powerless, vulnerable, cold, sensuous and dense in the spirit.
What a sad awakening there will be for those who carelessly harbor secret grudges against the Lord for not answering their prayers, when they actually were the culprits, having not consecrated themselves to Him, not putting aside their besetting sins. Rather, they are materialistic, lazy, unbelieving, doubtful fellows who not only wonder why their prayers are not answered, but also blame God, accuse Him of failing and sell their lies to innocent minds.
Beloved, let's get back into the secret closet, shut in ourselves with Christ and His Word, get right on our knees, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting, and see things turn around!
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.
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