SEVEN STEPS TO ANSWERED PRAYER
Step number one.
Before we pray to ask something from God, we have to find the scripture that is promising
what we are asking for. Such as if we are asking for healing then we need to know
where to look for the promise.
Some churches don't teach that healing is for us today. How ignorant in the Word
can they be? God is not a respecter of persons. Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his
mouth, and said, of a truth I perceive that God is not a respecter of persons. Romans
2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God. What was done in the Bible pertaining
to healing still remains with us today. If not, then we might as well throw out the
way of Salvation too. Our only hope to reach the Kingdom of God. We CANNOT
take what we feel is truth and throw out the rest.
When Jesus was walking the earth, those who touch Jesus by FAITH were healed. Those
who Jesus touch by His hands were healed by their FAITH. That is what we have to
use when we come to the Lord in prayer. That is the number ONE requirement,
Faith without wavering.
A man came to a certain preacher after one of his services some years ago and said;
I don't believe in healing. the pastor said; then go home and cut the scriptures
out of the Bible that pertain to healing. The man said; I can't do that, that would
be destroying the Word. The pastor said; "that's right", and that's what
you're doing now. You're destroying the Word by claiming that. God is not a changing
God Mister. Malachi 3:6 For I am the Lord, I change not.
When you find the scriptures that pertains to the promise that your seeking, get
them in your heart. Write them down and memorize them, have them with you when you
pray, and pray out loud what you are claiming by looking at the verse. Meditate on
them during the day. We can pray anytime during the day. In the shower, at work,
while we're walking or driving, but keep your eyes open please.
Open your Bible to Joshua 1:8 and read what that says. I want you to get use to using
your Bible on your own. That's how we learn the best. If you don't have a Bible,
then I would suggest going out and buying one. Sometimes the church you go to will
have Bibles that they give out. If you are a new Christian that is very important.
The Bible is our bread of life.
Step number 2.
Make sure what you are praying for as a promise is in the Bible. The Bible says that
the Father already knows what we need before we even come to Him in prayer. But God
turns around and tells you to ask. If you're leaving it up to God and His will, that
is unscriptural. Matthew 7:7-8 Jesus tells us we must ask, seek, and knock, and it
shall be opened to you.
If you wanted something as a child, you asked your parents right? If you didn't,
you wouldn't receive it would you? Depending on what you were asking for that is.
Most parents don't give everything to their children that they ask for. For whatever
the reason might be. So is it with the Lord. It depends on what we ask of Him, and
how we ask. He wants us to have joy, peace, love, wisdom, etc. If we are praying
for a new motorboat, I don't think He will grant us the request. Unless we need it,
to get to work or church.
When you ask in prayer, believe that you will receive. Read Mark 11:23.
Do you know what Satan's biggest defeat is? Is it going to church? Is it reading
your Bible? Witnessing to others? No, it's PRAYER!!! He can't do a thing about it.
When we pray, Jerk Head (Satan) will tell us that we don't have it. Satan cannot
read our mind, but he can fill it with all kinds of doubt and disbelief and deception.
He is the father of that.
Satan operates in the sense realm. (For what sense he has left) He was stripped of
his rank when he tried to exalt himself over God. He has no spiritual power over
us as long as we abide in Christ. He couldn't fight his way out of a wet paper bag
if the bag had a 100 holes in it. That's what prayer does to him. He is defeated
and he will always remain defeated over the Christian that prays and puts the Lord
first. We have power over Satan as I stated in one my newsletters; "Running from the Devil".
There are two kinds of truth. Some people think that truth pertains to to things
they can see with their physical eye but you can't see things of the Spirit. Their
not flesh and their not material. The spiritual realm provides us with everything
we need. Eph. 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath
blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Everything
we need is provided in the spiritual realm. We cannot see them but they're there.
One reason why some people do not understand the Bible is because they have not prayed.
Prayer and only prayer has power to open your eyes. The man who prays is the man
who understands what he reads. "Only he that prays understands". Psalms
119:18 Open thou my eyes that I might behold wondrous things out of thy law. Prayer
seeks God, the Word reveals Him.
Step 3. Let every
thought and desire affirm what you have asked for. Don't paint a mental picture of
failure to remain in your mind. If doubt comes into your mind rebuke it right away.
James 4:7 Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Turn to 1 Peter 5:8 and read
that please.
Step 4. We must
guard those thoughts that comes into our mind. Especially if their evil. Where do
they come from? Television is one source. When we allow programs to come into our
home for the family to watch, we are being attacked by forces of evil. The TV is
a "one eyed monster". That is Satan's main tool to drag us away from the
Lord and spending time with our family in the Word of God.
What is seen on TV can effect your walk with God. If you're watching programs that
explicit sex, what's going on in your mind? That is something that you will have
to clear up with the Lord the next time you pray. And if you do it again the next
day, you're repeating the same sin over and over. James 1:6-8 Says; A doubled minded
man is unstable in all his ways.
Anything that is satanic in view should not be allowed to come into the home. That
will invite evil forces in. Some of you might not believe that. If you play around
with the spirit world of the dead, here is what the Bible says about it. Turn to
Luke 12:29-32 and read that. When Jesus is speaking of "doubtful mind".
He was talking about; the heathen who superstitiously seek guidance by meteors, planets,
signs of the zodiac and all the magic and witchcraft and traffic with demons in the
name of astrology, ect, which are condemned by scripture. Turn to Galatians 5:19-20.
What Paul is speaking about in here is sorcery, practice of dealing with evil spirits,
magical incantations and casting spells and charms upon one by means of drugs and
potions of various kinds. (verse 20) Enchantments were used to inflict evil, pains,
hatred, sufferings and death, or to bring good, health, love, and other blessings.
Are you reading your horsescope in the paper? You're playing around with the devil.
If you want guidance as a Christian go the only guide we have, and that is the Lord
Jesus Christ.
Nintendo games are another big topic, such as "Dungeons and Dragons" or
any other games that have evil looking beasts in them. I might be doing a series
on idols, cults, and occults at a later time. Something that effected me in my walk
with the Lord and didn’t know it until I turned deathly ill. Turn to Philippians
4:8 and read that. The Bible tells you exactly what to think on. Many people are
thinking on the wrong things.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Recently I walked into a supermarket to pick something up for dinner. As I was walking
down one of the isles, I noticed a young gentleman coming in my direction. He had
a tee shirt on, and on the shirt was written; "CHRIST IS COMING". I thought
this was a very amenable thing to do. Not many Christians walk around in public with
a jacket or a shirt on with something written about Christ. Unless it is at a Church
function or Bible study.
I was ready to comment on it and share my love for Jesus with him when I read the
rest in smaller lettering. It said: "LOOK
BUSY" That threw me off and I didn't know what to think
at first. "Christ is Coming Look Busy". Am I not understanding the meaning
of that I asked myself?
As I kept walking I realized it was nothing but mocking the Lord. I refused to see
the humor in that. Galations 6:7 Be not deceived,
God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth,that shall he also reap.
My first intentions were to approach him on the matter and straighten him out. Christ
is coming, you got that part right. But my question is; are YOU ready? I was
running short on time and decided to ignore it.
Here was a perfect opportunity to witness to someone and I let it slide. I'm certain
I can say this for most of us, we have missed our chance to witness to others. And
have felt bad about it later.
It can be hard to witness to someone in this day and age, unless we are in God's
Word. That's why it is so important to memorize scripture to use in times like these.
We can be a witness at work just by the way we conduct ourselves around others. What
we say, how we react to certain problems we face on the job. People judge us by our
actions and what we say. That is the time to witness when someone asks you; "how
do you stay so calm when it comes to problems on the job?"
Part 4 here
Bible questions
Do we have angels assigned to us that protect us?
What does the Bible have to say about it?
How far is a Sabbath days journey?