What is Holding up the Answers?
We all have problems. It may be money, family, job, illness, housing, death of loved on, divorce in your family. Whatever your problem is, as a born again spirit filled believer, you should be taking the matter before The Father for answers.
Many time, we don’t get the answers to our prayers.
Why?
There are many reasons and I would like to explore a few, today.
You need to know one thing.
Whatever your need - God knows your need, - God never changes-
God is the same. He will answer your need.
Let’s look at Matthew 19:16
The rich young ruler asks “What must I do.”Jesus gives him the answer., but was he listening?
He didn’t understand the most important thing about Jesus’ answer.
That is no matter what the directions are, we are to hear and obey.
He thought He was doing all, he was supposed to do, but in the end, the one thing he needed to do, He didn’t do.
Why?
I think there are 2 reasons:
- He thought he was doing what was right, what he had been taught.
- He didn’t know how to listen, to hear the answer. When he heard the answer, it was not what he wanted to hear!!!
This is how we are in our faith walk.
We go to the father in prayer. We go to the altar for prayer. We tithe or plant seed.
We call the prayer chain, and get people praying.
And then the next week, we do it all over again!
Yes we are to go to God with our problem. Yes, we are to get agreement in prayer.
Yes, we are to tithe and plant seed. But did you ever stop to consider how and why you do these things. Are you “running by the throne room” on Sunday’s with your need.
Are you asking for prayer and praying when you are in need? And that’s the only time pray. Are you giving tithe to get something back. If you aren’t getting your breakthrough, maybe you need to reexamine your petition and actions.
God loves us and wants to answer our prayers, but we have responsibilities we have to fulfill.
The first thing you need to do is look at your prayer for answers.
Is it full of “me, me, me,”? Is this the only time you fellowship with the Father?
Jesus died to restore our fellowship with God. We are to love God with all our heart, soul and mind.
- King James:
Deuteronomy 6:5 : “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”
King James
Matthew 22:37: “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.”
We are to fellowship with God, every day, hourly, minute by minute.
Not just when we need something. Yes, He loves you and will meet your needs, but it is when you seek Him and His
Will for you, that you will receive direction.
Deut: 4:29
Psalms 27: 4-5
Amos 5:4
Matthew 7:7
If you do not spend time with God, when He answers you, you will not recognize His voice, so you will not know you have been given the answer.
Spend time in prayer, both praying in the spirit and in regular prayer.
Take time to get quiet, and listen.
Sometimes we are sent the answers and we are so busy looking for what we think the answer should be that we don’t see What God is doing!
We also need to examine our motives for giving, both of our money and our time.
We do not give to Get. We talked about this in a previous lesson
We give because we love Him and want to acknowledge His love, generosity and covenant agreement with him. We worship with our tithes and offerings.
It is not a “gimme gimme”.
God will fulfill His part as we fulfill our part. Not when, but as!
It is an obedient mutual exchange of love and blessing.
We bless, adore and worship Him and He Loves and blesses us!
It is a give, give situation. Not a give and take situation, with God giving and us taking.
We are to love God - no matter what!
Our first and most important responsibility that should pour out of our spirit is spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We should be feverent in supporting this aspect of the ministry. We should support out local church, apostles and evangelists, missionaries, and the poor.
True fellowship with God is a totally giving attitude expecting nothing in return expect the promises of God. We have the right to expect God to keep his covenant, but we have to keep ours.
I think this is why so many people fail in their believing for the meeting of needs.
So many times, I hear people say “I pay my tithes for years and nothing has really changed.” but are you worshiping with your tithes, are you looking at what your responsibilities are. Are you being judgmental, are you walking in forgiveness, are you giving at the church, helping at the church. Or are you coming on Sunday mornings and answering the altar call time after time for someone to pray for you a job, a raise, etc.
Matthew 6:33-33 Seek ye first the kingdom of God…
Philippians 4:10,14-19
They were walking in love toward all, praying for Paul to sow the Word and reap the fruit and it was their fruit as well as Paul’s. They prayed for him, were lead by
the spirit to intercede for him, in times of dire straights and they supported him financially.
This support of Paul was a sweet aroma, an acceptable sacrifice to the Lord,
And He supplied all their needs.
They gave because they loved and to spread the Gospel, not to pay the power bill.
There is a big difference.
You have to get this in your spirit, but once you do, it will change the way you wait on answers.
Once you have prayed and planted. Then you need to spend time calling things that aren’t as if they are.
Romans 4:17
We need to keep our thoughts and words positive. When the bill comes in the mail,
You don’t spend time figuring out how you are to pay it. You thank God it is paid, and thank God he will show what to do. Don’t go off half cocked and mess things up.
God says “Be still and know that I am God.”
That means that He has the answers and they are better than yours, even if it doesn’t seem to be the way you thought or when you thought it would come.
Another area that we miss, is peace.
We should live at peace with everyone, not in strife.
We should let the peace of God dwell in our hearts and minds
John 14:7
John 16:33
You cannot have peace if you are not walking in love, towards everyone.
That includes family, friends, enemies, employers and employees.
Walking in strife will shut off your answers faster than anything.
You have to identify the strife and ask forgiveness, both of Father God and the person involved, if need be.
Col.3:12-15
In summary let me say,
If you haven’t received your answers, then go back to the question and the actions to see if there is where the hold up is.
If it is, ask forgiveness and get back in line with the word.
Remember:
Love God with all your heart, mind and soul and fellowship with him all the time.
Give with love and humility, to further the gospel, not to get.
Love your neighbor as yourself. Walk in forgiveness and not strife.
I thing if you do these things you will see a big change in your prayer life.