Matthew 21:22 King James Version
“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”
This verse shows that God is a very gracious God that He is willing to give us what we asked and prayed for to Him. But in order to avail His Grace is there something we need to do? Can anyone just ask what they want and that person shall receive it?
We can look at the previous verse and see what is required from us to avail His Grace for us to know that He will answer our prayers. I’ll read part of the verse.
Matthew 21:21
“Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.”
Faith is very important to God
Hebrews 11:6 - But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
God rewards those who believe on Him and those who diligently seek Him.
Who should we believe on? Let’s go to 1 John 3:21-23 to expound on these verses
1 John 3:21-23
21Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
22And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
23And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
We see here that we are to keep his commandments, and the commandment is in verse 23 that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ. This verse is concerning our Salvation, we refer to Romans 10:9 – “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” When we received Salvation we become children of God by faith in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:26) and God is our Father in Matthew 7:11 – “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” We can ask Him because He is our Father and not only that as a Saved Believer in Christ, we are given eternal life (John 3:15,36) and eternal security in Heaven, as we wait for that Blessed Hope (Rapture), that’s how gracious God is to His children.
But what about those who are not saved does God hear them?
1 John 4:5-6
5They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
6We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
If you see an unsaved or lost person having more stuff than you, better things than you, know that those things are not given by God but by the world, so we shouldn’t envy them. Proverbs 23:17 – “Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.” Proverbs 10:2 – “Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.”
When will God hear their prayers?
It’s the same way when most us have gotten saved
2 Chronicles 7:14
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
The other commandment mentioned in 1 John 3:23 is to "love one another". This reminded me of the second greatest commandment that Jesus Christ gave first one being: "love the Lord thy God..."
Matthew 22:37-39
37Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38This is the first and great commandment.
39And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself..
When we’re saved we automatically become part of the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12). And what is God expected from us as members of the Body of Christ or the Church? 1 Corinthians 1:10 – “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” Psalms 133:1 – “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” This is a command not just for our own benefit but also for others and the Church as a whole. If there be any division or strife in the Church because of our fleshly natures then in Isaiah 1:18 says – “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Ephesians 4:32 – “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” To the lost souls we show them love by telling them the truth about Jesus Christ so that they too may be saved. Galatians 6:10 – “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
Aside from the commandment mentioned in 1 John 3:22 – “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” What are pleasing in God’s eyes? In 1 Corinthians 10:32 – “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” Are the things we are asking for are the things will bring more glory to God or for our own selfish reasons?
God always search what's in our heart, is our heart right with the Lord ?
Jeremiah 17:9-10?
9The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
10I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
Are we thanking and blessing His Holy Name regularly or when it is convenient?
Psalms 103:1-4
1Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
Are we spreading his Gospel and confessing His Name?
Mark 16:15
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
Matthew 10:32
“Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.”
It’s the least we could do for Him for saving our souls from Hell.
There will be times that God will not answer our prayers, even though we’re saved, done His command and good pleasure, why?
Daniel 10:12-13
12Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
13But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
Like the verse said the Lord heard Daniel’s prayers but he did not answered until 21 days have passed because it not yet God’s will. We must always be patient in His Grace.
Romans 8:28
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Only God knows what is good for us, God is not going to give us what we want if it ends up causing our grief, so trust always in God for God’s ways are always better than ours. But if we force Him to give us what we want He may give it to us but it won't be for our benefit.
"True story is that a long time ago this mother begged for God to heal her daughter but then there was no healing, so then she got mad and because she got mad, she told, she became a little bit bitter to the Lord, when she got bitter and angry at God, you know what God did? He healed her daughter, but what happened after? Her daughter became messed up in sin and in wickedness and lived her life not serving the Lord ever and then the mother, she actually said this to the pastor, she actually mentioned that: it would have been better the Lord took her home early in Heaven where she was pure and right and not giving grief to the family, rather than surviving and now being a detrimental pain to the family and burden and causing new grief."
Don't test God's patience or force His hand! He will give what is right for you.
I’ll end with 1 John 5:14-15
1 John 5:14-15 King James Version
"14And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him."
Hope this may be a blessing to the readers, thank you and good day.
Note: All verses presented are from King James Version.
How to go to Heaven? Find out in the short video below
GOD's Simple Plan of Salvation
If you were to die today for any reason, are you 100% sure you will go to heaven?
This video explains the SIMPLE TRUTH according to the Scriptures. The only way to go to heaven is by:
(1) Admitting that you are a sinner
(2) Believing on the Lord Jesus Christ as your own personal Savior and Lord
(3) Repenting (meaning you are willing to turn away from your sins) of your sins then confessing your sins to God
Jesus Christ willingly sacrificed Himself and shed His precious blood on the cross as a substitute for you, so that you don't have to burn in hell for all eternity because of your sins, and have eternal life in heaven instead.
Watch the video to learn what Scripture says of God's great plan of salvation for you and how to receive His free gift. This is wonderful news. We pray you surrender to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and to know 100% for sure you will go to heaven when you die!
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Bible Believers Baptist Church International
2F Lakeview Manors Arcade, 11 Bagong Calzada St., Taguig City, 1634 Metro Manila
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“And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” (Luke 4:4)
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