Let's talk faith and answered prayer

Dear brethren, I am hoping for some good feedback here.

Jesus tells us in John 14:14 that anything we ask for in his name, he will do.

Ok. I know there are qualifiers and I detest the Word of Faith movement as much as the next one. I'm assuming we all know not to ask God for a Lamborghini and Claudia Schiffer.

Ok. So, we're walking with God, seeking his face daily, trusting him, devouring his word, doing what we can to walk the Christian life and trusting him for the enablement. We get to a point where we are challenged to ask for something needed to keep walking the Christian life that we cannot provide ourselves.

So, here all God's promises come into play.

Now generally I will ask someone for something and once he says I can have it, I'll believe that he'll give it to me though it may take a while.

My question is: I can pray for something I need (a trus, Christian need) a lot, but what right have I got to believe I am going to receive it until he tells me I am going to receive it? How can I believe for a move unless he tells me he'll grant my prayers? Otherwise, what if I genuinely ask for something I believe I need, but as he knows the end from the beginning, he knows is not needed (or is not best) for me right now? He won't give it to me.

In the absence of being able to hear his voice (please no generic, fluffy explanations on this), how can I proceed to have faith in receiving something I've asked for - when he hasn't told me he will give it?

I hope this makes sense. I look forward to your collective replies as always, P.

"This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, He hears us."

Brother, the real key to having faith for any need is to know that you are praying in God's will.

The Lord delights in meeting the needs of His children. He has told us that we have not because we ask not. The Word says that "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19).

"If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done to you." (John 15:7).

The Lord taught us how to pray, and in that prayer is "give us this day our daily bread."

"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:9-13).

God will not always answere our prayers in the manner or timing that we expect Him to, but the Lord hears every prayer that is prayed in His will, and all of the promises of God are yes and amen in Christ Jesus to the glory of God.

Mike

Another question that we must ask is, "Am I praying in the Spirit, or in the flesh?" In other words, is the essence of this prayer a selfish desire to gratify the flesh, or is the essence of this prayer a godly pursuit that glorifies God?

Often, God brings glory to His name by providing for our needs, delivering us from trouble, and demonstrating His power. But, we must discern God's heart and His voice on the matter. And we must rely on Him.

...praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints...
(Ephesians 6:18)

You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.
(2 Corinthians 1:11)

I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.
(Romans 15:30-32)

If our heart is at the right place, we can have great confidence in prayer!

However, if God says, "No", we must believe that He has a good reason for that. (2Corinthians 12:8-9)

"In the absence of being able to hear his voice (please no generic, fluffy explanations on this), how can I proceed to have faith in receiving something I've asked for - when he hasn't told me he will give it?"

you say "in the absence of hearing His voice" and then you say later "when he hasn't told me he will give it?"

So do you hear His voice speaking to you? This is not fluff this is the crux of our relationship with Him.

Hi Roricks, thanks for your reply.

Remember folks, I said this was prayer for his glory and in the spirit.

Do I hear his voice? Well occasionally I think I do, that's what I'm praying for.

It's obvious in the bible (both old and new) that people heard his voice and heard it specifically. Please don't tell me it's inaudible, or welling up like living water, etc I know this stuff, I'm not after cliches.

I'm sure I will continue to hear as I keep walking in the Spirit and by Faith. Maybe I'm just impatient because I love him. Who knows?

Pandarus: I know there have been errors in movements such as the WOF. The fact that there are errors does not negate the thread of truth from which the error was spun.

Mar 11:22-24 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. (23) 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. (24) Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

These verses are true. We must also remember that these verses do not stand in a vacuum apart from the remainder of what scripture teaches.

Jas 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

So here is how I see this. If the Word of God makes a promise then I can stand in absolute faith in prayer that the promise will be fulfilled. I may have to fight a fight of faith and lay hold on the promises, but I can pray in total confidence and stand if faith.

Here is a promise. Php 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Paul writes this to the church at Phillipi but I believe it is applicable to all of us. My God shall supply my need. So lets say I need provision for my daily food. I can believe God in faith for that provision. It may come in a variety of ways. A gift of food or money, a job by which I can earn money for food, or another means. But I can believe God to supply.

Now we can look at things not specifically stated in the Word. I felt like God impressed me to create a website and put on it a variety of teaching materials to bless and help mature the body of Christ. Nowhere is this mentioned in scripture. So I began to pray in faith for God's provision with the understanding that His timing was involved. I was open to Him saying no, but I continued to feel impressed to do this. I stood in faith for close to 6 months and finally God connected me with a young man who can do the work for me at a price I can easily afford. Teaching the word does not violate scripture, it is consistent with what I know God has called me to do, and I know I am seeking God's will in all my life. So I was able to stand in faith and believe for the help I needed.

Hope that perspective helps.

Twayweb,

So what you're saying brother, is that you move in faith toward the things that you believe God is putting on your heart and you pray for it and believe for it.

And would I be correct in assuming that if I am walking a yielded and Godly life in submission and obedience to Christ and the Holy Ghost - that He will ensure we will not follow what we might mistake for Christ into a trap? Is this your experience?

If so, then thankyou brother. This is what I was looking for. In fact, without you even knowing it, God has spoken directly to one of the areas I was concerned with, through your reply.

I will take what you said on board.

Thanks again,

P