1 One day Y’shua was praying in a certain place. When He finished, one of his disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” LUKE 11Why Pray
The highest form of blessing the Most Holy Name is praying to it. This explains why the angels of God rejoice when we pray. Physical eyes do not see it but they sing and worship with us.
Praying is acknowledgement of God’s existence. We rely upon Him as our Creator, Life-Giver, Father, King, Teacher, Good-Provider, Shield, Sword, Partner and Best Friend in life. Humility, dependence, worship, obedience and gratitude are manifested along with a heart desire to nurture a love-relationship with Him and to be counted among His children.
We have to pray if we want our love-relationship with God to prosper. Many people do not pray because they have little, if not zero, faith in God. That’s understandable. Romans 10:14 says: “How, then, can they call on the One they have not believed in? How can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard?”
Ironically though, the best solution to little or lack of faith is prayer itself!
Praying is touching base with God. It’s like seating near a fireplace and feeling the warmth. We definitely will experience Him. We will get a taste of His loving qualities and sh’kinah (light-pulsating presence). Our souls will be enveloped in serenity and our hearts, in overwhelming joy. It will give an unparalleled high. God may not be seen but we will become certain that He exists. This sets in motion the process that leads to faith. We speak from experience.
1 Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 6 [God] rewards those who earnestly seek Him. HEBREWS 11
On the physical realm, bonding ensues when two strangers break the wall of silence between them and speak to one another with affection and sincerity. They tell one another of their personal moments and concerns and the intimacy increases, the bonding grows stronger, the communion turns warmer... But when communication is cut, coldness seeps in. It often happens that people end up separated, back to being strangers, distant and indifferent to one another. The same holds true in the spiritual realm. The more fervent we pray, the hotter our love-relationship with God gets.
Not to consult with Him is to violate two decrees of God (Romans 12:12, Colossians 4:2), three if Sirach 7:10 is included:
17 Pray continually [without ceasing]. 1 THESSALONIANS 5
36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man. LUKE 21
We have to pray to be held a child of God. He who does not pray sins. He who does what is sinful is a son of the devil (1 John 3:8). In effect he says to God: “I am not really interested in keeping a relationship with you. I have no faith in what you can do for me! I can win my battles alone. I don’t need any unsolicited advice from you! I can take care of myself. Now get lost! I’m busy. Praying is such a waste of time.” Impliedly he thinks that he is smarter than God and his ways are better than His.
12 Pride has its beginning when a person abandons the Lord, his Maker. 13 Pride is like a fountain pouring out sin, and whoever persists in it will be full of wickedness. SIRACH 10
22 Stop trusting in man. ISAIAH 2
6 I will destroy those who have turned and no longer follow Me, those who do not come to Me or ask Me to guide them. ZEPAHNIAH 1 tev
We have to pray if we want our lot to improve. Deep inside our souls is a constant longing for betterment, actually a longing for God, something that we cannot satisfy by ourselves. Only God can. Pray and His light will embrace and comfort our souls. God will fill our longing.
20 But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. 21 Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Y’shua the Messiah to bring you to eternal life. JUDE tlb
Y’shua said, “Prayer is the weapon of faith, for it repels Lucifer. Prayer is the medicine of the soul, for through it sin is forgiven. Prayer is the advocate of the soul, for through it the end of the ages can be delayed. Prayer is like salt, for it preserves the flesh from putrefaction. Prayer is the bridle of reason, for it leads the mind into the path of righteousness. Prayer is the shield of the heart from evil touch. Prayers are the hands of life; he who has no hands cannot receive. The man without prayer is like a sail without a rudder; or like a man who defends himself without any movement, or who attacks his enemy without any weapon.” (cf. Gospel of Barnabas)
When to Pray
Y’shua said, “Your heart ought to be saying a prayer of thanksgiving every time your body receives breath.” (Gospel of Barnabas)
The Son of Man kept Himself in prayer mode 24/7, always mindful of God whatever His circumstances were and whatever He was doing. We are advised to do the same.
What to Pray For
One way of praying is to count our blessings—past, present and future—and thank God for each of them.
You are so blessed in ways you may never even know.
If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the millions who won't survive the week. If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 20 million people around the world. If you attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than almost three billion people in the world. If you have food on your table, clothes to wear, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy. If your parents are still married and alive, you are very rare. If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not. If you can hold someone's hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder, you are blessed because you can offer God's healing touch. If you can read this message, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read anything at all.
In happy moments, praise God. In difficult moments, seek God. In quiet moments, worship God. In painful moments, trust God. Every moment, thank God:
§ For our hands and feet can be moved.
§ For our health, strength and vitality.
§ For saving us from hunger and malnutrition, thirst and dehydration, nakedness and shame.
§ For sheltering us from predators and the elements.
§ For our safety even as we sleep and rest our tired bodies.
§ For extending of our earthly life every time we awake.
§ For the plants give us oxygen and food.
§ For the air saves us from suffocating and the heat saves us from the cold.
§ For the company of our family and relatives, friends and associates, and the blessings they impart to us.
§ For our knowledge and understanding, power and authority.
§ For our answered prayers, especially on occasions when strangers and angels are sent to help us.
§ For dying on the cross that we might have life.
§ For loving us more than anyone else can.
§ For His love remains constant even as we falter, fail and sin against Him.
James 5:13 tlb says, “Those who have reason to be thankful should continually be singing praises to the Lord.” Say: “O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt You and praise Your name, for in perfect faithfulness You have done marvelous things” (Isaiah 25:1).
What other advice can we give? Pray for shalom. Muslims pronounce it salam. Shalom is Hebrew for peace and commonly used as a greeting. But there’s more to it. In Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary, No. 7965, shalom means:
safe, i.e. (fig.) well, happy, friendly; also (abstr.) welfare, i.e. health, prosperity, peace:--X do, familiar, X fare, favour, + friend, X greet, (good) health, (X perfect, such as be at) peace (-able, -ably), prosper (-ity, ous), rest, safe (-ly), salute, welfare, (X all is, be) well, X wholly.
Shalom is a prayer for your wholeness or completeness. When God grants it to you, you will receive good health, soundness, fullness, well-being, prosperity, safety, orderly life, harmony, serenity, freedom from disturbance or discord, rest, joy, happiness, God’s love and favor. It comes with healing, creativity and success, too. Given this understanding, we appreciate why the Prince of Shalom came: 27 Shalom I leave you, My shalom I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. JOHN 14
6 For to us a Child is born… and He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Shalom. 7 Of the increase of His government and shalom there will be no end. ISAIAH 9
How to Pray
Hear the advice Herbert Armstrong gave to his church members:
You must go to a private place, alone with God, and have long talks with Him—yes, every day! Unburden your heart to Him. Take all your problems, your interests, your plans, your troubles to Him. Talk over everything with Him, continually. Then, even when going about your work—when walking down the street—when driving your car, or wherever you are or whatever you do, talk with God. Go to a private place, and kneel in prayer (on both knees) as often as you can, and at least once every day. But talk with God often in between. Pray without ceasing! (Good News, October 1957)
Begin by addressing the prayer to Y’shua, your Abba Father in heaven. (Of course, in so doing, the presumption is that you acknowledge Him as your First Parent and submit to His parental authority over you.) After the address, confess your life direction on earth: “Holy be Your Name; Your kingdom come; Your will be done.” Then demand to be supplied your needs in relation to your life direction.
9 This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name,
10 Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.12 Forgive us our debts [sins], as we also have forgiven our debtors [those who sin against us].
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” MATTHEW 6
Take note: Matthew 6:9-13 (“the Lord’s Prayer”) is an outline-guide on how to pray. Rise above parroting or reciting it. Prayer is nothing memorized or drawn from the intellect. Praying is communicating with God, from the heart.[1]
You may add adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication (what is commonly called the ACTS Method) to Matthew 6:9-13 and expound it. Adoration is basically praise and worship. Confession is admitting to God the sins you committed during the day; it should be preceded by repentance and followed by begging for God’s forgiveness. Thanksgiving is acknowledging your blessings of the day and thanking God for each of them. Supplication is pouring out the burdens of your hearts and petitioning God for help.
The Five-Finger Prayer
In doing supplication, you may resort to the Five-Finger Prayer. It is four parts making supplications for other people and one part making supplications for yourself. Take a look at your fingers now and be guided accordingly:
When you fold your hands, the thumb is nearest you. So begin by praying for those closest to you—your loved ones. And pray for those who helped you when you hurt.
The index finger is the pointer. Pray for the coworkers of God, that they may have wisdom, patience and perseverance (not to mention LOVE) in pointing others to the direction of God.
25 Brothers, pray for us. 1 THESSALONIANS 5
The next finger is the tallest. Pray for those in authority over you (eg. your parents at home, parents in the Lord, public leaders, employer, work supervisors, school authorities).
6 That he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Messiah Y’shua. PHILIPPIANS 1
1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 1 TIMOTHY 2
The fourth finger is the weakest. Pray for the weak, the suffering and those in trouble.
16 If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. 1 JOHN 5
15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain in the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain and the earth produced its crops. JAMES 5
Then comes your little finger. Let it remind you of your smallness in relation to God’s greatness. Say: “Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God” (Psalm 143:10).
12 [Pray] that God make you stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. COLOSSIANS 4
9 [Pray] that God… fill you with the knowledge of His will, with all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 And… that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and… please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened by His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. COLOSSIANS 1
9 [Pray] that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the Day [the Second Coming] of the Messiah, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Y’shua the Messiah—to the glory and praise of God. PHILIPPIANS 1
Pray that God may cover you with His Holy Blood (protection). Pray for light (enlightenment and advice) on what you are doing and will do.
3 Commit to God whatever you do and your plans will succeed. PROVERBS 16
18 Make plans by seeking advice; if you wage war, obtain guidance. PROVERBS 20
Demand to be given all your needs.
13 Is anyone of you suffering? He should keep on praying about it. JAMES 5 tlb
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. PHILIPPIANS 4 nlt
19 And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Messiah Y’shua. PHILIPPIANS 4
Hold it! What has been said so far lays the foundation for the next study modules. If you reach this part without thoroughly understanding what has been said, please go back and read again.
7 Be clear-minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 1 PETER 4
Wait for God to Speak
Do not be in a hurry to turn your back on God after you have said your piece. This is a popular malpractice: We ask for forgiveness, for protection, for a blessing, for a solution to our problem… but just when God is about to say His piece, we turn our back on Him and leave. It is outrageously disrespectful. God is mocked. Stop the malpractice. Dispose yourself to hear God. Let God say His piece. Praying is talking with God and God talking with us. Yes, that’s right, the Most Powerful Being talking with us! 7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him. PSALM 37
Pray the way a child talks to his father: trustful, open, warm and interactive. Interactive means the father listens while the child talks and the child listens while the father talks. There is an exchange. If the child has a question, the father answers it and if the father has a question, the child answers it.
A child does not talk to his father only in times of need or trouble. He tells his father when his heart is heavy and when it is filled with joy and gladness. He consults his father on matters he does not understand; complains when he thinks an injustice is done; and shares his dreams and aspirations with him. A child tells his father of the beautiful things he sees and enjoys—even of the funny jokes he hears. A child thanks his father and shows how grateful he is for the wonderful things he has been doing for him. A child does not hesitate to tell him in different ways, “I love you. You’re the best Daddy there is.”
God is not really after the things you will tell Him. There is nothing you can say that He has no prior knowledge of (Matthew 6:8, 1 John 3:20). In fact, God hears more than you say. In your prayer He is after the fellowship, the communion—no different to an earthly father who appreciates it when his child puts in extra effort to come, spend time with him, to keep a love-relationship with Him. God enjoys it when you make Him No. 1 among your priorities, when you desire to be with Him throughout the rest of eternity. God feels honored and accomplished when you seek a private appointment with Him to confide a situation, to ask for His help and counsel. God enjoys it when you come to be straightened in righteousness.
6 And now just as you trusted in the Messiah to save you, trust Him, too, for each day’s problems; live in vital union with Him. 7 Let your roots grow down into Him and draw up nourishment from Him. See that you go on growing in the Lord, and become strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with joy and thanksgiving for all He has done. COLOSSIANS 2 tlb
Nothing is sweeter to God than to see you overcome your battles and nothing more bitter than to know you were overcome by them. God likes it even more when you overcome a situation because you listened to His Word. Unfortunately, much as He wants to interfere in your affairs and help, He will not until asked. God respects and never will violate your freewill and private space.
5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: 6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. PSALM 37
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. PROVERBS 3
How to Hear God’s Voice
What if no conversation takes place? What if you do not hear God speak? Does that mean your praying is futile and useless? The answer is No, praying is never futile or useless. God hears every word you say; and because He hears, you can be assured that He will grant your petitions. However, wouldn’t it be great to hold a conversation with your Creator?
Now, if He can hear you and you cannot hear Him, then the problem lies with you. We suggest that you do this:
Pray to be one with God, not to be one with men.
5 …do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. MATTHEW 6
Have faith, trust God.
38 You have never heard [God’s] voice nor seen His form, nor does His Word dwell in you, for you do not believe the One He sent. JOHN 5
Prepare for your prayer appointment with God. Make an outline of the things you want to say. In your mind choose the right words to say, then say them from your heart. Not to make preparation is a sign of disrespect and contempt.
2 Let your words be few. ECCLESIASTES 5
7 Do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard [by their gods] because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. MATTHEW 6
Seek a quiet place and a quiet moment. Make sure it is quiet enough so you can hear God’s response to your prayer. If your room is not quiet enough, go to a quieter place. The Son of Man did not hesitate to leave the crowd behind Him, even His disciples. He went up the mountains just so He could have quiet time with the Father.
If you have done the four steps above and still cannot hear God speak, increase your desire to hear. Replace mere wish with desire, mere desire with craving, mere craving with intense craving. If intense craving is not enough, add fasting to it. Show God your determination.
13 If you look for Me wholeheartedly, you will find Me. JEREMIAH 29 nlt
God does speak to men. He has done so in many occasions and in different ways. So wait, for He is just as excited to communicate with you.
2 Listen! Listen to the roar of His voice, to the rumbling that comes from His mouth. 5 God’s voice thunders in a marvelous way. JOB 37
14 For God does speak—now one way, now another—though man may not perceive it. 15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men as they slumber in their beds, 16 He may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings, 17 to turn man from wrongdoings and keep him from pride, 18 to preserve his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword. 19 Or a man may be chastened on a bed of pain… 23 an angel on his side as a mediator, one of a thousand, to tell [him] what is right for him… JOB 33
For Quick Answered Prayers
God will definitely grant your petitions. His Love-Nature is your guarantee of this.
19 For the Son of God, Y’shua the Messiah… was not “Yes” and “No,” but in Him it has always been “Yes.” 2 CORINTHIANS 1
However, there are petitions that are granted instantly and petitions that are granted after a long wait. Do you want your petitions to be granted minus the long wait? Of course, you do. Here’s how:
Endear yourself to God. Pray directly to God. Stop calling on a dead relative or a saint to act as your “intercessor” to God. Already the Son of Man is doing the intercession for you (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25, Luke 22:31-32). There is no better intercessor. Requiring an intercessor to the Intercessor is unbiblical and redundantly unnecessary.
12 In Him and through Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. EPHESIANS 3
Stop addressing your prayer to Zeus or some strange god. Do not make supplications before false gods. Prove you are a child of God by knowing His most holy name and praying to it. Remember, billions of people wait to be blessed but God blesses His children first.
27 First let the children eat all they want… for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs. MARK 7
Synchronize your behavior with your petition. Y’shua said, “When you invest in a business, do you act against your business interest? Do you not act with propriety in order to get your capital back plus profit? The same is true when you petition God for something. When you pray for forgiveness and lead a life of penitence, you are acting with propriety; be assured that forgiveness shall come to you, along with eternal life in heaven. But when you pray for good health and lead an unhealthy lifestyle, you are not acting with propriety; ill-health will plague you, along with a disorderly life.” (Gospel of Barnabas)
13 Indeed, God does not listen to their empty plea. JOB 35
So act with propriety. If you are selfish, start being generous. Do not be slow to give to the needy and to give the best of what you have. Divine Justice is watching how to repay your deeds. If you tarry in giving to your neighbor, God will tarry in giving to you. If you give the best of what you have, God will give you the best of what He has.
12 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and His ears are open to their prayers. 1 PETER 3 nlt
Check your motive for asking. Is love preeminent in your petition? Many petitions are granted after a long wait because the petitioners would want to brag, to go back to their old sinful ways, to get even with their offenders…
3 When you ask, you don’t get because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. JAMES 4 nlt
14 …If we ask [God] anything according to His will, He hears us. 11 And if we know He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him. 1 JOHN 5
16 Serve the Lord willingly, and the Lord will accept you; your prayers will reach the skies. 17 The prayer of a humble person goes past the clouds and keeps on going until it reaches the Lord Most High. SIRACH 35
Bill Hybels wrote, “Before bringing a request to God, ask: If God granted this request, would it bring glory to Him? Would it advance His kingdom? Would it help people? Would it help me grow spiritually?”[2]
Be clean and holy.
11 The Lord bestows favors and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless. PSALM 84
21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from Him anything we ask, because we obey His commands and do what pleases Him. 1 JOHN 3
7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. JOHN 15
Sin is a blessing-hindrance.
15 When you lift up your hands in prayer, I will not look. Though you offer many prayers, I will not listen, for your hands are covered with blood of innocent victims. 16 Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of My sight. Give up your evil ways. ISAIAH 1 nlt
8 Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. JAMES 4 nlt
If there is any unresolved conflict between you and a neighbor, go and fix it.
8 I want men to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing. 1 TIMOTHY 2
23 Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. MATTHEW 5
25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. MARK 11
Submit to repentance, confession and restitution if you failed God, disobeyed Him, abandoned Him, or doubted His existence or goodness. God is love, no different to the father in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. All of us can always go back to Him; and when we do, He would rush to meet us halfway, with open arms. He won’t ask, “What took you so long to find your way back?” No, He won’t. He would embrace us warmly, quietly thankful that we are back in His love, security and abundance. He won’t be spiteful, mean or snobbish but rather He would forgive our sins and lift the burden off our shoulders. His angels would immediately attend to our needs and comforts. (Read Luke 15:11+ to better understand this.)
Pray with sincerity and intensity.
7 Stand in awe of God. ECCLESIASTES 5
Y’shua said, “When you pray, do not let your mind roam on any wickedness or worldly matter. Will you speak to Herod with your back facing him? Certainly not! Yet men do pray to God while facing Lucifer. Do not be full of life while merrying and drinking and yet be slothful and half-asleep while praying. Tell me, when you recline to eat, would it please you if your friend should eat the meat and give you the bones?” Simon Peter answered, “Certainly not! He is not a friend but a mocker!”
Y’shua said, “And what do you call then a slave who lets his master’s enemy drink the best part of the wine, and his master the dregs? Transcend everything when in the presence of the Lord; concentrate. Pray with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Mean every word you say; the sincerity and intensity must be there. Do not be shy or hesitant in presenting your situation. Raise your arms in submission and let your tears clean your heart. Consider how you would pray today if Pilate were to scourge and crucify you tomorrow.”
One of his disciples asked, “Rabbi, you said concentrate. But what if a friend should come while we are praying? Are we not supposed to break our prayer and entertain him?” Y’shua replied, “Andrew, make him wait and finish your prayer. If he should be offended, then he is the tempter’s friend, not yours. Suppose you went to speak to a stable boy of Herod and found him speaking into the king’s ears, would you be offended if he made you wait? Certainly not! You would be comforted at seeing your friend in favor with the king. Now, when you stand in prayer, is it right to turn your back on God in order to speak to a man? Should anyone be offended because you have more reverence for God than a man?
“In choosing a friend or companion, do not consider his fine lineage, his fine house, his fine clothing, his fine manners or his fine words; but rather consider if he loves God above all, if he occupies himself with righteousness, if he despises the vanities of this world, if he keeps the desires of his flesh under control. And do not love him in such wise that you become an idolater: love God first and him second.” (cf. Gospel of Barnabas)
Pray with a humble heart.
10 Two men went up to the temple to pray: one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself, “God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.” 13 But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” 14 I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. LUKE 18
Be positive-minded. If your petition is not granted at once, keep on asking. When God puts you on hold, don’t hang up. Never think that prayerlessness will hasten the realization of your petition.1 Do not give up. LUKE 18
A Gentile mother begged Y’shua to heal her daughter. Her petition was granted because she begged persistently and did not give up so easily. (Mark 7:25-30) God did not mind. In fact, He was hurried by her persistence for it manifested faith. There was gladness in His heart for the opportunity to demonstrate His love for her and her daughter.
7 Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10 Or if they ask for fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him. MATTHEW 7 nlt
Firm up your faith. God will do miracles for you only if you believe that He can and He will.
21 I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt… you can even say to this mountain “May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,” and it will happen. 22 You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, then you will receive it. MATTHEW 21 nlt
24 Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. MARK 11
Do not limit your mind and behavior to fact-knowledge. Faith-knowledge will help you deal with earthly situations more realistically and accurately. Take an example: You know that you are short of funds and short in basic necessities; that is fact-knowledge. You know that God can supply your needs if you petition Him for it; that is faith-knowledge.
A person is dying of cancer because medical tests confirm it; that is fact-knowledge. He can be healed if he petitions God for it; that is faith-knowledge. God is more powerful than cancer and greater than all the ailments and diseases in the world put together; that is faith-knowledge. God will do a miracles for him if believes that God can and He will; that is faith-knowledge.
The wise lets his faith-knowledge temper and prevail upon his fact-knowledge.
19 Know the love of the Messiah, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. EPHESIANS 3 kjv
Faith-knowledge to be effective and reliable should be Word-based and uncontaminated of any false teaching. If you are learning from a teacher who mistakenly understands that the stripes of Y’shua can no longer heal us, it will be hard for you to receive divine healing. If you become seriously ill while holding this understanding, your mistaken view could cost you your life. In the same way, learning from a teacher who doesn’t understand biblical prosperity will seriously hinder your ability to receive God’s financial blessings. The mind that is limited to fact-knowledge is likely to doubt that God answers prayers. He who has not personally seen a miracle happening is likely to believe that miracles do not happen. If he hears of one, he is likely to suspect that a fakery must have been done. (It’s Not Working, Bro. John!, p. 65)
A lady complained of what seemed to be cancer wounds and sores bothering her for months. The next morning, Y’shua instructed the scribe to tell her three things: (1) To find a quiet time, confess her sins, and beg God to forgive them; (2) To imagine a light from heaven beaming on her while she prays; and (3) To visualize her wounds and sores rising out of her like dark smoke vaporizing in the light and vanishing. Fortunately she believed. In her quiet time she felt warmth covering her body. Her wounds closed and dried and two days later, the sores were gone. She was completely healed!
The healing came at a time when the scribe himself was suffering from ailments. It was painful for him to raise his arms and to clap. His left eye was infected due to a clogged tear duct. He had diabetes which was causing problems to his bowel movement, lungs, heart and kidneys. At times he had to walk with a limp, even pulling his left leg. The scribe realized that God was prompting him to apply the three instructions to his situation. So he did 12 days of prayer and fasting—against doctors’ advice. But no healing came after the 12 days.
The scribe let his faith-knowledge temper and prevail upon his fact-knowledge. “Your will, not mine. In Your time I will be healed,” said he to God.
Multiple-healing came two months later. The scribe woke up to find his eye infection gone. He could raise his arms and clap without feeling pain. His bowel movement became regular. The Lung Center said his lungs were clear. The Ospital ng Makati said nothing was wrong with his heart and kidneys. The left leg stopped feeling heavy. Lethargy left him. His mind became sharper than ever.
Faith-knowledge to be effective and reliable should be without doubt, fear or worry. Do not make statements that sound like “If ever God heals me…” Do not ask questions like “Does God exist? Did He hear my petition? Will He attend to me? Am I engaging in wishful thinking?” Doubt is the antithesis of faith. It opens the door to fear and worry—demons actually. Expect no signs and wonders to happen in your life if you entertain doubt. God does not do signs and wonders in anyone who entertains demons.
Instead of doubting, trust that God will grant your petitions. His LOVE-nature does not change, falter or fail. “In Him it has always been Yes” (2 Corinthians 1:19).
6 But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. JAMES 1 nlt
Take cue: King Solomon asked God for a discerning heart (faith-knowledge) and received a wise and discerning heart + riches and honor. He received more than what he petitioned for.
10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this… 12 I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both riches and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings.” 1 KINGS 3
So Pray Properly
Y’shua said, “I tell you, he who prays properly will obtain all his petitions. Remember the prophets! Moses through prayer scourged Egypt, opened the Red Sea, and drowned the Pharaoh and his army there. Joshua through prayer made the sun to stand still. Samuel through prayer smote the large army of the Philistines with fear. Elijah through prayer made fire to rain from heaven. Elisha through prayer raised a dead man back to life.” (cf. Gospel of Barnabas)
14 If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and will heal their land. 2 CHRONICLES 7
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