Topical Bible: Answers To Prayer: God Gives

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The concept of God answering prayer is a central theme throughout the Bible, reflecting the relationship between the divine and humanity. The Scriptures provide numerous examples and teachings that illustrate how God responds to the prayers of His people, often in ways that align with His will and purpose.

Biblical Examples:

1. Hannah's Prayer for a Child: In 1 Samuel 1, Hannah, who was barren, fervently prayed for a son. Her heartfelt petition was heard by God, and she was blessed with a child, Samuel, whom she dedicated to the Lord. This narrative demonstrates God's attentiveness to personal and sincere prayers. "So in the course of time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, 'Because I have asked for him from the LORD'" (1 Samuel 1:20).

2. Solomon's Request for Wisdom: In 1 Kings 3, Solomon asked God for wisdom to govern the people of Israel. God was pleased with Solomon's request and granted him not only wisdom but also wealth and honor. This account highlights that God gives generously when prayers align with His purposes. "So God said to him, 'Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked'" (1 Kings 3:11-12).

3. Elijah's Prayer for Rain: In 1 Kings 18, after a prolonged drought, Elijah prayed for rain, and God answered by sending a heavy downpour. This event underscores God's power over nature and His willingness to respond to the prayers of His prophets. "And in a little while, the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain" (1 Kings 18:45).

Teachings on Prayer:

1. Jesus' Instruction on Prayer: In the New Testament, Jesus teaches about prayer in the Sermon on the Mount. He encourages believers to ask, seek, and knock, promising that God will respond. "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you" (Matthew 7:7). This teaching emphasizes persistence and faith in prayer.

2. The Role of Faith: Faith is a crucial element in receiving answers to prayer. In Mark 11:24, Jesus states, "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours" . This verse highlights the importance of believing in God's ability and willingness to answer.

3. Praying According to God's Will: The apostle John writes about the assurance of answered prayer when requests align with God's will. "And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us" (1 John 5:14). This teaching underscores the necessity of aligning one's desires with God's purposes.

God's Nature in Answering Prayer:

God's responses to prayer are rooted in His character. He is depicted as a loving Father who desires to give good gifts to His children. "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!" (Matthew 7:11). This analogy illustrates God's benevolence and readiness to bless those who seek Him.

Conditions for Answered Prayer:

While God is willing to answer prayer, the Bible outlines certain conditions that can affect the outcome:

1. Righteousness: The prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective. "The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail" (James 5:16).

2. Obedience: Obedience to God's commandments is linked to receiving answers. "And whatever we ask, we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do what is pleasing in His sight" (1 John 3:22).

3. Forgiveness: Harboring unforgiveness can hinder prayers. Jesus teaches, "And when you stand to pray, if you hold anything against another, forgive it, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive your trespasses" (Mark 11:25).

In summary, the Bible presents a comprehensive view of how God answers prayer, emphasizing His willingness to respond to the faithful, the importance of aligning with His will, and the conditions that facilitate effective prayer.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 99:6
Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call on his name; they called on the LORD, and he answered them.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 118:5
I called on the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 138:3
In the day when I cried you answered me, and strengthened me with strength in my soul.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

How God Gives.
... of givers there is one and only one that begins to suggest how God gives. ... The third
comes the nearest to picturing the God who hears and answers prayer. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on prayer/how god gives.htm

Forms of Prayer. --The Lord's Prayer; Its Occasion and Import. ...
... then is, "God is to be hallowed as God the common ... 13, plainly point to the invocation
in the Lord's Prayer. ... The "Holy Ghost" answers definitely to the point of ...
/.../section 139 forms of prayer the.htm

The Secret of Effectual Prayer
... comes away out of self and the world, and allows the light of God to shine ... All the
mysteries and difficulties connected with answers to prayer will, however ...
/.../murray/the ministry of intercession/chapter ix the secret of.htm

God Has Everything to do with Prayer
... our representative of Him. Men cannot represent God who do not get
answers to prayer from Him. The possibilities of prayer ...
/.../bounds/the reality of prayer/iv god has everything to.htm

Prayer --Fills Man's Poverty with God's Riches
... the plain letter and spirit of the Bible when we affirm that God answers prayer,
and answers by giving ... When His children cry for bread He gives them bread. ...
/.../bounds/the reality of prayer/ii prayerfills mans poverty with.htm

Prayer.
... that it is rational to believe that there is a God who answers prayer; and that
if ... And so the very act of prayer justifies God, and honours God, and gives ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/westminster sermons/sermon iv prayer.htm

A Very Old Question.
... and plead and persist and by and by God is impressed with my earnestness, and sees
that I really need the thing, and answers my prayer, and gives me what I ask ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on prayer/a very old question.htm

The Prayer of Faith.
... All the history of the church shows that when God answers prayer, he gives his
people the very thing for which their prayers are offered. ...
/.../finney/lectures on revivals of religion/lecture v the prayer of.htm

Appendix B
Answers to Prayer. ... But instead of acting thus, and being led by my ignorance of the
word of God to study it more, my difficulty in understanding it, and the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/muller/answers to prayer/appendix b.htm

Prayer and Consecration
... Consecration brings answers to prayer. ... God can afford to commit Himself in
prayer to those who have fully committed themselves to God. ...
/.../bounds/the essentials of prayer/viii prayer and consecration.htm