Survey of Firstfruit Fundamentals

Lesson 4:  Prayer- Part 1      printer-friendly   MP3

"Success is nothing more than a few basic spiritual disciplines, practiced every day."

"Success is the natural consequence of consistently applying the basic fundamentals."

Subject: Prayer - Part 1

Question 1 How do I know God is listening?
If you are a firstfruit, you have God’s Holy Spirit.  That Spirit binds us to God and makes us His chief focus, especially at moments we make direct contact with Him.  For a firstfruit, the question is rarely about whether God is listening.  The question is, are you talking to Him?  God is always listening.  Notice.

John 9:31  
Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. 

Psalm 34:15  
The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. 

Proverbs 15:29  
The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous. 

1 Peter 3:12  
For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. 

Proverbs 15:8  
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

This is overwhelming proof that God is listening to the righteous.  Who are the righteous?  Firstfruits in the Salvation Process and with the Holy Spirit in them.  

Now someone is probably looking at John 9:31 and the statement, “Now we know that God heareth not sinners” and thinking they qualify as a sinner because they might have sinned in the last thirty days.  The sinner of John 9:31 is a unrepentant sinner and one well down the process of sin.  Firstfruits, by definition, repent and are repentant.  Therefore, they could never be labeled sinners.

Consult most any Bible commentary on John 9:31 on the meaning of sinners and you get, “heathen” or individuals outside of the Salvation Process.

Bottom-line?  God is hearing your prayers.
Question 2 Sometimes it feels awkward when I pray. Why?
There could be several reasons for a person feeling awkward when they pray.  Let us list a few in no particular order of occurrence or importance.

a] you’re tired.
b] you are not prepared.
c] you suffer from low self-esteem and/or you are currently being down on yourself.  You do not feel worthy to come before His throne.
d] you lack spiritual knowledge and you know/feel it.

First of all, know this:  All firstfruits feel awkward in prayer at one time or another.  How would you feel if you got a surprise invitation to come to the White House or to the corporate offices of Microsoft’s Bill Gates?  Wouldn’t you feel just a bit awkward?  Well, the President of the United States and Mr. Gates have nothing on God when it comes to power, prestige or position.  God, the Father is the President of the Universe and retains all power and knowledge.

Now I might understand feeling weird about having to go meet with the President or some corporate CEO but I am a firstfruit and there is no need to feel awkward coming before Almighty God.  Notice what the CEO of the Universe is saying to you:

Hebrews 4:16  
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Somehow I do not believe the President of the United States would send you this kind of message [coming boldly before him].

Does God use this idea of being bold somewhere other than Hebrews 4:16 which seems to be the primary verse used in this discussion?   Yes he does.

Hebrews 10:19-23
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 
20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 
21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

When it comes to the President of the United States or some powerful corporate head, I have no real idea who their most important visitor might be.  I do know who the most important visitor to God is…you.  Not only that, but you can come before Him any time, 24 hours a day and continue that visit for as long as you want,,, “in full assurance.”

Verse 23 urges us to hold fast our faith without wavering.  Do not allow any feeling of awkwardness to make you waver.  Go to God full of hope rather than despair.

Notice three more scriptures.

Ephesians 2:18  
For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 

Ephesians 3:12  
In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. 

Romans 8:15-17
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

You are a child and heir of God.  You are a join-heir with Christ, so replace the awkwardness with boldness and confidence.

Question 3 I’m praying about a certain problem or person and not seeing/getting a clear answer.  Why?  This question might also read: I seem to be having one problem after another.  Does this mean that God is not listening?
Again, there could be many reasons why you are not seeing or getting a clear answer.  Let me borrow a portion of my three-part sermon on prayer with the title, “Your Best Communication.”

Recognizing God’s Answers to Prayer
 
God has a plan. Everything that happens in this world is part of that plan. 
 
God is in charge and He has reasons for things happening the way they do. When we ask for something that falls in line with His plan and His goals for us RIGHT NOW, He'll give us what we ask RIGHT NOW. 
 
When we ask for something that we DON'T NEED RIGHT NOW, He may wait until the time is right. God is seldom early, but never late. 
 
                 How God Answers Prayer
 
Depending on what we ask, when we ask, and what God is doing, He will answer our prayers in different ways.
His answers will generally be: 
 
Yes 
Yes, and I'll give you even more than you asked for 
Yes, but not now 
Yes, but not as you expect 
No 
No, but I'll give you something else instead 
Nothing, silence, no answer 
 
As we build our relationship with God, we'll learn to know His voice. We'll learn to know what answer He gives us. A yes, no, or wait will be clear. 
 
1 ) Yes
When what we ask is in God's will for us Now, we get what we ask. It may not be right under our noses, but it will be there. 
 
1 John 5:14
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
 
2) Yes, and I'll give you more than you asked for
When we're right with God, and we ask according to His will, AND we can be good stewards of what He has for us, He sometimes gives us even more than we ask. 

2 Chronicles 1:11-12
11 And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:
12 Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.
 
Matthew 25:20-21
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
 
Verse 29
For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
 
3) Yes, but not now
Sometimes God makes us wait. Maybe the time isn't right. Maybe we're not yet ready for what He wants us to have. 
 
Maybe He's waiting for us to decide that His INVOLVEMENT in our lives is more important to us than His actual ANSWER. 
 
Maybe we just need a patience lesson. Whatever the case, we sometimes wait. 
 
Job 30:20
I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me: I stand up, and thou regardest me not.
 
Job 42:12
So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.
 
Luke 18:7-8 (ff)
7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily…
 
Psalm 40:1 SAYS
I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
 
4) Yes, but not as we expect
 
Often we pray, and don't see the answers He gives us, because we're looking in the wrong places. We look for the fruit and not the tree, we want to KNOW without having to LEARN: 
 
We want Patience without learning how to Wait 
We want Strength without learning how to Overcome Difficulties 
We want Wisdom without learning how to Solve Problems 
We want Prosperity without learning how to Work 
We want Courage without learning how to Face Danger 
We want Favors without learning to Recognize Opportunities 
 
When we ask for these things, God answers by exposing us to situations that TEACH us what we need to know. 
 
The old adage "be careful what you ask for, you may get it" is useful here. 
 
If you ask God for PATIENCE, He'll make you WAIT, which develops patience. 
 
If you ask for more COURAGE, you'll face DANGER, which develops courage. 
If you ask for Wisdom, you'll have PROBLEMS to solve, which develops wisdom. 
 
God is concerned with CHARACTER more than COMFORT. If God needs to put us in uncomfortable situations to teach us what we need to know, He will. 
 
5) No
Sometimes God says no. It may be that we're asking for something we can't handle. It may be that we are asking with wrong motives.
 
James 4:3
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
 
It may be that He just has other plans for us and our friends. 
 
Sometimes He doesn't heal. 
 
Sometimes He lets someone die. Sometimes He allows us to go through trouble to strengthen us. Sometimes 
 
His purposes and plans are better served by not doing what we ask, even when we plead with tears. 
 
Matthew 26:39
And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
 
Verses 45-46
45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
46 Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.
 
6) No, but I'll give you something else instead
We might be "in love" and pray desperately to have a certain person who, by divine intervention, isn't the one we end up with, and we praise Him in hindsight. 
 
We may plead to continue the work we've been doing for Him, when He needs us somewhere else.
 
We may desperately seek Him to remove a situation in our lives that is teaching us something we need to teach people about next year.
 
Whatever the case, sometimes God has something else better or more important for us, and we need to recognize His will and submit to His direction. 
 
Deuteronomy 3:25-27
25 I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon.
26 But the LORD was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the LORD said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter.
27 Get thee up into the top of Pisgah, and lift up thine eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and behold it with thine eyes: for thou shalt not go over this Jordan.
 
2 Corinthians 12:8-9---Paul’s affliction 
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
 
7) Nothing, dead silence from God
This is different from a NO. 
 
When God says No to something, we still feel His presence in our lives. 
 
Silence from God is the hardest answer of all. We plead and beg, but feel like God's not there. 
 
When God is turning His face from us, there is something wrong on our end. 
 
Maybe it's a commitment problem, maybe it's a sin we haven't confessed and repented of, maybe we're just trying so hard to solve the problem we're not letting God solve it for us. 
 
We need to let go and let God. 
 
When someone is drowning, a lifeguard will sometimes have to wait until the person is completely out of strength from flailing around trying to save himself before coming to the rescue, else the drowning person takes them both down. 
 
Similarly, God waits patiently for us to stop fighting so He can take care of us. 
 
Psalm 68:19
Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.
 
Isaiah 59:2
But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
 
Proverbs 28:9
He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
 
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.
 
Getting to know God's answers takes time and commitment. 
 
We learn to hear His voice by spending time with Him in prayer, and in His word. The more we rely on Him, the more He answers. 
 
The more He answers, the more we recognize His answers. The better we know Him, the easier it will be to Know what He's doing.
 
Finally, some words of encouragement,
 
Turn to Jude 1:20
 
Jude 1:20
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.
 
Ephesians 6:18
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.
 
Pray in the name of Jesus Christ
 
It is your BEST COMMUNICATION

See entire three-part sermon: here

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