God Answers Prayers

[0:00] Hallelujah! We thank God you've tuned into this message by David Entry at Caris Church. No hand can help you with the fulfillment of your destiny, but the Word of God. May God's hand align you further into your destiny through this Word.

[0:16] The main and only reason why we really pray is because God answers prayers. And secondly, because we need Him to answer the prayers.

[0:26] You are in need of something, so you want God to answer prayers. But the main reason why we pray is because God answers prayers.

[0:37] Let's all say God answers prayers. You didn't realize that I actually prophesied to you that the prayer you prayed answers are coming. Because if God answers prayers, then when we pray to Him, we know He answers prayers, so He will answer.

[0:58] According to 1 John 5, verse 15, He said, if He answers, then we know that whatsoever thing we ask, whatsoever thing that we have petition or we ask, we know that we have the petition that we desire of Him.

[1:22] The reason why we pray is because God answers prayers. It says, be anxious for nothing. Philippians chapter 4, verse 6. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication.

[1:33] Prayer is not just a religious exercise. God answers prayers, but it's not every prayer He will answer. because it's not every prayer that constitutes the prayer God answers.

[1:50] That's one. Number two, the Christian God, the one who answers prayers, is different from every other prayer people pray. Okay.

[2:01] This is so foundational in Christianity that if you believe in the God of the Bible, then there's no other God.

[2:13] Does that make sense? You can't say, I believe in the God of the Bible, and yeah, but there are other gods. That means you don't believe in it because it is contrary. It is contradiction.

[2:24] The law of non-contradiction means that one thing cannot be true in one state and false in the same state.

[2:36] So, if it doesn't contradict, the Bible says that hear, O Israel, the Lord, our God, is one Lord.

[2:48] Okay. One Lord. So, He's one. There is one God and one mediator between God and man. So, that means any other thing that is supposed to be God is not God.

[3:04] So, in the Bible, that God is never spelled with capital G, spelled with small g, and all the other gods. So, anything other people are praying to outside of Christ is not the Christian God and is not actually God.

[3:28] It's not God. In Deuteronomy chapter 11, 11, it makes, the Bible makes us, verse 16 and 28, the Bible makes us to understand that, take heed to yourself that, that your hearts be not deceived and ye turn aside and serve, did you see that?

[3:53] Serve other gods and worship them. So, what people are, if you move away from God, you are serving other gods or you are worshipping other gods.

[4:04] And what I'm saying is that those other gods are demons. They are not God. Do you understand what I'm saying?

[4:17] They are not God. I want to show you. Look at verse 28. Verse 28, what does it say? It says that, and a curse if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord, your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day to go after other gods which ye have not known.

[4:43] It said, if you turn away from, so you can turn away from this God. It's one God. Esau says, it's one God. One God. So, in Deuteronomy chapter 6 verse 14, it is another scripture there.

[4:58] You shall not go after other gods of the gods of the people which, see, the people do have gods, but it's not the same as Jehovah God. It's not the same as the true God.

[5:12] Every other religion, you see, religion, yesterday I said it, religion is man's creation to replace God. Man's own creation to replace God.

[5:24] Because there's only one goal. And the only way to get to God is through the means he has given, who is Jesus Christ. So, Jesus said, John 14, 6, I am the way, the truth, and the life.

[5:36] No man comes to the Father and says, this is, listen, this is so basic in Christianity. Some people don't want to believe it or don't want to go with it because they are afraid they don't want to offend anybody.

[5:52] It's not you. If you are a believer, this is what you have believed. If you are a believer, what you have believed is there is only one God and there is only one way to the God of heaven who is Jesus Christ.

[6:08] So, Jesus Christ says that if you pray in my name, I will do it. Whatsoever you ask, in my name. The prayer in his name is the prayer that is addressed to God, the actual God.

[6:24] So, John chapter 14, verse 13, whatsoever you shall ask, in my name. Look at verse 14. In my name, I will do it. So, it must be chapter 16, verse 23 and 24.

[6:38] In my name, it must be in his name. Very light, I say unto you that whatsoever you ask the Father, in my name, it must be. If it's not through him, it's not Christian prayer. That's why I cannot allow somebody to come and practice any other prayer in my house.

[6:56] No, it doesn't matter but that's my God, that's the way I worship God. No, no, no, I'm not, I'm not, I'm not against you. Pastor, but why are you saying it? First Corinthians chapter 10, verse 19 and 20.

[7:08] Look at what the Bible said and you know I didn't say it. First Corinthians chapter 10, verse 19. It says, don't you know, I say to you, that don't you know that the things, it says that, what, what say I then?

[7:21] That the, that the idol is anything or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is anything.

[7:31] So that's what somebody said. It's nothing. If somebody's calling on his God, you know, leave him alone. It doesn't mean anything. It's nothing. He said, I'm not saying that what they are offering to idols, that thing they are offering means so much.

[7:44] But the truth is, look at verse 20. Verse 20, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to. So, other gods is called devils and not to.

[8:00] So, if you are praying and it's not to God, how do you know you are praying to God? In the name of Jesus. When you go for functions, they said multi-faith prayer and then someone has come to stand there or some religious person says, religious Christian said, and this and all we ask in the name of God.

[8:24] What's the meaning of that nonsense? Which God are you talking about? In the name of God. They are afraid to pray in the name of Jesus. In the name of God. That's not Christian prayer. Christian prayer must be in the name of Jesus.

[8:37] It definitely must be honor de Jesus. In the name of Jesus. Honor de Jesus. In Psalm 106 verse 37, it said, they sacrificed their children to Malachi and then it said, to demons, to devils.

[8:54] They were sacrificed. They think they are doing good sacrifice. Yeah, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils because that activity, they thought they are practicing some nice religion of some blessings from a God.

[9:07] It says, no, you are doing it to demons. Deuteronomy chapter 32 verse 17. Please read it. They sacrificed unto devils, not to God.

[9:20] Hey! They are praying to devils. I told you. They are praying. Deuteronomy 32, 17 again. They sacrificed unto devils, not to God.

[9:33] To God whom they knew not. to new gods that came newly up whom your fathers feared not. New gods.

[9:45] So, it's very clear in scripture that the sacrifices or any prayer to any spiritual activity directed towards any deity which is not God or any deity which is not the God of heaven is being channeled to devils.

[10:13] Revelation chapter 9 verse 20. Religion is not just some people doing something trying to reach out to a God they have created to replace Jehovah God.

[10:25] You know Bible talks about how they create they make idols and they worship it and call it God. So, it's the creation. Religion is a creation of man to replace God so that they can serve that thing in the way they want to.

[10:41] You don't make destiny decisions based on somebody's good or those things. that's why it's important. You don't attend a church because it's next to your house. You will suffer a lot of losses if you're born again and if you're not born again you might not be born again and you burn in hell.

[11:03] If you're born again the church you attend will determine your reward in heaven. What do you mean by that? Because it's your teachings that will help you to practice God properly and walk with God properly.

[11:17] And that's what will determine your reward. And what kind of demonic harassment you will be bailed out of on earth whilst you're on earth? Because some demons don't know certain people.

[11:31] They said Jesus I know Paul I know. So there are some people the demons don't know them because they don't have the authorization to handle demons. Offering is a necessary part of worship.

[11:43] It's just part of it. If you can't serve God with your resources you are not serving genuinely. Amen. Christian prayer is a prayer to the true God. And the true God is a prayer answering God.

[11:56] But why are your prayers not answered? Because prayers that are not answered are likely to lack some ingredients. You see food.

[12:10] Different people can cook the same food. the same okay so they said your love. Why? Because you might try to cook it but certain ingredients how to combine the ingredients might be wanting.

[12:22] Yeah. Same way that if it's going to be a Christian prayer that needs to be answered it mustn't lack some ingredients. So I've given you six of those ingredients already.

[12:35] What's the number one ingredient? Number one ingredient is it must be in line with the will of God. in line with God's will. Number two the prayer you must pray it.

[12:49] You must ask. There's a difference between praying and hoping or wishing. People are wishing one day I'll get married. Pray about it. Turn that wish into a request before God.

[13:03] Pray about it. So number two is prayer that has been offered. So you must pray. Prayer that have to be offered. Ask and he shall receive. Seek and he shall find.

[13:14] Number three he says you have to pray in faith. Without faith it's impossible to please God. And he says that don't let that person think he will receive anything from God.

[13:26] James 1 6 and 7. fear. The next point is fervency. Fervency here means seriousness. Don't be praying and yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah I'm not interested really.

[13:41] You're wasting your time. There must be seriousness, intensity and that will call for focus. That is why Hezekiah turned his face to the wall. He didn't want distractions.

[13:52] Sometimes you are praying. When you are praying you have to try and minimize distractions. That's why closing of eye becomes advantageous. It doesn't mean God answers because you close your eyes but in order to focus.

[14:06] There are some things that God has to show you is better when your eyes are closed. That's why sometimes he waits for you to sleep because when your mind is not on other things it's easy for him to speak to you.

[14:20] So that's why we close our eyes to pray. When you don't close your eyes it's not bad prayer. It doesn't mean God not but focus. It helps you to stay fervent. Fervent prayer.

[14:32] So sometimes when we are praying it's better especially when we are praying believing God and asking God. When you are serious about can you imagine when your life is under a threat and you can tell this is listen you don't care where you are you move and go and stand somewhere and be praying you don't want to see anybody.

[14:50] You don't want to see how someone is praying how someone is not praying who is coming late who is not coming. Who is falling and let them usher. You are not an usher. You are praying. Sometimes an usher who is in need is ushering but his mind is praying.

[15:05] He's praying. And if you are not careful he's praying. If he catches one person falling if you try and fall at the same time one is enough because he also is praying. But what I'm trying to say is that there must be concentration which will guarantee who generates fervency.

[15:21] number five is righteousness. Your lifestyle matters when it comes to answers to your prayers. Your lifestyle. You are lying, always lying and expecting God to bless you anyway.

[15:39] Harboring a certain lifestyle. Doing some things. there's a difference between falling into temptation and living in sin. Some people they live in it.

[15:54] In fact, it's more common with certain genders to be in church and doing a lot but your mind you have determined this person I'm not letting go.

[16:05] We will do what we do always. After church we will meet. And all of us can fall into temptation but not all of us live in sin.

[16:17] And the lifestyle of sin makes sure God doesn't answer your prayers. I quoted Proverbs chapter 15 verse 29 said the prayer of the wicked goes, hey, I don't like it. It's offensive to God.

[16:30] The Lord is far from the wicked but he has the prayers of the righteous. And there's another scripture which says that the prayer of the unrighteous or sorry on the righteous or the wicked is an abomination.

[16:41] Bible uses the word abomination. Yes. So, ingredients that will make your prayers not get answered is unrighteousness.

[16:53] Lifestyle of unrighteousness. Then, the point number six is pray in the spirit. Pray in the spirit with your spirit.

[17:07] Number seven number seven is praying with a thankful heart. That's why we're singing all those songs.

[17:19] A prayer meeting that is void, that is dry of thankfulness or thanksgiving is not effective prayers. It's not an effective prayer meeting.

[17:31] In prayer meetings, we must always be quick to say things. But whilst you are praying, your heart is thankful that you've gotten the opportunity to pray, you say, oh God, that I can pray today, that I'm praying, thank you.

[17:44] You are actually grateful to be able to pray. So, it's a prayer with a thankful heart. If you lack a thankful heart, you block your prayers.

[17:59] Philippians chapter 4 verse 6 says that, be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication and then what? And then what?

[18:11] With what? Thanksgiving pushes it further, pushes it up. You serve your prayer on the plate of Thanksgiving.

[18:23] You serve your prayer to God on the plate of Thanksgiving. So, Thanksgiving is the vehicle that takes the petition and the request to God.

[18:35] God doesn't answer the prayers of memories, complainers, oh God, look at all this, why is it me, ask for me alone. Never go into prayer and say, God, why me?

[18:51] Why me? That why me is an expression of complaint. And it blocks heaven, in fact, it doesn't allow heaven to accept you.

[19:02] why me? But who? Who should it be? Why me? We should say, God, I am grateful.

[19:13] Oh, Lord, I am grateful. Paul and Salas were in prison and they could have complained bitterly. What have they done?

[19:25] They only cast a demon out. That's all they did. They cast a demon and they set somebody free and they have been brutally maltreated and thrown into prison without trial.

[19:37] Why? But at midnight, Acts 16 25, at midnight, Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God and the prisoners heard them.

[19:49] What are people hearing about you say? What are they hearing when they listen to you? Is it a heart of thankfulness or a heart of ingratitude or murmuring?

[20:01] Memoring, murmuring, complaining. There will always be times where things will not be good. There will always be better days ahead. But, remember, it is always important to be thankful.

[20:17] Thankful. So, number seven ingredient, let me add one more. Number eight ingredient, that makes a Christian prayer acceptable.

[20:28] ingredient number eight is, let me give you a scripture first. Matthew chapter 18 verse 19.

[20:40] It says that if two or three, again I say unto you, if two, sorry, two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by my father.

[20:55] So, you see, there is a guarantee for an agreed prayer, a corporate prayer. There is a certain advantage you gain when you are praying in a corporate environment.

[21:10] You understand that? It is not the main thing that makes your prayer get answered, but it has, it gives you an advantage. So, corporate prayer is a big ingredient that adds to the effectiveness of your prayers.

[21:27] Does that make sense? Corporate prayers. Corporate prayers. That means the people you hang around when you are praying and the people you pray with.

[21:39] That's why don't say I'm doing my fasting and I'll pray at home. We are gathering to pray. When the believers gather to pray, don't exempt yourself because there is always an added advantage.

[21:51] Peter was kept in prison, but prayer was made by the church. Acts 12 5 is the church that came together in prayer. And in Acts chapter 4 verse 24, they lifted up their voice.

[22:05] Their voice, not their voices. King James says that they lifted up their voice to God because it's a corporate thing. They became, God said that their people is one.

[22:20] Genesis chapter 11. And whatever they said they had to do. Nothing came from, I think there's six, yeah. And the Lord said, behold, the people is one.

[22:31] That's funny English. The people is one. Let's say the people is one. Say it again. The people is one. And they have all one language.

[22:44] You see that? One language. What? They are all saying the same thing together. when we say let us pray about United Kingdom, you are not saying God. You know, they say you should pray about United Kingdom, but my hair loss is more important for me.

[22:59] They all have one language, and this they began to do. And now nothing will be restrained from them which they have imagined to do.

[23:11] Why? Because they are his one. Their people is one. Prayer of agreement, unity. We come together, we all raise our voice to God.

[23:21] Oh Lord, we are praying for every marriage represented in this house. Every marriage, every single person who is not married, who intends to be married.

[23:32] Oh Lord, we are raising our voice. Remember homes, remember people, remember your people. We are all lifting our voice to pray.

[23:43] So prayer corporate in a corporate environment, you get an added advantage. That's why there are different types of jolop. Even though basic ingredients are the same, some ones, the way they combine, they may add a one.

[23:58] Food enhancer. Okay, food, but people like it. Shrimps, maggie shrimps. They can add something, though basically they finish the jolop, they can add something, sometimes they do it like this, put it on the top, and it makes it sweeter.

[24:15] Most food you buy from the street, they have to make it sweeter. It's not necessarily your health they are thinking about, it's your money they are thinking about, you must enjoy it.

[24:29] And so an added ingredient for effective prayer is corporate prayers. Are you getting it? So from point one to point seven, you can have basic jolop.

[24:43] but if you add enhances, I don't get you with that. Ah, then the smell, ah, yummy, yummy, the aroma, ah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[24:57] In Revelation, I think chapter, chapter eight, I think it's Revelation chapter eight, Revelation chapter eight, it says that, and the smoke of the incense which came with the prayers of the seed ascended before God out of the hands of the angel.

[25:14] So the angel was burning some incense, but there's an ingredient, the smell of the prayer of the seed, hmm, hmm, and so the incense, our prayer is like fragrance.

[25:30] That's why the gentleman said first it was a fragrance. So our prayers, it's like a fragrance that is added to incense in heaven. When you read the text, it says that there was silence in heaven.

[25:44] Yes, I think from the verse two or so, verse one, look at verse one quickly. When I opened the seven seals, you see, there was silence in heaven for about the space of half an hour, not too long, half an hour, and what happened?

[25:55] And I saw a seven angels which stood before God and to them, seven angels which stood before, and to them were given seven trumpets. And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer, and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of the saints upon the golden altar, which was before the throne.

[26:20] So, incense, and I add the prayers, and I begin to ascend. God said, hmm. So, that ingredient, when you add the corporate one, it makes the things smell better.

[26:33] That's why there's no future for a lone rager Christian. Thank you for listening to this message by David Entry. We pray you have been strengthened and enlightened. You can connect with David Entry on all relevant social media platforms, including Instagram and LinkedIn.

[26:50] You can also hear more messages from David Entry on all relevant streaming platforms and the Caris Church app. Don't forget to like and share the message. Be blessed.