Matthew 21:22b “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
The above verse is the one of the most misunderstood and misinterpreted verse in the Bible. If we pray and believe that we can fly and jump off a cliff to soar in the sky, we will fall to the ground and die! Prayer is not a monolog with our shopping list, want list and wish list. Prayer is not our vain babbling, grumbling and outburst of emotions; it is not telling the Lord what we want, how we want it and when we want it. Prayer is exercising our constitutional rights, promises, privileges and authorities within the divine laws, rules, regulations and clauses spelled out in our legal document, the Bible.
When Judges ruled Israel, everyone did what was right in his own eyes (Judges 21:25b). There was emotional chaos, spiritual confusion, political instability and moral erosion. People took law into their hands and lived immorally, indignantly and carelessly. At that time, Israel went to war with the Philistines and were defeated the first time. The Lord had promised the Israelites that they will chase their enemies if they walk according to the book of law that was given to them by Moses. They ignored the fact that they lived unrighteous lives and brought the “Ark of the Covenant” (which had the law of Moses in it), hoping that the presence of the Ark would bring them victory. 1 Samuel 4:3 Let us bring the ark of the Lord’s covenant from Shiloh, so that he may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies. However, the Israelites were defeated, slaughtered and the Ark was captured. Sleeping with the Bible next to our pillow will not drive out demons, only walking by the Word and bearing fruits of righteousness will fulfil promises and answer prayers.
Prayers that will not be heard:
1. Iniquity: Sin is missing the mark, transgression is crossing the line and iniquity is repeated transgression. Sin is entertaining a deceitful thought, transgression is exercising the thought and iniquity is repeating it over and over again. Psalm 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. Abiding by the instructions will keep us away from iniquity.
2. Injustice: We cannot appease the Lord with sweet talk and lavish gifts if we harbour injustice in our hearts. Proverbs 15:8 The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him. Injustice in our day to day lives is differential treatment, preferential treatment and mistreatment of people, controlled by emotions and not by justice or truth. God will not take sides because we sing and pray for hours. He is a God of justice and will shut His ears to those who habitually practice injustice.
3. Indignant: Pride, arrogance, resentment, anger, polluted thoughts, poisoned mind and piercing words will build a barrier and block our prayers from penetrating into the spiritual realm. Jesus in a parable compared the prayer of a proud, pompous and bragging ‘Pharisee’ who boasted about his fasting, tithing and purity with a ‘tax collector’ who stood at a distance and prayed a prayer of confession and humility. The prayer of the tax collector (sinner) who humbled himself was accepted rather than the ritualistic haughty Pharisee.
Practicing the lifestyle of Heaven on earth gives us access into the divine door and speaking the language of Heaven will unleash divine answers. Many prayers are not answered as both the divine lifestyle and the divine language are absent.
Proverbs 28:9 If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable.
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, touch my tongue to speak the language of Heaven, renew my mind to meditate on divine perceptions and fill my heart with divine purpose. Amen
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