Prayers and Answers

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. ¹⁵ And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. (1 John 5:14, 15)

There are some prayers God is guaranteed to answer. There are some petitions He will always grant, supplication that turns His head, and request He is anxious to fulfill. The prayer warrior is not contending with a stingy and reluctant God, nor is he wrestling blessing out of a tight fist – but he rests His cares at the feet of his Father, Who already know what he needs. He is not looking for the answer only, but looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of his faith, and the One who fills all his every need.

Truly, there is not a good question for which Jesus is not the answer, and no human need He Himself does not fill. The intercessor prays the prayers he heard Jesus pray, and Jesus never offered a prayer the Father did not answer and honor . . .

"Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.  And I know that You always hear Me.” (John 11:41b, 42a)

Jesus prioritized His relationship to the Father, always honoring, praising, emulating, and abiding in Him. Therefore, His prayers fit perfectly with the will of the Father Who already knows and sees all. All His Words were salt and light, and all His prayers were conceived and offered in the agreement with the will of the Father. The saint who increases in abiding with Him and lives in His presence will know His heart, and he will lift up prayers God is ever willing to receive and answer. Do you pray like that?

Pastor Eric

Revelation- When Jesus Calls My Name

Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.  Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” 

Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher). John 20:14-16

Jesus had become the central figure in Mary’s world, yet she still understood so little of Him. She knew Jesus – so she thought. She had been with Him, watched Him, served Him, followed Him, and deeply loved Him. Yes, Mary knew Jesus better than most, but that knowledge was so limited that she didn’t recognize Him though He stood right in front of her . . . “and [she] did not know that it was Jesus.”  Mary’s knowledge was built on familiarity and experience, and that’s true of most of us today. And, just like Mary, there is something lacking our in knowledge of who Jesus really is.

There is a deeper level of knowing the Lord reserved for those desperate for His abiding presence – those of us who hunger and thirst for a more personal and authentic relationship with God. We don’t see Him at first, but He sees us - Jesus said to her, “Mary”. Once we hear our name on His lips, we are never the same. She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!”  Now we see the One who sees us. This is the point where our knowledge of Him becomes something greater; it becomes revelation.

The term “revelation” means unveiling. Therefore it is perfectly possible to possess knowledge, yet totally miss the true nature of a matter altogether. God is determined that our knowledge of His Son progress beyond an intellectual acknowledgment of the historical Jesus – that He was simply a great teacher, a martyr, a great man, and a prophet. The Holy Spirit will not stop until we come to see Christ for ALL He is – God, Lord, and our personal Savior! This is the unveiling He does in our hearts when we earnestly seek Him. He comes to us and calls us by name, bringing us into the most intimate personal relationship – oneness! Search for Him and listen closely. You’ll hear Him calling your name.

Love and peace,

Pastor Eric