But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;
and all these things shall be added unto you.
(Matthew 6:33)
It is important to learn how to wait before the Lord in prayer for His guidance and direction before acting. But it is equally important to know when not to pray. When God calls you to action, you must act, not continue to pray.
For example, at the bitter waters of Marah when Moses cried unto the Lord, God showed him exactly what to do to sweeten the waters. There was no need to wait further on the Lord in prayer. Moses was to act upon what God had revealed.
And he cried unto the Lord; and the Lord shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, Exodus 15:25
The same was true of Joshua when he prayed about the terrible defeat of Israel at Ai. God revealed there was sin among the people of Israel. He actually told Joshua...
And he cried unto the Lord; and the Lord shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, Exodus 15:25
The same was true of Joshua when he prayed about the terrible defeat of Israel at Ai. God revealed there was sin among the people of Israel. He actually told Joshua...
And the Lord said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you. Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the Lord God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you. (Joshua 7:10-13)
It was not the time to pray. It was the time to act upon the direction given in prayer. Some people use prayer as an excuse to avoid involvement and acting upon what God has told them to do.
And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more. Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the Lord will say unto me more. Numbers 22:18-19
Balaam had no right to go to God with the same matter for God had clearly forbidden him to have anything to do with the request that was made of him.
And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed. Numbers 22:5
Just as assuredly as God answers prayers, we can hinder our prayers by any of the following:
-Sin of any kind: Isaiah
59:1-2; Psalm 66:18; Isaiah 1:15; Proverbs 28:9
-Idols in the heart: Ezekiel
14:1-3
-An unforgiving spirit: Mark 11:25;
Matthew 5:23
-Selfishness, wrong motives: Proverbs 21:13; James
4:3
-Power hungry, manipulative prayers: James 4:2-3
-Wrong treatment of marriage
partner: 2 Peter 3:7
-Self-righteousness: Luke
18:10-14
-Unbelief: James 1:6-7
-Not abiding in Christ and His Word: John 15:7
-Lack of compassion: Proverbs
21:13
-Hypocrisy, pride, meaningless
repetition: Matthew 6:5; Job 35:12-13
-Not asking according to the will of
God: James 4:2-3
-Not asking in Jesus' name: John 16:24
-Satanic demonic hindrances: Daniel 10:10-13;
Ephesians 6:12
-God has a higher purpose in denying your request: 2 Corinthians 12:8-9
-God has a higher purpose in denying your request: 2 Corinthians 12:8-9
And finally,
- Not seeking first the Kingdom: Matthew 6:33
It is only when you seek first the Kingdom of God
that you are promised the "other things"
When you do not know how to pray as you should, prayer is hindered. This is why it is important to let the Holy Spirit pray through you:
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Romans 8:26
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Romans 8:26
If you want your prayers answered, you have to pray according to the word of God.
Biblical Studies
05/15/15
07/22/16
12/25/18
12/30/19
ALWAYS ask the question of, "And meanwhile, what does the ENTIRE Word say?"
ReplyDeleteUsed to think the exact same way regarding Matthew 6:33. However...
Just checked the context of Matthew 6:25-34. It's food, drink AND CLOTHING. There IS NO "guarantee" from Scripture on anything else. As those born again, we are instructed to "be content in all things" (Philippians 4:11-13). Those born again are bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 1 Corinthians 7:23). The Holy Spirit can do whatever He sees fit. The Lord is FAR MORE interested in a person's eternal well-being (2 Peter 3:8-9) than in how something might "feel" from time to time. No thanks on "Word of Faith Movement", "Name It / Claim It", "Prosperity Gospel" or "Progressive Christianity" nonsense. Will instead cheerfully do what The Holy Spirit says (Matthew 4:4). There's only one way to be forgiven. It's in John 14:6 and John 19:30. People get saved to be forgiven and therefore avoid an eternity in hell. THAT's what we're supposed to be telling others. We are to be HIS witnesses when The Holy Spirit shows up, not "get out there and witness as a Christian duty". That's where cults and "salvation by works" comes from. There's also Matthew 5:16 to consider. To The Lord be all glory!
See also 1 Corinthians 3:9, 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, 2 Corinthians 5:4-5 & Ephesians 1:13-14: He’s also The CreatOR while we humans are merely the creatED.