How to receive Answers to Prayers

HOW TO RECEIVE ANSWERS TO PRAYERS

By Hal Dekker

2003.11.26

Last update to this page: 2022.01.02

God's Word tells us clearly how to receive answers to our prayers. A mortal can bring any part of the Kingdom of the God into manifestation in his or her life by fulfilling the requirements given in God's Word. We can receive answers to prayers under any category of the nine manifestations (phanerōsis - a demonstration and clear showing) of the gift of holy spirit listed in 1 Cor. 12, if we fulfill the required conditions which make us eligible to receive.

Getting the Father to act on our behalf in any circumstance in our life is all about our fulfilling of the specific conditions given in his Word. If you know the combination to a lock you can dial those numbers and the lock opens. Here's how to get "dialed-in" to receiving answers to prayers.

Reasons Why We Do Not Receive Answers To Our Prayers

We first must have discipled ourselves to Jesus, according to his standards of discipleship, not ours.

John 15:7 (LIT/UBS4) If perhaps¹⁴³⁷ (ean) you may stay (meinēte) in (en) to me (emoi), and (kai) the (ta) statements (rhēmata) of me (mou) may stay (meinē) in (en) to you (humin), cause yourselves to request (aitēsasthe) if perhaps (ean) whatever (ho) you may desire (thelēte), and (kai) [whatever, RE] shall cause itself to come to pass (genēsetai) for you (humin),

"If perhaps " - The question Jesus suggests is whether a disciple of him desires to continue to remain a disciple of him. This is represented by the conjunction in the Greek text, ean, from combining ei, a particle of condition, and an, a particle of uncertainty. Whether the present condition of a disciple's discipleship continues, is uncertain, because it is determined through the disciple's own desire.

"you may stay in to me" - If perhaps a disciple desires to continue to be a disciple of Jesus, through meeting all the requirements Jesus says in the context of John 15 and elsewhere, then that disciple stays "in to him", Jesus. According to the immediate context in John 15, the idiom in to me can be defined as watchfully keeping all of the Father's and Jesus' commands. To watchfully keep (John 15:10) all the Father's and Jesus' commands and bear fruit (John 15:2), through necessity requires that Jesus' disciples control what they think, say and do, to be the same things as what the Father and Jesus say his disciples are to think, say and do. Therefore thinking, saying and doing all the things the Father and his son Jesus say we are to think, say and do, is staying and being in to him. The idiom in to me is seen in many similar phrases throughout God's Word, such as, in me, in Christ, in him, and so on (Rom. 8:1, 9:1, 12:5; 1 Cor. 1:2, 1:30, many more).

If I had no contractual relationship with a building contractor, spelling out in detail what I offer to him for coming and putting a new roof on my house, then why should I expect him to show up and put a new roof on my house? The God, Elohim, who is the Father Jehovah, works the same way with his children through means of a covenant relationship. It's a spiritual contract between his heart and our heart. The fine print of the contract is his Word, The Word of God. The fine print requires that we make offerings, which are sacrifices of love to him (Eph. 5:2), and praise to him (Heb 13:15), and in return he will keep our "roof" from leaking. The offerings and sacrifices which are acceptable to him, generally speaking, are to love him and to love our neighbor like we love ourselves (Mat. 22:37-40), and to do "good works" (Mat. 5:16; Eph. 2:10), which is bringing forth "fruit" (John 15), to become pleasing to him in his sight (Col. 1:10). In his Word God the heavenly Father tells us what we can do to please him (1 John 3:22; Heb. 11:6; John 15; and elsewhere).

No Covenant Relationship With the Father

According to God's Word, receiving answers to prayers begins with us discipling ourselves to Jesus Christ, to watchfully keep all the commandments of him. Then when we've received the new birth above, baptism in the gift of holy spirit from Christ Jesus, we enter into a covenant relationship with the Father, as his children by birth, and heirs of his grace, which qualifies us to receive answers to our prayers. As God's true children through spiritual birth through his "seed", his holy spirit becomes resident within us (not as adopted children), he has Fatherly responsibilities towards us his children, and we have responsibilities towards him as his children. This concept is referred to in God's Word as a covenant relationship. The children of God are to carry out their covenant responsibilities through their discipleship to God's son, Jesus Christ.

According to holy scriptures, both parties, the Father and his child, are to be obedient to the conditions of the covenant in order for there to be continuity and a flow of benefits between the two parties. Since the Father never lies, and has ample power and opportunity to keep all his responsibilities he has set for himself according to the new covenant in Jesus Christ's shed blood, the error therefore is always on the part of the mortal to strive to keep his covenant responsibilities towards the Father. How can those who have no covenant with the Father, and who have no knowledge of the covenant responsibilities which must be fulfilled, hope to have foundationless, sporadic prayers answered? The Father is a God of miracles, and infinite power and mercy, and overlooking required covenant conditions remains his prerogative, which he has exercised countless times, as recorded in his Word.

At one of the most unique times in mortals history, at that time when the lamb of God, Jesus Christ was in the flesh upon the earth, when the old covenant containing the Mosaic Law was about to draw to a close and The Father's new covenant in Jesus' blood was about to begin, Jesus healed many based only upon their simple believing upon him, as if Jesus' blood had already been poured out even though it had not yet! Isn't that amazing! But now, since Jesus blood has been poured out for all mortalkind, to pay for the penalty for our sin nature, and the gift of holy spirit, the new birth above, has been given on the day of Pentecost, all mortals everywhere are commanded to repent, and to call upon the name of 'Jesus', and those who should search after the Lord will find him. And of those, them who search for peace shall find it, and them who search for wisdom shall find it, and them who search for eternal life shall receive it.

A covenant is a solemn and binding agreement between two or more parties, to do or keep from doing specific things. With the God, the Father, It is a solemn agreement as well as a formal contract, which lays out the details of the various responsibilities each of the parties of the covenant has towards the other. A covenant between he and us is by far more solemn and formal, and deserves much more respect than any covenant or contract made between lying and sinning mortals. Because the God, the Father can absolutely be counted upon to perform his covenant responsibilities towards us, even sometimes if we can't keep ours! But, to become eligible to receive the benefits of being in a covenant relationship with the God, we must first disciple ourselves to his son Jesus Christ, and then come into a covenant relationship with him, through his son Jesus Christ.

Answers to prayers come as a result of first discipling ourselves to Jesus, and then coming into a covenant relationship with the Father, through his son Jesus Christ, and then building a habitual lifestyle of living our life his way, following after his son Jesus, based upon having knowledge and believing upon his Word, and keeping his commandments, and doing those things which are pleasing in his sight. The Father In his Word lays out the benefits to us for entering into a covenant relationship with him, which benefits to us are his responsibilities. But, he lays out also our responsibilities to him and his son Jesus, which keeping of those responsibilities maintains our eligibility to continue to receive benefits from him.

If we have discipled ourselves to Jesus Christ and have entered into a covenant relationship with the Father then shout and jump for joy! But if we still do not always or seldom receive answers to prayers, then there are still certain covenant responsibilities to which we are yet faithful in our discipleship.

Praying For What We Don't Need Only To Feed Our Hedonisms

James 4:1 (LIT/UBS4) From where (pothen) [are] wars (polemoi) [from]?

And (kai) from where (pothen), among (en) you (humin), [are] fights (machai) [from]?

[Are they] absolutely not (ouk) from here (enteuthen), out (ek) of the (tōn) hedonisms (hēdonōn) of you (humōn), [out] of the (tōn) arming of yourselves (strateuomenōn) among (en) the (tois) members (melesin) of you (humōn)?

The members of our physical bodies have a multitude of constant desires and needs, about which we spend a ton of time trying to satisfy those physical bodily needs. James speaks of hedonisms, the natural sin nature over-desire for physical pleasures, over which we are willing to go to war to murder our neighbor, so we can steal his from him. Our physical bodies constantly need to be fed, kept warm, bathed, scratched, rubbed, etc. Our physical body is constantly interrupting us to have its 'needs' satisfied.

James 4:2 (LIT/UBS4) You lust over (epithumeite) [the produce of righteousness, v3:18], and (kai) you absolutely do not have (ouk echete) [it]!

You murder (phoneuete), and (kai) you are zealous (zēloute), and (kai) you can absolutely not inherently power yourselves (ou dunasthe) to hit upon²⁰¹³ (epituchein) [it]!

You cause yourselves to fight (machesthe) and (kai) you make war (polemeite)!

You absolutely do not have (ouk echete) [it] through (dia) the (to) [sake of] you (humas) do not cause yourselves to request (mē aiteisthai) [it]!

"to hit upon" - an ancient colloquialism meaning to obtain it ourselves without stealing it from someone else. James says we don't have what we need because we don't ask for it!

James 4:3 (LIT/UBS4) You request (aiteite) [it] and (kai) you absolutely do not receive (ou lambanete) [it], through the reason that (dioti) you cause yourselves to request (aiteisthe) [it] maliciously (kakōs), in order that (hina) you may spend (dapanēsēte) [it] in (en) the (tais) hedonisms (hēdonais) of you (humōn)?

Sometimes when we do ask for something from God, we ask for it out of an evil desire to satisfy a sin nature hedonistic desire of the members of our bodies.

How much food do we really need to digest to satisfy our physical body's need for nutrition?
How big does the roof over our heads need to be to really keep us dry?
How many closets full of garments and how many pairs of shoes does our physical body really need to be warm and comfortable?
How many sexual partners do we really need to satisfy our physical body's need for sexual satisfaction?
How much money do we really need to purchase the things we 'need'?

Is the order these are in okay with you? What order would you put them in?

Three 'square' meals a day? For many people in the world today that's 2.5 times more than they get. If we plan on getting in the sight of the Father while simultaneously being well pleasing in his eyes, then we need to deeply consider these spiritual matters James brings to us, before coming to the Father in prayer for our own 'needs'! If we're not clear about the distinction the holy scriptures, God Almighty's Word, makes between 'need' and 'greed', then we may pray for something outside of the boundaries of his will, and in that case our prayer will not be answered. I have learned long ago that whenever a prayer is not answered, to go to the Word and don't quit studying until I find out why. Otherwise I'm not growing spiritually in the wisdom of Jesus Christ, but only riding along in ignorance. Ignorance quickly turns to stupidity if I desire something outside the boundaries of The Father's Word.

What We Must Do To Receive Answers To Prayers?

Jesus' wisdom gives us the foundational clues which we must understand, to begin to fulfill the conditions to receive answers to our prayers.

Mat. 6:30 (LIT/UBS4) But (de) if (ei) the (ho) God (theos) thusly (houtōs) enrobes (amphiennusin) the (ton) fodder (chorton) being (onta) of the (tou) field (agrou) today (sēmeron), and (kai) tomorrow (aurion) it is being thrown (ballomenon) into (eis) an oven (klibanon), [shall He] absolutely not (ou) [enrobe] you [humas) much (pollō) more (mallon), ones of little belief (oligopistoi)!?

Mat. 6:31 (LIT/UBS4) Therefore (oun), do not worry (mē merimnēsēte), saying (legontes), ‘What (ti) may we eat (phagōmen)?’, or (ē), ‘What (ti) may we drink (piōmen)?’, or (ē), ‘What (ti) [robe, v30, RE] may we throw around ourselves⁴⁰¹⁶ (peribalōmetha)?’,

Mat. 6:32 (LIT/UBS4) because (gar) ethnic groups (ethnē) search over (epizētousin) [the sake, AE] of all (panta) of these things (tauta);

because (gar) the (ho) Father (patēr) of you (humōn), the (ho) heavenly one (ouranios), has seen (oiden) that (hoti) you need (chrēzete) absolutely all (hapantōn) of these things (toutōn).

God's not blind, he can see, and he knows what we have need of, even before we do!

Mat. 6:33 (LIT/UBS4) But (de) search (zēteite) first (prōton) for the (tēn) Kingdom⁹³² (basileian) of the (tou) God (theou), and (kai) the (tēn) righteousness together with (dikaiosunēn) him (autou), and (kai) all (panta) these things (tauta) shall be added (prostethēsetai) to you (humin).

Jesus says that the heavenly Father will put towards us all the things we need, if we "search first for the Kingdom⁹³² of the God." If our 8 to 5 job is all about making money so we can buy our next food, drink and clothing, then is Jesus saying that searching for the Kingdom of the God, and righteous together with him, should be more important to us than our 8 to 5 job? Yes, that's exactly what he is saying! He's not saying we can't have a job, but he's telling us where our hearts and heads should be to be pleasing in God's sight. Jesus is saying our first priority should be searching for the Kingdom of God and righteousness together with him, God. If that is not our first priority then are we pleasing the Father? Everyone needs to answer that question for themselves, and then live with the results of their decision. When we do not get answers to our prayers from the Father we need to go back to his Word and find out why.

I've learned that one of the main reasons I didn't receive answers to prayer was because God had already answered it in his Word. I was simply too lazy to go to his Word and dig it out. God and his son Jesus Christ don't need to give us special revelation in answer to prayers, that he has already given in his Word. He expects us to know his Word first. And sometimes I do not receive answers to prayer because I actually don't please him at the moment. That's when it's time to quickly repent again.

How Do We Search First For The Kingdom Of The God?

We search first for the Kingdom of God by first making his son Jesus Christ our personal Lord and Savior. Jesus Christ holds the key, the gift of holy Spirit, to the Kingdom of the God. Then, with that ability of the gift of holy Spirit inside of us, the Spirit of Truth, we cast ourselves off on a fantastic journey of the in-depth study of our Lord Jesus Christ, and all the rest of God's Word. That is literally the way, and the only way anyone can search first for the Kingdom of the God, and enter into it. This is the way also that anyone can start pleasing the Father!

Living a life which is pleasing in the Father's sight means, him first, others second, and me third. This is the Godly-designed order the Father has given us for prioritizing our goals in our lives. A disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ must sell out to the heavenly Father, and follow his son. My wife and kids and my job must take second place, and me third place, and that's when I see the Father putting towards me all the things I need, and more, because that order of priorities pleases him. It's Godly, and we are to be imitators of him (3 John 1:11, follow = imitate (mimou)).

The Father Will Be With us If We Please him

Here's more wisdom from Jesus on how to receive answers to our prayers;

John 8:29 (LIT/UBS4) And (kai) the (ho) [Father] having sent (pempsas) me (me) is (estin) with (met’) me (emou).

The (ho) Father (patēr) has absolutely not let go (ouk aphēken) of me (me) [to be] alone (monon), because (hoti) I (egō) always (pantote) do (poiō) the things (ta) agreeable (aresta) to him (autō)!”

Next, if we want the Father to be with us, then we need to do those things which are pleasing to him in his sight. As we go through these verses about getting answers to prayers, verses where the subject of prayer is mentioned in scripture, notice how often the words agreeable, pleasing, pleased, well pleasing show up in the passages. Holy Spirit made sure that when we got around to studying the subject of getting answers to prayers, that we would get the idea that we need to be agreeable in The Father's sight to receive answers to prayers.

It's very exciting to me to find holy spirit's markings like this! Just like the Father, we mortals usually do not hang around or do things with those who displease us. The Father lays out the rules for us straight, right from the start, that if we want him to be with us, to intervene in the affairs of our life, through it all, then we need to do those things which are agreeable in his sight. If we do not do those things that please (aresta - to be pleasing and acceptable) the Father then he will not be with us. If we do those things that please the Father, then he will be with us.

Belief upon the name of 'Jesus' brings us righteousness, wholeness and eligibility to enter into the Kingdom of the God. Focusing upon and believing everything Jesus said and did brings us to the door (thura) of entering into the Kingdom of God. Then, having fellowship (koinōnian - sharing the things of your heart and life) with the Father and Jesus his son (1 John 1:3), allows them to take us on a guided tour of the Kingdom of God. I've shown you some of the original language words in italics, so that those of you who are workman of the Word can do your own word studies. Studying and working God's Word is by far the most important form of fellowshipping with the Father and his son Jesus Christ!

Now, we must ask of God's Word, what are those things which please the Father, so we can be sure and do them?

What Is Pleasing In God's Sight?

If I do not receive answers to prayers, when I think back and recall my living habits leading up to the circumstance, I find, according to The Father's Word, I was not doing things that pleased him. In fact, I was doing things that displeased him, because there is no gray area or neutral zone according to his Word. I, with my thoughts, words and actions decide when I am either not pleasing the Father or I am pleasing him, there is no neutral or gray area. I, according to the world's example, wanted everything in life to be one giant gray area so I wouldn't be required to be responsible for my own thoughts, words and actions. When looking back upon any unfortunate circumstance I was in, I discover that in light of how I was conducting my life at the time, I with my prayers stubbornly and ignorantly demanded that the God function strictly according to my terms and conditions that I set for him at that moment, rather than I fulfilling his terms and conditions in his Word. I disqualified myself from being eligible to receive anything from the Father. Pleasing the Father is all about fulfilling his conditions he sets forth in his Word.

There is no magical formula for obtaining blessings from the Father. How any mortal becomes eligible to receive blessings from him now is how any mortal ever received blessing from him at any time in history. You need to endear yourself to him by knowing and believing his Word, and accepting his son Jesus Christ as your savior from the penalty of your sin, which is death. Gee, how hard can that be? To the extent that you are your own god, it will be difficult for you. All mortalkind are born into this world in a state of sin, by Adam's sin, separated from the Father, by which Adam's sin was well beyond the control for any of us to do anything about.

The forefather of our mortalkind, Adam, had sealed this fate for us all by his own original sin of high treason against the Father, in the beginning. The Father's offering of his son Jesus Christ, through his shed sinless blood, is our way back to him, repairing the damage done by our mortal father in the flesh, Adam. Adam and Eve did something or some things which were displeasing to the Father in his sight. Displeasing the Father always brings consequences and suffering, while doing those things which please him always bring wages of benefits and blessings.

Belief Pleases the Father

According to Jesus doctrine, and then the apostle's doctrine after they received responsibility from Jesus to teach it, all things are to be done in the powerful name of Jesus, who on account of his sacrifice the Father honors mortals petitions in his name. Under the new covenant in his blood, it is on account of him that we are entitled to receive answers to our prayers. Under the old covenant, under the provisions of the Mosaic Law, Israel was entitled to receive answers to prayers, and sufficiency for all their needs based upon the atoning blood of various animals. How much more under the precious blood of the son of God will he be the sufficiency for all our needs? This is why entering into the New Covenant relationship with the Father is so important to us sinning mortals.

However, to enter into this covenant relationship you must first believe that God is, and a 'payer of wages' to those who diligently search for him (Heb. 11:6). In what condition is your heart towards the Father? You must feed upon his Word to put your heart in the proper believing condition to receive. Receiving answers to prayers has to do not only with being in a covenant relationship to become legally eligible to receive, but simply believing in your heart upon the name of 'Jesus' for the Father to do what he says he will do. Believing still counts for a measure of righteousness, even if you have not yet entered into a covenant relationship. For, who are those who have called upon the name of Jesus and received in the morning, who are not taking part in the covenant in his poured out blood by evening? This is how the Law of Believing works. Believing apprehends the things desired of the Father, and is stated in Heb. 11:1;

Heb. 11:1 (LIT/UBS4) But (de) belief (pistis) is (esti) an understanding (hupostasis) of practical issues (pragmatōn) being hoped for (elpizomenōn);

an evidential proof (elegchos) [of practical issues, ER] absolutely not (ou) being seen (blepomenōn)!

(See Job 9:10; Rom. 11:33; Heb. 11:1b)

Heb. 11:5 (LIT/UBS4) [And through the] belief (pistei) of the (tou) Enoch (Henōch) he was placed with (metetethē) [the god, v4, RE] not (mē) to see (idein) death (thanaton);

and (kai) he was absolutely not found (ouch hēurisketo) through the reason that (dioti) the (ho) God (theos) placed him with (metethēken auton) [him, AE]!

Because (gar) before (pro) the (tēs) transference (metatheseōs) of him (autou) truly he has been witnessed (memarturētai) to have been well-pleasing (euarestēkenai) to the (tō) God (theō).

Heb. 11:6 (LIT/UBS4) But (de) without (chōris) belief (pisteōs) [Enoch, v5, was] an inherently unpowered one (adunaton) to be well agreeable (euarestēsai) [to the God, v5, RE].

Because (gar) it is required (dei) of the one (ton) causing himself to come to (proserchomenon) the (tō) God (theō) to believe (pisteusai) that (hoti) he is (estin);

and (kai) [to believe that] he causes himself to become (ginetai) a payer of wages (misthapodotēs) to the ones (tois) searching him out (ekzētousin auton).

When we pray we are coming towards the God with our thanksgiving and requests for our needs, or the needs of others. When we do, one of the keys which unlocks the door to God's gracious things is our belief! Our belief towards he and his son Jesus pleases him much, and compels him into keeping his covenant responsibilities and to pay wages of gracious things to us!

Rom. 8:8 (LIT/UBS4) But (de) the ones (hoi) being (ontes) in (en) flesh (sarki) can absolutely not inherently power themselves (ou dunantai) to please (aresai) God (theō)!

Rom. 8:9 (LIT/UBS4) But (de) you (humeis) are (este) absolutely not (ouk) in (en) flesh (sarki), BUT (alla), in (en) Spirit (pneumati), if so be it (eiper) Spirit (pneuma) of God (theou) homesteads (oikei) in (en) you (humin)!

But (de) if (ei) anyone (tis) absolutely does not hold (ouk echei) Spirit (pneuma) of Christ (Christou), this (houtos) [anyone, RE] is (estin) absolutely not (ouk) of him (autou)!

Rom. 8:10 (LIT/UBS4) But (de) if (ei) Christ (Christos) [is] in (en) you (humin), truly (men), the (to) body (sōma) [is] dead (nekron) through (dia) [the sake] of sin (hamartian)!

But (de) the (to) Spirit (pneuma) [is] life (zōē) through (dia) [the sake] of righteousness (dikaiosunēn).

Those mortals who are in flesh only, who have not yet received the new birth above, the gift of holy spirit, Christ's spirit, cannot please the God! They simply do not have the ability, spirit, to please him. It is not just good works that please God, and it is not just Christ's spirit that pleases God, but it is good works done with the inherent power of the spirit of Christ, which pleases God. It is only those mortals who have the spirit of Christ in them that can please God, because of the spirit energizing (inherently powered) within them to do those deeds that are pleasing in his sight.

Rom. 15:1 (LIT/UBS4) But (de) we (hēmeis), the (hoi) inherently powered ones (dunatoi), we owe (opheilomen) to carry (bastazein) the (ta) disabilities (asthenēmata) of the ones (tōn) inherently unpowerful (adunatōn), and (kai) not (mē) to be agreeable (areskein) to ourselves (heautois)!

We who are inherently powered with Christ's spirit are indebted to carry (bastazein) as a stake (Mat. 10:38) in Christ's stead, the weaknesses of those mortals who are not inherently powered, those who have not received Christ's spirit, those mortals who are in flesh only, not pleasing ourselves but pleasing God!

Mat. 9:28 (LIT/UBS4) But (de) he having come (elthonti) into (eis) the (tēn) house (oikian), the (hoi) blind ones (tuphloi) came to (prosēlthon) him (autō).

And (kai) the (ho) Jesus (Iēsous) says (legei) to them (autois), “Do you believe (pisteuete) that (hoti) I can inherently power myself (dunamai) to do (poiēsai) this (touto)?”

They say (legousin) to him (autō), “Yes (nai) lord (kurie).”

Mat. 9:29 (LIT/UBS4) Then (tote) he caused himself to take hold (hēpsato) of the (tōn) eyes (ophthalmōn) of them (autōn), saying (legōn), “Down according to (kata) to the (tēn) belief (pistin) of you (humōn) let it be caused to come to pass (genēthētō) to you (humin).”

The healing the blind received came down to their belief in Jesus. If they had no belief they would not have received. Receiving the wages of gracious things from the Father always comes down to being a matter of our belief that God is, and that [He] becomes a payer of wages to those searching for him. Believing pleases God! Rom. 10:14-17 tells us how we can build and increase our believing towards God.

According to the holy scriptures, our receiving comes down to our believing. Therefore, all believing equals receiving. According to Heb. 11:1, our believing is built by understanding the things for which we hope. Studying the specific subject matter in God's Word concerning those things for which we hope, gives us the understanding about them, and gives us the conviction in our hearts that he, God, will supply them. This is why building the detailed accurate knowledge and understanding of God's Word in our minds, builds our believing! Now, if we don't have believing in a certain area of our life, let's go to the Word of God and get it! Let's put on, like a garment, the knowledge and understanding of God's Word in our minds, so that we can be transformed (Rom. 12:2) in our minds into believing, and receive that for which we are hoping and believing! If our mind is transformed into believing, then is not our whole being transformed by receiving?

Loving By Our Works And Remaining Truthful Also Pleases the Father

1 John 3:18 (LIT/UBS4) Little born ones (teknia), we should love (agapōmen) neither (mē) [in] word (logō) but nor (mēde) [in] the (tē) tongue (glōssē), BUT (alla), in (en) work (ergō) and (kai) Truth (alētheia)!

Apostle John, speaking to those already born with the gift of holy spirit, tells us that the love (agape) of God is not properly expressed by simply words of the tongue, BUT, the love (agape) of God is properly expressed by our actions and works, which are true examples of our Godly love for others.

1 John 3:19 (LIT/UBS4) And (kai) in (en) this (toutō) we shall cause ourselves to know (gnōsometha) that (hoti) we are (esmen) out (ek) of the (tēs) Truth (alētheias), and (kai) we shall persuade (peisomen) the (tas) heart (kardias) of us (hēmōn) in front (emprosthen) of him (autou)!

1 John 3:20 (LIT/UBS4) Because (hoti) if perhaps (ean) the (hē) heart (kardia) of us (hēmōn) may denounce (kataginōskē) [us], [we shall cause ourselves to know] that (hoti) the (ho) God (theos) is (estin) a greater one than (meizōn) the (tēs) heart (kardias) of us (hēmōn), and (kai) he knows (ginōskei) all things (panta)!

1 John 3:21 (LIT/UBS4) Beloved ones (agapētoi), if perhaps (ean) the (hē) heart (kardia) of us (hēmōn) may not denounce (mē kataginōskē) [us], we have (echomen) boldness (parrēsian) toward (pros) the (ton) God (theon);

Many times I simply do not have the courage or boldness to pray to the Father for a need, because I in my heart don't think I'm' worthy. But, I can be wrong! I'm often more critical of myself than the Father who knows all things, and whose forgiveness is very great, and would answer my prayer if I simply asked! Hospitals are not needed for those who are healthy. Likewise, God sent his Word, his son Jesus, and his spirit into the world because we have need of them. They are here for us, sinners, who need a physician (Mark 2:16-17). If we fulfill The Father's conditions to receive, then all we need to do is simply ask (Mat. 7:7)! Although answering prayer is entirely The Father's prerogative, if I do those things which are pleasing in his sight, then I will certainly have boldness to go to the Father with my need requests, and he certainly will answer my prayers.

1 John 3:22 (LIT/UBS4) and (kai) if perhaps (ean) whatever (ho) we may request (aitōmen) we receive (lambanomen) from (ap’) him (autou), [it is] because (hoti) we watchfully keep (tēroumen) the (tas) injunctions (entolas) of him (autou), and (kai) we do (poioumen) the things (ta) agreeable (aresta) in sight (enōpion) of him (autou).

When we keep his commands, and do those things which are pleasing in sight of him, we receive the things for which we ask, right beside him! What a tremendous truth that the Father comes not simply to be with us, but so close to us that he comes right beside us to give us what we need! The concept of him being beside us means that he stands shoulder to shoulder with us to carry our burdens, to help us become more than conquerors in all of life's events. He stands with us toe to toe and nose to nose against the enemy, which causes the enemy to retreat. When we do those things which please the Father, he is always right beside us!

Praising and Thanking the Father In the Name Of Jesus Also Pleases the Father

Heb 13:15 (LIT/UBS4) Therefore (oun), through (di’) [the blood, v12, RE] of him (autou) may we bring up (anapherōmen) [a] sacrifice (thusian) of praise (aineseōs) through (dia) all things (pantos) to the (tō) God (theō);

that (tout’) is (esti), produce (karpon) of [our, AE] lips (cheileōn) confessing alike (homologountōn) the (tō) name (onomati) of him (autou).

"a sacrifice of praise through all things" - Praising the Father is offering an acceptable sacrifice to him! Through all of life's events we are to praise the Father, in the name of his son Jesus, for being our sufficiency for all our needs. Do you like fruit, Apples, Oranges, Pears, Bananas and Strawberry's? So does the Father! When he hears our lips praise and thank him in the name of his son Jesus for supplying all our needs, we offer a feast to him, which is acceptable sacrifice.

Heb 13:16 (LIT/UBS4) But (de) do not cause yourselves to be forgetful over (mē epilanthanesthe) the (tēs) doing of good (eupoiias), and (kai) of fellowship (koinōnias).

Because (gar) [with] sacrifices (thusiais) like these (toiautais) the (ho) God (theos) is caused to be well agreeable (euaresteitai).

Our doing of good works for others who have need, and fellowshipping (full sharing of our life and abundance) with them are acceptable sacrifices to the Father as well. With all these sacrifices of love the Father is well-pleased. When we offer these sacrifices to our heavenly Father, we endear ourselves to him, and it becomes his good pleasure to answer our prayer requests for whatever our needs may be, because he is well-pleased.

Most everyone in the world doesn't know the Father because they're willing to work harder at their 8 to 5 job for money than they're willing to work to know the Father and please him. When we truly put the Father first in our lives and start working to please him rather than ourselves, then he will start answering our prayers and supplying our needs. One of the greatest things I've discovered in my own personal walk along the way, is that the Father already knows my needs before I ask him. Once I finally arrived at practicing a habitual lifestyle of pleasing him, he almost always now supplies my needs without me even asking! Why? Because he has bound himself to keep his covenant responsibilities towards me as long as I keep my covenant responsibilities towards him.

My personal prayer life has now become focused mostly on praising him and thanking him for all his goodness, and then asking him to supply the needs for others. I very seldom pray for myself anymore. Because I have put him first, others second and myself third, then he puts me first! That's how our heavenly Father works. It's wonderful!

Summary

Why We Don't Receive Answers To Prayers

It may be because we have not discipled ourselves to the Father's son Jesus Christ, we have not repented towards God the heavenly Father, and therefore have not taken the first step through our own free will to believe upon the name of Jesus and receive the new birth above, baptism in God's gift of his paternal holy Spirit from Christ Jesus.

It may be because we have not received the new birth above and have not entered into a covenant relationship with the Father through his son Jesus Christ, and have not become heirs of God the heavenly Father's grace. Under his new covenant, the God almighty has no obligation to any mortal on earth until he or she receives a new birth above in God's paternal holy Spirit. Because it is obvious that if mortals don't receive a new birth above in God's Spirit it is because they have determined that they do not desire to become his children. And thereby they make themselves ineligible to receive any of his gracious things promised under that new covenant. A mortal is either in the new covenant or not. The old covenant is gone. Under God's new covenant rule, mortals either repent, learn and believe God's Word about his son Christ Jesus, or they do not. We all must choose whether to be or not to be (that's a good line) in God's new covenant, which is the same as being in the Kingdom of God.

It may be because we pray for what we don't need, only to satisfy our hedonism. Apostle James says:

James 4:3 (LIT/UBS4) You request (aiteite) [things] and (kai) you absolutely do not receive (ou lambanete) [them] through the reason that (dioti) you cause yourselves to request (aiteisthe) [them] maliciously (kakōs), in order that (hina) you may spend (dapanēsēte) [them] in (en) the (tais) hedonisms (hēdonais) of you (humōn)!

It may be because we mortals, in our very limited knowledge and understanding simply can't put it together in our heads exactly what it is for which we should pray for oursellves. This is one of the tremendous uses of the ability to speak in tongues, which manifestation of God's Spirit in him or her each and every born from above believer has the opportunity to manifest.

Rom. 8:26 (LIT/UBS4) But (de) in the same manner (hōsautōs) the (to) Spirit (pneuma) also (kai) causes itself to receive together opposite (sunantilambanetai) [of us] the (tē) disability (astheneia) of us (hēmōn).

Because (gar) we have absolutely not seen (ouk oidamen) the (to) [disability] of which (ti) [healing] we may cause ourselves to be well-thankful to⁴³³⁶ (proseuxōmetha) [God], down as (kathos) it is required (dei)!

BUT (alla), the (to) Spirit (pneuma) itself (auto) intercedes over (huperentunchanei) [us with] unspoken (alalētois) groanings (stenagmois)!

Rom. 8:27 (LIT/UBS4) But (de) the (ho) [God] searching (eraunōn) the (tas) hearts (kardias) has seen (oiden) what (ti) [is] the (to) thought (phronēma) of the (tou) Spirit (pneumatos), that (hoti) down according to (kata) God (theon) it intercedes (entunchanei) over (huper) [the sake] of holy ones (hagiōn).

It may be because God is not with us because we do not do those things which are pleasing in his sight.

How To Receive Answers To Prayers

First we disciple ourselves to the Lord Jesus Christ and search first for the Kingdom of God and the righteousness of the God together with him. As we've already seen, prerequisite to our search is our repentance to the God almighty and then our belief in his Word. Because it is our exact knowledge of, and belief in, his Word which brings to discovering the Kingdom of the Heavens, i.e., the Kingdom of God, which is our new birth above, in the heaven, in that Kingdom.

Mat. 6:32 (LIT/UBS4) Because (gar) the (ta) ethnic groups (ethnē) search over (epizētousin) [the sake] of all (panta) of these things (tauta);

Mat. 6:33 (LIT/UBS4) But (de) search (zēteite) first (prōton) for the (tēn) Kingdom⁹³² (basileian) of the (tou) God (theou), and (kai) the (tēn) righteousness together with (dikaiosunēn) him (autou), and (kai) all (panta) these things (tauta) shall be added (prostethēsetai) to you (humin).

John 18:36 (LIT/UBS4) Jesus (Iēsous) was caused to make a decision (apekrithē), “The (hē) Kingdom⁹³² (basileia), the one (hē) of me (emē), it is (estin) absolutely not (ouk) out (ek) of the (tou) cosmos (kosmou) of this (toutou)!

If (ei) the (hē) Kingdom⁹³² (basileia) of this (toutou), the one (hē) of me (emē), was being (ēn) out (ek) of the (tou) cosmos (kosmou) of this (toutou), perhaps (an) the (hoi) under-oarsmen⁵²⁵⁷ (hupēretai), the ones (hoi) of me (emoi), they would be causing themselves to agonize (ēgōnizonto), in order that (hina) I may not be passed aside (mē paradothō) to the (tois) Judeans (Ioudaiois).

But (de) now (nun) the (hē) Kingdom⁹³² (basileia), the one (hē) of me (emē), it is absolutely not (ouk estin) from here (enteuthen)!”

John 3:3 (LIT/UBS4) Jesus (Iēsous) was caused to make a decision (apekrithē), and (kai) he enunciated (eipen) to him (autō), "Truly (amēn), truly (amēn) I say (legō) to you (soi), if perhaps (ean) anyone (tis) may not have been generated (mē gennēthē) up above (anōthen), he can absolutely not inherently power himself (ou dunatai) to see¹⁴⁹² (idein, (aorist, active)) the (tēn) Kingdom⁹³² (basilian) of the (tou) God (theou)!”

John 3:4 (LIT/UBS4) The (ho) Nicodemus (Nikodēmos) says (legei) to (pros) him (auton), “How (pōs) [can] a mortal (anthrōpos) being (ōn) old (gerōn) inherently power himself (dunatai) to be generated (gennēthēnai)?

[A mortal] can not inherently power himself (mē dunatai) to enter in (eiselthein) into (eis) the (tēn) belly (koilia) of the (tēs) mother (mētros) of him (autou) a second (deuteron) [time], and (kai) to be generated (gennēthēnai)!”

John 3:5 (LIT/UBS4) Jesus (Iēsous) was caused to make a decision (apekrithe), “Truly (amēn), truly (amēn) I say (legō) to you (soi), if perhaps (ean) anyone (tis) may not have been generated (mē gennēthē) out (ek) of water (hudatos) and (kai) of Spirit (pneumatos), he can absolutely not inherently power himself (ou dunatai) to enter in (eiselthein) into (eis) the (tēn) Kingdom⁹³² (basileian) of the (tou) God (theou)!

John 3:6 (LIT/UBS4) The (to) one having been generated (gegennēmenon) out (ek) of the (tēs) flesh (sarkos) is (esti) flesh (sarx), and (kai) the (to) one having been generated (gegennēmenon) out (ek) of the (tou) Spirit (pneumatos) is (esti) Spirit (pneuma).

John 3:7 (LIT/UBS4) Do not be amazed (mē thaumasēs) that (hoti) I enunciated (eipon) to you (soi) it is required (dei) of you (humas) to be generated (gennēthēsai) up above (anōthen)!

Can you put it together now for yourself, what Jesus Christ taught about how you can get your prayers answered? Yes, it's entering into the Kingdom of the God and his son Christ Jesus, which entering in is receiving a new birth above, in the Kingdom of the Heaven, is the God's gift of his paternal holy Spirit, which he freely gives to all those who believe upon the name of his firstborn son, Jesus Christ.

Now going forward, we must remain agreeable and pleasing to our heavenly Father, the God almighty.

John 8:29 (LIT/UBS4) And (kai) the (ho) [Father] having sent (pempsas) me (me) is (estin) with (met’) me (emou).

If we expect our heavenly Father to never leave us alone, but always keep on answering our prayers, then we must remain agreeable to him, through always doing those things which please him. And guess what is the thing that pleases our heavenly Father the most?

Heb. 11:1 (LIT/UBS4) But (de) belief (pistis) is (esti) [an] understanding (hupostasis) of practical issues (pragmatōn) being hoped for (elpizomenōn);

an evidential proof (elegchos) [of practical issues, ER] absolutely not (ou) being seen (blepomenōn)!

(See also Job 9:10; Rom. 11:33)

Heb. 11:2 (LIT/UBS4) Because (gar) the (hoi) elders (presbuteroi) were witnessed to (emarturēthēsan) [being] in (en) this (tautē):

Heb. 11:3 (LIT/UBS4) belief (pistei)!

We perceive (nooumen) the (tous) ages (aiōnas) to have been made fit (katērtisthai) [through, AE] [a] statement (rhēmati) of God (theou);

into (eis) the (to) [belief, v3, RE] of the (to) [age, RE] being seen (blepomena) not (mē) to have come to pass (gegonenai) out (ek) of shining things (phainomenōn).

Heb. 11:4 (LIT/UBS4) Abel (Habel) brought to (prosēnenken) the (to) God (theō) [a] greater (pleiona) sacrifice (thusian), belief (pistei), beside (para) [[a] sacrifice, ER] of Cain (Kain);

through (di’) which (hēs) [belief, ER] he was witnessed (emarturēthē) to be (einai) [a] righteous one (dikaios), upon (epi) [a] witnessing (marturountos) of the (tou) God (theou) to the (tois) offerings (dōrois) of him (autou).

And (kai) through (di’) [the sake] of her (autēs), [Abel, ER] having died away (apothanōn), [the God, ER] yet (eti) speaks (lalei).

Heb. 11:5 (LIT/UBS4) For [the] belief (pistei) of the (tou) Enoch (Henōch), he was placed with (metetethē) [the God, v4, RE] not (mē) to see (idein) death (thanaton);

and (kai) he was absolutely not found (ouch hēurisketo) through the reason that (dioti) the (ho) God (theos) placed him with (metethēken auton) [him, AE]!

Because (gar) before (pro) the (tēs) transference (metatheseōs) of him (autou) truly he has been witnessed (memarturētai) to have been well agreeable (euarestēkenai) to the (tō) God (theō)!

Heb. 11:6 (LIT/UBS4) But (de) without (chōris) belief (pisteōs) [Enoch, v5, RE] [was being] an inherently unpowered one (adunaton) to be well agreeable (euarestēsai) [to the God, v5, RE].

Because (gar) it is required (dei) of the one (ton) causing himself to come to (proserchomenon) the (tō) God (theō) to believe (pisteusai) that (hoti) he is (estin);

and (kai) [to believe that, ER] he causes himself to become (ginetai) a payer of wages (misthapodotēs) to the ones (tois) searching him out (ekzētousin auton).

Those mortals who are in flesh only, who have not yet received the new birth from above, the gift of God's holy Spirit, Christ's Spirit, they cannot please the God!

Rom. 8:8 (LIT/UBS4) But (de) the ones (hoi) being (ontes) in (en) flesh (sarki) can absolutely not inherently power themselves (ou dunantai) to be agreeable (aresai) to God (theō)!

Rom. 8:10 (LIT/UBS4) But (de) if (ei) Christ (Christos) [is] in (en) you (humin), truly (men), the (to) body (sōma) [is] dead (nekron) through (dia) [the sake] of sin (hamartian)!

But (de) the (to) Spirit (pneuma) [is] life (zōē) through (dia) [the sake] of righteousness (dikaiosunēn).

Rom. 8:11 (LIT/UBS4) But (de) if (ei) the (to) Spirit (pneuma) of the one (tou) having awakened (egeirantos) Jesus (Iēsoun) out (ek) of dead ones (nekrōn) homesteads (oikei) in (en) you (humin), the one (ho) having awoken (egeiras) Christ (Christon) out (ek) of dead ones (nekrōn) shall make alive (zōopoiēsei) the (ta) death-doomed (thnēta) bodies (sōmata) of you (humōn) also (kai), through (dia) the (to) in-housing (enoikountos) Spirit (pneuma) of him (autou) in (en) you (humin)!

Mat. 9:29 (LIT/UBS4) Then (tote) he caused himself to take hold (hēpsato) of the (tōn) eyes (ophthalmōn) of them (autōn), saying (legōn), “Down according to (kata) to the (tēn) belief (pistin) of you (humōn) let it be caused to come to pass (genēthētō) to you (humin).”

1 John 3:18 (LIT/UBS4) Little born ones (teknia), we should love (agapōmen) [in] neither (mē) word (logō) but nor (mēde) [in] the (tē) tongue (glōssē), BUT (alla), in (en) work (ergō) and (kai) Truth (alētheia)!

1 John 3:20 (LIT/UBS4) Because (hoti) if perhaps (ean) the (hē) heart (kardia) of us (hēmōn) may denounce (kataginōskē) [us], [we shall cause ourselves to know] that (hoti) the (ho) God (theos) is (estin) a greater one than (meizōn) the (tēs) heart (kardias) of us (hēmōn), and (kai) he knows (ginōskei) all things (panta)!

1 John 3:23 (LIT/UBS4) And (kai) this (hautē) is (estin) the (hē) injunction (entolē) of him (autou):

that (hina) we should believe (pisteusōmen) [in] the (tō) name (onomati) of the (tou) son (huiou) of him (autou), Jesus (Iēsou) Christ (Christou);

and (kai) we should love (agapōmen) one another (allēlous) down according to as (kathōs) he gave (edōken) [an] injunction (entolēn) to us (hēmin).

1 John 3:24 (LIT/UBS4) And (kai) the one (ho) watchfully keeping (tērōn) the (tas) injunctions (entolas) of him (autou) stays (menei) in (en) him (autō), and (kai) he (autos) [stays, RE] in (en) him (autō).

And (kai) in (en) this (toutō) we know (ginōskomen) that (hoti) he stays (menei) in (en) us (hēmin), out (ek) of the (tou) Spirit (pneumatos) which (hou) he gave (edōken) to us (hēmin).