Believers often complain that their prayers are not answered. You'll hear them say:

• 'For months I've wrestled with Elohim about this problem; but my prayers are not answered.'
• 'What's wrong? Does Elohim still answer prayer?'
• 'Is He still interested in the human race?'
• 'Or is there something wrong with me?'

These are common queries: perhaps you have even raised them yourself: but I can assure you that YaHuWaH does answer prayer. Indeed, many of the greatest promises ever made by the Savior concern answers to prayer. This morning we will consider of few of those promises. I'm sure that when we have finished you will see that, contrary to popular opinion, astonishing answers to prayer are still obtainable.

To begin with let us understand that answered prayer does not depend upon vain repetition, personal enthusiasm or human intelligence. To obtain meaningful results in prayer we must first recognize certain divine conditions. Meet those conditions and you will get results, spectacular results! Fail to meet them and your prayers will reach no higher than the ceiling: you will be as 'one who beats the air.' Also remember that more can be accomplished by prayer than we believers remotely imagine. So many times we pray without results: all because we do not understand and meet those mandatory conditions: many of which are not even known by folks in the church. So let us without further delay learn what those conditions are.

Let me begin with the Master's instructions about a believer's potential in this matter of prayer. It is a promise which is prefaced with the words "verily, verily," which means "truly, truly." In other words, what the Master is saying is absolutely true. It is guaranteed. It is an unequivocal promise which has the backing of YAHUSHUA, the Son of YaHuWaH ! It cannot fail. Were it to fail, the Almighty and His Son would lose credibility in the courts of heaven; not to mention the doubt that would overflow the church. Here is that promise. It comes in two parts: the first part outlines a believer's potential and the second specifies a mandatory condition which applies to prayer.

• The works that I do shall he do also - and greater works!
• If ye shall ask anything in My Name, I will do it.

During the next few weeks and months, think about this promise. If possible, memorize it and then act upon it: because here is invaluable information about a believer's future role, a promise dependent initially on the Master going to his Father: which he has already done; and that 'the Father may be glorified in the Son.'

What this message implies is that the followers of YAHUSHUA the Messiah are potentially the most powerful beings on earth: for they can - if they so choose - do greater things than the Master himself! What are those greater things? Are they waking on water, feeding thousands with literal loaves of bread, raising the physically dead, or what? We are about to find out.

The second part of the Savior's promise is particularly important: that's why it is repeated in the Gospel of John. Here it is:

• ASK. This word needs no explanation.
• ASK in the Savior's Name.
• ASK for things that will glorify the Father.

• To ask for the benefit of His cause, for the spiritual welfare of YaHuWaH 's flock.
• To ask for the salvation of souls.
• To ask with the Father's (YaHuWaH 's) glory in mind, so that sin may be overthrown in the lives of true believers.
• To ask in the right Spirit and with the right motives; not for personal gain or luxury.
• To ask by the authority of the only begotten Son of YaHuWaH.

In other words, to ask in the Savior's Name means to ask as he would ask, with the right motives, the right attitude and for the right things. Only when this compulsory condition is met, will you receive astonishing, yea unimaginable, results; and - dare I say it! - greater by far than the physical miracles the Savior performed during his earthly ministry!

In His famous Sermon on the Mount the Master says this:

How well known these words are: but how few find in them a living reality. Why is this? The answers are legion, but here is, arguably, the most probable:

In other words, people ask for the wrong things and with the wrong motives: for personal gain, glory or pleasure. I will not expand on this thought, simply because everyone will think that it doesn't apply to them. The fact is, most of us have little or no idea how to assess our own motives. We delude ourselves into thinking we have pure motives: but He who weighs the soul knows better. The fact is we ALL ask amiss and don't even know it. This is the number one reason why most prayers go unanswered. Yes, we all ask amiss!

Strange as it may seem, a believer may appear to meet these mandatory conditions and still fail to get meaningful results. Why is this? The answer - and I hesitate to say it - often lies in the area of personal holiness.

To abide in Messiah means to be constantly in tune with Him; to be faithful and obedient. In other words we must not expect results from the Almighty if we waver in our faith and doubt His word or His love. Nor will we ever achieve any meaningful results if we cling to sin.

His 'words' mean His Message, His Torah. For His 'words' to abide in us, we must obey His message, His Torah. As a result the more we abide in Messiah, the more righteous will be our lives and the more spectacular will be the answers to our prayers. Righteousness, and I cannot repeat this too often, is a mandatory parameter if you want spectacular answers to prayer. The apostle James reminds us of this fact.

YaHuWaH 's main reasons for answering prayer is the salvation of souls and that believers may exhibit the fruit of His Spirit in their lives, fruit that will last for all time.

This text links those guaranteed promises about prayer to the salvation of souls: "that ye should and bring forth fruit." In other words it directs all intercessors to the true purpose of prayer:

• The winning of souls for the Kingdom of YaHuWaH ; souls who will not only accept salvation through YAHUSHUA, but will themselves glorify YaHuWaH in their lives and then go forth to win others for the Kingdom of Heaven.

The Most High wants His people to be happy. One of the fruits of the Holy Spirit is joy. Answered prayer brings a quality and quantity of joy far beyond anything this world can understand, let alone offer. Here is the promise of Messiah.

The first step in getting extraordinary answers to prayers is to build up one's faith. This is done by a daily study of the Bible. The Word of YaHuWaH is clear about this:

There is coming a time, and I somehow suspect that it has already started, when the Father will so tune our attitudes, aims, performance and prayers that we will begin to ask for the right things, with the right motives, for the Father's glory and in the Savior's Name. The results will astonish us all. Methinks that day has already come!

Let me here summarize the almost incredible - but absolutely true - facts about prayer I have mentioned this morning. Facts which we, who call ourselves believers, would do well to ponder, memorize and put into practice.

• Greater things. The Savior has promised that his true followers would do 'greater things' than He did. This includes taking the gospel to many more souls and seeing multitudes accept YaHuWaH 's offer of mercy and salvation.
• Ask in prayer. To ask in prayer is a mandatory condition.
  

  Matthew 7:7

  Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

• Ask in Messiah's Name. This means, to ask for the good of his cause, in the right spirit, with the right motives and for the right things. It certainly does not cover requests for personal gain, luxury or power. Nor does it mean vainly repeating the Name of YAHUSHUA.
• Abide in Him. To abide in Him means to express your faith in God by obeying Him. Trust and Obey, for there's no other way, to be happy in YAHUSHUA: but to trust and obey.
  

  James:5:16

  ... The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

• Expect Results. First look for the fruit of the Holy Spirit (love, joy, peace etc.) in your own life. Second, look for the salvation of souls through your word and example. Because after all is said and done, these are the two main reasons why the Most High is anxious to answer our prayers. He wants you and others to be saved and be happy in Him.

Also remember the Father's love. YaHuWaH is more anxious to answer prayer than we are to pray. It is His pleasure to answer prayer. It brings Him great joy. Indeed He is anxiously waiting for His followers to pray for extraordinary results! He marvels that so few believe enough to ask for them. Alas! there are so few intercessors in His congregations. Most believers pray for themselves, their families and their friends. Comparatively few pray for the salvation of souls, the furtherance of the Gospel, the welfare of the church and the glory of Elohim. This is why the truth is making so little progress in the face of evil's onslaught.

I'll end with an invitation to join me in prayer - for extra-ordinary results, for greater things!

• The feeding of multiplied millions with spiritual food.
• The healing of countless sick souls, the spiritual blind, deaf, dumb and the moral lepers of society.
• The raising of the spiritually dead!

You have the Master's promise that all these things are possible if you ask in faith, with the right motives and for the father's glory! Now go to it and pray. Amen.