The Key to Answered Prayer - Matthew 7:7-11

I. Introduction:
Paano ba tayo mag-react, kung ang Diyos ay hindi tumugon sa ating mga panalangin sa nais nating maging tugon?
Kadalasang madaling sumuko ang kristyano sa ganitong sitwasyon sa panalangin,,,( Matthew 7:7-8, Jesus promised, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”)

God responds when His children seek His face with perseverance and confidence.

II. If we want the Lord to answer our prayers, we must . . .

Pray with perseverance. 

1. What did Jesus mean when He said “seek” and “knock” in Matthew 7:7-8? He was inviting believers to approach the Father freely with our petitions, fully expecting Him to provide all we need.  “Seek, and keep on seeking” and “knock, and keep on knocking.”

2. The Father always responds to our prayers-

Tatlong anyo ang sagot ng Diyos sa ating mga panalangin,,,

Una, “yes” immediate agad-agad, sa loob lamang ng "a short period of time".

Sa mabilis na pagsagot ng Diyos sa ating kahilingan sa Kanya sa panalangin, iminumulat Niya ang ating mga mata sa, kung paano o gaano Siya katapat sa ating ibang mga pangangailangan na dinadala sa kanyang harapan sa pamamagitan ng ating panalangin.

Another answer is “wait.” 

Kung nararamdaman mo na parang "wait" ang sagot Niya sa prayers mo, ask Him to  reveal any wrong motives or incorrect perspectives which might be contributing to the delay (James 4:3).

Persevering in prayer gives the Father the opportunity to work within us and our circumstances. 

A third way God responds is "NO". The Father knows your needs and desires, and He truly wants to meet them. However, He will sometimes withhold what we want if it is not His best for our lives. Nevertheless, we should keep praying—at the right time, the Lord will meet our desires in the most satisfying way possible.

Pray with confidence. 

1. Confidence in prayer is belief in the trustworthiness of God.
Pagkatiwalaan natin ang ating Diyos ama sa langit na makapagbibigay sa atin ng kapaki-pakinabang na handog  (Matt. 7:9-11).

2. It’s always best to wait on God’s perfect timing.
Isipin na lang natin kung paano ang pag-hihintay na ginawa nina Mary at Martha sa Panginoon, habang nasa malalang kundisyon si Lazarus sa kanyang taglay na karamdaman?!

Sa una, inantala ng Panginoon ang pagtugon sa kanila, at hindi maganda ang dulot nito sa magkapatid dahil parang binale wala ng Panginoon ang kanilang pangangailangan.
Kung minsan hindi natin maintindihan ang sagot ng Panginoon sa ating hiling, lagi lang nating isipin at paniwalaan, may maganda siyang plano para sa atin kung bakit ganuon ang naging tugon niya sa atin.

Hindi lang niya pinagaling si Lazarus, binuhay pa niya mula sa kamatayan. (John 11:1-44).

Hanggang sa ngayon, pinag-uusapan pa rin sa ating mga pagtitipon ang nangyaring ito kay Lazarus at sa PAnginoon, amen?!  Ito ay kapahayagan na ang Panginoon ay mayruong "power over death".

 Is there something you’ve been asking God for but have yet to receive? If so, do not be discouraged. Persist in prayer, confident that He is preparing something special for you. Let Him work in your heart and circumstances.

Perhaps He’ll soon provide exactly what you are requesting, or maybe you will be surprised with a better gift. Your Heavenly Father enjoys giving to you because He loves you and wants you to experience intimacy with Him—the best gift anyone will ever have.