9 Proper Ways to Get an Answer from God

 

                        9 Proper Ways to Get an Answer from God

 

Our God is a living God and when we pray about something, we hope to receive an answer from Him. However, since we cannot hear Him speak audibly, we could miss it if we are not attentive. Therefore, if we want to get an answer from the Lord, we have to make sure that we are ready to receive the response we hope for.

Many people do not know the proper ways to receive God’s answer but we can follow these steps:

 

1. Seek confirmation through the Bible.

The first thing you need to do to get an answer to your prayer is by searching for it in God’s Word. The Bible contains instructions and nuggets of wisdom that are still applicable to everyday situations faced by people. If you can find the answer in the Bible, then you do not have to wait for supernatural confirmations anymore.

Of course, if you are seeking an answer through the Scripture, you need the guidance of the Holy Spirit. For this reason, you have to pray earnestly before opening your Bible. Then, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you to the right passage related to your concern.

 

2. Make sure what you are asking for is God’s will.

If you are hoping for a “yes” as an answer, see to it that your prayer is according to the will of God. 1 John 5:14 says, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”

How will you know if what you are asking for is God’s will? You will have to go back to the Bible. First, look for the Scripture that relates to your issue. Then, study it carefully to know if what you want is in accordance with it or not.

 

3. Pray for wisdom.

To understand God’s response to your prayer, you need His wisdom to open your mind. Sometimes, you would not get the exact answer you want to your prayer. Unless you have God’s wisdom, it might discourage you from trusting the Lord again. However, if you are spiritually mature, you would understand that God has a better plan, and you just need to have faith.

Therefore, ask God for wisdom to receive whatever His answer is wholehearted. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

4. Consult with spiritually mature people.

Another way to confirm God’s answer to your prayer is by consulting spiritually mature and knowledgeable people. For example, you can consult your pastor, ministry leader, or Bible study leader about your prayer. With biblical wisdom, they can guide you in seeking and understanding God’s will in your situation.

One good thing about being surrounded by mature believers is that you have people who can help you abide by God’s will. They help you study the Bible and determine what pleases God and not. With them, you are more likely to come up with desires and prayers according to the Lord’s will.  Moreover, they can pray with you as well.

 

5. Prepare your heart to receive His answer.

If you are waiting for God to answer your prayer, you must make sure that your heart is ready to receive His response. If you are too preoccupied with other stuff, you might not be aware that the Lord has already answered your prayer.

So, how should you prepare your heart?

First, see to it that it is pure before the Lord.

Then, get rid of the sins that make your heart calloused to God’s Word.

Also, you need to understand that the Lord’s answer may be different from what you are expecting.

It is possible to receive a “no”, and you need to be prepared for it.

After all, He is still sovereign, and humans have no right to demand from Him.

 

6. Search your heart for whatever hinders you from hearing God.

In connection to no. 5, it is necessary to purify your heart so that you can hear God more clearly. Therefore, if you think God has been silent to you for a long while now, you need to evaluate yourself. Is there any sin that you have to confess and repent from?

If you are unsure, you should ask God to reveal any sin you are unaware of. Even King David asked the Lord to help him recognize his transgression. It says in Psalm 139: 23-24, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

 

7. Do not insist on what you want.

What if God’s answer is a “no”? Are you willing to accept it, or are you going to rebel against Him? If you do not want to take “no” for an answer, then maybe it is the reason why God does not reveal His will to you. He is aware that your heart is not ready to receive His answer.

Please understand that God is not your genie. He does not exist to make your wishes come true. On the other hand, we exist to fulfill His purposes. For this reason, you should trust His will in everything, even if it is contrary to your original desire. However, if you align your decisions and to His directions, you will discover that He has the best plans all along.

 

8. Go for prayer and fasting.  

If you are really eager to know God’s answer to your prayer, you can also pray and fast. You can decide to skip a meal or two a day and devote those moments to prayer. If for health reasons you cannot fast on food, there are other ways to fast. You can fast on social media or other stuff that is usually part of your daily routine.

Just to make things clear, though. Fasting is not done to bribe or force God to give you what you want. It is done to give more time to prayer and make your spirit stronger than your body. You do this so you can be more sensitive to God’s will.

 

9. Patiently wait for God’s timetable.

Be patient when waiting for God’s answer. Please know that His timetable is different from yours. He will answer you at the right time according to His will—not according to yours. Do not accuse God of being delayed or uncaring. Instead, use the waiting season to strengthen your faith in Him.

While waiting for your prayer to be answered, work out your relationships with the Lord. Seek more of His presence, fellowship with other believers, and study the Bible with hunger. Furthermore, devote more time to prayer and strive to live a blameless life to glorify Him.

 

We must come to Him searching every thing in our life, with a repenting heart, regret for all wrong done, setting aside all bitterness, hatred, resolving all grudges towards self and others with a clean heart etc. with a desire to get answer and He is a living and loving God and will answer our prayers. The above are just very few things addressed and we can also seek guidance through the Holy Spirit who is perfect guide to lead us to Christ and receive answer from Him

 

God bless you

 

Doctrine of demons

 

Doctrine of demons

What is doctrine of demons? There can be inlet of demon’s power among God’s people through the ever-widening door of false doctrine and mushrooming cults around us. The scripture clearly warns of latter day rise of demonized religion (1 Tim.4:1-7). Bible predicts how the alluring substitute of doctrine of demons would compete with pure biblical Christianity and capture the hearts and minds in order to enslave them in error and demons’ power. 

What happens to the believers/Christians who fall away from the faith which was once of all delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3. They listen to the demons’ spirits speaking through false teachers and as result they take away the doctrines of demons (demons energized doctrine) that means teaching originated and propagated by spirits not from God (1John 4:1-2). Such preachers of false doctrines are expressed in realistic terms as “Liars” so blinded and set in their errors that their conscience is said to be entrenched to utter insensitivity to the lie that they are not able to see the truth of God’s word. So those who listen to them are caught in a net of demonized religion (demons energize religion) they cannot see that they are struggling like an insect caught in spider web.

 So, we must read our Bible and Bible verses in between the lines and trust Holy spirit the best teacher who can explain the scripture as well as Pastors / Bible teachers who explain the Bible with purity. If we do not read our Bible, how can we know what is what or what I am listening is pure and correct.

May the Lord Bless you.

 

The power of darkness and believers

 

The power of darkness and believers

 Scripture nowhere declares that the believers cannot be invaded by the evil powers but the God’s word contains details that the power of darkness may invade the believer under certain conditions.

1.Saul was a believer (1 Samuel 10:9) and God gave him “another heart”. Early in his life he enjoyed the anointing of the God’s spirit (1Samuel 10:12). Through sin and disobedience, he forfeited God’s presence and became invaded by the demon spirit (1 Samuel 16:14). It is called an evil spirit from the Lord (1 Samuel 16:14) because it was permitted by God as a chastening upon his disobedient child. To argue that Saul was not a believer is to argue that the spirit of God anoints an unbeliever (1 Samuel 10:1,10) and God would appoint an unbeliever over His inheritance. Saul declared “Rebellion is as sin of witchcraft” (1 Samuel 15:23) and in the very next chapter Saul was invaded by demon (1 Samuel 16:14,23).

 2.King Ahab and Jehoshaphat when they proposed to fight against the Syrians inquired of the Lord by gathering 400 prophets (1 King 22:6). It is hard to imagine that Micaiah was the only believer in the Lord, among the Large Company, because they all inquired, not Baal. Yielding to the pressure of wicked Ahab, Micaiah received a spirit of deception and came under demon control.   

 At least Some of the false prophets of Israel were regenerated and initially God called (Deaut.13:1-5), Jermiah 23:21-22). Zachariah connects “prophets” with the unclean spirit (demons power energizing the false prophecies).

 3.Luke a physician diagnosed the strange physical disability of a certain believer as demonic. The woman with spine disorder, bound by a spirit of infirmity means demons caused here problem. Apparently, she was a regenerated believer “a daughter of Abraham” (Luke 13:10-16, refer Romans 4:11,16 & Galatians 3:7). Mary Magdalene was also believer.  

 Demons attack the mind to gain foothold in the life of the people. To resist the demon influence, a Christians must guard against what they read, which social sites they view and what sort of television program they view and they are not wary, demon influence may merge into demon obsession and if not curbed the demon invasion may take place.

So, the Christian/believers mental life must be renewed by dedication to God’s word and will (Romans 12:2, Ephes.4:17-18, 22-23). Importance of guarding thought life is also stressed by the Apostles as well as also bringing every though captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinth. 10:4-5).

 The imaginations and speculations the demons build in minds (if thought life not guarded) and they entrench themselves there and attack. To drive them out (2 Corinth.11:3-4) these fortresses must be destroyed. Demons hang on and do not leave until such ideas, imagination, speculation are not eradicated from the mind.

 Bible also says that in the later times some will depart from the faith (1 Timoth.4:1). Propagating error/perverting the Gospel is the main occupation of satan and demons through which they can turn the believers /Christians from God to serve themselves.

 God bless you all, please read and share with others

In lord your brother – Ramesh C koundal

Jesus said on the cross “It Is Finished”

                                      Jesus said on the cross “It Is Finished”

      (Hindi Translation below)

 Gospel John Chapter 19:28-30, After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” Now a vessel full of sour wine was kept there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth.  So, when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

The above verse says Jesus knowing that all things are now accomplished that the Scripture might be fulfilled. Now the question arises why Jesus came to this fallen world, what was His purpose and meaning of last words uttered “It is finished”. There is a very high price paid and work is already finished, Let us look through the scripture for what Christ finished on the cross.

1.Jesus was Propitiation and ransom for us:

1.Propitiation

 a) Romans 3:25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed.

 

b) Hebrew 2:17, Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

 c) 1 John 2:2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

 2.Ransome:

a) 1 timothy 2:6, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

I would like to summarize based upon above just for example imagine that “God said, “If I punish man for his sin, man will die and go to hell. On the other hand, if I don’t punish man for his sin, My justice will never be satisfied.”

The solution? God said that Jesus would become our substitute. He would take the sin of mankind upon Himself, a righteous judgment and substitute for sin to fulfill the righteous demand of the God.

2.Jesus redeemed us from the Sins as well as consequences of the Sins also:

a)  Galatians 4:5, To redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

b) Titus 2:14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

 c) Ephes.1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

 d) Hebrews 9:15. And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

 e) Isaiah 44:22 I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, and return to me, For I have redeemed you.

 So, with the death and resurrection of Jesus, sinfull man who trusts on Him, has been redeemed. We do not have to dobwork or do some deeds for atonement of  our sins. Just confess your sins and believe that on the cross Jesus said "it is finished" and believe that our sins are paid off. 

 3.Reconcilation with God.

1) Eph.2:16 “and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity”.

 

2) Colo. 1:20 “and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross”.

 3) Romans 5:10 -11 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.  And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

 4) 2 Corinthian 5 :19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

 We all stand in need of God’s forgiveness. Our relationship with was God was broken. We need to be reconciled to him. And the good news is that God has provided us with what we most need: forgiveness and reconciliation which is through His Son only.

 The above work is just the grace of God alone and we have not done anything for this. Let us believe in the same way. If we still believer on performance based Christianly then it is not possible to walk in Victory because performance based Christianly will make us to continue to perform every day and there is no end of it. Let us not do whatever is finished by our Lord Jesus on the Cross but just proclaim and believer on it for ourselves.

 If we have to overcome the sin and satan in our life we must go to the Father trusting on the first and finished work of the Lord Jesus as mentioned above and stand under His grace keeping in our mind what He has done for us. We must remind the satan by proclaiming the work Lord has done for us on the cross and heavenly Father himself will lead us into the victory which He has been completed through His Son Jesus Christ.

 God bless you

 Your brother in Christ

Ramesh C Koundal

You may read and share

Looking To Jesus the founder and perfecter of our faith

 

Looking To Jesus the founder and perfecter of our faith

 

Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)

 

(1) Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (2) looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

If we are to endure to the end, we too must be looking to the unseen Christ.

 

Hebrews 11:1 (ESV) , Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

 

1.  Every Christian Must Run in the Race (Hebrews 12:1). Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

 

Claud of witness are those Old Testament saints have finished their race.  Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and many others have already finished the race. They saw the finish line at death and crossed it in faith.  Multitudes have been a part of the same race.  They also crossed the finish line.  Now, it’s our turn as a Gideon.

 

Imagine for a moment that you are in a stadium and running 100-meter race and this above group is like a roaring crowd and they not only left us their example but are literally cheering for us sitting in the stadium as we run.  The sound is deafening (roaring)  as each believer today finishes the race.

 

 

1 A. Let Us Lay Aside Every Weight and Sin : The Christian life is an endurance race. Runners wear light clothing and light shoes.  A marathon runner would be foolish to drag behind him a fifty kilo weight while he ran.  It would slow him down tremendously and wear him out prematurely and the runner may not even finish the race.

 

The apostle compares this weight to sin.In the same way that dragging a weight behind us while running slows us down so sin keeps us from performing as we should.  His advice, cut loose.

 

1 B. Let Us Run the Race with Endurance: We are to run the race and set aside sin.  Also in this first verse, he tells us to run with endurance the race that is set before us,

 

In other words just like Moses had a race to run and Joseph had his race we too have ours.  Ours isn’t a race that is like anyone else’s.  Our race as with everyone else’s is a unique race.  Everyone’s life is different.  Our sovereign Lord has place each of us on a different course.  My race will not be like yours.  Some of the things I struggle with along the way may not be your struggles.  However the finish line and the strategy are the same.

 

Lay aside sin and look to the finish line.

 

Philip. 3:12-14 (ESV) Paul’s strategy was much the same. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.  [13] Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,  [14] I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

 

Paul also shows us how to cut loose the sin that entangles us and weighs us down. By faith we are to realize we are dead to sin.

 

Romans 6:11 and 14 (ESV) :   [11] So you also must consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.  [14] For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

 

Many seek to look like athletes by imposing religion on themselves.  Some seek to look athletic by false humility or piousness.  However these self efforts are of no value when seeking to lay aside sin.

 

Exercising faith in Christ is the only way.Letting go of the weight of sin is easier if we love Christ more than we love sin. We can cut this stuff loose when we grab a hold on Jesus.

 

2.  Every Christian must Look to Christ (Hebrews 12:2-3 :if we read) founder and perfecter of our faith, endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

 

Runners are always challenged to not look back or behind them if they begin to hear footsteps.  This looking back often costs them a stride.  In a footrace one stride can be the difference in winning and loosing.

 

The apostle tells us to keep our eyes and concentration on Jesus.  If we are to look to Christ, we must look away from other things.  Taking our eyes off of Jesus is the same as looking back.

 

2 A.  Look to Christ as Others Have :-

 

We have learned through many examples in Chapter 11 how others looked to Christ. 

We should see Abel’s commitment to offer a blood sacrifice,

Noah’s example of perseverance as he looked to and trust God. 

Abraham believed God and he was counted with Christ’s righteousness.  Moses saw the One who is invisible and his life immediately was altered.

 

Once these saints by faith saw Christ, they never looked back.  That’s a good example for us.  Fix your eyes on Christ like the Old Testament saints did and never look away.

 

2 B.  Look to Christ the Author and Perfector of Our Faith

 

We are to look to Jesus by faith because our faith came from Him.

It originates with Jesus. 

Here’s a key if we are to run the Christian race with endurance.

we not only receive faith initially from Christ, but we receive faith daily from Christ. 

He is the founder and perfecter of our faith. 

Faith was originally created by Christ and distributed to His people. 

He then is working with us to perfect that faith. 

We should look to Him for faith and look to Him daily to have our faith perfected.

 

How is our faith perfected? 

Jesus works with us through the Holy Spirit. 

As we run the race of the Christian life, the Spirit of Christ supplies the necessary help to run and help to finish.

 

How do we access this spiritual strength?    Not by focusing on the Holy Spirit but by focusing on Christ the One He glorifies.

 

 

2 C.  Look to Christ and Imitate His Example of Endurance:- Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

 

We look to Christ as the saints of old did. 

We look to Christ because He is the supplier of everything we need to run the race. 

Finally, we look to Christ because in Him we find a clear example to imitate.

 

He shows us how to endure hardship. 

When we enter into a difficult situation, don’t ever think the rest of your life will be as hard as the situation that you find to be difficult. 

By faith look to the promises of God.  Look past the challenge and see Christ seated on the throne. 

Look past the hardship a see the kingdom of God. 

 

Remember, we’re only on this earth for a while we must get ready for heaven.

 

Jesus looked forward and never looked back as His race led Him to the cross. 

Sometimes as we run the race we are led to places of struggle. 

We can always remember there is a Savior named Jesus Christ who endured more pain and heartache than we ever will. 

He kept running and finished His course. 

We too must endure as we run the race set before us. 

Look to Jesus and look away from all other things, and run. 

 

Run hard and run long listening to the cloud of witnesses cheering and seeing Christ as the finish line.

 

We are Gideon not by chance but by the will of God so let lus ook to the Christ the founder and perfector of our faith and RUN

 

GBU

Jesus said on the Cross "It is finished"

 

Jesus said It Is Finished

(Gospel John Chapter 19:28-30)

After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth.  So, when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

 

The above verse says Jesus knowing that all things are now accomplished that the Scripture might be fulfilled. Now the question arises why Jesus came to this fallen world, what was His purpose and meaning of last words uttered “It is finished”. There is a very high price paid and work finished Let us look through the scripture for some of the same.

 

1.    Jesus was Propitiation and ransom for us:

 

Propitiation

a)   Romans 3:25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed.

 

b)   Hebrew 2:17, Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

 

c)   1 John 2:2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

 

Ransome:

 

d)   1 timothy 2:6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

2.Jesus redeemed us from the Sins as well as consequences of the Sins also:

   a)  Galatians 4:5, To redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

Titus 2:14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

 

3.Jesus reconciled us with heavenly father:

 

Ephesians: 2:14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,

 

Colossians 1:20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

 

Romans 5:10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

 

2 Corinthians 5:19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

 

Roman 11:15 For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

 

3.Reconcilation with God.

     1. Eph.2:16 “and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity”.

 

2.    Colo. 1:20 “and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross”.

3.      Romans 5:10 -11 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

4.      2 Corinthian 5 :19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not [a]imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

 

Hence Jesus came to this world for the propitiation/ransom, for redeeming us from not only from our sins but its consequences also as well as reconciling us with heavenly father. This all is just the grace of God alone and we have no done anything for this. Let is believe.

 

If we went to overcome the sin and satan in our life we must go the Father trusting on the first and finished work of the Lord as mentioned above and stand under His grace keeping in our mind what he has done for us. We must remind the satan by proclaiming the work Lord has done for us on the cross. We have not to during prayer but constantly remain under His grace keeping in mind the above. God would really Listen to your prayers.

 

God bless you