James 5: 16 - "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
Have you ever felt like your prayers aren't getting answered? God answers all prayers but sometimes it's not how we want them to be answered. If your prayers aren't getting answered, are you following the right God? are you following the little 'g' god or the God of the Lord Jesus Christ? If you know God as your Lord and Savior, then you're saved by His grace. But if you're praying to the little 'g' god, then you're praying to the wrong one. You need to pray and serve the Living God.
Putting idols in front of God are stubling blocks that can keep you from coming to church. Another thing that might keep your prayers unanswered is if you're not in fellowship with God. He wants to bless us when we're in fellowship with Him. Sometimes it's a sin to multiple sins that you've yet to confess that is keeping you from having fellowship with God. It matters if we're doing what we're suppose to do. But if we don't uphold our responsibilities to God why should He bless us?
Remember the day you were saved, the joy that filled your heart. God was there but it's the sins of this world that will keep us from our fellowship with God. All answers in this world are right here in your Bible.
James 5:16b says "the fervent effectual prayer" Fervent means a real experience you have when you pray.
This world is in a horrible state right now and only Jesus can save us. we need to get back to reading our Bible more than ever. We have to do our part to get our prayers answereed. Are we praying fervent prayers or are we just going through the motions? Pray like you're talking to your father, like you're talking to the person closest to you. God wants a conversation with us. When you talk to God, God will talk back and sometimes the answer is "no."
2 Samuel 12:13-24 -" And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, the LORD also hath put asway thy sin; thou shalt not die. Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die. And NATHAN departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick. David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted and went in, and lay all night upon the earth. And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them. and it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not heaerken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead? But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead. Then David arose from the earth, and washed and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and whne he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat. Then said his servants unto him, Wht thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread. And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him , but he shall not return to me. And David comforted Bath-sheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him."
David knew that he had sinned and had confessed to Nathan. he didn't wait to be told that he sinned. He knew right away. That's the sign of a mature christian. That's something we should all strive for; to be quick to repent. God knows what we did wrong and He wants us to admit it and repent for it. When David prayed for 7 days. He found that sins have consequences and the consequence of David's sin was for his child to die. David accepted the consequences for his son cause he knew he would see his child again.
Sometimes the answer to your prayer is "no" because our actions have consequences. When you pray, God can answer with "yes, no or later." We should desire to serve God. And when someone says they're saved and go out and live their life like there aren't any consequesnces, God won't use a dirty vessel. He wants us cleaned so He can use us to do His works.
Act 12:5-17 - "Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains and the keepers before the door kept the prison. And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. and he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him. And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews. And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying. And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate. And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel. But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished. But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, delcared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, God shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place."
1 Thessalonians 5:17 - "Pray without ceasing"
We need to constantly be in conversation with God about everything that's oing on in our lives. He keeps blessing us. We need to be praying always for our lives, the lives of others, and the lives of the next generation. Why do we pray for our families, the sick, little kids, the world? Because we never know when He will say "yes."
Are we going to serve the real God? or the little 'g' god or satan? You need to serve God and His son, Jesus Christ only.