שמע ישראל ה 'הוא האלוהים שלנו הוא אחד

Shema Yisrael Adonai Elohaynu Adonai Echad
"Hear Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One"

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם
Shalom aleichem
Welcome and Peace!

A Reader Asked:

Questioner: Nihal
Private: no
Subject: Answering Prayers
Question:

Refrence 1 John 3:22 & John 9:31
Does God answer prayers of sinners/unsaved?

My reply:

Hi Nihal,

HaShem, the God of Israel, is the One True God and He does as He wishes. No one can instruct Him nor limit Him.

Master Y'shua (Jesus) explained:

Matthew 21:21 Y'shua answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

And his brother Ya'akov (James) adds:

James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
1:7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

So, as with I John 3:22 and John 9:31, the apparent answer would be no. If one wishes to have ones prayers answered affirmatively one needs to be obedient to God's Will as best as one can be... HOWEVER "prof texts" can be misleading.

Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

And again,

Job 40:1 Moreover Adonai answered Job, and said,
40:2 Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.

God is Sovereign over all.

The Scriptures also says:

Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you...
7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth...

This is not always the case for those who are saved. Sincere Believers have prayed for many many things that were not received. Why is this?

God is Sovereign over all. He hears our prayers, nothing is beyond His notice, he even knows the number of hairs on our heads (Matthew 30:10) but sometimes His answer is no, and sometimes it is yes.

We exist to bring Him Glory, not the other way around. Will our prayers bring Him Glory? That's the question.

Consider Cyrus the Great. He was not a man of God and yet he is referred to as a mashiach (an anointed servant) because Adonai chose to answer his prayers and empowered him to do His Will concerning Israel (Isaiah 41:1: the Hebrew word mashiach, messiah, is translated as anointed). Throughout the Torah God answers the prayers of the infidel Ishmaelites, Canaanites and others to discipline His People Israel. He does not do these things because they ask but because it brings Him Glory as Sovereign.

We are ALL the children of God, whether infidel or Believer. There is but One True God and One True Father (and many false gods and false fathers: I Corinthians 8:5). If it is His Will to answer any prayer He will do so if not he does not. When our prayers bring Him Glory He will more often reply yes.

Also understand that Adonai is not the only one who answers prayers:

II Corinthians 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Matthew 16:4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.

The Bible is our only source book of Truth.

II Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

That is the standard, not answered prayers nor signs and wonders.

Are our beliefs harmonious with the 66 books of the Bible? Are we worshiping the Echad Elohiym Adonai (the One and Only True God of Israel). If so, we're alright. If not, we need to repent.

If we are living and believing outside of His Will, the rest will not help us and may well lead one astray.

Hope this helps,

~ John of AllFaith
~ Yochanan ben Avraham

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