ON WHAT BASIS DOES GOD HEAR AND ACCEPT THE PRAYERS OF HIS REDEEMED?
In response to this question I would say, on the basis of His Word of promise. Consider Romans 4:16-20, for lack of space I am unable to use all of the reading, but I encourage you to do so: considering “Abraham not being weak in faith, nor considering his own body dead, and the deadness of Sarah.” Notice v 16, “Therefore it is of faith that it might be by grace. Dr. Gill says, “Meaning either the promise of being heir of the world, or the inheritance itself, or adoption which gives heirship, or remission of sin, of the blessing of justification, all of these are of faith. “Not as the cause or condition of them, but as the means of God’s fixing and appointing to be the recipient of all and each of them: which is done, ‘that it might be by grace’; that is, appear to be of the free grace and favor of God, as each of these blessings are: forasmuch as every blessing is received by faith, it is manifest it must be by grace; since faith itself is a gift of God’s grace, and lies purely in receiving favors at the hand of God, to Whom it gives all the glory of them.” “To the end that the promise might be sure to all the seed.” I think the promise particularly of the inheritance which was made in the ever lasting covenant of grace, ordered in all things and sure, as we read from the words of David in 2 Sam.23:5, and which could not be disannulled by the law that came after it; this being by faith and of grace, and not of works, nor at all depending upon them, becomes sure to all believers, to all Abraham’s spiritual seed. Therefore Abraham prayed in accordance with the Sovereign God’s everlasting decree and purpose, never wavering or staggering at the promise. Another case is that of Zacharias the father of John the Baptist, Luke 1:5-13; again I encourage you to read to get the full impact. Notice that while “the people were praying outside at the hour of incense” Zacharias was offering incense as to his duty inside when the angel appeared. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.” After the angel announced the coming birth of the babe even down to its name and purposed ministry as to the forerunner of Messiah the old priest questioned the mission of the angel; “How shall I know this for I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years?” Those things shall be because God had decreed them before the world was. Six months after Elizabeth gave birth to the forerunner of our Lord the Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus our Savior. All was according to the eternal decree of our Sovereign God as to its agents and means, prayer; “Zacharias your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son.”
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