We’ve now studied three days on Jesus and His thoughts concerning “unanswered prayer.” But today I would like to emphasize Jesus’ view of normal prayer, answered prayer!

I’d like to frame this Lesson around the title of “rewards” and prayer. And I am using the very words of Jesus here! “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret SHALL REWARD THEE openly.” Matthew 6:6, where the verb “shall reward” is “apodidomi” in Greek. Meaning “to give,” and that intensively so!

There are “rewards” in prayer!

“Gifts” from God!

So I definitely think we can pencil, engrave, “answered prayer” beside Jesus’ name, beside His overall Teaching on the subject.

Listen to him again: “I say unto you, Ask, and IT SHALL BE GIVEN you; seek, and YE SHALL FIND; knock, and IT SHALL BE OPENED unto you. For every one that asketh RECEIVETH; and he that seeketh FINDETH; and to him that knocketh it SHALL BE OPENED. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father GIVE the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” Luke 11:9-13, sure does sound positive! Answers are on the way!

Then Mark 11:24 records our Lord as saying: “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and YE SHALL HAVE THEM.”

John 14:13-14 is always a favorite! “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” No doubt about it, answered prayer!

Add John 15:7 now. “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”

Then John 15:16, the same chapter, Jesus continues. “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, HE MAY GIVE IT YOU.”

One more example, of many yet available! “And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, HE WILL GIVE IT YOU. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and YE SHALL RECEIVE, that your joy may be full.” John 16:23-24

There is “reward,” assuredly so, guaranteed, promised of God … when prayers are launched Heavenward!

Jesus said so.

What further encouragement do we need?

Let’s pray.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell