Sunday, May 17, 2015

Prayer

Question: How do you know God answers prayer?

I know it, first of all, because the Bible says so, and I have conclusive proof that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God. Whatever the Bible says is true. I know is true. (See "Powerful Faith" by R. A. Torrey). The Bible abounds in statements that God answers prayer. For example, Jesus said in Matthew 7:11, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!" He also said to His disciples who were united to Him by a living faith and obedient love, "Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it" (John 14:13-14).

However, I also know that God answers prayer because He has answered mine. Time and time again, throughout the years, I have asked God for things that He alone could give, for things hat there was no probability whatsoever of my getting through human effort. I have told no one else of my need, and God has given me the very things for which I asked. There have been times in my life when I have asked God for specific things, and it has been so evident that if I received them, they must be from Him, that I have said to Him in asking for them, "If you will give me this thing, I will never doubt you again as long as I live" - and God has given me the very thing for which I asked. On one occasion, in answer to prayer, God gave six thousand dollars within two hours. On another occasion when another person and I prayed for five thousand dollars for the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, word was received by telegram that five thousand dollars had been given to the Institute by a man whom I had never heard of and who lived about one thousand miles from the place where we had prayed. This man had never given a penny to the Moody Bible Institute before and has never given a penny since. I could relate many other instances of this kind.

Now, it may be said that this kind of thing is merely a coincidence, but the "coincidence" has occurred so often and there has been such an evident connection between prayer (the cause) and the answer (the effect), that to say it is coincidence is to be unscientific.

The history of George Muller's orphan homes in England, is, to be a fair-minded investigation of facts, clear proof that God answers prayer. About two thousand children at these orphanages were housed, clothed, and fed over a long period of years in answer to prayer. No money was ever solicited, no debt was ever incurred, and no mean ever failed - even though, up to the very last moment, if often seemed as if it might fail. If anyone studies the facts in connection with George Muller's orphan homes and still doubts that God answers prayer, he is not only willfully obstinate in his unbelief but is also thoroughly unscientific in his treatment of demonstrated facts.

~R. A. Torrey~

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