“From the Heart” teaching by Drs. Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne.

Mark 10:17-31  (KJV)
17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what   shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good?  there is none good but one, that is, God.

Jesus was not just a good man – He was God in the flesh.  He held the secret of eternal life – yield every area of your life to the Father and obey Him.

19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not,   Honor thy father and mother.
20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and   give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

The man kept the law and obeyed God as much as he was able, but his possessions meant more to him than God.  He was a good man; but when it came to the bottom line, he trusted in his riches more than he trusted in God.  He could not imagine his life without his possessions.  He could not see what God could have done with his life because he could not see beyond the things that he had in his hand. He could not see eternity because he was blinded by earthly things.

23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of   God!
24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for   them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

The “eye of a needle” was a small, after-hours gate in the city wall that a camel could squeeze through only if its load was removed. Jesus did not say that rich people could not go to heaven, as some people would have us believe.  He said that it would be hard – or difficult – for them to enter the kingdom of God, because they trusted in their riches too much.  Riches came between them and their salvation.  God did not have their whole heart.  If you want what God has for you, you must give Him your whole heart and let nothing else disturb or distract you.

26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?
27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

The disciples wondered “Who then can be saved?”  Everybody has a certain amount of possessions – some more, some less.  It is not your possessions, or lack of them, that determines your spirituality, but it is who has your heart.  Does your Father God have your total allegiance today, does He have your whole heart?

28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or   mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,
30 but he shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands,   with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.

The disciples had given up all that they had to follow Jesus, but even then, they could not take the credit for it or be proud of it like it was some great earth-shaking sacrifice.  Some people act like they did God some great favor and honor by giving up things for Him.  Yes, you sure sacrificed a whole lot by giving up that alcohol and those drugs, by giving up your rotten lifestyle and your bad attitude so that you could have His peace, His joy, His abundance, and His blessing!  There is nothing that you gave up for Jesus that was not worth the sacrifice and the return on your giving.
Jesus promised up to a hundred fold blessing in return in this life and the next!  Whatever you gave up is headed back your way and it’s exceeding abundantly above all you could ask or think!  God does not deprive you of anything because He wants you deprived.  He asks you to give to Him so that He can give to you.  He asks you to give Him everything that is important to you, the things that mean everything to you, so that He can truly be Lord of every area of your life!

Sure you may have to endure some hard things to serve God.  The world won’t like you as much as they used to.  But who cares about a few difficulties down here, when you can see eternity stretched out before you and the promise of wonderful, glorious eternal life in the presence of Jesus, our Lord and King?

“From the Heart” teaching by Drs. Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne.

Luke 7:36-50  (NKJ)

36Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat   down to eat.

37And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil,

38and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.

39Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”

40And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he said, “Teacher, say it.”

41″There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.

42″And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?”

43Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.”

44Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head.

45″You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in.

46″You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil.

47″Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”

48And He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

49And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

50Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

The character of God is wonderfully revealed in this passage as we see Jesus’ response to this “notorious” sinner woman, “a social outcast, devoted to sin” (Amplified Bible). He is eating at the house of a Pharisee called Simon, when this woman of bad reputation walks in with an alabaster box of precious ointment. The last place a sinner woman would willingly go would be to a Pharisees’ house, because it was very likely that she would be stoned! But, she was so desperate for God’s forgiveness, that she was willing to risk censure and even death.

Romans 2:4 (NKJ) says, “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” Many sinners long for forgiveness and release from the bondage of their sin, but they are told by the religious leaders that God hates them and that He rejects them. When they find out the true nature and character of God and that He loves, accepts and forgives them, they come running to bathe His feet with their tears!

The Pharisee began to doubt that Jesus was actually a prophet because he thought that Jesus had not discerned what type of woman she was. In his mind, Jesus, the prophet, should have rejected this woman, but he had the wrong idea about God as many people do. But it is a lie of the devil! Romans 5:8 (NKJ) says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God loves sinners—He loves them right into His arms. Jesus Christ did not die for His friends, but for His enemies. He died for the unlovable and the unlovely.

The Pharisee, Jesus’ host, did not wash His feet, did not greet Him with a kiss, or even anoint His head with cheap, ordinary oil. But, this sinner woman wet Jesus’ feet with her tears, wiped them with the hair of her head, kissed His feet and anointed them with the rare, costly ointment. The woman had faith in the love and forgiveness of Jesus, the Son of God, and she received His mercy and forgiveness. Thank God—He loves us with an everlasting love that has nothing to do with our worthiness, but with His grace and His mercy extended toward us.

“From the Heart” teaching by Drs. Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne.

BOLDNESS TO BE A WITNESS

On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leaveJerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”  Acts 1:4-5 NIV

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses inJerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  Acts 1:8 NIV

Jesus instructed the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit –- the gift, the promise — that the Father had promised them. They had no idea what they were waiting for exactly or how it would come, but they knew that the Holy Spirit would baptize them in God’s power. The Holy Spirit would come upon them and fill them and change them — turning them into bold witnesses who would preach the Gospel unto the uttermost parts of the earth with signs and wonders following! They did as Jesus said and on the day of Pentecost the wind of the Holy Spirit blew on them and changed the course of history. The Spirit of God changed them into new creatures that had never existed before (1 Corinthians 5:17) and filled them with the power to change the eternal destiniesof billions of people.

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.  Acts 2:1-4 NIV

When the power of God fell on the disciples, they spoke in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. The fire of God was seen on them and they were so loud that people outside the room heard them. People heard them speak in their own languages, telling of the mighty and wonderful works of God! Some people were amazed and some mocked them, calling them drunks, but Peter, who had only weeks before denied the Lord, stood up boldly and proclaimed the Gospel to all the people resulting in three thousand conversions that first day!

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’  Acts 2:14-21 NIV

 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off– for all whom the Lord our God will call.”  Acts 2:36-39 NIV

When you get filled with the Spirit of God, you will be filled with boldness to preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to all men – those who want to hear and those who don’t. Stephen, who was full of the Holy Spirit, wisdom, faith and power, boldly proclaimed the Gospel in Acts 7 to a hostile audience and was martyred in the process. He was so filled with the power of God that he did not care what they did to him as long as he did what the Lord required of him. When we get filled with the power of God, we will not even be afraid of death, because we are so conscious of God’s presence that we choose to please Him and not man. We do not need to fear man, who can only kill our body — we need to have respect for God, who is in charge of our eternal destiny (Matthew 10:28)! The Holy Spirit gives you the power to please God, not man, and to do great things for God.

“From the Heart” teaching by Drs. Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne.

A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.  Mark 1:40-42 NIV

If you ask most people, they will say that they know that God CAN heal – even those people who know little or nothing about Him. However, the argument really gets heated when you start to discuss whether or not He WILL heal. We believe that He is omnipotent, that He is ABLE to heal, but we are not sure if He is WILLING to heal. Even some of us who believe that God is willing to heal are not sure if He is willing to heal US. People think that God only heals SOME people, because that is our experience – we have only seen a few people receive their healing. However, our experience is not the measuring stick of God’s will – His Word is His will. Jesus is the Word made flesh, dwelling among us!

And when they had crossed over, they came to the land, unto Gennesaret.

And when the men of that place knew him, they sent into all that region round about, and brought unto him all that were sick, and they besought him that they might only touch the border of his garment:and as many as touched were made whole.  Matthew 14:34-36 ASV

Jesus was the manifest will of God – He did only that which He saw His Father do. God’s will was Jesus’ will. He declared that it was His will to heal and He healed everyone. Even though He died, rose again and then ascended to the right hand of the Father, He has not changed His mind. Jesus left the Holy Spirit here on earth with us to help us and the Holy Spirit is still carrying out the will of God today.

Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.  Luke 5:17 NKJV

The power of God may be present to heal us, but if we are too deaf, dumb, blind or dishonest to see what God is doing or hear what He is saying then we will not comprehend what His will is and we will not receive what He has already provided for us.

So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, saying, ‘Go to this people and say: “Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand; and seeing you will see, and not perceive; for the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.” ‘ “Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!” And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves.  Acts 28:25-29 NKJV

The enemy always opposes God’s plan and will. You can believe his lies or you can believe the truth of God’s word. God’s will is that we live in divine health – He has already signed, sealed and delivered it to us. All that is left is for us to come into agreement with God and His word and His will. Our faith in God’s word and His will is built up and strengthened as we spend our time hearing His word and meditating on it.

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17 NKJV

God’s will is an established fact. It will never change because God will never change. We need to realize that it is His will to heal us, we need to renew our minds to that fact and we need to submit to His will and go ahead and receive His healing power in our bodies.

“From the Heart” teaching by Drs. Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne.

As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, “according to your faith will it be done to you”; and their sight was restored. 

Matthew 9:27-30 NIV

God will do His work in your life according to what you believe and what you receive. Jesus frequently told people that it was their faith that brought them the healing, deliverance and forgiveness that they needed. On the other hand – doubt and unbelief will hinder, and even stop altogether, the power of God from manifesting to meet your needs.

Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from there. And when He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?” So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.”Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.  Matthew 13:53-58 NKJV

You will not receive much from God if you look at things totally in the natural, are easily offended by the word of God and the methods He uses, or if you do not recognize His messenger. Jesus could not do many mighty works in His own hometown because of their unbelief – the NIV says, “And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.” All they could see was the kid they saw growing up in their midst – instead of the anointed Son of God that He was. He was God made flesh right before their eyes and they missed Him.

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Romans 10:17 NKJV

Faith begins where the will of god is known. When you recognize and acknowledge the truth of God’s word and when you align your self with it, instead of trying to get God to change and do things your way – you will receive your answer and your miracle.

Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” and the woman was healed from that moment.  Matthew 9:20-21 NIV

God does not move on your behalf because you have a big need, but because you have big faith. God does not move on your behalf because you cry hard enough, but because you have persistent faith.

Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

Luke 5:18-20 NIV

You are the one who determines your miracle by your attitude of gratitude and your faith in God and His word.

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him-and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”  Luke 17:11-19 NIV

Build yourself up in the Word and then rise up in faith and receive your miracle!

“From the Heart” teaching by Drs. Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne.

11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.  Ephesians 5:11 NKJV

Works of darkness are the evil things you do- the things that are wrong; the things that bring harm to yourselves and also to others; the things you do that are sin in God’s eyes. These works of darkness are unfruitful – they are unproductive – they produce no good fruit.

Ephesians 5:3-5 says, “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or ofany kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person-such a man is an idolater-has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” These are unfruitful works of darkness. They are unproductive and a waste of time and ability. God is never pleased or satisfied with waste, unfruitfulness and unproductiveness.

6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. 7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, `For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ 8 “`Sir,’ the man replied, `leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.'”  Luke 13:6-9 NIV

A good farmer does not waste his time and resources on a tree that does not produce. It is wasting the soil and water that would be better used to feed and water a productive tree. If there is no fruit, there is no food. If there is no food, everything that relies on that fruit for food will die. It is not a small thing – it is a very important matter. God made everything to produce after its own kind. The fruit that a tree produces is food, but it is also seed for the next generation. Healthy living things always produce fruit. If a tree is dead and lifeless, it will not produce. Because dead things do not produce, God cuts down every thing that is dead.

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.  John 15:1-8 NIV

You are a branch in the kingdom of God. Branches that do not bear fruit are eventually cut off and burned. Branches that bear fruit are pruned for more productive growth. Nobody wants to be cut off and burned and therefore you need to allow the Lord to prune you. In the pruning process, you must deal with the sin in your life, because it is unfruitful and it will make you unfruitful. You must bear good fruit in order to remain connected to the vine.

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he isnearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.  2 Peter 1:5-9 NIV

Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives.  Titus 3:14 NIV

If you do not want to live an unproductive life, you must devote yourself to doing what is good!

“From the Heart” teaching by Drs. Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne.

•    Let your requests be made known to God
•    Let God know what it is you want from Him. Don’t just think it – speak it.
•    Don’t be anxious. Rejoice.
•    Do it with thanksgiving. With gratefulness for what He has already done and a joyful expectation of what He is about to do.
•     God’s peace will protect your heart and mind.
•    You can go about your business, knowing that He is in control!

•    Single-minded
•    James 1:5-8 NKJV – If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
•    If you ask – ask in faith.
•    Do not be double-minded. If you allow doubts to sway you, you will be pulled in two different directions and the result is that you will be double-minded and unstable.
•    If you are double-minded, don’t be surprised when your prayers are not answered.
•    Every one is tempted with doubtful thoughts, but you can shut them down, allow faith to arise from your heart and stay steady until the answer comes.

•    Be persistent.
•    First – know your rights!
•    Luke 18:1-8 The Message Bible – Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit. 2 He said, “There was once a judge in some city who never gave God a thought and cared nothing for people. 3 A widow in that city kept after him: ‘My rights are being violated. Protect me!’ 4 “He never gave her the time of day. But after this went on and on he said to himself, ‘I care nothing what God thinks, even less what people think. 5 But because this widow won’t quit badgering me, I’d better do something and see that she gets justice — otherwise I’m going to end up beaten black and blue by her pounding.'” 6 Then the Master said, “Do you hear what that judge, corrupt as he is, is saying? 7 So what makes you think God won’t step in and work justice for his chosen people, who continue to cry out for help? Won’t he stick up for them? 8 I assure you, he will. He will not drag his feet. But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?”
•    Second – Press in until you get it.
•    Some Christians don’t ask God for what they need because they think He would be bothered or irritated by their requests. Or maybe it’s because they actually don’t have faith in Him to answer.
•    Over and over, God has told us in His Word that He cares, that He listens and that He answers. When we wake up and get that revelation, we might actually start to ask in faith and receive what we asked for!
•    God expects us to be persistent in prayer and not give up until we get the answer.
•    The lesson of this parable is that if even an unjust judge will respond to a woman who knows her rights and won’t quit until she receives, how much more will our righteous Father work justice for His kids who stand on their rights in faith?

•    No vain repetition allowed.
•    Matthew 6:7-8 AMP – And when you pray, do not heap up phrases (multiply words, repeating the same ones over and over) as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their much speaking.  8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
•    Repeating the exact same word, phrase, or prayer over and over is not the answer. Repetition is just words – no faith is involved.
•    It’s persistent faith – not nagging words – that moves God.
•    Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
•    Ask once for what you want – then continue to thank Him and praise Him for the answer.
•    If the devil comes with doubts – open your mouth and praise God – he will leave!

•    You do not need to pray long prayers.
•    Matthew 23:14 NKJV – Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
•    Long prayers cannot compensate for bad behavior.

•    Ask – expecting an answer.
•    Hebrews 11:6
•    NKJV – But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
•    The Message Bible – It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.
•    Luke 11:5-13 NKJV – And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? 8 I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs. 9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
•    Ask, and it will be given to you – everyone who asks receives.
•    Matthew 7:7-11 AMP – Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened. 9 Or what man is there of you, if his son asks him for a loaf of bread, will hand him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will hand him a serpent? 11 If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father Who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give good and advantageous things to those who keep on asking Him!
•    Your Father in heaven gives good gifts to those who ask Him

•    Ask with right motives.
•    James 4:1-3 Easy-to-Read Version – Do you know where your fights and arguments come from? They come from the selfish desires that make war inside you. 2 You want things, but you don’t get them. So you kill and are jealous of others. But you still cannot get what you want. So you argue and fight. You don’t get what you want because you don’t ask God. 3 Or when you ask, you don’t receive anything, because the reason you ask is wrong. You only want to use it for your own pleasure.
•    Unspoken requests are not heard or answered. If you don’t ask then you won’t receive.
•    Selfish prayers are not answered either.
•    The Message Bible says you don’t receive because the reason you ask is wrong. “You’re spoiled children, each wanting your own way.” James 4:3b

•    Obey, ask and receive
•    All God’s promises are conditional.
•    1 John 3:18-24 NKJV – My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. 20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. 24 Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
•    Keep His commandments and He will answer your prayers.
•    John 15:7-8 NKJV – If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.  8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
•    When God’s Word becomes so much a part of us that it influences and directs everything we think, feel, say and do, then He will absolutely give us everything we ask for.
•    He wants us to be fruitful in every way.
•    Your fruitfulness and answered prayers bring glory to God.