Recognizing answers to your prayers

*WAVES OF GLORY* – *DAY 16, EVENING SESSION*
*(27-01-2019)*
*MINISTRING: PASTOR EBENEZER OCKECHUKWU*
*TOPIC: RECOGNISING THE ANSWERS TO YOUR PRAYERS*
*TEXT: COLOSSIANS 4:2 (KJV, LB)*

The bible clearly tells us that god is a prayer answering God. All over the scripture we are told that God answers our prayer (Isaiah 65:24, Matthew 7:7, 1st John 5:14, John 14:13). However, it is one thing for God to answer your prayers and another thing for you to recognize the answer to your prayers. Many people don’t recognize the answer to their prayers because many times the answers come in ways they are not expecting. The truth is that when you pray without seeing answers, prayers become discouragement. And when you pray and see answers you are motivated to pray. That is why the passage says watch out for the answers. That means recognizing answers is a cure to discouragement.

*Ten ways the answer to prayer can come.*

*1. Answers to prayer can come like an over flowing joy in your heart.* The burden in your heart disappears and instead of it all you see is Joy in your heart. The release of the fullness of joy means you have received what you ask (John 16:24). When you see that begin to give God thanks.

*2. Answers to prayers come in the form of prophetic words:* You can be praying about a thing and then God sends a word for you, it may come from the pulpit, it may be general but you know that word is for you. Samuel said to Saul “as for thy donkeys... they have been found” (1st Samuel 9). That is a word coming from an authentic prophet. Eli said to Hanna “…go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou have asked Him (1st Samuel 1). That is Hanna’s Pastor giving her a word.

*3. God answers prayer by giving us a sign in the direction of the answer we are waiting for;* that sign may be a starting of the manifestation of the answer we are looking for. It come in different ways. Elijah kept praying and sending his servant to check if there is a sign of rain after years of famine. As soon as Elijah heard that there was a little cloud, Elijah said, “that is the answer to my prayers”. He recognized that sign as answer to his prayers. God answers in different ways using different signs. And when that sign come begin to thank God.

*4. God can answer prayers by giving you a prophetic dream (Acts 16:9):* Apostle Paul was trying to discern where God was leading him in ministry, then he had a prophetic dream of man of Macedonia telling him to come. God answers prayers by giving you a dream in the direction you are asking for.

*5. God answers prayer by a Holy restrain (Acts 16:6):* you may want to do something but you feel a force saying don’t do it. It may be God answering prayer; anytime you feel a hesitation in your spirit it might God saying wait. Wait is also an answer to prayer.

*6. God can answer prayers by giving a direct manifestation of what you are asking for (1st Kings 18).* While Elijah was still praying for fire, fire fell. There are times God gives a direct manifestation to answer prayer prayers. While Peter was still praying in his heart for the meaning of his dream, he heard the spirit say, “three men are looking for you” that was the meaning of that revelation. God can be answering directly sometimes faster than you think. Dreams are not always something happening in Future, they can be things happening on the spot. Many times, there is a direct answer to the prayer, only that the answer is too close to the prayer that you begin to think is a coincidence. But the word of God says, “before you call, I will answer”.

*7. God answers prayer by an angelic visitation (Daniel 9:21):* Daniel said, “while I was praying, an angel came…” Angels are for real. The case of Zachariah and Elizabeth, an angel appeared to him (Zachariah) and said to him “your prayers have been answered”. Angels brings us glad tidings, anything that terrifies you is a demon.

*8. God answers prayers through silence:* He does not just say anything. It takes discernment for you to know that it also an answer to prayers. When Jesus was praying “let this cup pass over me” heaven was silent. That silence meant no (Matthew 26). another meaning of silence is that what you are asking for is already in place. for example, 2nd Cor. 12:6-8, Apostle Paul had a problem in his flesh, he sought the Lord three times for it to be taken away. That means he had prayed two times without receiving an answer before God told him the third time, “my grace is sufficient for you”. Sometimes God is silent because he wants to answer in a big way. And when he answers the size of the answer will make the silent inconsequential. So, what do you do if He silent, keep asking Him.

*9. God can answer praying by sending the gift of a man into your life (Judges 3:19):* A nation (Israel) cried and God sent them a man (Othniel).

*10. God answer prayers by giving us verses of scripture:* when you are praying a verse of scripture can flash in your spirit and will contain the answer to your prayer.

*PRAYER POINTS:*
1.Father thank you for speaking to me this evening.

2. Father I believe your word to night, I believe you have spoken to me today because you have answered my prayer. In the name of Jesus let there be a manifestation.