The Keys to Answered Prayer ! !

THE KEYS TO ANSWERED PRAYER : For instance, you are needing a certain amount of money and you pray believing you receive. When you get up the next morning, you find the car won't start and the washing machine breaks down. Are you still believing that your financial needs are met ? Most people won't. They will say, "Oh, dear Lord, just as I figured, it didn't work out." RELIGIOUS PRAYING : There is such a thing as prayer just to be praying. We might even call it religious praying. It is praying just because it seems like the thing to do--- not believing anything, just praying. Evidently, this was the case in (Acts 12). James had been killed and Herod proceeded to take Peter also. "Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him (verse 5)." You find that the whole church was praying; but it must have been religious praying for, when the angel let Peter out, he went to the house of John Mark's mother where many were praying; and as Peter not at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate (v v. 13-14). Up until now, everything seems to be rather normal, but listen to the confession of those who were praying: and they said unto her, "Thou art mad." But she consistently affirmed that it was even so. Then he said they, "it is his angel." But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door and saw him, they were astonished (v v.15-16). Now, the difference, of the petition or prayer of faith; and the prayer of doubt is evident: RHODA'S FAITH: Evidently, Rhoda was the only one who agreed with what they were praying. They're saying surely was not in line with their praying, was it ? "Thou art mad. . . It is his angel." To them, Peter was already dead ! I wouldn't want people praying for me like that ! In fact, if you're not going to pray the prayer of faith for me don't pray for me at all. The servant girl, Rhoda, was the only one in the whole house who believed the answer when it appeared, and everyone thought she had gone crazy. I am glad the Bible doesn't hide these things because it lets us know that they were human. They would only believe Rhoda's faith confession after they saw Peter. I really believe that Rhoda was the only one in that whole prayer group who had prayed in faith. Evidently, she had already prayed and was cleaning the house while everyone else was too busy being religious to open the door for Pete. The way they talked, I suspect that they were praying the problem. If it hadn't been for someone praying and believing the answer, they would have prayed Peter right into his grave. Proud along does not bring deliverance. It is the prayer of faith that brings deliverance and move God on your and my behalf.