WHY ARE OUR PRAYERS TO JESUS NOT ANSWERED?

We witnessed the most beautiful people overtaken by diseases and death even though we pray for them. Prayer failure is not the outcome that is promised when the elders of the church (synagogue) will pray for the sick among the believers in the church. It is written that the elders will pray and Jesus will put the sick back on his or her feet ! James also emphasizes that the prayer of faith can also forgive the sins of the sick of the church. James assumes that all the members of the church are in perfect harmony with the will of God (Jesus), free of doctrines or teachings of men. The churches or synagogues that are driven by mixed doctrines and teachings of men worship but the worship is vain or pointless (Mark 7:7). Therefore, no effective prayers can be exhibited in such assemblies. 


(14) Is any among you sick? Let him call the elders of the assembly, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.  (15)  And the prayer of faith will save those being sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he may have committed sin, it will be forgiven him. James 5:14-15 LITV

FIRST CONDITION FOR EFFECTIVE PRAYERS: FAITH

UNWAVERING FAITH is the first of the requirements for healing prayers to be effective

(20) And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How did the fig tree immediately wither away? (21) And Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do what is done to the fig tree, but even if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea, it shall be done. (22) And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. Matthew 21:20-22 ASV

SECOND CONDITION FOR EFFECTIVE PRAYERS: RIGHTEOUSNESS

Even before the incarnation of YHWH God, it takes a 'righteous healer' (James 5:16) for the healing prayers to be effective. It is only after we become righteous that Jesus invites us to 'come now and let us reason together' (Isaiah 1:15-18) so He can free us of all evil which is upon us.

(15) And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you; yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.  (16)  Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;  (17)  learn to do well; seek justice, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.  (18)  Come now, and let us reason together, saith Jehovah: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Isaiah 1:15-18 ASV

THIRD CONDITION FOR EFFECTIVE PRAYERS: UNWAVERING FAITH OF THE ONE SEEKING HELP OR HEALING

It takes the 'faith to be healed' from the sick for healing from prayer to be effective. There is no limit on what we can ask us God (Jesus) if we can ask for it with faith without doubting (Matthew 21:21), even terminal disease like cancer. The case studies of those to whom Jesus did according to their faith show that Jesus is pointing out that it is impossible for Him to deny whatever our faith asks for. Jesus acts as if He is just the Catalyst that makes the object of our faithful request happen. He acts as if He has nothing to do with our requests of faith with His usual refrain "YOUR FAITH HAS' if not only obliged to comply with them. Expression of unwavering faith astonishes and pleases Jesus because He feels discomposed that we fail to take advantage of the vast power of miracles we have at our fingertips if only we totally believe.

Are there other people outside of our churches or synagogues who exhibit faith to be healed and, like Paul, we can be sure of their unwavering faith, healing is to be performed for those believers also (Acts 14:8-11).

But Jesus turning and seeing her, said, Be of good courage, daughter; thy faith has healed thee. And the woman was healed from that hour. Matthew 9:22 Darby

Then Jesus answering said to her, O woman, thy faith is great. Be it to thee as thou desirest. And her daughter was healed from *that* hour. Matthew 15:28 Darby

And he said to her, Daughter, thy faith has healed thee; go in peace, and be well of thy scourge. Mark 5:34 Darby

And Jesus said to him, Go, thy faith has healed thee. And he saw immediately, and followed him in the way. Mark 10:52 Darby

And he said to her, Be of good courage, daughter; thy faith has healed thee; go in peace. Luke 8:48 Darby

And Jesus said to him, See: thy faith has healed thee. Luke 18:42 Darby

This man heard Paul speaking, who, fixing his eyes on him, and seeing that he had faith to be healed, Acts 14:9 Darby

FOURTH CONDITION FOR EFFECTIVE PRAYERS: THE PRAYING ELDER MUST BE RIGHTEOUS, SINLESS, PERFECT

James rests the responsibility of healing of the sick of the assemblies on the shoulders of the elders of the churches (synagogues). Except that the elders must be righteous, that is, sinless, perfectly in accordance with Moses and the Prophets (Luke 16). Any assembly or elder who is lacking anything in Moses and the Prophets can never pray effectively for anyone to be healed. Mark 7:1-13 describes those assemblies who are engaged in teaching the doctrines and teachings of men instead of Moses but are worshiping God the Father in vain.

When we go pray for the sick, we usually let the door open for Jesus to make up His mind by concluding 'but according to your will'. That is not the kind of prayer that Jesus expects. Jesus wants us to brandish to Him the faith that makes Him comply with our requests (Matthew 21:21). What if the ones we are praying for truly believe in the powers of prayers, but we deny them of the objects of their faith because we are not righteous or we do not have unwavering faith? Healing is not outlandish even in the case of a terminal disease. (Alas! I can feel the waves of unbelief go through me while writing the preceding sentence about terminal disease). Hebrews 10:22-23. 

If we pray with faith but nothing happens, we must investigate our beliefs and behavior to see if there is some kind of belief or behavior that makes Jesus hide His face from us. James 2:10 suggests that we may not be missing out in anything in the Law or will of God (Jesus).

(14) Is any among you sick? Let him call the elders of the assembly, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. (15) And the prayer of faith will save those being sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he may have committed sin, it will be forgiven him. James 5:14-15 LITV

(22) Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.  (23) Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) Hebrews 10:22-23 KJV

FIFTH CONDITION FOR EFFECTIVE PRAYERS: DO NOT ASK FOR OUTLANDISH AND MATERIAL THINGS

None of the ones whom Jesus praises because of their unwavering and did according to their faith came to Him for material things! We pray for our daily bread. No one came with unpaid bills requests, for justice, or other outlandish things. What does that tell us of what Jesus expects of His flock or fold?

We are not to use the power of our prayers to show off as Satan wanted Jesus to. Miracles do not convince the unbelievers. If the unbelievers truly believe they will manifest their faith as Paul could see it in Acts 14:8-10 and was able to perform the miracle to make the crippled walk.

(24) And Jesus seeing him said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!  (25)  For it is easier for a camel to enter in through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.  (26)  And they that heard it said, Then who can be saved?  (27)  But he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.  (28)  And Peter said, Lo, we have left our own, and followed thee.  (29)  And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or wife, or brethren, or parents, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,  (30)  who shall not receive manifold more in this time, and in the world to come eternal life. Luke 18:24-30 ASV

And the devil said unto him, If thou art the Son of God, command this stone that it become bread.  Luke 4:3 ASV

(10) And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:  (10)  For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:  (11)  And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.  (12)  And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Luke 4:9-12 KJV

CONCLUSION 

Isaiah 59:1-4 lists our impediments against answer to prayers: the deeds of unrighteousness. The New Testament also emphasizes righteousness and the necessity of FAITH for our prayers to be effectively answered. 

What is required for our prayers for healing to be effective? If we have faith to be healed, we, then, need a righteous person of faith who is filled with the Holy Spirit to pray for us so that we may be healed. The Apostles were moved by the Holy Spirit.

(1) Behold, Jehovah's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: (2) but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, so that he will not hear. (3) For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue muttereth wickedness. (4) None sueth in righteousness, and none pleadeth in truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity. Isaiah 59:1-4 ASV

(26) And likewise the Spirit also joins in to help our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes on our behalf with groanings that cannot be uttered.  (27)  But the One searching the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because He petitions on behalf of the saints according to God. Romans 8:26-27 LITV

Can Satan Perform Miracles? Yes. Miracles of healing? No!

(22) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works?  (23)  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matthew 7:22-23 ASV

And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. Revelation 13:14 KJVA

For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.  Revelation 16:14 KJVA

And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.  Revelation 19:20 KJVA

What happens when man dies?

His breath goes forth; he returns to the earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.  Psalms 146:4 MKJV

then the dust shall return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return to God who gave it.  Ecclesiastes 12:7 MKJV

Satan cannot resurrect the dead. Only God and Man can!

When we die, according to Psalms 146:4 and Ecclesiastes 12:7, our spirit goes to God.  It is impossible for Satan to go get the soul of man from the storage of God or ask God for it. Only God and man can resurrect the dead.                                                                                                     

Matthew 10:7-8 MKJV

(7)  And as you go, proclaim, saying, The kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
(8)  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. You have received freely, freely give.

Jesus of Nazareth in the First Commission of the Apostles 

Contact Us