:: God overanswers prayer! ::
By david wilkerson
Paraphrased by joshua chua
One of the most often-heard phrases in the church is, "God answers prayer!" Yet that is only half the truth. The whole truth is, "God overanswers prayer!"
I want to act now as a lawyer before you. I'm going to build a case that will prove to you that in every generation - all through the Bible and continuing to the present day - God always overanswers the prayers of His children. He continually gives much more than we ask for - and often things we wouldn't think to request!
I'll go straight to the biblical record to make my case. It is built on precedent after precedent in history - all proving God overanswers prayer!
1. God over-answered Israel in Hosea 14!
Hosea 14:2 "Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto Him, take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips."
Their prayer was simple. All Israel asked God to do was to take away their sin and receive them graciously. "Lord, have mercy. Cleanse us - receive us back into Your grace."
Yet God not only forgave their iniquities - He not only cleansed them and received them back graciously - He also added blessings beyond imagination!
Hosea 14:4-7 ""I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for Mine anger is turned away from him. I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon."
All they asked for was mercy, forgiveness and acceptance. But instead, God opened the windows of heaven and poured on them blessings they dared not even hope for! God largely overanswered their prayer!
Beloved, God has done the same for you! When you repented, all you asked God for was a clean heart, forgiveness and peace. Yet look at how He has overanswered you: He gave you a hungering heart - a thirst for more and more of Jesus! He gave you eyes to see and ears to hear. He gave you a love for His body.
He has put in you a hatred for sin. He has protected you from a raging, mad devil. He has flooded your soul with hope, joy and gladness!
Jesus has become as your morning dew! He waters your soul daily with His Word. And you are growing - you're not dead or dying, but very much alive in Him!
You asked only to be saved and cleansed. But God has poured out blessing upon blessing to you! He has overanswered you!
2. God overanswered solomon's prayer!
Now, when the Lord asked solomon for the one thing he wanted in 1 Kings 3, he answered:
1 Kings 3:9 "Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?"
It was a simple, direct request. He asked for wisdom to lead God's people.
But God answered Solomon's prayer in an incredible way:
1 Kings 3:11-12 "And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee."
Here we see how anxious God is to overanswer unselfish prayers! Solomon asked only for an understanding heart of discernment. But God not only gave him the heart he asked for - He also promised to make him wiser than anyone else in the history of mankind!
Yet God didn't stop there. He told Solomon:
1 Kings 3:13-14 "And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. And if thou wilt walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days."
Another prayer greatly overanswered!
3. God overanswered Israel regarding the Ammonites!
Ammon had been used by God to correct Israel's sins. And now their army was marching toward Israel! God's people were perplexed and downcast - and they began to confess their sins:
They were so haunted by their sin, they couldn't conceive of asking God for anything more than just to spare them. Theirs was the simplest of prayers: "Lord, deliver us just this one time! Don't let us be defeated or overrun by our enemy!"
They prayed for a single victory. But God had something more in mind, and He overanswered their prayer mightily! Not only did Israel get protection - they got the upper hand! They totally subdued the Ammonites!
Judges 11:32-33 "So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them; and the Lord delivered them into his hands. And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou come to Minnith, even twenty cities... Thus the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel"
That is just how God wants to overanswer His people today! Most Christians pray, "Lord, just give me victory in this one battle." But the Lord responds, "I'll give you that - yet I have much more in store for you! I want to subdue your enemy so you won't have to get just one victory at a time. I want you to have a total victory!"
Beloved, He wants to give you power not just to overcome - but to subdue every enemy! He wants you not just to conquer sin - but to be more than a conqueror! Not just to have life but life more abundantly! Not just to have joy - but joy unspeakable and full of glory! Not to be free of fear just for a day, a week or a month but all the days of your life!
4. Let us look at the new testament
Consider these examples:
A. What about the man, sick with palsy, who was brought to Jesus on a bed? (Matthew 9:2)
This paralyzed man sought Jesus for healing - but Jesus overanswered his prayer! "Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee... (Then saith He to the sick of palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house" (verse 6).
The sick man asked for healing - but Jesus gave him much more. He added the greatest gift He could possibly give! The man got his healing - but even better, he received forgiveness, eternal life, and good cheer to replace his years of sadness!
Jesus had known all along what He was going to do; He knew this man would walk again. But He said, "First, I want to bless you - I want to overanswer you. Yes, I'll heal your body - but I'll also heal your soul and your mind, Now take up your bed and go home!"
B. What about the thief on the cross?
The thief who hung next to Christ asked only one thing of Him: "Remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom" (Luke 23:42). His request was simple: "Think about me."
Jesus truly overanswered this man's request: "And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise" (verse 43). He said, "I'll remember you - because you're coming with Me!"
Talk about an overanswered prayer! This evil thief could not even conceive of being saved. But he was told he would be waking up in a few hours in paradise - beside Jesus!
C. What about the crippled beggar who asked aims of Peter and John as they entered the temple?
Acts 3:2-3 "A certain lame man...seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms" Again, a simple request - just a little money. Yet what a glorious answer this beggar got!
Look at what peter said.
Acts 3: 6-8 "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk...and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God"
Instead of money, the beggar got something all the money in the world couldn't buy- a new body!
__________________________________________________________________
Are you utterly convinced that God truly overanswers prayer?
Look at the next verse.
Ephesians 3:20 "Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us..."
DO you know we grieve God, even anger Him by not asking?
Over and over in the bible, God asks us to ask Him. "Ask and ye shall receive, you have not because you ask not, Ask the Father in My name and He will give it to you...."
But we dont have the faith to ask!
God is speaking to us in this generation, in this time, to seek His face and ask Him to be the only one to meet our needs, to provide and protect, to do everything that He wants to accomplish through us! God is saying: "How long are you going to keep disgusting me because you're afraid to stand on My word? When will you ever learn that I have everything you need - that I will take care of you because I'm King and Lord?"
ASK FOR BIG THINGS BECAUSE HE IS A BIG GOD!
ASK FOR GREAT THINGS BECAUSE HE IS A GREAT GOD!
HALLELUJAH!
Dear saint, when you go to your secret closet, remember
Hebrews 11:6 ""...he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that dilligently seek Him"
Always quote that verse - work it into your system, praying: "I come to You, Jesus, because I know You are God Almighty. You have all the resources I'll ever need. You are beyond my comprehension in greatness - but i believe You reward those who diligently seek You!"
Get this statement into your head!
God overanswers prayer!
Paraphrased by joshua chua
One of the most often-heard phrases in the church is, "God answers prayer!" Yet that is only half the truth. The whole truth is, "God overanswers prayer!"
I want to act now as a lawyer before you. I'm going to build a case that will prove to you that in every generation - all through the Bible and continuing to the present day - God always overanswers the prayers of His children. He continually gives much more than we ask for - and often things we wouldn't think to request!
I'll go straight to the biblical record to make my case. It is built on precedent after precedent in history - all proving God overanswers prayer!
1. God over-answered Israel in Hosea 14!
Hosea 14:2 "Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto Him, take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips."
Their prayer was simple. All Israel asked God to do was to take away their sin and receive them graciously. "Lord, have mercy. Cleanse us - receive us back into Your grace."
Yet God not only forgave their iniquities - He not only cleansed them and received them back graciously - He also added blessings beyond imagination!
Hosea 14:4-7 ""I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for Mine anger is turned away from him. I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon."
All they asked for was mercy, forgiveness and acceptance. But instead, God opened the windows of heaven and poured on them blessings they dared not even hope for! God largely overanswered their prayer!
Beloved, God has done the same for you! When you repented, all you asked God for was a clean heart, forgiveness and peace. Yet look at how He has overanswered you: He gave you a hungering heart - a thirst for more and more of Jesus! He gave you eyes to see and ears to hear. He gave you a love for His body.
He has put in you a hatred for sin. He has protected you from a raging, mad devil. He has flooded your soul with hope, joy and gladness!
Jesus has become as your morning dew! He waters your soul daily with His Word. And you are growing - you're not dead or dying, but very much alive in Him!
You asked only to be saved and cleansed. But God has poured out blessing upon blessing to you! He has overanswered you!
2. God overanswered solomon's prayer!
Now, when the Lord asked solomon for the one thing he wanted in 1 Kings 3, he answered:
1 Kings 3:9 "Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?"
It was a simple, direct request. He asked for wisdom to lead God's people.
But God answered Solomon's prayer in an incredible way:
1 Kings 3:11-12 "And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee."
Here we see how anxious God is to overanswer unselfish prayers! Solomon asked only for an understanding heart of discernment. But God not only gave him the heart he asked for - He also promised to make him wiser than anyone else in the history of mankind!
Yet God didn't stop there. He told Solomon:
1 Kings 3:13-14 "And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. And if thou wilt walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days."
Another prayer greatly overanswered!
3. God overanswered Israel regarding the Ammonites!
Ammon had been used by God to correct Israel's sins. And now their army was marching toward Israel! God's people were perplexed and downcast - and they began to confess their sins:
They were so haunted by their sin, they couldn't conceive of asking God for anything more than just to spare them. Theirs was the simplest of prayers: "Lord, deliver us just this one time! Don't let us be defeated or overrun by our enemy!"
They prayed for a single victory. But God had something more in mind, and He overanswered their prayer mightily! Not only did Israel get protection - they got the upper hand! They totally subdued the Ammonites!
Judges 11:32-33 "So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them; and the Lord delivered them into his hands. And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou come to Minnith, even twenty cities... Thus the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel"
That is just how God wants to overanswer His people today! Most Christians pray, "Lord, just give me victory in this one battle." But the Lord responds, "I'll give you that - yet I have much more in store for you! I want to subdue your enemy so you won't have to get just one victory at a time. I want you to have a total victory!"
Beloved, He wants to give you power not just to overcome - but to subdue every enemy! He wants you not just to conquer sin - but to be more than a conqueror! Not just to have life but life more abundantly! Not just to have joy - but joy unspeakable and full of glory! Not to be free of fear just for a day, a week or a month but all the days of your life!
4. Let us look at the new testament
Consider these examples:
A. What about the man, sick with palsy, who was brought to Jesus on a bed? (Matthew 9:2)
This paralyzed man sought Jesus for healing - but Jesus overanswered his prayer! "Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee... (Then saith He to the sick of palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house" (verse 6).
The sick man asked for healing - but Jesus gave him much more. He added the greatest gift He could possibly give! The man got his healing - but even better, he received forgiveness, eternal life, and good cheer to replace his years of sadness!
Jesus had known all along what He was going to do; He knew this man would walk again. But He said, "First, I want to bless you - I want to overanswer you. Yes, I'll heal your body - but I'll also heal your soul and your mind, Now take up your bed and go home!"
B. What about the thief on the cross?
The thief who hung next to Christ asked only one thing of Him: "Remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom" (Luke 23:42). His request was simple: "Think about me."
Jesus truly overanswered this man's request: "And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise" (verse 43). He said, "I'll remember you - because you're coming with Me!"
Talk about an overanswered prayer! This evil thief could not even conceive of being saved. But he was told he would be waking up in a few hours in paradise - beside Jesus!
C. What about the crippled beggar who asked aims of Peter and John as they entered the temple?
Acts 3:2-3 "A certain lame man...seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms" Again, a simple request - just a little money. Yet what a glorious answer this beggar got!
Look at what peter said.
Acts 3: 6-8 "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk...and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God"
Instead of money, the beggar got something all the money in the world couldn't buy- a new body!
__________________________________________________________________
Are you utterly convinced that God truly overanswers prayer?
Look at the next verse.
Ephesians 3:20 "Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us..."
DO you know we grieve God, even anger Him by not asking?
Over and over in the bible, God asks us to ask Him. "Ask and ye shall receive, you have not because you ask not, Ask the Father in My name and He will give it to you...."
But we dont have the faith to ask!
God is speaking to us in this generation, in this time, to seek His face and ask Him to be the only one to meet our needs, to provide and protect, to do everything that He wants to accomplish through us! God is saying: "How long are you going to keep disgusting me because you're afraid to stand on My word? When will you ever learn that I have everything you need - that I will take care of you because I'm King and Lord?"
ASK FOR BIG THINGS BECAUSE HE IS A BIG GOD!
ASK FOR GREAT THINGS BECAUSE HE IS A GREAT GOD!
HALLELUJAH!
Dear saint, when you go to your secret closet, remember
Hebrews 11:6 ""...he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that dilligently seek Him"
Always quote that verse - work it into your system, praying: "I come to You, Jesus, because I know You are God Almighty. You have all the resources I'll ever need. You are beyond my comprehension in greatness - but i believe You reward those who diligently seek You!"
Get this statement into your head!
God overanswers prayer!
Lord, if it pleases you, it pleases me. @
10:38 AM
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