Category Archives: Answers

Answers, Bible, Hearing, Prayer, Requests, Scripture

PRAYER REQUESTS

ROMANS 1:10

“always in my prayers requesting if perhaps now, at last by the will of God, I will succeed in coming to you.”

I often ask waitresses or waiters at restaurants if I can pray for a request they may have. I did that this week at a Waffle House here in the Knoxville area. The waitress really shocked me when she said, “Yea, pray my husband can find work so we can stop living in the tent.” I agreed to pray and did as we blessed our meal. (I also left her a generous tip.) Prayer requests should be made knowing the Lord hears and will answer.

Paul wrote this letter to the Romans from Corinth hoping to visit them after he delivered a gift to the Jerusalem church and on his way to Spain. Paul uses a Greek word for “requesting” that goes beyond just asking. HELPS Word studies says, déomai (from the root deō, ‘having deep personal need, to be in want,’ see also déēsis, ‘felt-need’) – properly, to feel pressing need because of lack – hence, to make urgent appeal; to have deep personal need causing one to beseech (make earnest, specific request).” Spiros Zodhiates, a Greek scholar I knew personally, emphasizes the middle voice of this word. It’s a personal felt-need that drives Paul to make this request of God.

APPLICATION

In Luke 5:12 we see this same word used. “While He was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man covered with leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged Him, saying, ‘Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.’” Of course, we know what happened. Jesus was willing and healed him. Look at the next verse there. “And He reached out with His hand and touched him, saying, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’ And immediately the leprosy left him.” Why would Jesus not do the same for us when we beg Him like this?

When Paul appeared before Agrippa, he was still begging, not for his life, but for Agrippa to hear him clearly. “…I beg you to listen to me patiently.” Have you begged someone to listen to you? I meet with men all the time. I beg them sometime to listen to His Word, not the world. I beg them to get quiet and listen for God’s voice. I beg them to put aside any impurity in their lives and walk with Jesus.

I am begging you today. I implore you today. Listen to the words of Christ. Get into His Word and see for yourself what He will do for you, if you just obey. I am begging God for you. And like Paul, I am asking the God of heaven to allow me to see some of your faces soon.

Father, I know You hear every request we make. Help me show this personal heart-felt need to come to You daily on behalf of others.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Answers, Bible, Hearing, Intercession, Prayer, Scripture

ALWAYS PRAYING

COLOSSIANS 1:3

“We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,”

How many times have you told someone, “I will pray for you,” or “I’ll remember you in my prayers”? Then you go home and totally forget all about it. I have learned when I am asked to pray for someone to do it right then, either out loud with the person or in my heart. I know how forgetful I am. I will forget who it was or what it was I was praying for. It doesn’t take much time. And if you do it right then, that person knows you take prayer seriously.

Paul tells his fellow believers in Colossae that he is “praying always” for them. I bet that was not the first time Paul had told them that. They knew Paul was a man of prayer. They knew Paul had modeled prayer for others to them. They could trust this statement and knew he was praying for them, even while he was in prison (his first imprisonment).

APPLICATION

How do you model this for others? Well, I told you what I do, but you may choose another way. You may want to make a note in your phone or in a journal. I do both of these, as well. I meet with different men’s groups and keep a list of prayer requests. Then when I am having my daily prayer time, I can pull these out and pray for them by name.

Let me encourage you to do that – pray for them by name. Generic prayers are good. All prayers are good, but when you call that person’s name and intercede for them, you are being specific in your prayers. We are told in Philippians to present our prayers and petitions before the Lord (Phil. 4:6-7). That Greek for “petitions” is used to describe prayers that are specific and fervent, often in the context of seeking divine intervention or assistance.

Don’t be shy about your prayers. God can handle all you give Him. In fact, He is waiting for them. He wants to hear them. He wants to answer them. By praying for others, you are building your own faith in prayer. Intercede for others as often as you can and watch the God of the universe work in and through you.

Father, I know You hear my prayers for others. Answer according to Your perfect will.

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Abiding, Answers, Bible, Calling, Chosen, Following, Holy Spirit, Ministry, Salvation, Scripture

YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED

EPHESIANS 4:1

“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,”

I was saved at the age of 16 on July 31, 1977. I will never forget that day and where I was when I gave my life to Christ. But I also remember the vocational calling He put on my life during my senior year in high school. I do not have a specific date for that. I just know He called me to a lifetime of service in the ministry of the Gospel. My calling has been a little different than many. Called to work with children and youth for 38 years and now ministering to men around the world. But my calling to salvation was sure as is my calling to serve.

Paul transitions from his prayer in 3:14-21 with this opening statement in chapter 4. Don’t just read “Therefore I” and move on. Those two words are powerful. I love what Albert Barnes said about it. “The sense of the word ‘therefore’ – οὖν oun – in this place, is, ‘Such being your exalted privileges; since God has done so much for you; since he has revealed for you such a glorious system; since he has bestowed on you the honor of calling you into his kingdom, and making you partakers of his mercy,’” And by Paul saying “I,” he was drawing the Ephesians’ attention back to recognize his authority as their teacher and shepherd.

APPLICATION

But back to this calling! If you are a believer in Christ, you have been called to Him. That may have occurred through a song, a passage of Scripture you read, the preaching of the Word or through the still, small voice of God whispering and wooing you. In order to be saved, you must be called. No one comes to Christ unless they are called. Romans 11:29 tells us this calling, once accepted is unchangeabl, “for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”

I really love how Paul uses this word for “calling” in Philippians 3:14. “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” And how about this use of the word in Hebrews 3:1. “Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession: Jesus;”

I could keep going about this calling all day. Do a word search on that word. The Greek word is klésis. As you study that word, thank God for your calling. Thank Him for opening your ears to hear His voice. Thank Him for not stopping His call to you, even when you resisted. His calling is sure. His calling is permanent. His calling is for you.

Thank You, O Father, for calling my name so many years ago.

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AMAZED, Answers, Bible, Insight, Knowledge, Mystery, Promises, Questions, Scripture

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

EPHESIANS 3:4

“By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,”

I really like putting jigsaw puzzles together. There is just something about finding the right piece for the right spot. And then when you put that final piece in, you can step back and admire the finished product. Some people actually frame their finished puzzles. I prefer to tear it all apart and putting it all together again.

Paul uses a Greek word in today’s verse which is translated as “insight.” It’s the Greek word, sunesis, which means putting it all together in your mind. Paul has been given the privilege to gather all the pieces of the grace of God and can now proclaim those to the Ephesians. The mystery of grace is now explained. The Gentiles are welcomed into God’s kingdom along with the Jews who have believed. Paul wants the Ephesians to understand this completely.

APPLICATION

Do you remember the story about the twelve-year-old Jesus in the temple. Well, this word, sunesis, is used in Luke 2:47 to explain Jesus’ understanding of the law. “And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers.” Of course, Jesus had full understanding of the Scriptures. But the people were amazed at his knowledge. As you gain more insights into God’s Word, others may be just as amazed at your understanding. Handle that humbly.

We see sunesis used also in 2 Timothy 2:7 when Paul was encouraging Timothy to be strong. “Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” Do you desire a deeper understanding of God’s Word? Do you want to gain more insight in what God is trying to show us? Ask Him. He will give to us as we show the desire.

Back to that jigsaw puzzle. What do you do if you come up one piece short? It’s kind of frustrating. It just isn’t complete without that last piece. God will never withhold that last piece from you. He wants you to be fully informed. He wants to complete you in Christ. No missing pieces!

Thank You, Father, for the completion of Your gift of grace

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Access, Answers, Bible, Decisions, Father, God's Will, Judgment, Love, Plan, Scripture

GOD’S MATH

EPHESIANS 1:10

“regarding His plan of the fullness of the times, to bring all things together in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.”

We probably all had that one teacher that we were scared of. Mine was Mrs. McCracken, my fourth grade math teacher. She told us all on the first day that she might turn green and fly around the room. She really said that. She was hard. I remember having to stay in from recess to recite multiplication tables. Mrs. McCracken demanded perfection. To this day I can still recite those tables, lol.

God has His own kind of math, though. Paul uses a phrase here today, “to bring all things together,”which is actually one Greek word. It’s a long one, though – anakephalaioó. It means “bring to a head, recapitulate” – head-up, summing up all the parts as a comprehensive (organized) whole.” (HELPS Word Studies). In other words, Paul is saying Christ will wrap all this up. He has finished the equation. The answer is clear.

APPLICATION

You are probably thinking Enough already with the math stuff. Sorry about that, but it is pretty plain to see. God had a plan from the very beginning. He didn’t need any “new” math to get the answer He had planned. Jesus was and still is the only answer. Go back and read verses 3-10. You need to see the whole flow (by the way, that is only four sentences, the fourth which continues through verse 12). God had a plan. God’s math always gets the right answer. That answer is Who? Jesus.

Anakephalaioóis only used twice, here in today’s verse and over in Romans 13:9 which says, “For this, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET,’ and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’”Love sums up all things. Jesus is love. Here’s a math problem for you: If God is love and Jesus is God, then Jesus is love.

If you had to “add up” your life, what would it equal? Would the negative overcome the positive? Would the hate you show outweigh the love? We need to use more of God’s math and less of ours. Recognize that all things add up in God’s eyes. He knows the plan He has for you (Jeremiah 29:11). His plans always include Jesus. How about yours?

I am so grateful You had a plan, Father, from the very beginning.

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Abiding, Answers, Asking, Belief, Bible, Boldness, Decisions, Encouragement, God's Will, Promises, Scripture, Seeking

TIRED OF WAITING

GALATIANS 4:28

“And you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise.”

My wife and I have been waiting on something for well over a year. Every day we pray about this, asking God to do whatever He needs to do to resolve the situation. Waiting is hard. Asking for the same thing over and over is challenging. But I am reminded of the story told in Luke 18 where Jesus taught the disciples about prayer. Verse 1 says, “Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not become discouraged,” I’ll let you read the next several verses later to see the parable He told them.

Why mention waiting? Because Paul mentions Isaac today in verse 28 of chapter 4. He was the child promised to Abraham and Sarah. Sarah didn’t get pregnant right away. God waited 25 years. Abraham was 75 when God gave him that promise, and Isaac was born when he was 100 (Sarah was 90). Why would God do that? Don’t you know Abraham asked Sarah a hundred times if she was pregnant, and every time she would tell him “Not this time.” Annoying, right?

APPLICATION

Sometimes God moves swiftly. We just moved and the process happened so quickly. We prayed for the right buyer and the right house for us on the other end. From listing our house to a contract signed took seven days. Then we found a house and had a contract in two days. So, we know He can move fast when it is His plan. The danger we face is getting ahead of God. I am sure you have never done that.

In 1 Samuel 13:8-9 we see a story about Saul when he did not wait as instructed. “8 He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. 9 So Saul said, ‘Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.” And we know what happened as a result. The kingdom which had been promised to him was torn away and given to David. Waiting is important.

I want to encourage you today (as I encourage myself) to wait on God. He has a plan for your life. Listen to Him. Wait on Him. His timing is always perfect even though we don’t think so sometime. It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it (I keep reminding myself of that).

Lord, Your promises are always true and will be fulfilled. Help me wait on You instead of kicking in doors myself.

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Answers, Bible, God's Will, Prayer, Redemption, Salvation, Scripture, Time

RIGHT ON TIME

GALATIANS 4:4

“But when the fullness of the time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,”

Right on time, just in time! That’s part of a quote my brother-in-law used to make at the end of every service in the church where he pastored. The congregation would join him in the “cheer” signifying their agreement. It almost always made everyone smile.

When Paul penned the words of today’s verse, he was speaking of the perfection of God’s timing. Why did God wait so long to send Jesus? We won’t know that until eternity. We have to trust that His timing was exact.  When He saw mankind was ready to receive His Son, He was sent to redeem mankind. Even though Jesus was “born under the Law,” He superseded the Law.

APPLICATION

Jesus spoke of His coming in John 16:28. “‘I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father.’” I love how John writes about this in John 1:14. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

At the right time! Not too early, not too late. Just right! Think of the times in your life when God came through at just the right time. I can think of numerous times when He has done that for me. He revealed my Amyloidosis at just the right time through an emergency gallbladder surgery. If it had gone undiagnosed, I probably would not be here now. Right on time!

 
What are you waiting for right now? What are you asking the Lord to answer? Waiting is hard, I know. My wife and I are waiting on something right now. It is hard, but we have to trust Him. We have to know that He is more than capable of making anything happen – when it’s time. Until then, we wait. God is always right on time.

Lord, give me patience and give it to me now! Forgive me for thinking that, Lord. I will wait.

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Access, Answers, Asking, Bible, Confession, Forgiveness, God's Will, Hearing, Prayer, Scripture

NO RESPONSE

ZECHARIAH 7:13

“‘And just as He called and they would not listen, so they called and I would not listen,’ says the LORD of armies;”

Don’t you just hate it when you text someone, and they don’t text you back? In days past, you would write a letter and wait for a response. Later on, you would call and leave a message on an answering machine, expecting a return call. Our frustration with not receiving a response hasn’t changed, has it? We still want to hear back, and the sooner the better.

So, when the Lord said these words to Zechariah to deliver to the people, they must have stung. The Lord of armies (also known as the Lord of Hosts) says “they called and I would not listen.” Why? Because their unrepentant sin had cut off communication. It was as if the phone line to heaven had been cut. They called out, but no one answered. I bet the silence was deafening.

APPLICATION

Do you want God to hear your prayers? Then stay “prayed up.” Confess your sins quickly and completely. Name them. Ask Him to reveal to you those secret sins you keep tucked away. Psalm 90:7-8 tells us. “7 For we have been consumed by Your anger,

and we have been terrified by Your wrath. 8 You have placed our guilty deeds before You, our hidden sins in the light of Your presence.”

Did you catch that last phrase? It said, “our hidden sins.” Another translation says, “our secret sins.” Come on, you know you have them. What have you not confessed to the Lord? What is that secret sin you are holding on to? I know you don’t want to cut off communication with heaven. No one wants that.

Our approach to the altar makes all the difference. If we come as the Israelites did with pride and arrogance, God will not hear. But if we come in humility and brokenness, He promises to hear and answer. God wants to work in our lives. He really wants to. Clear the slate. Confess those sins. Allow Him to work in the ways He wants. You won’t be sorry.

Thank You, Lord, for hearing my confessions. I want to keep our lines of communication wide open.

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Answers, Asking, Bible, Faithfulness, Questions, Scripture

SAME QUESTION, DIFFERENT ANSWER

ZECHARIAH 6:4

 “So I responded and said to the angel who was speaking with me, ‘What are these, my lord?’”

Asking the same question over and over again may seem ridiculous. After all, if you have asked the question once, why should you keep asking it? If you have asked someone something and received an answer, is there a need to ask it again? But as the saying goes, inquisitive minds want to know.

Zechariah asks the same question to the angel. Of course, there is a different vision this time, so Zechariah has more questions. Why would he ask again? Because the angel has proven trustworthy to answer him. Zechariah knew the only reason he was seeing these visions was to tell the nation of Israel. They weren’t his secrets to keep. Just the opposite, he was to warn the people. How could he warn them properly if he didn’t understand what he was seeing?

APPLICATION

I cry out to God, just about every day, a couple of requests. I have been asking these requests over and over and over. So far, God has not answered those questions. At least, He has not answered them for me to understand them. So, I keep asking. I am like that man who stood at the door and knocked. Luke 11:5-8 says, “5 Then Jesus said to them, ‘Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, “Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.” 7 And suppose the one inside answers, “Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.” 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.’”

The word for “shameless audacity” is also translated as persistence. It is only used right here in the whole New Testament. This parable is told by Jesus right before He gives us that famous statement of seeking and finding. Persistence is the key. Zechariah was persistent in asking the same question each time he was shown a vision. We should be persistent in our questions to God.

I know the Lord hears my prayers. I don’t doubt that. I know His timing is always perfect. I don’t offend God by asking questions, even the same question over and over. The Psalmist says God remembers how we are formed. He knows that we are but dust (Psalm 103). God wants to educate us. We just have to wait on Him. Keep asking!

Lord, I cry out to You daily. I know You are listening. Hear my cry, O Lord.

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Abiding, Angels, Answers, Bible, Devil, Direction, Distractions, Eyes, Looking, Scripture, Visions

THE VISIONS KEEP COMING

ZECHARIAH 5:5

“Then the angel who had been speaking with me went out and said to me, ‘Now raise your eyes and see what this is that is going forth.”

Sometimes it feels like something will never end – like a tennis match on tv, lol. My wife loves to watch tennis. She played a lot of it years ago and just loves to watch matches. But for me, they seem to just keep going and going. It seems they are almost done and then it continues.

Zechariah must have felt like that. He gets through with one vision and here comes another. We are going to see this vision over the next few days. But I want you to notice something in this verse. The angel tells Zechariah to raise his eyes and see. He knew Zechariah had seen a lot and maybe was a little tired. So, he directed his eyes to this next vision. He wanted to make sure he was looking.

APPLICATION

Where are you looking? Are your eyes wandering? In order to see what the Lord would have us do we have to be looking at Him. We can’t be distracted. Oh, that is a ploy of the devil. He wants to get our eyes off of Jesus. He wants us to look at anything other than Him.

Isaiah 45:22 tells us, “‘Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.’” Wow! God wants us to look at Him. He says, “Look to Me.” There is no other means for salvation. It only comes through Him There is no other source for direction. He points us in the right way. Where are you looking?

For most of my teenage years, my eyes were looking inwards. I wanted to please myself. I wanted what I wanted. It was not until I met my Master at age 16 that I started looking at Him. There have been days since when my eyes have gotten turned. But thanks be to God, He has never moved. He is there, waiting for me to look towards Him again. My eyes are fixed now.

Fix my eyes only on You, O God. I do not want any other view.

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