Answered Prayer!

  Answered Prayer !

>>>>Genesis 24:10-15<<<<

 

When He, the Spirit of truth, comes . . .  He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.    John 16:13-14 (excerpt)

 

The Holy Spirit comes from the presence of God the Father to earth in order to call a people together for the purpose of knowing the Lord Jesus. The Spirit does not come to commend Himself to us; He comes to extol the virtues and love of the Son so that we might find Him irresistible.  Abraham's trusted servant gives us a marvelous picture of this aspect of the Spirit's work. He leaves his master's presence in the land of promise to find a bride for the son of promise (Isaac).  Abraham's old servant knows the will and ways of his master because he has been part of the family for a long time; his mission is to communicate the character of the son to the prospective bride.

 

Nothing is left to human wisdom or incidental circumstances. The servant loaded up 10 camels with things that would convey Abraham's intentions and verify his wealthy position. Arriving at the town where Abraham's relatives lived, the servant found the place where women gather. He prayed that the will of his master would be accomplished and then watched to see how the Lord would carry it out. When he meets a woman of gracious spirit (chosen beforehand by the angel who had been sent ahead to prepare the way) he obtains an invitation to her father's house. Thus, we have a prayer of faith and its answer!

 

The servant's prayer was an expression of confidence born out of intimacy with God. The focus was on his master's satisfaction, not on his own personal needs or pleasures (James 4:3). The servant did not cajole or manipulate; he did not scheme or fret.  He has demonstrated an example of Spirit-filled prayer - prayer that places the one praying in alignment with God's heart and will. In prayer, as in every aspect of the Christian life, I am to depend upon the Holy Spirit. He will draw my attention away from personal desires and needs and direct my heart and mind to the Father and His will.

 

Before we become a Bride in the heavenlies, we live as children of God on the earth, growing in the knowledge of His Son. There is unspeakable peace and rest when I understand that I am His treasured child and that I am entirely dependent upon the planning and working of my Father. Abraham's servant received a clear answer to his prayer because he set his heart on fulfilling his master's will, and then he waited for God to work out the details.  An angel has prepared the way – the work of the Spirit simply brings us into the prepared way so that we can observe His work first-hand!  We call it 'answered prayer,' but the Lord sees it as a well executed plan!

 

Perhaps I can learn something by comparing my prayers with the servant's prayer. When I pray, am I seeking to know the Father's mind and heart on a matter – or am I seeking relief for a difficult situation? When I pray, am I seeking approval to do things my way – or do I expect God to show me His next step? Am I willing to wait for the Lord to guide me into His prepared way – or do I depend upon my own good ideas while I charge ahead?

 

You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.

        James 4:3 

 

Most of us realize that it is necessary to depend upon the Spirit in order to understand the written Word of God – but have we learned to allow Him to lead us in prayer? He takes our thoughts, even our unspoken feelings, and intercedes for us before the throne of God. We can ask Him to teach us to pray according to the desires of God, and we can count on Him to intercede on our behalf. What a sweet privilege for the child of God who is destined to be the Bride of Son!

 

 [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance. And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the [Holy] Spirit [what His intent is], because the Spirit intercedes and pleads [before God] in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God's will.      Romans 8:26-27 (Amplified)

 

Before he had finished speaking [praying] . . . Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder.    Gen. 24:15