Message
In our Bible reading for today, Elisha would not have known about the axe head that fell if the man who lost Iit did not cry out for help. Many times, we need to cry to God until He answers us. There are people who will say that you don't need to open your mouth when you pray. While it is true that God knows everything, even before you cry, if you go through the Bible, you will see many instances where people cried to God. In , David said: “In my distress I cried unto the Lord and He heard me.” In , the psalmist said, “I cried with my voice,” not “with my heart” as many might suggest, saying that you can close your mouth and cry with your heart.
David said, “I cried with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill” (). I pray for you; whenever you cry unto God, He will hear you, in Jesus’ name. There is, however, one thing that can prevent God from hearing you, and that is sin. The Bible says that if we regard iniquity in our hearts, God will not hear us (). However, if a sinner repents and cries to God for mercy, He will hear. In , David said:“The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles”. If you are ready to cry to God today, He will deliver you from all your troubles.
I remember when I came to Lagos to work as a lecturer at the University of Lagos way back in 1969, somebody came to me and said, “This is what people do in Lagos – they give money to a prophet so that he will be fasting and praying for them. So, you have to do the same.” I thought to myself, “Ignorant people, the prophet will just take your money and do nothing.” Thank God that we can call on God directly and He will answer us. says:
Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
You don't have to pay anyone to pray for you. All you need is to have faith in God and live holy; whenever you cry unto Him, He will answer you.