God of Answers
Reading Scripture: Psalm 78:12-29
Verse to Memorize: Matthew 7:71
Reference: 1 Samuel 1:11, Matthew 1:19 Goal: to help believers have a good and beautiful heart, obey only with faith, and receive answers to everything they ask God wants to give answers and blessing to His beloved children and receive glory from them. Why do God's children fail to glorify Him in spite of it? In this lesson, we are going to look into the keys to receiving answers from God who meets you and answers your prayers.
- 1. God meets us and answers our prayers
The Israelites are God's elect. They lived under the bondage of Egypt for 400 years in the providence of God. Finally, the sons of Israel lamented their bondage and they cried out. Their cries for relief from their bondage rose up to God as written in Exodus 2:23. God arranged for Moses to lead them and guided them out of Egypt into the Land of Canaan, the land flowing with milk and honey. During the Exodus, God unfolded many signs and wonders in front of their eyes. God led them with the pillar of cloud during the day and with the pillar of fire during the night. He allowed them to drink water by making water gush out of a rock and when they had nothing to eat, He opened heavenly gates and fed them with manna from heaven.
Then, what does their journey from Egypt to Canaan have to do with our faith? This is related to our believing life on this earth from the moment when we come out of a sin-filled life in the world till we enter Heaven. God does not remain a spectator. Just as He did with the Israelites, He meets you, stays with you, answers your prayers, and guides you to Heaven. He teaches us the key to receiving answers as written in Matthew 7:7, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." The Bible records many incidents where God met people and answered their prayer, and He even revived the dead. In 2 Kings Chapter 4, Elisha prayed to God for the dead son of a Shunammite woman and he went up and lay on the child. Then, the lad sneezed seven times and opened his eyes. John Chapter 11 describes that Lazarus who had been dead for four days causing stench walked out, bound hand and foot with wrappings when Jesus cried out "Lazarus, come forth." Jesus also revived a dead son of a widow who lived in a city called Nain by telling him to get up.
The Bible tells us many of such works were manifested not only by Jesus Himself but also by His apostles in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 20:7-12). Additionally, Abraham's wife Sarah, who was past childbearing, gave birth to Isaac at the age of 90. In another account the fingers of a man's hand suddenly emerged and began writing opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace, and the king Belshazzar saw the back of the hand that did the writing. As the hand wrote, the king was slain and his kingdom was captured (Daniel 5) Matthew 11:5 reads, "The blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them."
The apostle John said at the end of the Gospel of John, "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written." As written, God's amazing works have consistently occurred not only in the Old Testament time and the time of Jesus but also yesterday and even today through God's loving servants and men of faith.
- 2. Upon what kind of people do the answers of God come?
Then, what kind of people can receive answers from God? Abraham received God's answer with unchanging faith. He believed that God is almighty so He can revive even the dead. So, he could obey God's Word, no matter what the word was. Most people, however, doubt and blame God if things do not agree with their thoughts. Those with such double-mindedness can't gain answers as written in James 1:6-8. But if you have unwavering faith in any kind of circumstance you can receive answers from God. Next, God's answer is given to those who pray.
Elijah crouched down on the earth and put his face between his knees to bring down the answer from God (1 Kings 18:42). We can guess how he was earnest in prayer seeing him pray putting his face between his knees. Through such prayer, it poured on the earth where not a single drop of rain had come for three and a half years. What kind of people could receive answers from God? Cornelius was a devout man and feared God with all his household. He gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually (Acts 10:2). His prayer and charitable works reached heaven and God remembered him and sent Peter so that their relatives and friends with him all received salvation, the Spirit, and the gift of tongue (Acts Chapter 10). God was pleased with Solomon who offered a thousand burnt offerings and blessed him. God appeared to Solomon in a dream at night and He said, "Ask what you wish me to give you." God gave him the right to receive answers to whatever he asked for.
The offerings in the Old Testament refer to worship services today. If we love God and worship God in spirit and truth during services, we also can receive blessings as Solomon did. Let's think about David when he was a boy. He knew that God takes delight in faith and showed faith. By doing so, he received answers from God. That is, with a stone and a sling, he put to death Goliath the Philistine, who was a giant and a warrior (1 Samuel 17:32-49). Seeing the champion's death, the Philistines fled and the Israelites achieved a great victory in the war. David was a mere boy shepherd, but His trust in God was so great that He could receive answer from Him, glorify Him, and save his nation. As seen in David's case, if we have boldness stemming from faith we can receive answers to whatever we ask.
- 3. The inner heart of people who were quick to meet God
Joseph was betrothed to the Virgin Mary. Then, he heard shocking news that Mary had conceived a baby. They hadn't come together, but she had a baby. According to the law in the Old Testament time, an adulterous woman had to be stoned to death. However, what did Joseph do? Matthew 1:19 says Joseph, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. He did good until the end for the woman. Since Joseph had such a good and righteous heart, he met an angel of the Lord and heard the message of God as said in Matthew 1:20.
Mary's heart was also righteous and good. Although she was virgin, Gabriel the archangel appeared and said, "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High? (Luke 1:31-32). But Mary was neither afraid nor worried. She responded with joy, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word." She wanted only the will of God to be achieved impeccably. Let's talk about a priest named Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth. Luke 1:6 states, "They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord."
They had no child though they were old, but their prayer was accepted by God and they were greatly blessed to give birth to John the Baptist. Also, a woman named Hannah earned an answer from God because she had the heart to pay a vow. At last she fulfilled her heart's desire by having a son, Samuel. As soon as he was weaned, she brought him to the house of the LORD in Shilo and gave him to Eli the priest as God's servant. Since Hannah paid the vow before God, she later had three more sons and two daughters. Samuel became a great prophet in the history of Israel.
How great the blessing was! As long as we meet God who is such good and can unfold miracles and for whom there is nothing impossible, all our problems will be resolved and our heart's desire will be fulfilled. We will have nothing in lacking. Therefore, I urge you to destroy the wall of sins against God and obey Him in faith and ask earnestly with a heart of goodness. By doing so, I hope you will receive answers to whatever you pray for.
Mungu wa Majibu
Usomaji wa Maandiko: Zaburi 78:12–29
Mstari wa Kukariri: Mathayo 7:7
Rejea: 1 Samweli 1:11; Mathayo 1:19. Lengo: Kuwasaidia waumini kuwa na moyo mwema na mzuri, kutii kwa imani pekee, na kupokea majibu ya kila wanachomwomba Mungu. Mungu anataka kuwajibu na kuwabariki watoto Wake wapendwa, nao wampe utukufu. Kwa nini basi watoto wa Mungu hushindwa kumtukuza? Katika somo hili tutaangalia funguo za kupokea majibu kutoka kwa Mungu anayekutana nasi na kujibu maombi yetu.
- 1. Mungu hukutana nasi na kujibu maombi yetu
Waisraeli ni wateule wa Mungu. Kwa majaliwa Yake waliishi utumwani Misri kwa miaka 400. Hatimaye wana wa Israeli wakahuzunika kwa sababu ya utumwa wao na kulia. Kilio chao cha kuomba kuondolewa katika utumwa kilimfikia Mungu, kama ilivyoandikwa katika Kutoka 2:23. Mungu akamchagua Musa awaongoze na akawatoa Misri kuelekea nchi ya Kanaani, nchi iliyotiririka maziwa na asali. Wakati wa safari ya Kutoka, Mungu alitenda ishara na maajabu mengi mbele yao. Aliwaongoza kwa nguzo ya wingu mchana na nguzo ya moto usiku. Aliwapa maji kwa kuyafanya yatoke kwenye mwamba, na walipokosa chakula akafungua malango ya mbinguni na kuwalisha mana kutoka mbinguni.
Basi safari yao kutoka Misri hadi Kanaani inahusianaje na imani yetu? Inafanana na maisha yetu ya imani duniani, tangu tunapotoka katika maisha ya dhambi ya ulimwengu hadi tunapoingia Mbinguni. Mungu habaki mtazamaji. Kama alivyowatendea Waisraeli, hukutana nawe, hukaa pamoja nawe, hujibu maombi yako na kukuongoza Mbinguni. Anatufundisha ufunguo wa kupata majibu katika Mathayo 7:7: “Ombeni, nanyi mtapewa; tafuteni, nanyi mtaona; bisheni, nanyi mtafunguliwa.” Biblia inaandika matukio mengi ambamo Mungu alikutana na watu na kujibu maombi yao; hata alifufua wafu. Katika 2 Wafalme 4, Elisha alimwomba Mungu kwa ajili ya mwana aliyekufa wa mwanamke Mshunami, kisha akapanda na kujilaza juu ya mtoto. Kijana akapiga chafya mara saba na kufumbua macho. Yohana 11 inaeleza jinsi Lazaro, aliyekuwa amekufa siku nne na tayari akanuka, alivyotoka kaburini akiwa amefungwa mikono na miguu baada ya Yesu kuita, “Lazaro, njoo huku nje.” Yesu pia alimfufua mwana wa mjane aliyeishi katika mji wa Naini kwa kumwambia ainuke.
Biblia inasema kwamba matendo mengi kama hayo yalitendwa si na Yesu pekee, bali pia na mitume Wake kwa jina la Yesu Kristo (Matendo 20:7–12). Sara, mke wa Abrahamu, alizaa Isaka akiwa na umri wa miaka 90, ingawa alikuwa amepita umri wa kuzaa. Katika tukio jingine, vidole vya mkono wa mtu vilitokea ghafla na kuanza kuandika ukutani karibu na kinara cha taa katika jumba la mfalme; Mfalme Belshaza akaona sehemu ya nyuma ya mkono huo. Mkono ulipoandika, mfalme akauawa na ufalme wake ukatekwa (Danieli 5). Mathayo 11:5 inasema, “Vipofu wanapata kuona, viwete wanatembea, wenye ukoma wanatakaswa, viziwi wanasikia, wafu wanafufuliwa, na maskini wanahubiriwa habari njema.”
Mwisho wa Injili ya Yohana, mtume Yohana alisema, “Kuna mambo mengine mengi aliyoyafanya Yesu, ambayo kama yangeandikwa yote moja baada ya jingine, nadhani hata ulimwengu wenyewe usingetosha kuviandika vitabu hivyo.” Kama ilivyoandikwa, kazi za ajabu za Mungu zimeendelea kutokea si wakati wa Agano la Kale na siku za Yesu tu, bali jana na hata leo kupitia watumishi Wake wapendwa na watu wa imani.
- 2. Mungu huwajibu watu wa namna gani?
Basi, ni watu wa namna gani wanaoweza kupokea majibu kutoka kwa Mungu? Abrahamu alipokea jibu la Mungu kwa imani isiyobadilika. Aliamini kwamba Mungu ni Mwenyezi na anaweza hata kuwafufua wafu. Kwa hiyo aliweza kulitii Neno la Mungu, bila kujali alichoambiwa. Hata hivyo, watu wengi humtilia Mungu shaka na kumlaumu mambo yasipoenda kulingana na mawazo yao. Watu wenye nia mbili kama hao hawawezi kupata majibu, kama inavyoandikwa katika Yakobo 1:6–8. Lakini ukiwa na imani thabiti katika hali yoyote ile, unaweza kupokea majibu kutoka kwa Mungu. Zaidi ya hayo, Mungu huwajibu wale wanaoomba.
Eliya aliinama chini, akainamisha uso wake katikati ya magoti yake ili apokee jibu kutoka kwa Mungu (1 Wafalme 18:42). Tunaweza kutambua jinsi alivyoomba kwa bidii tunapomwona akiwa ameinamisha uso wake katikati ya magoti. Kupitia maombi hayo, mvua ikanyesha juu ya nchi ambayo haikuwa imepata hata tone kwa miaka mitatu na nusu. Ni watu wa namna gani wengine waliopokea majibu ya Mungu? Kornelio alikuwa mtu mcha Mungu aliyemwogopa Mungu pamoja na watu wote wa nyumbani mwake. Aliwapa Wayahudi sadaka nyingi na kumwomba Mungu daima (Matendo 10:2). Maombi na matendo yake ya ukarimu vilifika mbinguni, Mungu akamkumbuka na kumtuma Petro. Watu wa jamaa na marafiki zake waliokuwa pamoja naye wakapokea wokovu, Roho Mtakatifu na karama ya kunena kwa lugha (Matendo 10). Mungu alipendezwa na Sulemani, aliyetoa sadaka elfu za kuteketezwa, akambariki. Mungu akamtokea Sulemani katika ndoto usiku na kumwambia, “Omba chochote unachotaka nikupe.” Mungu akampa haki ya kupokea majibu kwa chochote alichoomba.
Sadaka za Agano la Kale zinahusiana na ibada tunazofanya leo. Tukimpenda Mungu na kumwabudu kwa roho na kweli katika ibada, sisi pia tunaweza kupokea baraka kama Sulemani. Tufikirie Daudi alipokuwa kijana. Alijua kwamba Mungu hupendezwa na imani, naye akaionyesha imani hiyo. Kwa kufanya hivyo alipokea jibu kutoka kwa Mungu. Kwa jiwe na kombeo alimshinda Goliathi Mfilisti, aliyekuwa jitu na shujaa (1 Samweli 17:32–49). Wafilisti walipomwona shujaa wao amekufa, wakakimbia na Waisraeli wakapata ushindi mkubwa vitani. Daudi alikuwa mchungaji mdogo tu, lakini alimwamini Mungu sana. Kwa hiyo aliweza kupokea jibu Lake, kumtukuza na kuokoa taifa lake. Kama tunavyoona kwa Daudi, tukiwa na ujasiri unaotokana na imani tunaweza kupokea majibu kwa chochote tunachoomba.
- 3. Mioyo ya watu waliokutana na Mungu upesi
Yusufu alikuwa ameposwa na Bikira Mariamu. Kisha akasikia habari za kushangaza kwamba Mariamu alikuwa na mimba. Hawakuwa wamekutana kimwili, lakini alikuwa na mtoto. Kwa mujibu wa sheria ya Agano la Kale, mwanamke aliyefanya uzinzi alipaswa kupigwa mawe hadi afe. Yusufu alifanya nini? Mathayo 1:19 inasema kwamba Yusufu alikuwa mtu wa haki, naye hakutaka kumwaibisha Mariamu; hivyo alipanga kumwacha kwa siri. Alimtendea wema hadi mwisho. Kwa kuwa Yusufu alikuwa na moyo mwema na wa haki, alikutana na malaika wa Bwana na kusikia ujumbe wa Mungu, kama Mathayo 1:20 inavyosema.
Moyo wa Mariamu pia ulikuwa mwema na wa haki. Ingawa alikuwa bikira, malaika mkuu Gabrieli alimtokea na kusema, “Tazama, utachukua mimba na kuzaa mwana, nawe utamwita jina lake Yesu. Huyo atakuwa mkuu, naye ataitwa Mwana wa Aliye Juu” (Luka 1:31–32). Mariamu hakuogopa wala kuwa na wasiwasi. Alijibu kwa furaha, “Tazama, mimi ni mtumishi wa Bwana; na iwe kwangu kama ulivyosema.” Alitaka tu mapenzi ya Mungu yatimizwe kikamilifu. Tufikirie pia kuhani aliyeitwa Zakaria na mke wake Elisabeti. Luka 1:6 inasema, “Wote wawili walikuwa wenye haki mbele za Mungu, wakiendelea katika amri zote za Bwana na maagizo yake bila lawama.”
Hawakuwa na mtoto ingawa walikuwa wazee, lakini Mungu akalikubali ombi lao na kuwabariki sana kwa kuwapa Yohana Mbatizaji. Mwanamke aliyeitwa Hana pia alipokea jibu la Mungu kwa sababu alikuwa tayari kutimiza nadhiri yake. Hatimaye alitimiza tamanio la moyo wake alipozaa mwana, Samweli. Mara tu mtoto alipoachishwa kunyonya, Hana alimpeleka katika nyumba ya BWANA huko Shilo na kumkabidhi kwa kuhani Eli awe mtumishi wa Mungu. Kwa kuwa Hana alitimiza nadhiri yake mbele za Mungu, baadaye akapata wana wengine watatu na binti wawili. Samweli akawa nabii mkuu katika historia ya Israeli.
Hiyo ilikuwa baraka kubwa kama nini! Tukikutana na Mungu mwema namna hiyo, anayeweza kufanya miujiza na ambaye hakuna lisilowezekana Kwake, matatizo yetu yote yatatatuliwa na matamanio ya mioyo yetu yatatimizwa. Hatutapungukiwa na kitu. Kwa hiyo, ninawasihi muondoe ukuta wa dhambi zenu dhidi ya Mungu, mtii kwa imani na kuomba kwa bidii mkiwa na moyo mwema. Mkifanya hivyo, natumaini mtapokea majibu ya kila mnachoomba.