Blog
“The Four Requirements of Answered Prayers”
The Four Requirements of Answered Prayers
(James 4:1-6)
Wade Webster
James moved from a discussion of peace (Jam. 3:18) to a discussion of wars and fighting (Jam. 4:1-2). Rather than a new discussion, it is really a continuation of the former discussion of wisdom. Fighting and wars come from earthly wisdom (Jam. 3:14-16) and peace comes from heavenly wisdom (Phil. 4:6); which, in turn, comes from prayer (Jam. 1:5). Now, the connection to the context is clear. In the context, James gives four requirements of answered prayers.
First, to have our prayers answered, we must ask. We read, “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask” (Jam. 4:1-2). Some did not have because they did not ask. Someone noted that there are unanswered and unasked prayers. Their prayers were unasked. Because they didn’t ask, they couldn’t receive (Mt. 7:7-8). Instead of asking God for what they needed, they were trying to obtain it their own way.
Second, to have our prayers answered, we must unselfishly. We read, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses!” (Jam. 4:3). Some of James’ brethren didn’t have because they didn’t ask. Others didn’t have because they asked amiss or from evil motives. They were selfish and asked that they might spend it on fleshly pleasures. Clearly, they were guided by worldly wisdom (Jam. 3:14-16).
Third, to have our prayers answered, we must ask purely. We read, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?” (Jam. 4:4-5). A third group didn’t have their prayers answered because they were trying to love God and the world at the same time (Mt. 6:24; 1 John 2:15-17). Be being a friend of the world, they were making God their enemy and closing His ears to their prayers (Isa. 59:1-2; Jam. 5:16).
Fourth, to have our prayers answered, we must ask humbly. We read, “But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” (Jam. 4:6). A final group didn’t have their prayers answered because they were proud. God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble (Heb. 4:16; Lk. 18:9-14).
To have our prayers answered, we must ask. Furthermore, we must ask unselfishly, purely, and humbly. This is the wisdom that is from above (Jam. 3:17).
