                    [Times Square Church Pulpit Series]

                          God Overanswers Prayer!

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By David Wilkerson
November 15, 1993
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          One of the most often-heard phrases in the church is,
          "God answers prayer!" Yet that is only half the truth.
          The whole truth is, "God overanswers prayer!"

          I want to act now as a lawyer before you. I'm going to
          build a case that will prove to you that in every
          generation - all through the Bible and continuing to
          the present day - God always overanswers the prayers of
          His children. He continually gives much more than we
          ask for - and often things we wouldn't think to
          request!

          I'll go straight to the biblical record to make my
          case. It is built on precedent after precedent in
          history - all proving God overanswers prayer!

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                 1. God over-answered Israel in Hosea 14!

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          Here is a very clear picture of how God not only
          answered prayer - but overanswered!

          Hosea prophesied to Israel, "You're backslidden - but
          you're still God's people. Now return to the Lord and
          pray. "Take with you words, and... say unto Him, Take
          away all iniquity, and receive us graciously... "
          (Hosea 14:2).

          Their prayer was simple. All Israel asked God to do was
          to take away their sin and receive them graciously.
          "Lord, have mercy. Cleanse us - receive us back into
          Your grace."

          Yet God not only forgave their iniquities - He not only
          cleansed them and received them back graciously - He
          also added blessings beyond imagination!

          "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them
          freely: for Mine anger is turned away from him. I will
          be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily,
          and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall
          spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and
          his smell as Lebanon. They that dwell under his shadow
          shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow
          as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of
          Lebanon." (Hosea 14:4-7).

          Now the dew of heaven is the presence of the Lord. Up
          to this point there had been drought - everything was
          dying because God's favor had been taken away. But now,
          because of true repentance and a heartfelt prayer, God
          said He would cause life to spring up on all sides.
          Israel not only would be forgiven, but revived as well!
          They would grow, become well-rooted, spread out,
          thrive!

          All they asked for was mercy, forgiveness and
          acceptance. But instead, God opened the windows of
          heaven and poured on them blessings they dared not even
          hope for! God largely overanswered their prayer!

          Beloved, God has done the same for you! When you
          repented, all you asked God for was a clean heart,
          forgiveness and peace. Yet look at how He has
          overanswered you: He gave you a hungering heart - a
          thirst for more and more of Jesus! He gave you eyes to
          see and ears to hear. He gave you a love for His body.

          He has put in you a hatred for sin. He has protected
          you from a raging, mad devil. He has flooded your soul
          with hope, joy and gladness!

          Jesus has become as your morning dew! He waters your
          soul daily with His Word. And you are growing - you're
          not dead or dying, but very much alive in Him!

          You asked only to be saved and cleansed. But God has
          poured out blessing upon blessing to you! He has
          overanswered you!

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                   2. God overanswered Solomon's prayer!

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          "Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to
          judge thy people, that I may discern between good and
          bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a
          people?" (1 Kings 3:9)

          Solomon prayed "Lord all I want is wisdom to know how
          to handle Your people. I only want to be a just king
          and lord over them."

          It was a simple, direct request. But God answered
          Solomon's prayer in an incredible way:

          "And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this
          thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life;
          neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked
          the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself
          understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done
          according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise
          and an understanding heart; so that there was none like
          thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise
          like unto thee."(1 Kings 3:11-12).

          Here we see how anxious God is to overanswer unselfish
          prayers! Solomon asked only for an understanding heart
          of discernment. But God not only gave him the heart he
          asked for - He also promised to make him wiser than
          anyone else in the history of mankind!

          Yet God didn't stop there. He told Solomon: "And I have
          also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both
          riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any
          among the kings like unto thee all thy days. And if
          thou wilt walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My
          commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will
          lengthen thy days." (1 Kings 3:13-14).

          What an incredible response! God added to Solomon's
          wisdom blessings, honor and riches such as no other man
          has ever received. And on top of that, He gave him a
          prolonged life: "I will lengthen thy days."

          Another prayer greatly overanswered!

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            3. God overanswered Israel regarding the Ammonites!

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          "Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to
          fight... so that Israel was sore distressed" (Judges
          10:9).

          Ammon had been used by God to correct Israel's sins.
          And now their army was marching toward Israel! God's
          people were perplexed and downcast - and they began to
          confess their sins:

          "And the children of Israel said unto the Lord, We have
          sinned: do Thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto
          thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day." (verse
          15).

          They were so haunted by their sin, they couldn't
          conceive of asking God for anything more than just to
          spare them. Theirs was the simplest of prayers: "Lord,
          deliver us just this one time! Don't let us be defeated
          or overrun by our enemy!"

          They prayed for a single victory. But God had something
          more in mind, and He overanswered their prayer
          mightily! Not only did Israel get protection - they got
          the upper hand! They totally subdued the Ammonites!

          "So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to
          fight against them; and the Lord delivered them into
          his hands. And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou
          come to Minnith, even twenty cities... Thus the
          children of Ammon were subdued before the children of
          Israel" (11:32-33).

          Not only did God deliver Israel - He also gave them the
          courage and the direction to defeat the Ammonites! They
          subdued them from that time on - and they were never
          troubled by them again! They had total victory!

          That is just how God wants to overanswer His people
          today! Most Christians pray, "Lord, just give me
          victory in this one battle." But the Lord responds,
          "I'll give you that - yet I have much more in store for
          you! I want to subdue your enemy so you won't have to
          get just one victory at a time. I want you to have a
          total victory!"

          Beloved, He wants to give you power not just to
          overcome - but to subdue every enemy! He wants you not
          just to conquer sin - but to be more than a conqueror!
          Not just to have life but life more abundantly! Not
          just to have joy - but joy unspeakable and full of
          glory! Not to be free of fear just for a day, a week or
          a month but all the days of your life!

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                4. God overanswered David's prayer for life!
                 "He asked life of thee... " (Psalm 21:4).

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          David's request was simple - He asked God to save him
          from dying. And God answered his prayer: "...and Thou
          gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever."
          (verse 4).

          But God went much further in overanswering David's
          prayer. He not only gave him life - He also put a crown
          on his head, making him king of Israel! And He poured
          out on him honor and majesty: "...Thou settest a crown
          of pure gold on his head...honour and majesty hast Thou
          laid upon him" (verses 3, 5). David exclaimed, "Lord,
          You've really laid it on me!"

          Yet to top it all off, God added "exceeding gladness":
          "For Thou hast made him most blessed for ever: Thou
          hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance"
          (verse 6).

          It is no wonder David wrote, "...with him is plenteous
          redemption" (Psalm 130:7). He said, "Lord, You not only
          saved me - but You poured out Your redemption on me!"

          The Old 'Testament patriarchs and prophets knew all
          about this most generous inclination of God. They knew
          He delights in being plenteous, abundant, overflowing
          with blessings to us. Isaiah said: "Let the wicked
          forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts:
          and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have
          mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly
          pardon" (Isaiah 55:7).

          God not only forgives sin - He overanswers our cry for
          forgiveness with abundant mercy and pardon!

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                We Should Not Be Surprised By God's Delight
                      In Overanswering and Overgiving
               - Because Men and Women Often Do It as Well!

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          People have overanswered in their giving - how much
          more our God!

          "A Godly husband and wife in Shunem prepared a
          prophet's chamber in their home for Elisha to use.
          Elisha was so grateful he sent his servant Gehazi to
          ask, "You have cared for us - what can we do for you?"
          But the wife answered, "Nothing."

          The servant came back and told Elisha she didn't want
          anything. But something in the prophet's heart wasn't
          satisfied. He said, "She's done so much for me!"

          Suddenly the servant remembered: She was childless and
          desired a child. That was it! So Elisha called her:
          "And when he had called her, she stood in the door, And
          he said, About this season, according to the time of
          life, thou shalt embrace a son." (2 Kings 4:15-16).

          Elisha got hold of God, the Lord heard his prayer - and
          the woman birthed a son! Although she never asked for
          anything, she got the desire of her heart!

          Perhaps you remember Naaman, who was healed of leprosy.
          Elisha told him, "I don't want anything from you. This
          is a free gift from God." But later Gehazi, in
          covetousness, stopped Naaman and said, "My master has
          had a change of heart. He would like to have "a talent
          of silver, and two changes of garments" (2 Kings 5:22).

          Now, a talent was a lot of money at that time. It
          probably could have bought a whole farm. Yet Naaman
          immediately answered, "...take two talents" (verse 23).

          The Lord had so touched Naaman - he was so happy and
          blessed - that he desired to overanswer the request!
          Something in his heart wished to bless Elisha!

          I ask you - how is it we can credit men like Elisha and
          Naaman with overgiving and yet believe God is any less
          kind and loving toward us? We often act as if He's
          stingy! We think we have to pull things out of Him, to
          agonize before we can get what we desire. No - our
          Father loves to give to us! He loves to overanswer our
          cry!

          "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts
          unto your children, how much more shall your Father
          which is in heaven give good things to them that ask
          Him?" (Matthew 7:11).

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          Now Let Us Go to the New Testament and Consider an Even
            More Glorious Vision Of God's Overanswering Nature!

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          Consider these examples: 1. What about the man, sick
          with palsy, who was brought to Jesus on a bed?

          "And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the
          palsy, lying on a bed." (Matthew 9:2).

          This paralyzed man sought Jesus for healing - but Jesus
          overanswered his prayer! "Son, be of good cheer; thy
          sins be forgiven thee... (Then saith He to the sick of
          palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine
          house" (verse 6).

          The sick man asked for healing - but Jesus gave him
          much more. He added the greatest gift He could possibly
          give! The man got his healing - but even better, he
          received forgiveness, eternal life, and good cheer to
          replace his years of sadness!

          Jesus had known all along what He was going to do; He
          knew this man would walk again. But He said, "First, I
          want to bless you - I want to overanswer you. Yes, I'll
          heal your body - but I'll also heal your soul and your
          mind, Now take up your bed and go home!" 2. What about
          the thief on the cross?

          The thief who hung next to Christ asked only one thing
          of Him: "Remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom"
          (Luke 23:42). His request was simple: "Think about me."

          Jesus truly overanswered this man's request: "And Jesus
          said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt
          thou be with me in paradise" (verse 43). He said, "I'll
          remember you - because you're coming with Me!"

          Talk about an overanswered prayer! This evil thief
          could not even conceive of being saved. But he was told
          he would be waking up in a few hours in paradise -
          beside Jesus! 3. What about the crippled beggar who
          asked aims of Peter and John as they entered the
          temple?

          "A certain lame man...seeing Peter and John about to go
          into the temple asked an alms" (Acts 3:2-3). Again, a
          simple request - just a little money. Yet what a
          glorious answer this beggar got!

          Scripture says, "Peter fasten(ed) his eyes upon him"
          (verse 4). The beggar probably thought, "I'm going to
          get a quarter - maybe a dollar. This may be my lucky
          day." Instead, he got something all the money in the
          world couldn't buy - a new body!

          "Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such
          as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of
          Nazareth rise up and walk...and immediately his feet
          and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up
          stood, and walked, and entered with them into the
          temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God" (verses
          6-8).

          This beggar not only was healed - he also received an
          outpouring of the Holy Ghost! The spirit of praise came
          upon him, and he danced and worshiped. That surely is
          an overanswered prayer! 4. Cornelius prayed diligently
          for a revelation of God's Word
          - and God marvelously overanswered his prayer!

          The Lord had spoken to Cornelius about Peter in a
          vision. So the centurion sent three servants to Joppa
          to fetch Peter, "to hear words of thee" (Acts 10:22).
          This was his only request - to hear the gospel: "We
          want to hear the word of the Lord."

          Yet look at how God overanswered his request: "While
          Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all
          them which heard the word. And...on the Gentiles also
          was poured out the gift of the holy Ghost. For they
          heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God" (verses
          44-46).

          It was as if God was so excited He couldn't wait for
          Peter to stop preaching - and He moved in to
          overanswer! The people standing nearby not only got the
          Word - they also got the Holy Ghost! And not only the
          Holy Ghost but the gift of tongues. And not only
          tongues but water baptism! "And (Peter) commanded them
          to be baptized in the name of the Lord" (verse 48:).

          Cornelius only wanted the gospel - but God poured out
          heaven on him!

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             The New Testament Is Filled With Promises Proving
            God Loves to OverAnswer the Prayers of His People!

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          The most familiar promise of all is Ephesians 3:20. We
          all know it well - yet few of us live as if we believe
          it: "Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding
          abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to
          the power that worketh in us..."

          God isn't able just to answer our prayers. He wants to
          do for us exceedingly abundantly above all we can even
          imagine! He wants to answer us not according to our
          puny requests, but according to His riches and might.
          He wants to give till it runs out!

          The Bible tells us elsewhere He is inclined to answer
          us with abundantly more: "Give, and it shall be given
          unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken
          together, and running over..." (Luke 6:38).

          "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear
          heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the
          things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.
          But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit" (1
          Corinthians 2:9-10).

          "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious
          promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the
          divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in
          the world through lust" (2 Peter 1:4).

          "...the living God, who giveth us richly all things to
          enjoy..." (2 Timothy 6:17).

          God is virtually begging us to ask for great things!

          We like to call the Lord "our King." But do you pray
          large requests worthy of our King's greatness? A king
          is obligated to care for his subjects. And his people
          honor him by asking largely, believing he has all they
          need and will provide it abundantly. Dear saint. you
          can't call God "king" and then accuse Him of letting
          one of His subjects Continue in need!

          A well-known philosopher approached Alexander the Great
          to make a request because he'd done a good deed for
          him. He asked the king for a gift of one hundred
          talents - a fortune in silver - for his daughters.

          Everyone present was aghast. But Alexander had a big
          smile on his face. He said, "Give it to him! It is a
          request worthy of King Alexander. It is worthy of my
          wealth and my ability to give!"

          I ask you - have you embarrassed God by your puny
          requests? "... prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord of
          hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven,
          and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be
          room enough to receive it" (Malachi 3:10).

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            We Can Grieve God - Even Anger Him - By Not Asking!

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          We think it is spiritual to say, "I just worship the
          Lord - I don't ask Him for anything. Whatever He wants
          for me is good enough." That may sound holy - but it is
          not, according to the Word of God!

          Over and over Jesus implores us, "Ask! Ask in My name!
          Ask, and you shall receive. Ask anything - whatsoever
          you ask. Ask what you will. You have not because you
          ask not. God gives good things to those who ask. He
          knows what you need even before you ask. Ask the Father
          in My name, and He will give it to you...."

          But we don't have the faith to ask!

          "And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I
          will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will
          hear." (Isaiah 65:24) God says, "You don't have the
          faith or courage to ask for what I really want to give
          you. So I'm going to beat you to the punch! I'm going
          to answer you before you even ask, because your
          thinking is too small. I know your request won't come
          near to what I want to do!"

          "Moreover the LORD spake again unto Ahaz, saying, Ask
          thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the
          depth, or in the height above. But Ahaz said, I will
          not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD." (Isaiah
          7:10-12) Ahaz's response may have sounded holy - "I
          won't tempt God." But it angered the Lord! It was
          hypocritical - because God knew Ahaz had lost his faith
          long before then!

          Ahaz represents the backslidden church - Christians who
          have lost their faith in God, who don't believe in His
          great resources, "They say, "Don't ask God for healing.
          You're tempting God." That sounds good - but it is
          hypocritical!

          Ahaz didn't want to have his faith tested - because he
          didn't have any! And many Christians today don't ask
          God for anything because it will test a faith they
          don't have!

          You see, Israel needed deliverance. So God invited Ahaz
          to ask for confirmation of His faithfulness by any sign
          the king could think of - from heaven to hell. But Ahaz
          already had planned to call on King Tigath-Pilneser and
          Samaria for help. God said, "No! I'm going to fight
          your battle. I want you to trust in Me!" "...Hear ye
          now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to
          weary men, but will ye weary my God also?" (Isaiah
          7:13)

          The Hebrew word for "weary" means "disgust." God was
          saying, "How long are you going to keep disgusting me
          because you're afraid to stand on My word? When will
          you ever learn that I have everything you need - that I
          will take care of you because I'm King and Lord?"

          Isaiah told Israel, "You didn't ask for a sign - but
          God is going to give you one anyway." "Therefore the
          Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin
          shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name
          Immanuel" (verse 14).

          Beloved this was the greatest overanswer of any prayer
          in history! The people had cried, "Send us a
          deliverer," hoping for some man, but God answered,
          "I'll give you a man. And yes, He will be a deliverer -
          for all mankind!" God over answered by promising
          Immanuel!

          In Jesus Christ - Immanuel - we have God's most
          glorious overanswer of all. He is the fullness of God.
          In Him all riches and blessings abound. He is our great
          resource. And in Him is exceedingly abundantly more
          than we could ask or think!

          Scripture Says, "And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with
          him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground."
          (1 Samuel 3:19)

          This verse means Samuel's prayers as well as his
          prophecies - none of them fell useless to the ground!
          Not one prayer went unanswered. Every word of God's
          promises that Samuel repeated in prayer was a seed that
          brought forth fruit exceeding abundantly!

          Dear saint, when you go to your secret closet,
          remember: "...he that cometh to God must believe that
          He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that
          diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6). Always quote that
          verse - work it into your system, praying: "I come to
          You, Jesus, because I know You are God Almighty. You
          have all the resources I'll ever need. You are beyond
          my comprehension in greatness - but I believe You
          reward those who diligently seek You!"

          Bring all your requests to God. Pray, believing He
          delights to overanswer you in His own way and time.
          Start asking today for the healing of those whom you
          thought were hopelessly beyond help. Trust Him for your
          hopeless financial situation, your unsaved loved ones.

          He is going to give to you - to overanswer your prayer
          - exceedingly abundantly above all you could ask or
          think!

          ---
          Used with permission granted by World Challenge, P. O.
          Box 260, Lindale, TX 75771 USA.

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