By Dr Joseph Olorunfemi
Text: Psalm 34:17
“The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.” — Psalm 34:17
Answers to prayer make us appreciate God. That is why I am praying for you upon this mountain: the Lord will answer your prayer in the name of Jesus Christ.
But before we talk about answered prayer, we need to understand something very important: Who is the person whose cry God has promised to hear?
The Bible says, “The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.”
So the question is: Who is the righteous?
The righteousness we are talking about is not self-righteousness. It is not the righteousness of somebody saying, “I don’t kill anybody. I don’t wish anybody evil. I don’t spoil anybody’s life. Therefore, I am a righteous person.”
No.
The righteousness we are talking about is the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ Jesus.
- DELIVERANCE FROM SIN IS THE BEGINNING
There must first be deliverance from sin.
Deliverance from sin is the law of the land. Deliverance from ungodliness. Deliverance from unrighteousness. Deliverance from those things that separate a person from God.
Until we are delivered from sin, until we are saved, until we are sanctified, we cannot fully understand the identity God has given us in Christ.
The Bible says:
«“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” — 2 Corinthians 5:17»
When a person comes to Christ, there is a change of identity.
You are no longer identified by your past. You are no longer identified by the sins you committed before you came to Christ. You become a new creature.
This is why the foundation of answered prayer is not merely shouting louder. The foundation is a right relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
If you are here and you have confessed your sins, if you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, if you believe in His finished work on the cross and you are ready to forsake your sins, then righteousness is credited to you through faith.
The Bible says concerning Abraham:
«“Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” — Romans 4:3»
In the same way, if you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ—that He came to set you free, that He died for your sins, that He rose again, and that you are ready to accept Him as your Saviour and Lord—you become righteous before God through faith.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” — John 3:16
Somebody say, “I believe in Christ Jesus!”
Amen.
- YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS IS BY FAITH IN CHRIST
Philippians chapter 3 teaches us that our confidence should not be in our flesh.
Paul said:
«“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ.” — Philippians 3:9»
This is important.
We don’t come before God boasting about our own goodness. We come by faith in Christ.
It doesn’t matter what your past has been. Perhaps before you came here you were living in fornication. Perhaps you were involved in ungodliness. Perhaps there are things in your life that you are ashamed to talk about.
But if, as you hear this Word, you can acknowledge that you are a sinner, believe that Jesus came to die for your sins, and genuinely repent and forsake your sins, God can give you a new identity.
The Bible says:
«“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” — 1 John 1:9»
Therefore, don’t come with self-justification.
Come with repentance.
Come with faith.
Come believing in the finished work of Christ.
Come believing that Jesus is able to save, sanctify, restore and transform your life.
- THE RIGHTEOUS HAVE A VOICE BEFORE GOD
Now go back to Psalm 34.
«“The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.” — Psalm 34:17»
There is something about the voice of God’s children.
When a baby cries, the mother may be surrounded by many children, but she recognizes the voice of her own child.
Why?
Because that voice belongs to her.
In the same way, God is ready to hear the voice of His own children.
I am praying for somebody today: as you cry unto God, the Lord will hear your cry in the name of Jesus.
You will not cry in vain.
You will not pray in vain.
You will not call upon God and return empty-handed.
The Bible says:
«“The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.” — Psalm 34:15»
The eyes of the Lord are upon you.
His ears are open to your cry.
- WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU BECOME RIGHTEOUS?
Psalm 34 reveals some of the benefits of belonging to God.
David says:
«“My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.” — Psalm 34:2»
When you become righteous through Christ, your testimony changes.
You no longer boast in yourself.
You boast in the Lord.
You begin to say, “My God is able.”
You begin to say, “My Father is rich.”
You begin to look at yourself the way God sees you.
Somebody needs to stop carrying a poverty mentality.
Don’t look at yourself and conclude, “I cannot make it. I cannot have anything good. Nobody in my family has ever done it, so I cannot do it.”
No!
You have a God of no impossibility.
Jesus said:
«“The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” — Luke 18:27»
Your background does not have the final word.
Your family history does not have the final word.
Your present condition does not have the final word.
God has the final word.
Look unto Him.
Depend upon Him.
Trust Him.
And He will surely deliver you.
- DON’T ALLOW YOUR PAST TO DETERMINE YOUR FUTURE
There are people whose family history has become a limitation in their minds.
They look at their family and say, “Nobody has become anything.”
But you need to understand the God you serve.
He is the God who changes stories.
He can change the format of a family.
He can change the direction of a generation.
He can take somebody from an obscure background and make that person a testimony.
He can take somebody whose family has known poverty and establish that person.
He can take somebody nobody noticed and cause people to notice what He has done.
That is why you must not have a poverty mentality.
You must not say, “Because I am a woman, I cannot achieve anything.”
You must not say, “Because I come from this family, I cannot become great.”
You must not say, “Because nobody in my family has done it, I cannot do it.”
Why don’t you see yourself the way God sees you?
My Father is rich.
My Father is able.
My Father owns the earth.
The Bible says:
«“The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof.” — Psalm 24:1»
So I pray for you today: be delivered from poverty mentality in the name of Jesus!
Have hope.
Have faith.
Trust God.
But remember: faith is not an excuse for laziness. We must confess, we must cry to God, we must serve Him, we must work, we must apply wisdom, and we must overcome financial challenges with godly principles.
- GOD CAN PROVIDE FOR YOUR GENERATION
Somebody hear me today:
As you cry unto God, the Lord will provide for your generation.
God will provide for your family.
God will bless you indeed.
God will answer you according to His will and purpose.
Cry to God again!
Cry to God again!
Cry to God again!
Say:
“Lord, I look up to You today. Bless me today. Let my story change. Deliver me from sorrow. Deliver me from affliction. Let Your answer come into my life.”
The Bible says:
«“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.” — Psalm 121:1»
Your help comes from the Lord.
Don’t put your ultimate confidence in man.
Don’t put your hope in connections.
Don’t put your trust in human beings.
Look unto God.
- THE ANGEL OF THE LORD ENCAMPETH AROUND THE RIGHTEOUS
There is another benefit of the righteous.
The Bible says:
«“The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.” — Psalm 34:7»
Hallelujah!
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him.
You may not see them, but God’s protection is real.
Psalm 91 says:
«“For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.” — Psalm 91:11»
I am praying for you today:
The angels of God will go before you.
The angels of God will keep you in all your ways.
The angels of God will protect you.
The angels of God will preserve your family.
You will not meet evil on the road.
You will not fall into the trap of the enemy.
You will not be destroyed by what God has ordained to preserve you.
The Scripture says:
«“A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.” — Psalm 91:7»
Hallelujah!
Somebody say:
“Angel of God, surround me!”
“I am protected!”
“I am covered!”
“I am secure!”
“I am safe by the power of the Lord!”
- DON’T CREATE YOUR OWN BLOCKAGE
But listen to me carefully.
We cannot continue in sin and expect God to approve everything we are doing.
Grace is not permission to continue in disobedience.
The Bible says:
«“Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid.” — Romans 6:1–2»
There are people asking, “Why is my prayer not answered?”
Sometimes the issue is not that God cannot answer.
Sometimes there is something in our own lives that needs to be corrected.
The Bible says:
«“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” — Psalm 66:18»
This is serious.
Run away from sin.
Run away from temptation.
Run away from gossip.
Run away from backbiting.
Backbiters are always at your back because they are trying to make your life go backward.
Don’t become an enemy of your own prayer.
Don’t allow bitterness, hatred, unforgiveness, immorality or deliberate disobedience to become a blockage between you and God.
- A TESTIMONY ABOUT UNANSWERED PRAYER
Let me share something with you.
There was a time I was praying for a particular family.
I prayed.
I prayed.
I fasted.
I connected the person with people who could help.
I introduced the person to people who could provide assistance.
I did everything that was humanly possible as a pastor.
Yet everything kept failing.
I began to ask God, “What is happening?”
Eventually, I called the people involved one by one.
I asked them what the problem was.
One person began to speak.
Another person spoke.
Then one of them began to tell me things I did not know.
He began to count offences.
He said, “I expected you to support what I was doing. I expected you to buy from me. You didn’t buy. I expected you to show support financially.”
I explained that I did not use the product.
But the issue went deeper.
There were offences.
There was resentment.
There was bitterness.
There were things that had been kept in the heart.
And suddenly, we began to understand why there had been so much difficulty.
This is why I am telling somebody:
Don’t carry offence.
Taking offence in your heart will not help you.
Bitterness will not help you.
Unforgiveness will not help you.
The Bible says:
«“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you.” — Ephesians 4:31»
You cannot keep hatred in your heart and expect your spiritual life to remain healthy.
Forgive.
Release people.
Settle matters where necessary.
Ask God to search your heart.
David prayed:
«“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts.” — Psalm 139:23»
- DON’T TURN YOURSELF INTO AN ABOMINATION BEFORE GOD
The Bible gives us a serious warning about unrighteousness.
You cannot leave your husband and go into an adulterous relationship and expect God to treat the matter as though nothing happened.
You cannot leave your wife and enter into an illicit relationship and call it God’s blessing.
You cannot continue deliberately in sin and claim that your prayer must automatically be answered.
The Bible says:
«“The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.” — Proverbs 15:8»
Don’t become an abomination before God.
Don’t become an example of disobedience in your household.
God knows the condition of your heart.
If there is something you need to repent of, repent.
If there is something you need to forsake, forsake it.
If there is somebody you need to forgive, forgive.
If there is a wrong relationship you need to leave, leave it.
If there is a habit you need to surrender to God, surrender it.
Do not allow sin to become a heaven blocker in your life.
- THE DANGER OF DISOBEDIENCE: THE STORY OF ACHAN
Remember the story of Achan in Joshua chapter 7.
God had given Israel victory, but Israel suddenly suffered defeat.
Joshua could not understand it.
The people had gone against a much smaller enemy, yet they were defeated.
God revealed that there was sin in the camp.
Achan had taken what God had forbidden.
Joshua 7:20–21 records Achan’s confession that he saw, coveted and took the forbidden things.
One person’s disobedience affected the entire community.
Thirty-six men died in that battle, and Israel’s confidence was broken.
Why?
Because there was disobedience in the camp.
This teaches us something important: sin has consequences.
We must not treat disobedience lightly.
God had given Israel a promise, but they still had to walk in obedience.
The same principle is repeated throughout Scripture.
Deuteronomy 28 shows both the blessings connected with obedience and the consequences of disobedience.
The Bible says:
«“And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.” — Deuteronomy 28:2»
But it also warns of the consequences of disobedience.
So when we talk about “heaven becoming brass and the land becoming iron,” we must understand the biblical picture.
Deuteronomy 28:23 says:
«“And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.”»
This is a picture of severe hardship and the consequences of disobedience.
Therefore, don’t only pray against the consequences.
Deal with the cause.
Don’t only ask God to change your situation.
Ask God to change you.
- DON’T FIGHT YOUR ENEMY IN DISOBEDIENCE
Israel had been told that no man would be able to stand before them.
Yet they ran from their enemy.
Why?
There was disobedience in the camp.
I am praying for somebody:
You will not run from your enemy!
The enemy will not overpower you!
They will not overpower your family!
They will not overpower the Church!
They will not overpower our nation!
But hear me: we must walk in righteousness.
We must not touch what God says we should not touch.
We must not embrace what God says we should reject.
We must not allow sin to weaken our spiritual authority.
- DON’T SPEAK EVIL AGAINST PEOPLE
Be careful about speaking evil against another person.
Be careful about speaking evil against the minister of God.
Be careful about gossip.
Be careful about backbiting.
Be careful about destroying another person’s reputation.
The Bible says:
«“Speak not evil one of another, brethren.” — James 4:11»
You don’t know what tomorrow will bring.
The person you are speaking against today may be the person God will use tomorrow.
Pray for people.
Don’t destroy people with your tongue.
Don’t use your mouth to create trouble for yourself.
- GOD CAN DELIVER YOU FROM NIGHT FEARS
Somebody may be listening to me who has been troubled by nightmares.
You have been waking up frightened.
You have been experiencing repeated dreams that leave you afraid.
Hear the Word of the Lord:
You will not live in fear.
The Bible says:
«“Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day.” — Psalm 91:5»
God is your refuge.
The Lord is your keeper.
I pray for you tonight:
Every terror that comes against you in the night, may the Lord deliver you from it in the name of Jesus Christ.
Every fear that has become a recurring experience, receive peace in the name of Jesus.
The Bible says:
«“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” — 2 Timothy 1:7»
You will not be governed by fear.
You will not be controlled by terror.
You will sleep in peace.
You will wake in peace.
The Lord will preserve you.
- THE RIGHTEOUS MUST DEPEND ON GOD
So what must you do?
Look unto Him.
Depend upon Him.
Confess your sins.
Cry unto Him.
Believe in Him.
Serve Him.
Do good.
Run away from sin.
Run away from temptation.
Run away from gossip and backbiting.
Walk in righteousness.
Forgive those who have offended you.
Keep your heart clean.
The Bible says:
«“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” — Proverbs 3:5»
When you do these things, you position yourself to walk in the purposes of God.
- GOD WILL ANSWER THE CRY OF HIS RIGHTEOUS ONES
Now I want you to hear me.
The righteous cry, and the Lord hears.
That is the Word of God.
As you become righteous through faith in Christ Jesus, as you walk in obedience, as you repent from sin and depend upon God, I believe God will answer you according to His will.
Somebody say:
“Lord, hear my cry!”
“Lord, answer me!”
“Lord, deliver me!”
“Lord, provide for my family!”
“Lord, change my story!”
“Lord, deliver me from sorrow!”
“Lord, deliver me from affliction!”
“Lord, establish my family!”
“Lord, let Your purpose come to pass in my life!”
Cry to God again!
Cry to God again!
Cry to God again!
The Psalmist says:
«“This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.” — Psalm 34:6»
- PRAYER FOR YOUR FAMILY AND GENERATION
I am praying for somebody today:
As you cry unto God, the Lord will provide for your generation.
God will provide for your family.
God will bless you indeed.
The things you have planned according to His will, the Lord will establish.
The Bible says:
«“Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.” — Proverbs 16:3»
Your family will not be abandoned.
Your children will not be abandoned.
Your generation will not be abandoned.
The Lord will make a way where there seems to be no way.
- PRAYER FOR DIVINE PROTECTION
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him.
Therefore I pray:
Angel of God, surround this family!
Angel of God, surround this home!
Angel of God, go before them!
Angel of God, protect them on the road!
Angel of God, protect them at work!
Angel of God, protect their children!
Angel of God, preserve their lives!
Every evil plan against you shall fail.
Every conspiracy against you shall fail.
Every plan designed to bring you down shall fail.
The Scripture says:
«“No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper.” — Isaiah 54:17»
You are protected.
You are covered.
You are secure.
You are safe by the power of the Lord.
- PRAYER FOR THE MONTH AND FOR THE DAYS AHEAD
As we enter this new season, I pray that the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ will be evident in your life.
May you experience the goodness of God.
May you experience divine provision.
May you experience divine protection.
May you experience deliverance from affliction.
May you experience answers to prayer.
May your family experience peace.
May your labour not be wasted.
May God remember you for good.
May the Lord turn your sorrow into joy.
May He turn your testimony around.
May He deliver you from every trouble.
And when you cry, may the Lord hear you.
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!
PRAYER POINTS
- Prayer of Repentance
Oh Lord, my Father, search my heart and reveal anything in my life that is contrary to Your will. Forgive me and cleanse me from all unrighteousness, in the name of Jesus.
- Prayer for Genuine Righteousness
Father, let the righteousness of Christ be established in my life. Deliver me from self-righteousness and establish me in genuine faith in Christ Jesus.
- Prayer Against Sin
Oh Lord, deliver me from every sin, temptation and ungodly habit that can become a blockage between me and Your purpose for my life, in the name of Jesus.
- Prayer for Answered Prayer
Oh Lord, as I cry unto You today, hear my cry and deliver me from all my troubles, in the name of Jesus.
- Prayer Against Poverty Mentality
Father, deliver me from every poverty mentality and every limitation that has been established in my mind. Give me faith, wisdom, diligence and grace to prosper according to Your will.
- Prayer for Divine Provision
My Father, provide for me and my household. Provide for my generation. Open the right doors and establish the work of my hands, in the name of Jesus.
- Prayer Against Family Affliction
Every affliction troubling my family, Lord, deliver us today. Let Your peace reign in my household, in the name of Jesus.
- Prayer for Angelic Protection
Oh Lord, command Your angels concerning me and my household. Let Your angels encamp around us and preserve us from evil, in the name of Jesus.
- Prayer Against Night Terror
Every terror of the night, every fear and every disturbance that has troubled my sleep, I reject you in the name of Jesus. I receive divine peace and protection.
- Prayer Against Evil Conspiracies
Every plan of the enemy to bring me down, let it fail in the name of Jesus. Every tongue that rises against me in judgment, I condemn it according to Your Word.
- Prayer for Deliverance from Offence and Bitterness
Father, deliver my heart from bitterness, hatred, unforgiveness and offence. Give me grace to forgive and keep my heart clean before You, in the name of Jesus.
- Prayer for Nigeria
Oh Lord, let our leaders walk in righteousness. Give them wisdom to govern with justice. Let them seek the peace and prosperity of this nation. Let righteousness exalt Nigeria, and let corruption, injustice and wickedness lose their grip, in the name of Jesus.
- Final Cry
Oh Lord, my Father, hear my cry today! Answer me according to Your will. Deliver me from all my troubles. Provide for my family. Protect my household. Change my story. Let my testimony become evident. Let my life bring glory to Your name. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen!
The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. — Psalm 34:17
Somebody, cry to God again! Cry to God again! Cry to God again! Your God will hear you!