LOOKING FOR ANSWERS

The vine clings to the oak during the fiercest of storms. Although the violence of nature may uproot the oak, twining tendrils still cling to it. If the vine is on the side of the tree opposite the wind, the great oak is its protection: if it is on the exposed side, the tempest only presses it closer to the trunk.

In some of the storms of life, God intervenes and shelters us; while in others He allows us to be exposed, so that we will be pressed more closely to Him.

—B. M. Launderville

In some of the storms of life, God intervenes and shelters us; while in others He allows us to be exposed, so that we will be pressed more closely to Him.

—B. M. Launderville

THE STORMS OF ADVERSE CIRCUMSTANCES

Life has many storms:

The Beating Rains of Trouble

The Flowing Waters of Sin

The Chilling Winds of Fear

Many look for answers in the wrong places—and they find more questions.

Some look for the answer in drugs only to become dependent on them. Some seek the answer in material possessions only to find that they must be updated and replaced.

We deceive ourselves into thinking that man will successfully work out all of his problems.

H. Lee Mason, Sermon Outlines for Evangelism, Sermon Outline Series (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1981), 27.

"God doesn’t always give us an answer sometimes He tells us to get involved in the answer, or go look for the answer, or to work for the answer." by Elmer Towns

"Remember, prayer is relationship with God, so when we ask Him for something, the issue is “How does God respond?” by Elmer Towns

from "How God Answers Prayer (How to Pray) (How to Pray (Paperback))" by Elmer Towns

(from "How God Answers Prayer (How to Pray) (How to Pray (Paperback))" by Elmer Towns)

“Watch in prayer to see what cometh. Foolish boys, that knock at a door in wantonness, will not stay till somebody cometh to open to them; but a man that hath business will knock, and knock again, till he gets his answer.”

To pray and not to look for an answer argues either a mere formality in prayer, and that makes the prayer to be dead; or else unbelief as to the truth of God, and that makes the prayer to be corrupt. He who presents a check at the banker’s looks to hare money for it; if not, he is not a business man, but a mere trifler. So in our pleadings of the divine promise we expect a fulfilment, of otherwise we do but play with God. How many runaway knocks we give at mercy’s gate! Let us put away such childish things, and treat prayer as a reality: then shall we be answered of a truth. “I will direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.”

He who writes these lines bears witness that he has never knocked in vain at the Lord’s door, and he begs the reader to make trial of that which he has found so effectual. “Knock, and it shall be opened, unto you.”

C. H. Spurgeon, Flowers from a Puritan’s Garden, Distilled and Dispensed (New York: Funk & Wagnalls, 1883), 38–39.

Three Classes of Christians

“Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened.” It is the Saviour who says so. And we find that in these words we have three classes of prayers—the asking, the seeking, and the knocking kind. So, also, you will find the church is divided into these three classes. The first class of Christians ask, but they don’t look for any answer at all. They would be quite astonished if the answer did come. Then the second class of Christians are the seeking kind. They are better than the asking kind. They want an answer, and keep looking for it. If their prayers are not answered they know it is not God’s fault. When our prayers seem to be neglected, it may be that they are not in accordance with the will of God. If the Holy Spirit indites the prayer, it must be answered. He has access to the secret counsels of the Most High, and He knows what is in accordance with the Divine will, and will teach us what to ask for. The third class, and best of all, are the knocking Christians. They keep on praying. The door may seem to be made of granite, but it will soon be opened. ..

D. L. Moody, Life Words from Gospel Addresses of D. L. Moody, ed. G. F. G. Royle (London: John Snow & Co., 1875), 94–95.

PERSEVERANCE IN PRAYER

“And Say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” Like 11:9

God Wants Us to Ask when We Are in Need -God wants Us to Seek that Which Is Productive to Life-God Wants Us to Knock on the Doors of Opportunity

God, answer me!

Answer me! (; ); answer me when I call! (); answer me, O Lord! (; ; ; ; ); answer me quickly! (; ); make haste to answer me (); save me and answer me (); answer me in your faithfulness (); may the King answer us in the day we call (); let the Almighty answer me! (); let me speak and you reply to me (); I would learn what he would answer (); answer me with your sure salvation ().

Answer me! (; ); answer me when I call! (); answer me, O Lord! (; ; ; ; ); answer me quickly! (; ); make haste to answer me (); save me and answer me (); answer me in your faithfulness (); let the Almighty answer me! (); let me speak and you reply to me (); answer me with your sure salvation ().

God will answer

Call to me and I will answer you (); I call on you for you will answer me (); I will answer to the heavens and they will answer to the earth (); it is I who answer and look after you (); may the Lord answer you in the day of trouble (); you will call and the Lord will answer (); when he hears your cry he will answer you (); before they call I will answer ().

THE POWER OF PRAYER “And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?”

“And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?”

Prayer Humbles the Person Who Prays-Prayer Keeps Our Needs Before God-Prayer Seeks a Divine Response-Prayer Strengthens the Person Who Prays

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