How God Answers Prayer
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God Always Answers Prayer
God Always Answers Prayer
We spend a lot of time talking about the bigness of God. In fact, we sing about it, we base our whole lives upon the bigness of God and the fact that He is absolutely able to do anything we ask of Him. He is able to answer each and every one of our prayers. In fact not only is He able, He is faithful to do so. He always answers our prayers.
Whoah! What are you saying pastor? I’ve prayed many times and not received an answer. What am I doing wrong that I don’t get an answer? Well, I’m glad that I pretended you asked that question because that’s what I’m going to try to answer today.
Now let me be clear, there are many reasons for prayer. Remember, when Jesus taught His disciples to pray using what is known as the Lord’s prayer - or more correctly, the model prayer. He covered some of the basic aspects of prayer. Prayer has many purposes; amongst the most common are the following:
The Purposes of Prayer:
Communion with God.
Casting your cares.
Seeking His will and wisdom.
Asking for something.
Most of the time, when people talk about prayer, they’re talking about this last one. It is by no means the most important purpose, but there is nothing wrong with asking God for something. This is called a prayer of petition. This is the type of prayer Paul is writing about when He is writing to the Philippians.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
So Paul is saying that the cure to our anxieties is prayer- in the sense of uniting with God and His purpose, seeking His wisdom. Now look at the last two: supplication, with thanksgiving. That is the asking plus the giving thanks. I want to focus on the supplication part.
The way I see it there are four basic ways that God answers our prayers.
Request Granted
Request Granted
First and foremost, He may simply grant our request:
Let’s read this together:
I called on the Lord in distress;
The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.
In the day when I cried out, You answered me,
And made me bold with strength in my soul.
This is the kind of answer that EVERYONE is seeking. It is the one we most often get when we put Him first in our lives:
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
This is the kind of response that generates the praise reports, and the whooping and hollering. This is the one that we often see as the “good” answer.
The fact of the matter is that it is just an answer- everything God does is good because only He is good!
But as we saw before, in order for God to answer our prayer there are a couple of things we need to consider. First of all we must ask according to His will:
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
This is the kind that generates the praise reports, and the whooping and hollering. This is the one that we often see as the “good” answer.
The fact of the matter is that it is just an answer- everything God does is good because only He is good!
But as we saw before, in order for God to answer our prayer there are a couple of things we need to consider. First of all we must ask according to His will:
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
and we must actually be doing His will in our lives.
And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
This is actually easier to understand than it would seem. Let’s take the following example:
You have just been pulled over by the police for breaking the speed limit. You pray that God keeps you from getting a ticket. Is that a fair prayer? Is that a right prayer?
OK, now that was easy to see. Let’s go one step further. You are at work and you get in trouble for not doing a good job. You know you weren’t doing a good job, you were loafing. The boss calls you into his office and lets you have it! You go out the door and say, “God, are you going to let him get away with that?” Do you think God will really hear that prayer?
Let’s take it to what appears to be an extreme example, but one that is quite common nonetheless. We live our lives in such a way that it is all about us. We refuse to listen to counsel because we don’t like people telling us what to do. We go about with a huge chip on our shoulder, believing the world is against us but when things go badly for us we cry out to God and get no answer. Is that fair?
So you see, it is important to understand the basic principles of prayer if we are to get an answer.
Let’s take a look at the next category of answer.
Yes, but wait
Yes, but wait
The next one is the on that really drives me nuts, and if you’re anything like me you’d sometimes rather get a no than this one. It’s the “Yes but wait” answer.
God has a specific time for everything. Just like you’re not supposed to have a baby while you’re in High School, there is a time for EVERYTHING under heaven. Our problem is that we’re living in a “Microwave” Culture. We have minute rice, and instant hot cocoa. I remember a while back that Lizzie got super excited to find rolled oatmeal, but not so much when she learned that they take 10 minutes to make. Well that was the end of the world! Ten minutes? I’m happy to report that she finally found her rolled oats—three miuntes—much more acceptable in our “microwave culture”, but the irony is that the oatmeal she enjoys now is prepared over night.
Ecclesiastes chapter three starts with those famous words. “To everything there is a season.”
Look at how the passage ends
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
Why does God make us wait when we are sure He should be answering us right now? Well the answer is right there.
“no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.”
You see, we just think we have all of the information we need to make the best decision and sometimes we do, but what if we don’t? We may be doing everything right. Obeying Him, trusting Him—everything. So when we hear “yes but wait” it feels like “No”.
But I’m here to tell you saints, don’t despair!
And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?
When we hear the “Yes but wait” we must remember that God is faithful.
For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
There is a very bad doctrine that has been taught in churches, and in fact when we were Hope Chapel it was taught from the pulpit by a couple who wound up causing all kinds of trouble in the church. I remember it caused one of our dear sisters a great deal of consternation. You see, she was contending for the life of her mother who was battling cancer and was counseled by this couple (who had started a Bible study out of their home). The teaching was this, “Since you already prayed about it, God knows your need so you don’t have to ask Him any more.”
How could someone in desperate need of an answer from God be told that it is improper to go to Him? That is just foolishness, not only that it’s cruel. When I shared with this dear sister what the Bible really says, she was relieved and was able to go confidently before God in prayer once again. Here’s what it says:
Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ”
Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
Do you see how continuing to pound the gates of heaven for an answer is actually a demonstration of faith. Just because we get a “yes, but wait” doesn’t mean that we have to stop praying. In fact, by our persistent prayer, this passage says that God notices our faith.
So then, the correct response when you receive the “yes, but wait” answer? Wait! And the best thing you can do while you wait is get on your knees and pray! When you’re done praying, get on your knees and pray some more. Remember we talked about Jacob wrestling with God? Well you too need to spend time wrestling with God because perhaps in the wrestling, when God has sufficiently touched and humbled you, will you be ready for your blessing—the answer to your prayer.
But Pastor, it hurts so much to wait sometimes! Doesn’t God know how excruciating it is? Doesn’t He know how much distress this is causing me? He does, beloved! But we are instructed by scripture to glory in tribulation. Why?
And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
The next one is one of the funnest ways He answers prayer. Unless of course, it’s your prayer He’s answering, then it’s not fun until after a bit of time has passed. And that is...
I didn’t see that one coming
I didn’t see that one coming
Sometimes God answers in a way we don’t expect. This one is dangerous because we can be looking for a specific type of provision and when God answers in a way we weren’t expecting, we can get quite snobby about it.
Most people have heard the joke about the guy who was caught in the flood. The water kept rising and rising, soon he was up on his roof watching the water get closer and closer to his perch. He prayed that God would intervene and save him from what looked like sure drowning.
After a little while a couple of people in a rescue boat pulled up and called to the man, telling him to jump aboard. The man called back that his faith was in God and that he would wait on the Lord to save him. They pleaded with the man to come with them because he would most certainly die if he stayed behind but even with the water rising the man held on strongly to his beliefs.
A little while later, with the water even closer to where he sat, another rescue boat came back by. Again they pleaded with the man but again, he stayed put and kept his faith that God would rescue him. The boat pulled away and left the man on his ever narrowing roof.
As the man looked out over the large expanse of water that surrounded him, he heard a helicopter approaching from out of the distance. When the helicopter arrived, it hovered just above the man’s roof and let down a basket for the man to climb into, surely with the water lapping at his feet, he would change his mind and allow himself to be rescued. The man waved the helicopter off, yelling out his intentions to wait on God to rescue him, that he had unerring faith and that he was assured he would be safe.
Very soon after the helicopter flew off, the water rose very quickly and with a great and mighty current washed him from his roof and he drown. When he got to heaven he asked God why He had let him perish. He told God about how strong his faith was and how he had prayed over and over for God to rescue him.
God smiled softly and lovingly at the man and said, “My son, I sent you two boats and a helicopter, what more did you expect Me to do?”
While our prayer may not be that dramatic, it can go something like this. “Oh God I need a new car. The one I have is breaking down, and well God, I’m keeping it together with duct tape. I really would like a new car.” Along comes sister Sarah and says, “hi brother Bob, I have this car that I haven’t been using and well I really can’t see the point in paying the insurance on it and keeping the tags current on it. I know it’s not the newest car there is, but it is very dependable, and I know you’ve been having car trouble so I thought you might be able to use it.” Imagine if brother Bob were to answer like this, “Thank you for thinking of me sister, but well you see I’ve been praying to God for a new car and well I’ll hold out for that.”
Now if old Bob can’t afford a new car on his own, what in the world is he thinking? Insurance, tags, the whole nine yards! The problem is that Bob has already decided how God is supposed to provide and he misses out on God’s provision entirely! Be careful lest you overlook the provision of God.
Remember, He is able to do so far beyond our imaginations:
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
You are not God, and you don’t always know the answer. God is looking to do more than answer your prayer— He’s looking to provide for you, and to develop you line upon line, precept upon precept into His image.
A good example of not limiting God is in our prayer for the sick. We can ask God to heal those amongst us. We have seen Him supernaturally do just that! But when that’s the only type of healing we accept we have limited God in our minds—We have basically decided that He will not or cannot use natural means to heal, and that is simply ludicrous! If we say we trust God, then we need to trust that He will answer our prayers His way.
The final answer I want to talk about is the one everybody dreads:
No
No
It seems unusual that God would decline the request of someone who is doing obedient and is working for Him but He often does that.
We can’t understand when God chooses to take our loved ones home. Especially after have we prayed earnestly for healing- so many times. They wisely entrust themselves to the care of the physicians, yet God still takes them. Why?
There are times that what God wants is not what we want. Consider Paul’s request.
And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
This is a glorious example of why we should not fight God no matter how it looks, and when you really start getting down, consider this. Jesus also got a “No” to prayer. Are you sure Pastor? Oh I’m quite sure.
He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
Jesus asked that if there was another way—apart from going to the cross, then would God please grant it to Him, but here’s the key that you and I need to take from this—nevertheless not as I will, but as You will! Oh the glory of doing the will of God! It frees us to give God all praise and honor even when He says no!
Conclusion
Conclusion
When we are in God’s family, going about His business, being obedient to His will, we’re going to find that we are often hearing the “Yes” in response to our prayers. Even the “Yes but wait”, and the “I didn’t see that coming” but there are going to be times when we hear that “no”. It is not our place to stand there like petulant little brats and whine about how unjust God is.
What is our place to say is like Paul, and our Lord Himself no matter what the answer WE STILL BELIEVE!