Does God always answer our prayers?

Does God always answer our prayers? Peter Warburton 22 April 2012 I Samuel 2 & Luke 11:1-13

Ask, seek, knock • “So I say to you: ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Luke 11: 9,10

Hannah the barren • Elkanah had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah • Peninnah had many children; Hannah had none • Peninnah taunted Hannah for her barrenness • Hannah was distressed, miserable and bitter • Hannah prayed out of anguish and grief • Hannah prayed specifically to bear a son • Hannah made a vow to the Lord • Hannah persisted in prayer • Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son, Samuel, whom she dedicated to the Lord

Implications of barrenness • Barrenness was a reproach, a disgrace in OT times. A sign of God’s disapproval. Perhaps a punishment for sin. • In Gen 20, God closed every womb in Abimelech’s household because he took Sarah, thinking that she was Abraham’s sister – even though he did not touch her and was deceived. • When Elizabeth conceived John the Baptist, this is what she said “The Lord has done this for me. In these days he has shown his favour and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

Learning from Hannah • Praying with humility – acknowledging our need, our helplessness, our weakness • Praying with purpose, intent, commitment, not doubting God’s power • Praying with passion, pouring out our heart and soul to God in honesty and sincerity • Praying with faith in the eternal goodness of God, His character, His name, His word

Hannah’s prayer of thanks • Rejoicing in the knowledge of who God is: • The God of holiness and security (v2) • The God of knowledge and justice (v3) • The God of life and resurrection (v6) • The God of poverty and prosperity (v7) • The God of creation and order (v8) • The God of judgment and justification (v10)

The God to whom we pray • He is utterly consistent to His character, His name, His word. He is true to Himself • He is always accessible; He desires to make known His ways and His love • He is beyond our understanding; His ways are above our ways; His thoughts above ours • He is gloriously unpredictable. He delights in acting in ways that we do not expect!

Prayer is not a formula; God is not a slot machine • When we come to God to request that He change the situation in some definite and specific way, we throw ourselves on His mercy • To pray with confidence, we must be certain that our request lies within the broad will of God for His people. • We must pray with humility • We must pray with passion • We must pray with purpose • We must pray with faith

Does God always answer prayer? • If we mean by this, that ‘No’ is as good an answer as ‘Yes’, then the question has no meaning since it requires neither faith in God nor obedience to God • If we mean, “Does God always grant our specific requests for changed circumstances”, then the question has meaning and the answer is ‘No’.

Did God always grant Paul’s prayers? • “To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. • Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Cor 12: 7-9

Did God always grant Jesus’ prayers? • “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39 • “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” Matthew 26:42 • “So He left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.” Matthew 26:44

Bread at midnight • The humility of asking • The man who asks for bread at midnight has to sacrifice his pride and to risk rejection and embarrassment • He is willing to make an outrageous request • The friend gets up and gives him the bread – as much as he needs – because of his boldness, rather than out of friendship

Knowing the Father’s will • Would we give our child a stone, instead of bread? • Would we give our child a snake, instead of a fish? • Would we give our child a scorpion, instead of an egg? • No, no, no! • We, though we are by nature selfish, delight to bless our children by giving them what is good. • How much more will our Heavenly Father, who is bountiful in love and goodness and kindness and compassion and grace and mercy, give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!

Prayer is a discipline as wellas a privilege • Wilful disobedience disallows our petitions • Selfish intent invalidates our prayers (James 4:3) • Double-mindedness disqualifies our requests (James 1:6) • Only believing prayer has power • “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective”. (James 5:15,16)

Cycle of doubt • We sin and do not confess it • We pray and nothing happens • We become disappointed and discouraged • Our faith weakens • Satan tempts us to believe that prayer is ineffective or that God doesn’t love us • We stop believing that God answers prayer • We stop praying

Cycle of faith • We pray in faith and obedience • God answers the prayer • Our faith rises • We tell others and their faith rises • They pray in faith and obedience • More prayers are answered • Their faith rises

We are the prayer • In prayer, we are offering up ourselves to God • We are saying “yes” to His will and purpose for our lives, for the lives of our loved ones • We may not make a vow or promise as Hannah did, but with our lives we make a promise to be His faithful servants • We are standing in the fullness of His promises as children of the Most High God

Standing in the right place • Believing in the goodness and holiness of God • Welcoming the Holy Spirit • Having a clear conscience before God • Living a life that pleases Him • Discerning God’s will and purpose for the situation • Opening our heart, mind and soul to God • Seeking His kingdom and His righteousness, not our own

Does God always answer our prayers?