3) Does God answer our prayers?
God hears and responds to our prayers
Psalms 10:17-18 (ESVST)
O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted;
you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear
18 to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed,
so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.
Psalms 99:6 (ESVST)
Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
Samuel also was among those who called upon his name.
They called to the Lord, and he answered them.
God will hear your prayer and he will answer them.
Christ also gives answers:
John 14:14 (ESVST)
If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
4) How does God answer our prayers?
– Beyond expectation. Jer. 33:3; Eph. 3:20.
Ephesians 3:20 (ESVST)
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
– Sometimes after delay. Luke 18:7.
Luke 18:7-8 (ESVST)
And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
– Sometimes differently from our desire. 2 Cor. 12:8–9.
2 Corinthians 12:8-9 (ESVST)
Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “ My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
– Sometimes immediately. Isa. 65:24; Dan. 9:21, 23; 10:12.
Isaiah 65:24 (ESVST)
Before they call I will answer;
while they are yet speaking I will hear.
– Through the grace of God. Isa. 30:19.
Isaiah 30:19 (ESVST)
For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you.
5) What motivates us to pray?
– A motive for continued prayer. Ps. 116:2.
Psalms 116:2 (ESVST)
Because he inclined his ear to me,
therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
– Promised. Isa. 58:9; Jer. 29:12; Matt. 7:7.
Matthew 7:7 (ESVST)
7 “ Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
– Promised especially in times of trouble. Pss. 50:15; 91:15.
Psalms 50:15 (ESVST)
and call upon me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”
6) Whose prayers are answered?
– Received by those who:
Abide in Christ. John 15:7. Are poor and needy. Isa. 41:17. Are righteous. Ps. 34:15; James 5:16. Ask according to God’s will. 1 John 5:14. Ask in faith. Matt. 21:22; James 5:15. Ask in the name of Christ. John 14:13. Call on God in truth. Ps. 145:18. Call on God under affliction. Pss. 18:6; 106:44; Isa. 30:19–20. Call on God under oppression. Isa. 19:20. Fear God. Ps. 145:19. Humble themselves. 2 Chron. 7:14; Ps. 9:12. Keep God’s commandments. 1 John 3:22. Love God. Ps. 91:14–15. Return to God. 2 Chron. 7:14; Job 22:23–27. Seek God. Ps. 34:4. Seek God with all the heart. Jer. 29:12–13.
Wait upon God. Ps. 40:1.
7) Whose prayers will not be answered?
– Denied those who:
Are blood- shedders. Isa. 1:15; 59:3. Are deaf to the cry of the poor. Prov. 21:13. Are hypocrites. Job 27:8–9. Are idolaters. Jer. 11:11–14; Ezek. 8:15–18. Are proud. Job 35:12–13. Are self- righteous. Luke 18:11–12, 14. Are the enemies of believers. Ps. 18:40–41. Are wavering. James 1:6–7. Ask with wrong motives. James 4:3. Cruelly oppress believers. Mic. 3:2–4. Forsake God. Jer. 14:10, 12. Do not hear the law. Prov. 28:9; Zech. 7:11–13. Harbor sin in the heart. Ps. 66:18. Live in sin. Isa. 59:2; John 9:31. Offer unworthy service to God. Mal. 1:7–9. Reject the call of God. Prov. 1:24–25, 28
8) Believers are assured of answered to prayer
1 John 5:15 (ESVST)
And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
and must in turn
Bless God for. Ps. 66:20.
Psalms 66:20 (ESVST)
Blessed be God,
because he has not rejected my prayer
or removed his steadfast love from me!
Love God for. Ps. 116:1.
Psalms 116:1 (ESVST)
Psalm 116
1 I love the Lord, because he has heard
my voice and my pleas for mercy.
Praise God for. Pss. 116:17; 118:21
Psalms 116:17-19 (ESVST)
I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving
and call on the name of the Lord.
18 I will pay my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people,
19 in the courts of the house of the Lord,
in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Praise the Lord!
Psalms 118:21 (ESVST)
I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
Conclusion:
Now examine yourself and go through this sermon and find out why your answers are not answered.
May God reveal the knowledge to you and bless you in Jesus name, Amen.