How God Answers Prayer
God’s Spokesmen Believed God Hears and Answers Some apparently do not believe their prayers have anything to do with what happens on earth. God’s spokesmen believe he hears and answers 1 Samuel 12:23 Luke 18:1 Psalm 103:1-2
He Hears Our Prayers Matthew 6:6 Jesus promised God hears Acts 10:4 God heard Cornelius So, like Paul Philemon 4 We should pray Philemon 15 We may wonder if we understand how God answers
He Sometimes Says No Deuteronomy 3:26 Moses was not allowed to enter Canaan Matthew 26:39 Jesus had to drink of the cup of suffering – Hebrews 5:7-9 1 Samuel 12:15-23 David’s child by Bathsheba died 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Paul’s thorn in the flesh was not removed Romans 8:28 All should know God is working toward our ultimate good
He Sometimes Says Yes 1 John 5:14 If we pray according to his will he will answer as we need King Hezekiah 2 Kings 20:1-11 He was given 15 more years Jonah 1:1-2:10 God did not hear the rebellious God did hear him from the belly of the great fish and caused him to be vomited out
He Sometimes Adds Blessings 1 Kings 3:1-13 Solomon asked for an understanding heart and was given riches & honor Acts 12:1-17 Apparently got more than they asked since they doubted Rhoda’s report Ephesians 3:20-21 Exceedingly—abundantly—above All that we ask or think
He Sometimes Makes Substitutions Deuteronomy 3:23-29 Asked to enter promised land From Mt. Pisgah he was able to see all the land John 11:1-44 Wanted Jesus to come heal Lazarus Received him raised from the dead
He Sometimes Says Wait Jeremiah 42:1-7 Job 30:20 The remnant of God’s people asked for directions They had to wait 10 days Job 30:20 Job did not receive an immediate answer when he cried out Job 42:12 Blessed more than when troubles began Luke 18:7 God will one day avenge his elect