When Prayer seems Unanswered

Question #1 How can I believe in prayer when the evidence is that prayer often doesn’t work? Hudson Taylor: “You may trust the Lord too little but you can never trust him too much” “I cannot read, I cannot think, I cannot even pray – but I can trust”

Question #2 Why does God answer some people’s prayers but not mine? Examples of great pray-ers:  Joshua  Isaiah  Daniel  Early Church But what about  Abraham  Paul  Joseph  Jesus

How God answers  No  Slow  Grow  Let’s Go Bill Hybels - inappropriate requests - inappropriate timing - inappropriate attitudes - attuned to God’s will

10 Reasons  Common sense  Contradictory prayers  Laws of Nature  Life is tough  Unrealistic understanding of doctrine Pete Greig  Misunderstanding  Inappropriate motives  Relationship building  Free will  Control instead of influence

Persistence Genesis 32: (NIV) “I will not let you go until you bless me... and he blessed him there” Isaiah 62: 6-7 (NIV) I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.

Persistence Lamentations 2: (NCV) The people cry out to the Lord….let your tears flow like a river day and night. Do not stop or let your eyes rest… Pour out your heart like water in prayer to the Lord. Lift up your hands in prayer to him for the life of your children…. The people cry out to the Lord….let your tears flow like a river day and night. Do not stop or let your eyes rest… Pour out your heart like water in prayer to the Lord. Lift up your hands in prayer to him for the life of your children…. Matthew 7: 7 (NCV) Ask and God will give to you. Search and you will find. Knock and the door will open for you.

It’s war out there! Jesus’ temptation in the Wilderness  Security  Identity  Authority 1John 1: 9 (NIV) “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”

It’s war out there! Ephesians 6: 18 (NIV) “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” “Satan is a liar. One day he will be thrown into a lake of fire. Next time Satan tries to remind you of your past, go ahead and remind him of his future.” – Jack Hayford

Reminders Zechariah 2: 8 (NIV) “For whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye” Zephaniah 3: 17 (NLV) “The Lord your God is with you, a Powerful One Who wins the battle. He will have much joy over you. With His love He will give you new life. He will have joy over you with loud singing.”

Reminders Isaiah 49: 16 (MSG) “Behold, I have indelibly imprinted (tattooed a picture of) you on the palm of each of My hands” Psalm 139: 5 (NCV) “You are all around me – in front and in back – and have put your hand on me.”

Reminders 1Peter 2: 9-10 (NIV) “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

Reminders Romans 8: (NIV) “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”