1. Will Will God God Hear Hear Your Your Prayer Prayer ?

2. Prayers that God will Not Hear

3. Isaiah 59:1-2 59 Behold, the L ORD 's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

4. Example:When we pray to God, we must be humble and not self-righteous: : In Luke 18:9-14 we read, "Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank you that I am not like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess. And the tax collector, standing affar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." The attitude we have when we approach God in prayer and other worship is very important.

5. Why did Jesus give this account? Because some men trusted in themselves that they were Righteous and despised others. What did the two men go into the temple to do? Purpose: To Pray Where? In the Temple Who? Two Men Who were they? A Pharisee and a Publican (tax collector)

6. How is the Pharisee described: He stood; he thus prayed with himself I’m thankful that I am not like this tax collector; I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess; How is the Publican described: He stood afar off and would not so much as to raise his eyes toward heaven, and beat his breast.. And said: God be merciful To me a sinner!”

7. Conclusion of Jesus: The Publican, tax collector, was recognized as being the one Whom God heard, and had mercy upon. This man went down to his house JUSTIFIED rather than the Other. Why? Everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled and he who humbles himself shall be exalted!

8. Our attitude The attitude we have means so much in pleasing God. Paul realized this : I Tim. 1:15 David, the King, realized this. 2 Sam. 12:13 Job, the sufferer of so great loss. Job 1:21 Mary, who sat at the feet of Jesus. Lk. 10:38- 42:

9. Does God hear your prayer? Two men were praying…and God obviously heard to answer Only One! Scriptures that tell us something about the condition We must be in when we pray 1. We must be one of his children….John 9:31 2. We must pray as He has taught us..Matt.6:9-15 3. We must have the right attitude in our prayer life: “Thy will be done! Matt. 6:10 “..Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven”!

10. God is aware of everything we say and do. Not even a sparrow can fall to the ground without God knowing it (Matthew 10:29). Therefore when anyone prays to God he must be well aware of the words that are spoken

11. What does it mean when you pray, and God will not hear you?

12. Matt. 6:5 Jesus Christ states: “Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. I assure you: They’ve got their reward!”

13. God says: Ye make many prayers, I will not hear! “And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood” (Isaiah 1:15). Why? Your hands are full of blood!

14. The Wicked and the Righteous contrasted! “The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous” (Proverbs 15:29). James 5:16 the prayer of a ‘righteous Man’ availeth much!!

15. Prov. 28:9 “ He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination” (Proverbs 28:9

16. John 9:31 31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. Who said that? Did he tell the truth?

17. God cried unto them: they would not hear. They cried unto God, He would not hear “Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts. Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 7:12-13).

18. Psalm 66:18-19 18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: 19 But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended (given heed)to the voice of my prayer.

19. Isa.59:1-2 1 Behold, the L ORD 's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

20. “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil” (1 Peter 3:12).

21. “Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof” (Proverbs 1:28-30).

22. “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts” (James 4:3).

23. “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered” (1 Peter 3:7).

24. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation” (Matthew 23:14).

25. “Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts; Which devour widows’ houses, and for a show make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation” (Luke 20:46-47).

26. (Matthew 6:5-8). “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him”

27. “For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul? Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?” (Job 27:8-9).

28. “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men” (Isaiah 29:13).

29. We should be very concerned about our relationship with God! Prayer is a priviledge that the child of God has with the Father. How is your relationship with God this morning? When you pray, does God hear you to answer and give what You request?

30. Remember the 2 men that Jesus spoke of in Luke 18:9-14