2. What to Expect When You Pray

3. Who Is God Listening To? God does not listen to sinners
He is aware of them, but will not answer them
Jews understood this (John 9:31; Prov. 28:9)
Our fault, not God’s (Isa. 59:2)
God listens to the righteous
His ears are open to our prayers (I Peter 3:12)
Prayers of the righteous are never “unanswered”

4. Miraculous or Providential?
God worked miraculously and providentially in Biblical times
Miraculously – supernaturally
Angel killed 185,000 soldiers (II Kings 19:35)
Providentially – naturally
Sennacherib heard a rumor, returned home, and was killed by his sons (II Kings 19:7, 37)
God works providentially today
End of miraculous intervention (I Cor. 13:9-10)
Not every event is providential (Ecc. 9:11)

5. Possible Answers “Yes” “No” An alternative, or later
King Asa (II Chron. 14:11-12)
Elijah (I Kings 17:1-7; James 5:17)
King Hezekiah (II Kings 19:15-20, 32-34; 20:1-6)
“No”
Elijah & Jonah (I Kings 19:4; Jonah 4:3)
Jesus (Matt. 26:39, 42, 44)
Paul (II Cor. 12:7-9)
An alternative, or later
God’s time table is different than man’s (II Peter 3:8)
God’s ways are higher than man’s (Isa. 55:8-9)

6. Reasons & Reactions Request is followed by idle waiting
Israel had to deal with its sin (Josh. 7:7-15)
God will not feed those who refuse to work
(Matt. 6:11; II Thess. 3:10)
God will not forgive us if we do not repent
(II Chron. 7:14)
Request is not consistent with God’s will (I John 5:14)
Accept his will (Matt. 26:39, 42; 6:10)
Which may not be easy (I Peter 3:17; 4:19; 1:6-7)

7. Reasons & Reactions The request may be worldly and selfish (James 4:3)
Humble yourself (James 4:10)
The request may lack faith (James 1:5-8)
Know that your requests are heard (I John 5:14-15)
Not like Job (Job 30:20; James 1:6-7)
Prayer is powerful (James 5:17; Philip. 4:6)
God does not listen to “performance prayers”
Showing off, many words (Matt. 6:5-8)

8. Remember to Pray
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” I Thess. 5:16-18

9. What to Expect When You Pray