1. Welcome! www.SunsetChurchofChrist.net
Bibles and copies of sermons are available Please silence your cell phones
Sunday Bible Classes 9:30 AM Worship 10:30 AM 5:30 PM Wednesday Bible Classes 7:00 PM

2. 2 Corinthians 1:1-7
God as the source of all comfort - Through each other Necessity of the Christian family - The issue of affliction Burdens of Paul & Timothy Burden of sin in Corinth

3. 2 Corinthians 1:8-14
Introducing the theme: difficulties of teachers - Consider the difficulties of the prophets - Difficulties in being an Apostle - Burdens in Ephesus (Acts 19)

4. 2 Corinthians 1:15-24
Paul’s plan to pass through His INTENTION was to come CIRCUMSTANCES worked against him What was the Corinthian problem? Seeking to find fault? Genuine frustration?

5. 2 Corinthians 2:1-11
Sorrow caused by Paul’s message The Sorrowful Letter (1 Corinthians) The punishment inflicted by the church 1 Corinthians 5 Receiving one who repents in comfort

7. Welcome!
Bibles and copies of sermons are available Please silence your cell phones
Sunday Bible Classes 9:30 AM Worship 10:30 AM 5:30 PM Wednesday Bible Classes 7:00 PM

8. Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing
Hymns
Invitation
Red Songbook -
Supplemental

9. Prayer Answers
Introduction – studying with the woman who wondered why God was not answering her prayers. When I asked her how she was sure God was even listening to her, she was truly offended. But that ought to be our first question – Is God listening?

10. A Simple View of Prayer
When we pray, God answers: YES NO MAYBE LATER Is this an accurate description of prayer?
Often people teach very simplistically on prayer. They state that God answers all prayers, but that sometimes it is yes, sometimes it is no, and sometimes it is put us off.
However, this is not accurate, and creates some problems

11. A Simple View of Prayer
The problem is this: Some people think God has answered yes…. When He did not Some people think God has answered no….. How can we know God answers prayers?
For example, there is a You-tube clip of a man praying that England would lose the World Cup. The won. Did God answer no? Another news story from 2007 is of a woman who prayed to God to give her financial relief, and she won the lottery. Did God answer her prayer yes? What about the man who prays to get away with murder?
If all prayers are “yes, no, maybe”, even atheists have their prayers answered the same way we do……..

12. How Do I Know?
Like forgiveness: - Many wonder how to be sure God is hearing - Others mistakenly believe they are heard You will not know: - Because of circumstances/events - Because of feelings or false promises
Following the theme of last week’s sermon (How Do I Know I Am Forgiven) is the idea How Do I Know God Hears My Prayers. In the same way, it is not evidenced by sight or feeling but by Faith

13. How Do I Know?
Like forgiveness: - Many wonder how to be sure God is hearing - Others mistakenly believe they are heard You will ONLY know: - By Faith
Even some Christians look to more than faith to affirm the answers to prayers. But that fails the test. Consider “counting answere prayers”; such

14. Does God Hear Me? God repeatedly says He does not hear everyone
"I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood” Isaiah 1:14-15
Following the theme of last week (How Do I Know I Am Forgiven) is the idea How Do I Know God Hears My Prayers

15. Does God Hear Me?
God repeatedly says He does not hear everyone "We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him” John 9:31

16. Does God Hear Me?
God repeatedly says He does not hear everyone God hears ONLY those in a relationship with Him A (Servant-Master/Father-Son) relationship

17. Does God Hear Me?
God repeatedly says He does not hear everyone God hears ONLY those obedient to Him Whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight 1 John 3:22

18. Does God Hear Me?
God also says that it matters WHAT we pray Prayers need to reflect the will of God This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 1 John 5:14
Prayers are about the Will of God. Our will CAN be inserted, but only if it is already subjected to the will of God
Consider the will of Peter in Matthew 16:22 Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.“
Peter BELIEVIED his will to be the Will of God, but it was clearly the opposite. It is not what we DESIRE, it is what we know God desires

19. Does God Hear Me?
God also says that it matters HOW we pray It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples." Luke 11:1
Third, there is some sense where just any way of "praying" counts. Yet Jesus' disciples understood that praying was something which we needed to learn:
Lu 11:1 ¶ Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples." 2 So He said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 3 Give us day by day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one."

20. Does God Hear Me?
God also says that it matters HOW we pray There are mechanics to prayer: Praying TO the Father Praying FOR forgiveness
Third, there is some sense where just any way of "praying" counts. Yet Jesus' disciples understood that praying was something which we needed to learn:
Lu 11:1 ¶ Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples." 2 So He said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 3 Give us day by day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one."

21. Does God Hear Me?
God also says that it matters HOW we pray The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:16b
Third, there is some sense where just any way of "praying" counts. Yet Jesus' disciples understood that praying was something which we needed to learn:
Lu 11:1 ¶ Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples." 2 So He said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 3 Give us day by day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one."

22. Do I Hear God?
Sometimes God has ALREADY answered us - But we ARE NOT listening! - God spoke first: Hebrews 1:2, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 There are things for which God said not to pray - 1 John 5:16 (Jeremiahs 7:16)
1Jo 5:16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. (NKJV)
Jer 7:16 "Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them, nor make intercession to Me; for I will not hear you.

23. Prayer Answers
We need to be certain by faith God hears us - With a right relationship with Him - Understanding how He wants us to pray We need to make sure we listen to Him FIRST - By His word No one wants to talk with one who wont listen
1Jo 5:16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. (NKJV)
Jer 7:16 "Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them, nor make intercession to Me; for I will not hear you.

25. Are You Listening TO God
"Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.“ Acts 17:30-31
2Ti 4:2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

26. Are You Listening TO God
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age Titus 2:11-12
2Ti 4:2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

27. Are You Listening TO God
God has said: REPENT AND OBEY ME
God has said: LIVE RIGHTEOUSLY
Before God listens to you,
YOU need to hear HIM
2Ti 4:2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

28. Doing What God Has Said
Hear and believe Ephesians 1:13 Confess Christ Hebrews 3:1 Repent of sin 1 Corinthians 15:34 Be baptized Titus 3:5 Remain faithful James 1:12
2Ti 4:2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.