God Hears and Answers Prayer

God Hears and Answers Prayer

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him, for he that cometh to God must believe that he is (that is, that he exists), and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Introduction:

We must believe that God really exists and seek him to have our prayers answered. God gives an amazing promise in?Jeremiah 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.?That promise was given to the prophet Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, who suffered persecution from his own people and was in prison during the time that Nebuchadnezzar had placed the city of Jerusalem under siege. It is a promise that we can claim today.

The disciples of Jesus saw his mighty miracles including feeding 5000 with multiplied fish and bread. They saw him walk on the water, heal the sick, restore sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf, and even raise the dead. They heard preaching with great power. But they were especially amazed that he prayed and God answered. They asked him not how to preach or heal or do miracles, but how to pray. Luke 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of the disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.?There is great power in prayer. Paul wrote in?I Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.?We need to be in a constant attitude of prayer and communion with our Father even though we may not be forming specific prayer at that time.

Some requirements for answered prayer:

Why do we not get our prayers answered? One answer is our personal relationship with God. First, do we actually believe that a God really exists who answers prayer? Second, notice the example prayer of Jesus (we call it the Lord’s prayer although it is really an example for us as disciples). It begins:?Our Father who art in heaven. Are we really children of God? Are we born again? Further, are we meeting some requirements or avoiding prohibitions of God. Here are a few:

1.?????James 4:2-3 Ye lust, and ye have not: ye kill, and ye desire to have, and cannot obtain; ye fight and war, yet ye have not because ye ask not.?(All of us are tempted by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. But instead of asking God, we do not pray to him, but seek to grab what we want by force.)?3: Ye ask, but ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Or although we do pray, we do not ask in the will of God, but that God will give us our own desires despite his will.

2.?????Pride:?Matthew 6:5 and when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the street, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.?

3.?????Vain repetition:?Matthew 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do, for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking, 8. Be not ye like unto them, for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

4.?????Humility:?2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land.

5.?????Obedience:?I John 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

6.?????Sin in our lives:?

a.?????Psalm 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.

b.?????Isaiah 59:1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, neither is 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, so that he will not hear.

This list is not comprehensive. A few other considerations are: (1)?Persistent refusal to obey God.—Prov. 1:24-28; Zech. 7:11, 13. (2). Formalism and hypocrisy.—Isa. 1:2-15. (3). Unwillingness to forgive others.—Mark 11:25, 26.?

Why Pray?

1.?????Because the devil is real:??Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand….18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.?The devil is like a roaring lion prowling to see who he can devour. We need prayer to God for protection.

2.?????To confess our sins:?I John 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.?We are sinners and we sin. Even after salvation, our sin nature is not destroyed, and we need to keep short accounts with God.?

3.?????Pray to receive things from God. We have seen this in James 4:2, but also an incredible promise from?Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21. Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

4.?????Pray to deal with Worries and Cares:?Philippians 4:6. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving; let your requests be made known with God. 7. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.?We can leave our cares in the hands of the Lord. I?Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you.

5.?????Pray to the Lord to Meet Your Needs:?Hebrews 4:15. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.?

Summary:

Let us pray in the matchless name of the Lord Jesus Christ.?John 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.?

Further, let us remember that Jesus is praying for us. He spent 7 days in creation, culminating in creating us. He lived on the earth on his first coming for about 33 years when he accomplished our redemption. But now he has been in heaven sitting at the right hand side of God praying for us.?Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come to God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Jesus is praying for us. It is only fitting that we pray to him.?