Sometimes God responds to us in a manner different that what we're expecting. How to detect if God is actually giving you an answer that you are missing.
Scriptures:
- Psalms 143:1
- Isaiah 30: 20 - 21
- 1 Kings 18:24
- 2 Corinthians 12: 6 - 9
- Exodus 4:21
Outline:
- Introduction
- When God Says Yes
- When God Says Wait
- When God is Silent
- When God Says “No”
- Conclusion (Praying for Babies)
Introduction
We Limit God’s Response
Story: man in the flood
- Sent the weatherman
- Sent boat
- Sent helicopter
If we don’t know how God response to prayer we run the risk of missing our answer
Trip to Israel
I asked God to give us an all expenses paid trip to Israel plus $2k spending money.
- I’m happy to report that God answered my prayer!
- He said “no”
Some people think that God answering your prayer is equivalent to God giving you what you want
- Answering your prayer just means that He responds
- Even if that response is ‘no’
What responses can you Get from prayer?
Responses
- Yes
- No
- Wait
- Direction / Guidance / Clarity
- Silence
Sometimes we may not recognize that God is answering our prayers
Psalms 143:1
O LORD, hear my prayer.
In Your faithfulness, give ear to my plea;
in Your righteousness, answer me.
When God Says Yes
Santa Clause Response
You ask for a bicycle and he gives you one
You ask for a new job and you get one
Biblical Example: Elijah asked God to bring the child back to life (1 Kings 17:17-24)
Seed Response
Some time you’re looking for supplication and God gives you seed
You may pray for an oak tree and he may give you an acorn
- You have to
- Plant it
- Water it
- Tend the soil
- Defend it from predators
Some things are connected to our response and our stewardship
Example: world famous concert pianist
- God may give you a natural talent to play the piano
- God may put an excellent piano instructor in your path
- The results are still dependent on you practicing
- The results are still dependent on your effort
God will keep all of his promises but he is not obligated to keep all of your potential
When God Says Wait
- The timing is wrong
Sometimes you’re trying to push yourself into something you aren’t prepared for
- Or that isn’t prepared for you right now
A blessing in the wrong time could be a curse
Example: lottery winners
- 70% of lottery winners end up bankrupt in 5 years
The Wilderness
Sometimes you go through trials to prepare you for your blessing
God doesn’t just use the destination
- He uses the journey to train you
Who went through the wilderness
- Children of Israel
- David
- Jesus
Some things aren’t real until they’re tested
Example: brain surgeon
You Have to Take A Course
Sometimes the answer to our prayers comes in the form of a course that we have to walk out
- Sometimes you’re not developed enough to get what you ask for
- You having the prize is based on you being willing to finish the course
Sometimes it’s not that God didn’t answer you it is that you didn’t take the time to finish the course.
- Or we failed the course
- It is the Devil‘s job to get you to drop out of the course.
A Word To Sustain You
- God gives you a promise to get you through the storm
When God gives you a promise: He looks into your future and gives you the word to get you there
- I need to pay attention to what God said
- I will use what God has spoken to take me into what God has promised
Example: God told David he would be king
Sometimes God speaks many times
- Other times He only speaks once
- If he speaks it over and over it’s likely because you have strong warfare against that area
Train You To Hear
God uses the test to train your ear to hear His voice under pressure
- The trial should build your relationship with God
Example: Norma listening in noise
You Asked For It
If you pray to hear from God He will give you situations that you can’t get through without Him
Didn’t Need It
Some times when you get through the Wilderness you’ll realize you don’t need or want what you’ve been asking for
When God Gives Direction / Guidance
Walking Shoes
- God gives you one step at a time
Isaiah 30: 20 - 21
20 Although the Lord has given you bread of privation and water of oppression, He, your Teacher will no longer hide Himself, but your eyes will behold your Teacher. 21 Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left.
You don’t often get a decisive answer to a complex/large request all at once
- It comes a piece at a time
- Sometimes God just gives you the next step
Yeah I believe, I believe
But it's a dream that I ain't seen yet
Chasing a dream that I ain't dreamed yet
But I'mma meet it halfway if I keep on walking, walking, walking If I keep on walking,
Yeah I know it when I see it walking, walking when I see it walking
-- Walking Shoes (Mali Music)
Example: my Bible Study
- Told me to teach
- Told me to record it
- When I started hearing from God I stopped listening to people
Unction
We get an unction
- Don’t go in there
- Don’t trust him
Clear Revelation
The Revelation from God will allow you to persevere
- As time passes our conviction can lower
Help
Confirmation may come from packets of help
God guides by what He provides
Gifts and talents
If your abilities, interests, and circumstances are in alignment that may be God
Bible Example: ram in the bucks - Isaac
Example: teachers have a hunger to study the Bible
Closing a Door
Sometimes God will talk to you by closing a door
Only Tells You When to Turn
The way the navigation system works is how God wants to talk to us
- Recalculating
- Make a u-turn when you messed up
- Sometimes the system doesn’t speak until it’s time to make a turn
He will let us know before we have gone too far
Sometimes the silence is an indication that you’re on the right road
When God is Silent
Would you rather have a “no” or silence?
If God is silent it’s not punishment
Listening For What We Want to Hear
Sometimes we’re too focused on confirmation on our own desires to hear what God is saying
- You’ve already made up your mind
Example: the man in the flood
Already Gave The Answer
Sometimes we’re waiting on God and He’s waiting on us
- He already gave you the answer
Not the Answer We Wanted
He gave an answer but we don’t like it
The answer is in the Bible
- There’s a whole genre in the bible called “wisdom”
You’re Praying to the Wrong God
1 Kings 18:24
24“Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD, and the God who answers by fire, He is God.” And all the people said, “That is a good idea.”
- Elijah
- They were serving Baal and Asherah
The Bible says God created us in His image. A lot of people want to return the favor.
- They construct their own God
- They believe a doctrine that doesn’t agree with the God of the bible
- When they get into trouble their God is silent
Example: Your God will give you all of your worldly desires if your faith is strong enough
- God will give you all of your selfish desires
When God Says “No”
2 Corinthians 12: 6 - 9
6Even if I wanted to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me, 7or even with these surpassingly great revelations.
So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.
- Paul prayed to God and God said “no”
- The God Paul served said no to Paul
- Do you have more faith than Paul?
Example: handsome pastor
- 30 women praying for God to make him their husband
Asking for What You Think You Want
- Beggar That Peter let walk
Biblical Example: Beggar asked Peter and John for money (Acts 3:1-8)
If you had everything you wanted you might miss what you needed
Against God’s Will
- God may have a bigger plan
- You can’t see the big picture
- Bigger than your comfort or pleasure
Exodus 4:21
21The LORD instructed Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders that I have put within your power. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go.
- God hardened Pharaoh's heart
Many Israelites had been praying to God to be freed
- The defeat of Egypt was THE defining moment in Israel’s history
- It established God as being superior to all of Egypt’s God’s
- Remember Rahab said they were scared because they heard about it
Selfish Prayers
- Sometimes the request is selfish
Example: sit next to Jesus in Heaven
- James and John wanted to sit next to Jesus in Heaven (Mark 10:35-38)
If all of your prayer requests got answered would anyone else be blessed?
Praying for Babies
- God may be responding about your future
Isaac’s wide Rebekah was pregnant with Jacob and Esau (Genesis 25). She prayed to God questioning why she had so much turmoil in her womb.
God responded that there were two warring nations in her womb.
- She asked about her babies
- God responded about two nations at war
Are you praying for babies when you should be praying for nations?
Jesus said don’t worry about what you will eat or what you will wear.
- Tomorrow can worry about itself
Are your prayers big enough that only God can answer them?
If your prayers are answered what nations will be blessed?
Are you praying based on your potential
- Are you praying based on your circumstances?
What does God want to do with your life?
Pray that God uses you for something mighty
Pray For something your children’s children’s children will be telling stories about
- … write chapters about in history books
- … act out in plays
- … make movies about
Pray that God uses you for the mighty task that He has designed you for!!
Instructor: Michael Leadon
References
Hearing the Voice of God
Does God Answer Prayer?
Learning to Recognize Answers to Prayer
T D Jakes
Why do 70 percent of lottery winners end up bankrupt?
Extra
Philippians 4:6-7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
When God Says “Yes”
1 Kings 17:17-22
17Later, the son of the woman who owned the house became ill, and his sickness grew worse and worse, until no breath remained in him. 18“O man of God,” said the woman to Elijah, “what have you done to me? Have you come to remind me of my iniquity and cause the death of my son?”
19But Elijah said to her, “Give me your son.”
So he took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed. 20Then he cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, have You also brought tragedy on this widow who has opened her home to me by causing her son to die?” 21Then he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, please let this boy’s life return to him!”
22 The LORD heard the voice of Elijah, and the life of the child returned fnto him and he revived.
When God Says “No”
Selfishness
Mark 10:35-38
35Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and declared, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”
36“What do you want Me to do for you?” He inquired.
37They answered, “Grant that one of us may sit at Your right hand and the other at Your left in Your glory.”
38“You do not know what you are asking,” Jesus replied. “Can you drink the cup I will drink, or be baptized with the baptism I will undergo?”
Asking for What You Think You Want
Acts 3:1-8
1One afternoon Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.a 2And a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those entering the temple courts. 3When he saw Peter and John about to enter the temple, he asked them for money.
4Peter looked directly at him, as did John. “Look at us!” said Peter. 5So the man gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6But Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!”b
7Taking him by the right hand, Peter helped him up, and at once the man’s feet and ankles were made strong. 8He sprang to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and leaping and praising God.
Praying For Babies
Genesis 25
21 Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord [d]answered him and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If it is so, why then am I this way?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. 23 The Lord said to her,
“Two nations are in your womb;
And two peoples will be separated from your body;
And one people shall be stronger than the other;
And the older shall serve the younger.”
24 When her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.
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