Why Our Prayers Are Not Answered 6

Sometimes Perseverance is the key to effectual prayer. Occasionally God may withhold the answer to determine if we really want that for which we have asked. Or, God sees that we need to learn the lesson of patience in intercession, and the growth in grace in Christian charact that perseverance teaches.

History reveals that some of God’s saints have prayed over one object for a score or even two score years, then God answered.

Pastor Winston

Why Our Prayers Are Not Answered 5

Still other Christians dishonor God by the demonstration of "little" faith. They pray, but with a little expectation for God to answer [Hebrews 11:6].

Their requests show little confidence in the ability of a miracle working God. Small wonder God cannot answer their petition.

Read Matthew 6:30-36

Pastor Winston

Why Our Prayers Are Not Answered 4

Far too many of otherwise sincere Christians have in-effective prayer lives just because they do not take time to speak and then listen. Prayer, to some is a one way communication. To God, it is a dialog.

Effectual prayer takes time, takes faith - much time and God's faith in us.

It is true that today’s life is filled to the brim. It is true that there are a thousand and one things loudly clamoring for our attention.

But it is more true that prayer is of more value, or of more importance than anything else. And the wise Christian will take a firm grip on the situation and earnestly resolve by God’s grace that nothing will rob him of the time to fulfill his prayer privilege.

Pastor Winston

Why Our Prayers Are Not Answered 3

Other prayers avail nothing because of the wrong motive. We ask and have not because we ask amiss. It is excellent exercise to analyze our prayers for their “selfish” content? Are we asking simply to gratify our personal desires?

Or, do we have in mind the glory of God and the edification of others? The truth is, that God is not in the habit answering prayer simply to gratify whims. Prayer should be serious business. Motives must be high.

Pastor Winston

Why Our Prayers Are Not Answered 2

No Christian can ever be a successful person of prayer if he allows un-confessed sin to remain hi his life. We all remember that it was sin which caused all the trouble in the beginning. And it is still sin hat stunts and wrecks the effectiveness of our Christian life and testimony.

God our Father cannot answer our petitions if we play with sin or condone its presence. This is absolutely ruinous to our relationship to God. Rather than sending His blessings upon us, He must send punishment until we repent and confess. Christians must sincerely hate sin – hate it enough o conclusively turn from it. Then we may pray.

Pastor Winston

Why Our Prayers Are Not Answered 1

It is a tragedy above all others when we allow certain things in our Christian lives which make it impossible for God to answer our prayers. For in so doing, we ourselves lose the joy and satisfaction of God’s blessing, and we nullify our opportunities to do lasting service for our Lord Jesus Christ.

Such hindrances to prayer should be carefully noted and promptly dealt with.

Pastor Winston

Our Lord’s Own Example

This great prayer reveals also the innermost heart desire of the Lord. What does Christ want most of all? What is the purpose of His heart? Why His death? What’s it really all for? Well, we may see ithere … even thought we may have to read it through our tears.

Christ is interested in us. He wants redeemed men and women to live with Him throughout eternity. The entire purpose of His life and sacrifice is to process our eternal companionship. We are not worthy to even read it. Yet, there it is … ours to read, to meditate upon, to reverently study, and to press it to our hearts. Perhaps this prayer could teach us, more about how our prayers should be fashioned than reams of human advice.

This is the jewel of all prayer - this is the heart of Christ.

See John Chapter 17

Pastor Winston