No, Whoa, Grow, or Go?

Prayer is humanity's connection to deity. 

I believe that everybody prays even atheists.

If you're on an airplane that drops a few hundred feet, everybody's praying.

When we get in trouble, is usually when we pray. 

God spoke about prayer through Jeremiah in this way...
  

Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV)

3 ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’

Moses prayed to God, and delayed God's judgment upon His people (Numbers 14)

Joshua prayed, and the sun didn't set for an extra day (Joshua 10:12).
  

Hannah couldn't have children, and had one in answer to prayer. (1 Samuel 1).

When Paul and Silas worshiped in jail, the walls and ground began to shake, and all the prisoners were set free (Acts 16).
  

If we know that there's mighty power in prayer, then why doesn't God answer our prayers in a way that we'd like?

God said this through Isaiah.

Isaiah 55:9 (NIRV)

9 “The heavens are higher than the earth.

    And my ways are higher than your ways.

    My thoughts are higher than your thoughts.

Sometimes God answers our prayers in a way that we didn't expect, and we don't recognize it when God's answer has already come.

We pray for provision, and he gives us a word.  

We pray for substance, and He gives us a seed.  

We must plant God's seed in faith  to receive His harvest, which is His answer.

You can't be my way or the highway with God.  

You ask for it your way, but He'll give it to you His way.

The disciples had observed that the secret to Jesus's power was His power to pray (Luke 11:1).  

That's why they asked Him to teach them to pray. 

Not how to walk on water, but how to pray.
  

God tests us with His answer.  

His tests are rarely multiple choice.

God's tests are fill in the blank. 

Life is an opened book test even in prayer.  

Open God's word to find God's answer for you to ask Him in prayer 
(1 John 5:14).  

If you pray in God's will to God, He will answer in 4 ways. 

1. He will say no.

The word that is the most important word after MaMa and DaDa to a baby is the word no. 

It is said to keep the child from harm. 

God's nos are the same for us.

Sometimes we are over zealous.  

Peter, James, and John asked Jesus an over zealous question. 

Peter said let us build three temples up here on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17).
  

If they had stayed upon the mountain, Peter would have not fulfilled his purpose, and humanity through Jesus would have not been saved.
  

Sometimes our requests are selfish.  

In Matthew 20:20-28, James and John asked Jesus to sit on his right and left side of His throne. 

They even brought their mom to ask.

Jesus turned down their selfish request.
  

Sometimes our requests are crazy.  Luke 9:54-55.  

James and John asked for fire to come down from heaven and torch a Samaritan city.

Aren't you glad that God doesn't answer all our prayers in the way that we ask them? 

Some of God's best gifts to us are our unanswered prayers.

2. He will say whoa. (Not now).  

We don't like to wait.  

We try to force ourselves into environments that are not ready for us.

Business deals.  

Friendships.  

Situations.  

You're ready, but the situation is not.

Sometimes God puts you in a holding pattern while God is preparing the ground.  

Isaiah 40:31 (NIRV)

31 But those who trust in the Lord
    will receive new strength.

They will fly as high as eagles.

    They will run and not get tired.

    They will walk and not grow weak.

God provides His power to us through our perseverance while we wait.

At the ascension, the angels said go wait. 

The disciples were baptized by the Holy Spirit after a period of waiting (Acts 1). 

If God tells you to wait. 

You wait and watch for power from on high.

3.  He says grow.  

We aren't right. 

We aren't ready.  

We don't like to fail, so we must grow.  How do we grow?  

God strategically brings people into our lives to challenge us. 

We are drawn to affirmers; however, we need people to value us more than they value our friendship. 

We need people to challenge what we do.  That's why we need a Christian small group.  

God has a purpose for our lives, but we can't get there by themselves. 

James 5:16 (NIRV)

16 So confess your sins to one another. 

Pray for one another so that you might be healed. 

The prayer of a godly person is powerful. 

Things happen because of it.

A lot of us confess ourselves to Jesus and never change.  

We need to confess our sins to those who will hold us accountable. 

Jesus didn't send his disciples out one by one.  

He sent them out two by two.  

Not dealing with sin, will keep our prayers unanswered.

Psalm 66:18 (NIRV)

18 If I had enjoyed having sin in my heart,

    the Lord would not have listened.

At Hope City Church, we have overseers to keep us out of trouble.  

We have trustees to keep us out of financial harm. 

You need coaches in your life too.

Confession just doesn't happen in your mind. 

It needs to be walked out in your life.

4. He'll say let's go.  

When you start praying the way that God wants you to pray.  

You'll start praying prayers based upon His will found in the word of God.  

It will blow your mind how often God will answer. 

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIRV)

11 I know the plans I have for you,” announces the Lord. 

“I want you to enjoy success. 

I do not plan to harm you. 

I will give you hope for the years to come.

The people who those words were said to above were in captivity by a loving God who put them there. 

God has a purpose for the situation that you're in, and He is bringing you through for His good purpose of spiritual growth.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIRV)

6 Don’t worry about anything. 

No matter what happens, tell God about everything. 

Ask and pray, and give thanks to him. 

7 Then God’s peace will watch over your hearts and your minds. 

He will do this because you belong to Christ Jesus. 

God’s peace can never be completely understood.
  

God has a peace for you too.  

Sometimes His answer is peace. 

He may not answer the way that you want Him.

Watch a car driving down the highway. The one named why?   We don't understand it. Why did it happen?  

Then another car comes blazing by. It surpasses it.  It's the car named peace. It passes the car named why every time.  

God's peace can cover our misunderstanding and heartache.  

Don't quit praying. 

When you pray through, God will come through.

You aren't reading this by accident.

God has a purpose.  

Do you  need peace in your wanderings of asking why? 

You need to realize that God is the only one who can save you.  

We have all sinned, and we had no hope, but Jesus. 

We have to confess that Jesus is our Lord, and believe in our heart that He is risen from the dead.  

If we do, we are saved.
  

Will you confess to Him that He is your Lord?  

Will you believe in your heart that God has risen Him in you?  

Do it now. 

You can go to heaven if you want too. 

Romans 10:9-10 (NKJV)

9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 

10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.          

Notes taken from Jeremy Foster, Hope City Church, Unanswered Prayer  
https://hopecity.com/sermons/unanswered-prayer/