UNANSWERED PRAYER

1. There was once a king who had two sons.

2. This king promised that on the following day each son would receive a gift from the royal table.

3. The first son appeared at the doorway the next day and the king told him to immediately enter.

4. There was to be no delay in getting the gift to the first son.

5. The king was in such a hurry he commanded a servant to meet his son.

6. Since the first son had received his gift the king asked if his second son was present.

7. A servant said, “Yes sire.” The king then said, “Send out the first and bring in the second.”

8. The second son was brought into the room and was told to sit down.

9. Though the first son had received his gift immediately, the second son had to wait.

10. Only after several hours passed did the second boy get his gift.

ACCORDING TO THIS STORY ONE OF THESE SONS GREATLY ANNOYED THE KING AND THE ONE BOY WAS DEEPLY LOVED.

A. Can you guess which son the king didn’t like?

B. It was the first son.

C. The king so disliked this son he gave him his gift as fast as he could

D. The king wanted to quickly dispense with the first child.

E. The second son had to wait for his gift because he was deeply loved by his father.

F. You see, dad treasured the time he spent with his second son.

G. Thus, this son was told to wait and sit down with his father.

H. The king delayed the giving of the gift to draw his son closer and closer.

2. What you have just heard may be related to prayer.

A. Numerous Christians have prayed but they did not get what they wanted.

B. Or, what was requested came years later.

C. Why doesn’t God always answer our prayers with a “yes” or as quickly as we like?

D. Why does God sometimes say, “No” or “not now”?

E. Think of the king’s two sons.

F. Sometimes prayers are not answered on our timetable so we are drawn closer to the king.

G. The Bible provides us with some important information about God’s answers to prayer.

H. Some of this material is eye opening.

I. The first passage to consider comes from the book of Luke—Lk. 8:27-33.

i). Luke records how Jesus met a certain man who was possessed by demons.

ii). This man was not wearing clothes (verse 27) and he lived among the tombs.

iii). READ Lk. 8:27-32.

iv). How closely have we studied the information in verse 32?

v). Notice that the demons asked Jesus to do something.

vi). The request from the demons may be classified as a prayer.

vii). These demons called upon the Lord for permission to do something.

viii). The Bible says the Lord granted their request.

ix). This would seem to be highly unusual but this is what the text says.

x). Bearing this fact in mind let’s tack on another piece of information.

xi). The man who was freed from the demons was grateful.

xii). He was so appreciative that verse 38a says, READ.

xiii). This man prayed; he too made a request. What did he want?

xiv). He wanted to go with the Lord.

xv). He was willing to work with or for the Lord.

xvi). What did Jesus say to this man’s request (prayer?) 38b-39a.

J. This is a very peculiar passage.

i). Demons made a request and it was granted.

ii). A man who was grateful to God prayed to accompany Jesus and the Lord said no.

iii). This passage begins to tell us that answers to prayer may confuse us.

iv). The reasons for God’s answers to prayers are sometimes mysterious and unknown.

v). This morning our purpose is to reveal information and not confuse things.

vi). What we can learn from Lk. 8 regarding God’s answers to prayer?

3. We learn that God pays attention to the appropriateness of prayer.

A. The demons were unclean.

B. They asked for permission to enter into pigs—animals that were unclean.

C. This request was appropriate and it was granted.

D. The man freed from the demons wanted to go with the Lord. Was his request sinful?

E. Did he want to do a bad thing? No. He apparently had a good heart and he was grateful.

F. However, he could do more for the Lord’s cause by staying home.

G. Notice again verse 39 of Lk. 8 (read).

H. Jesus said, “return to thy house. Declare how great things God hath done for thee.”

I. What did this man do? He told the “whole city” about the Lord.

J. The Lord turned down this man’s request and this negative answer to prayer was a good choice.

K. Turning down this man’s request was the right thing to do.

L. Today we may sometimes expect a similar response when people pray.

M. Some prayers are rejected because not fulfilling the request somehow makes things better.

N. Another example of this comes from Lk. 5:4-8.

O. Peter was told to move into deep water and let down the nets.

P. Peter said he had unsuccessfully fished all night but he would do what Jesus said.

Q. The nets were filled and the boats began to sink.

R. Peter (Lk. 5:8) fell down at Jesus knees and said, Depart from me.

S. This was a request, but the text says Jesus did not grant Peter’s request.

T. This was not the best thing for Peter to experience so Jesus did not do what he asked.

U. When we pray, God considers both our request AND what is best.

V. If the best or proper choice is contrary to our prayer, our request may be rejected or suspended.

W. This is one factor to consider when prayers are not answered or the answer is delayed.

X. What we may ask for may not be best, or there may be something a lot better than our request.

Y. For these reasons our prayers may not be answered with a “Yes.”

Z. Both Lk. 8 and Lk. 5 demonstrate this point.

4. A SECOND THING TO CONSIDER WHEN TRYING TO UNDERSTAND GOD’S RESPONSES TO OUR PRAYERS MAY BE LABELED AS INTENT.

A. This area of prayer is currently receiving a lot of attention.

B. A book is being read by many people in and out of the church.

C. Bruce Wilkinson authored a 93-page book entitled “The Prayer of Jabez.”

D. This book is based upon 1 Chron. 4:9-10, and it has made the national news.

E. I have not read the book, but I do have a copy of 1 Chron. 4.

F. This little known Bible character prayed a prayer which essentially says, “God bless me.”

G. This man prayed that God would enlarge his territory (make him more useful in God’s service).

H. He prayed for more opportunities to serve God.

I. He wanted God’s hand to be with Him.

J. Whatever God’s will for His life, this man wanted God’s help to be the best servant he could be.

K. He also wanted to be kept from evil (perhaps because evil creates pain for others).

L. This man had the right type of heart and when he prayed God surely heard him.

M. The intentions behind our prayers affect whether or not are prayers are accepted or rejected.

i). This is a key lesson from the prayer of Jabez.

ii). Moving to the book of Matthew we read about the mother of James and John.

iii). This woman wanted her sons to have a special place in the kingdom.

iv). Verse 20 of Mt. 20 says she “desired a certain thing of him” (KJV).

v). Jesus told this mother to present her request.

vi). Mt. 20:21b.

vii). At the end of verse 23 readers learn this request was refused.

5. Why would God look favorably upon the request in 1 Chron 4 but not in Mt. 20?

A. The answer is intent.

B. Many prayers fail because they are based upon a bad foundation.

C. If people pray because they want something selfish reasons the root of the prayer is bad.

D. People should not be surprised if their prayer is not given a “yes” answer.

E. Many prayers are selfish and self centered.

F. Some pray prayers of revenge. These prayers have bad intentions and a bad root.

G. Those who pray these prayers should not expect to receive a “yes” answer from God.

H. If people pray for a position of power so they can put people in their place the prayers are defective.

I. Those who pray must pay attention to why they pray.

J. The basis or reason for the prayer needs to be evaluated.

K. Texts like Mt. 20 suggest that many prayers are not answered because people have impure motives.

i). Suppose that we worked in a local company.

ii). We saw a position held by someone else in this company and we wanted their job.

iii). We understood that if this person left we would probably get that job.

iv). However, we also knew the person would probably still have that job in 20 years.

v). We looked at the situation and said, “I am a Christian. I am going to pray.”

vi). “I am going to pray that something happens to that worker so I get his job.

vii). Some Christians have resorted to this kind of reasoning and praying.

viii). The Bible teaches that this type of thinking and praying is wrong.

ix). God pays attention to our intentions so we must have the right intentions when we pray.

6. ANOTHER EXPLANATION FOR WHY PRAYERS ARE STAMPED WITH A “NO” OR “NOT NOW” MAY BE DESCRIBED AS GOD’S PURPOSE (PLAN).

A. A little while ago an event from Peter’s life was introduced.

B. The apostle said, “Depart from me” but the Lord didn’t leave. Why not?

C. The Lord’s plan was to save and help man, not condemn him.

D. Peter was a sinful man. He did not deserve to be in the Lord’s presence.

E. However, God’s purpose was to save man and thus Peter’s request was overturned.

F. God still has a purpose.

G. He has a purpose for each life in this assembly, this congregation, and our nation.

H. Sometimes our prayers are in direct conflict with God’s purpose and plans.

i). When this happens God’s will is going to take precedence.

ii). If our will conflicts with God’s will God will always be the winner.

iii). If we pray for things that are in opposition to God’s plan we will not be successful.

iv). Sometimes people pray for things that contradict God’s will.

v). Many will remember that Lazarus got sick, Jn. 11.

vi). This man’s sisters sent word to Jesus – Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick (11:3).

vii). Jesus received this information but He waited two days (verse 6).

viii). Notice that Jesus heard the request but He delayed acting on it.

ix). In fact, Jn. 11 says that by the time Jesus arrived Lazarus was dead.

x). This did not make Maratha too happy. Verse 21.

xi). Why didn’t the Lord immediately respond to the sister’s request?

xii). The answer is found in verses 4 and 42.

xiii). This prayer was not immediately answered because God had a purpose (plan).

xiv). When this purpose collided with the sister’s request they were put on hold.

xv). I find it interesting that even though God’s will was at odds with the sister’s,

xvi). The sister’s request was eventually answered.

xvii). It was not as soon as the women wanted, but God did double duty.

xviii). His will was fulfilled and the sisters received their request.

7. The Bible gives us some understanding about unanswered prayer.

8. Three points about it are: the appropriateness of our requests, our intentions, and God’s will.

9. One of the greatest hindrances to prayer is not being a Christian or not being a faithful Christian.

10. Do we need to right our relationship with God?

11. Have our prayers been hindered because of selfish intentions, appropriateness, or desires contrary to God’s will?