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NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!

BIBLE DOCTRINES

Introduction

The late Dr. John R. Rice said, “It is God’s nature to hear and answer prayer.” The Bible teaches this truth!

If prayer is not answered then there must be a cause. The cause has to be with the one praying and not the one answering the prayer.

If our prayers are not answered, then we should begin immediately seeking the cause or the reason the prayer is not answered.

Examples:

If an automobile doesn’t start or run like it suppose to, it means there is something wrong.

If we can fix what is wrong, then it functions properly again.

If a computer doesn’t work like it is supposed to, it means there is something wrong.

(In my case, it usually is what’s called “Computer keyboard operator error”)

Again, if we can fix what is wrong, then it functions properly again.

That is much the way prayer is. God has promised to answer our prayers. So, if we don’t receive an answer to our prayers, then something is wrong and it must be corrected before we can receive the answer.

Let’s look at NINE REASONS PRAYERS GO UNANSWERED.

I.         UNPRAYED PRAYERS. (Psalm 145:18-19; Matthew 7:7-11)

            James 4:2–“. . .ye have not, because ye ask not.” 

            A failure to take a matter to the Lord in prayer definitely hinders prayer!

Jeremiah 33:3–“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

O.T. Example: In Joshua 7, Joshua failed to pray before Israel attempted to take Ai. Had he taken time to pray, God could have told him that defeat was imminent because Achan took of the accursed thing.

O.T. Example: King Asa in 2 Chronicles 16:12 became diseased in his feet. The Bible says that, “yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.”

Hebrews 4:16–“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

II.       WRONG PRAYING.

            A.        Asking Amiss. (i.e. Selfish Purposes)

James 4:3–“Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”

                        I hear folks say sometime, “I ask God for certain things but I don’t get them.”

                        Well, how are you praying? Are you asking amiss?

                        The word to “amiss” here means “evilly or wickedly.”

                        James goes on and further explains this word and the way it is used.

                        “. . .that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”

                        It is evil and wicked to pray for our own self-gratification or self pleasure.

R.A. Torrey said, “If we ask any petition merely that we may receive something to use in our pleasures or in our own gratification in one way or another, we ‘ask amiss’ and need not expect to receive what we ask.”

                        God isn’t our heavenly Santa Clause!

                        God isn’t our fairy godmother!

                        God isn’t our own personal genie!

            B.        Prayers That Do Not Glorify God.

1 Corinthians 10:31–“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

                        1.         Selfishness does not glorify God.

                        2.         We should pray that the glory of God would be made manifest in whatever we pray for!

III.      IDOLATRY.

Ezekiel 14:3–“Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be inquired of at all by them?”

“Idols” are a matter of our own self will. They can be our friends, pleasures, habits, hobbies, sports, possessions, business, reputation, money, covetousness , or anything else that comes before God in our lives.

What truly has our allegiance? Do you want to know how you can tell? Look at your priorities! What has first place in your life? God and His will or self and its will?

            Look at just two of the main areas of your life:

            Who has the allegiance of your time?

            Who has the allegiance of your treasure?

IV.      NOT RECEIVING THE WORD OF GOD.

Prayer answering faith does not come from us, but rather it comes from the Word of God! (Romans 10:17)

Prayer answering faith is not believing that God will give us what we ask for, but believing that God will do what He has promised in His Word.

Salvation does not grant us the privilege of commanding God to fulfill an obligation, but rather asking him to perform His will for our lives.

            God is our sovereign, not our servant.

            To come to God in a manner outside of His teachings in His Word is futile.

            A.        The Refusal To Hear The Word Of God. (Zechariah 7:8-13)

Proverbs 28:9–“He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.”

When we turn a deaf ear to the preaching and teaching of God’s Word, it negatively affects our prayer life.

            B.        The Neglect Of The Word Of God.

John 15:7–“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”

1 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.”

Psalm 1:1-3–“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

Joshua 1:8–“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

Refraining from a diligent, active bible study in the life of a Christian will bring unanswered prayer.

V.        AN UNFORGIVING SPIRIT. (Mark 11:24-26)

            A.        We Must Forgive Others. (Colossians 3:12-13; Ephesians 4:31-32)

            B.        We Must Forgive Others As We Have Been Forgiven. (Matthew 18:21-36)

                        1.         He Had Been Forgiven Of Much, But Would Not Forgive A Lesser Debt Of Another. (Think of the parallel.)

                        2.         We Must Completely and Totally Forgive.

There are possibly some listening to me right now that have a hindering wall in your prayers because you have not forgiven someone.

                                    You may say, “But preacher, you don’t know what they did to me.” or

                                    “You don’t know how bad they hurt me.”

It doesn’t matter. If we want the prayer channel open between us and the Heavenly Father, we have to forgive, even as our Heavenly Father has forgiven us.

VI.      A POOR MARITAL RELATIONSHIP. (1 Peter 3:1-7)

If every married couple would perform what they promised in the wedding vows, most of the problems in marriage relationships would vanish.

            A.        The Promise To Love.

That “love” is not just a feeling, but rather seeking the highest good for the other person.

            B.        The Promise To Cherish.

“Cherish” means “to treat with tenderness and affection; to give warmth, ease or comfort to; to hold as dear; to treat in a manner to encourage growth, by protection, aid, attendance, or supplying nourishment.”

            C.        The Promise To Honor.

                        To revere; to respect.

            D.        The Promise To Keep.

                        To hold; to preserve; to protect; to guard or sustain.