Ctwccofgw #2 - The Guarantee Of Answered Prayer Series

Cool Things We Can Count On from God’s Word

#2 – The Guarantee of Answered Prayer

John 16:24

Have you ever bought anything on a “money-back, satisfaction guaranteed” deal?

Usually those are a good thing, and I’m optimistic (or maybe naïve) enough to believe that most companies honor that.

A couple years ago I asked my wife for an electric razor for Christmas. I saw one on TV that looked like it was everything I wanted, for about half the price of what I could find in the stores.

The manufacturer was well-known for other products and so I thought they would be good on this one as well.

Well, I was disappointed from the get-go. All razors say that it takes a couple weeks for your face to get used to an electric razor, so I wanted to give it some time.

But it never worked right, even after a month, so we decided to send it back, because the commercial said it came with a 60-day guarantee.

But when Debra called in to get the return authorization, they told her that it was only a 30-day guarantee. There was no way to argue, because it was all automated.

Normally I chase these kinds of things down, because we were, in essence, lied to about the guarantee. And my wife had bought this for me, because she loved me and knew I wanted it.

But I simply didn’t have the time to mess with it. I still have it, if you’re interested. Only $39.99, plus shipping and handling, and I’ll throw in a 60-minute guarantee!

My point here is that what seems to be an iron-clad guarantee isn’t all that iron-clad.

That will always be the case with guarantees made by people.

Not because all people lie about their guarantees. Some people make guarantees that they fully intend to keep, and they do keep them; and if something happens when they can’t fulfill the guarantee, it’s usually a mix-up or something, not a malicious attempt to rip someone off.

But there are times when even the best-intentioned guarantees don’t quite live up to their words.

But God never makes that mistake. When God says something, not only does He mean it, He comes through. Every single time.

The Bible says that God doesn’t lie, and that God doesn’t even change His mind. When He promises something, when He guarantees something, it’s a done deal.

He has proven throughout the recorded history of Scripture, and He’s proven it in the lives of those who follow Him.

I grew up with a really inadequate idea of what prayer was all about, and I never really thought God had much time to listen and answer my prayers.

My main memories of prayer growing up was saying so many “Our Fathers” and so many “Hail, Marys” because that’s what the priest said I needed to make for the sins that I had confessed to committing.

When my parents split up, my dad, brother, and I would get together and say a rosary every night as well as the prayer to St. Jude, who was the patron saint of hopeless causes, hoping that it would turn my mom’s heart back to my dad and allow them to get back together.

It didn’t work.

I did pray to God at other times, simply asking God for help in some areas, but I never really knew if God was listening or even had time for me.

Many people in this room have experienced the awesome reality of answered prayer.

We’ve come before God, asking Him to do His thing, and He does it. It’s a great thing to see.

But some people don’t have that experience very often, and there might be some here who have never seen God answer a prayer.

The fact of the matter is that many people wonder if God hears them when they pray.

They pray and nothing seems to happen. Or they pray and the exact opposite of what they wanted to happen happens.

Sometimes they pray for riches, sometimes they pray for the right spouse, sometimes they pray for a loved one to recover.

Most of us have prayed both types of “O God” prayers.

Sometimes we pray “O God, our Fathereth, heareth our prayereth, for we cometh humbly beforeth Thou…”

And sometimes we pray, “O GOD! I NEED YOUR HELP HERE!!!”

And we wonder if God really hears and answers prayer.

Let me assure you that He does.

Jesus gives us some hope here in a verse He gave to His disciples just before they left for the Garden of Gethsemane where He would be arrested.

It’s printed for you in your note-taking guide, and I’d like you to read this aloud with me, okay?

John 16:24 –