Attitudes For Answered Prayer

o Those plans have not materialized like I thought

o The Holy Spirit confirmed that we needed to study a ‘what we believe series.’

o Then I shared this thought with a couple in our church – they replied you cannot lose – we have a lot of young believers; another confirmation to move ahead

o Then that peace of God came over me; I knew what to speak on

o I pray, listen and act expectantly

o You keep praying until God reveals to you that it’s not His will.

o You become uncomfortable praying about it, so you stop praying.

o E.g. As I have shared with you I was a Certified Management Accountant for over 20 years

o In order to maintain your status with the Society of Management Accountants you have to pay an annual fee of around $800

o In 2002 I asked my new church employer to cover the costs and they said no that is not what we hired you for

o Then there was no point in praying about it any longer

o The new employer who were Christians said no; it was just time to submit

o Why should we be willing to let God answer in His own TIME? He wants to mature us.

o The Holy Spirit had revealed to David that he would be the King over Israel

o There was only one problem – Saul was already in that position

o David was on the run for ten years

o Saul threatened his life at every opportunity

o David hid in caves and remote places for 10 years

o Even his closest friend in ministry turned against him (Psalm 55:12-14)

o What happened during that time?

o He was willing to wait on God (Psalm 55:15-16)

o Now you might think that God brought him spiritual giants to help him through that time

o Think again (1st Samuel 22:2)

o We may pray for strong people

o But God may give us those who are distressed, in debt and discontented

o Why did God allow David that ten year delay?

o Why did God delay David’s prayer and his appointment to king

o His character was not ready for the assignment

o He saw the power of God when God was with him in the cave

o God was developing his character to equal the assignment he had planned for him

B. Be willing to let God answer in His own WAY.

o Not only whenever He thinks best but however He thinks best.

o God’s ways are always better and usually bigger when He answers. Remember that we may have a certain way we think our ministry should go but God may want to change that – his ways are higher than our ways

o Isaiah 55:8 (NLT) "My thoughts are completely different from yours," says the Lord. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.”

o The reason God often delays the answer is so He can answer in a way bigger than you thought originally.

o What would have happened in this story if God had answered Elizabeth and Zacharias’ request for a baby immediately? They would have had a little Jewish boy whom they would have loved and enjoyed.

o But God delayed the request for years because He wanted to give them John the Baptist, who would be Jesus’ announcer saying & pointing, "Here He is!"

o God delayed Hanna’s request for a son many years. But when He finally gave her a son, He gave her a Samuel, the greatest OT prophet.