The 4 Ways God Answers Prayer
Rich S Wyatt
February 10, 2008
Intro: God is still in the prayer answering business. Often times, however, we do not see the answer because we do not understand how God answers prayer. We as God’s people have a mighty position and great authority through the power of the Holy Spirit and the authority that Christ left us before His ascension when He promised: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on Earth. Go therefore…” That “Go therefore” is the transference of that same power to us as His followers. We have great opportunity for revival, for love and for showing God to the people who are seeking. Before we ever get to those things, however, we must understand prayer!
I. YES (Mark 1:40-43, 45)
a. Came to Jesus asking
b. If You will
c. Moved with Compassion
d. Result was the glorification of God (vs45)
i. Sometimes God says Yes immediately so that His glory might be known immediately
ii. Be sure that God is ALWAYS glorified
iii. You won’t be able to help but to tell everyone about it
II. NOT YET (2 Chronicles 20:5-25)
a. Sometimes only by marching through it do we learn what we need to learn
b. Vs 5-8 – Jehoshaphat was trying to smooth over God
c. Vs 9-13 – Jehoshaphat attempted to inform God of what needed to be done for victory to happen
d. VS 14-17 – Jahaziel answers the prayer (vs 15 emphasize)
i. Not Yet doesn’t mean its over
ii. Not Yet doesn’t mean you need to suffer
iii. Not Yet simply means – WAIT AND WATCH ME DO IT!
e. Not Yet = tomorrow (Vs 17)
f. Vs 19-25 Obedience
i. Produced victory
ii. God caused the victory without the people entering into war
III. I HAVE SOMETHING BETTER IN MIND (Daniel 3:16)
a. The fire is part of my plan
b. Uses the flame to burn off the things that bind you
c. Uses the flame to invite the presence of the Lord
i. God can be with you in the middle of the flame and if God is with you, in the middle of the flame, it cannot and will not bother you
d. Uses the flame to elevate you
i. The smell of the smoke was not on them
ii. When God is next to you, you start smelling good
e. Uses the flame to glorify Himself (VS 28-29)
f. Uses the flame to prosper you (vs 30)
IV. I CAN’T, YOU’RE OUTSIDE THE COVENANT (Jeremiah 14:7)
a. Can’t go to God saying – forget about my iniquities for a blessed moment and just bless me anyhow
b. Are our sins many?
c. Caused the prophet to not pray for the people because of their sins
d. Vs 12 – when they fast I will not listen to their cry
e. When we live in rebellion (disobedience), we place ourselves outside of the covenant of grace and redemption.
f. Isaiah 59:1-3
Conclusion:
People of God: understand, hear from the Throne, listen to what God is speaking. He IS the same yesterday, today and forever. His arm is NOT short that He cannot save, but we MUST understand His plan, His way of answering prayer, else we will become discouraged, full of unbelief and confusion. But God is saying to us today: “Hear my voice. I am answering you. I am listening to you. Be in my covenant. Listen when I say YES. Listen when I say NOT YET. Listen when I say I HAVE SOMETHING BETTER IN MIND! And listen and watch for when you are outside of the covenant!”
