Why Our Prayers Are Not Granted

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

Ronald’s sermon notes from 3-24-13

Why Are Our Prayers Are Not Granted and Accepting?

When you have unanswered prayers, it’s possibly not what you asked. God sets rules, and we have to learn the rules.

1. Do our prayers pass the test of God’s great wisdom?

2. Are our sins or attitudes the reason that God says no to us.

God’s great wisdom is far above men. (Romans 11:33-36)

Depth and the wisdom are God’s saving grace. His understanding is finite (Psalm 147:5)

⁵ Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
his understanding has no limit.

His knowledge Job 37:16

¹⁶ Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge?

I John 3:20

²⁰ If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.

God knows everything

In General Isaiah 55:9

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

I Cor. 1:25

²⁵ For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

He knows what’s best (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

⁷ or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. ⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Have you ever prayed for something, then glad it wasn’t granted?

God knows better…

He must consider everyone (Matt. 5:43-45)

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^[a] and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

God’s wisdom will determine that.

What causes Rejection?

Not asking James 4:2

² You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.

2 Chronicles 16:12

¹² In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians.

King Asa example – Good King of Judea

He depended upon Physician than the Lord. He didn’t go to God first.

Selfish prayer on your pleasures in James 4:3

³ When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

King James Version (KJV)

Refusal to hear God’s word

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

John 15:7 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.

Those who know what is truth.

Proverbs 21:13 ¹³ Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

Neglecting our part

All men in I Timothy 2:1-3

2 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— ² for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ³ This is good, and pleases God our Savior,

Pray for our enemies.

Matthew 5:44 ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you

Romans 12:20

²⁰ On the contrary:

Matthew 6:11 –

¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread.

¹² And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

Why does God answer our prayers?

Prayers must meet God’s requirement. James 1:5-7

We have faith or a last resort we should not pray because we are disappointed.

God’s will has to be done. (I John 5:14; James 4:15)

We have to have this attitude in everything in life.

Trust God’s way is the right way. we must pray in the name of Jesus Christ.

John 16:23-24 word name in Greek means the authority. we are doing by the authority

²³ In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. ²⁴ Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

I Timothy 2:15 Our mediator.

¹⁵ But women^[a] will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.

Advocate in I John 2:1-2

2 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. ² He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

Can Sympathize in Hebrews 4:14-16

¹⁴ Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven,^[a] Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. ¹⁶ Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Because Christ has come and experience

Be persistent like in Luke 18:1-8. Troubled and continued to come to Him.

First of all, keep praying, keep trusting in God and not loose heart. Keep the right attitude and be persistent. A blessing as Christians to have the attitude of prayer. 

Remembers God’s commandment in –

Acts 2:38

King James Version (KJV)