When your Prayers are not Answered
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
Introduction
Introduction
Me
We
1 Samuel 28:1-20
1 Samuel 28:1-20
1 In those days the Philistines gathered their forces to fight against Israel. Achish said to David, “You must understand that you and your men will accompany me in the army.”
2 David said, “Then you will see for yourself what your servant can do.”
Achish replied, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.”
3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah. Saul had expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land.
4 The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and set up camp at Gilboa. 5 When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. 6 He inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets. 7 Saul then said to his attendants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her.”
“There is one in Endor,” they said.
8 So Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. “Consult a spirit for me,” he said, “and bring up for me the one I name.”
9 But the woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why have you set a trap for my life to bring about my death?”
10 Saul swore to her by the Lord, “As surely as the Lord lives, you will not be punished for this.”
11 Then the woman asked, “Whom shall I bring up for you?”
“Bring up Samuel,” he said.
12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”
13 The king said to her, “Don’t be afraid. What do you see?”
The woman said, “I see a ghostly figure coming up out of the earth.”
14 “What does he look like?” he asked.
“An old man wearing a robe is coming up,” she said.
Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.
15 Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?”
“I am in great distress,” Saul said. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has departed from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”
16 Samuel said, “Why do you consult me, now that the Lord has departed from you and become your enemy? 17 The Lord has done what he predicted through me. The Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors—to David. 18 Because you did not obey the Lord or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the Lord has done this to you today. 19 The Lord will deliver both Israel and you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will also give the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.”
20 Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, filled with fear because of Samuel’s words. His strength was gone, for he had eaten nothing all that day and all that night.
Pray
When we last left David he has run to the enemy of Saul the philistines looking for hiding. A decision that was not the best decision and it leads to sin. Not only sin but it puts him the anointed to be king as a servant of the king of Philistines.
1 In those days the Philistines gathered their forces to fight against Israel. Achish said to David, “You must understand that you and your men will accompany me in the army.”
2 David said, “Then you will see for yourself what your servant can do.”
Achish replied, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.”
David here cannot take place in the battle against the Israelites. They don’t trust him not to switch back, Traitors flip flop to the strongest side. So he is made body guard to the king, means he isn’t taking part in the battle directly, and the king can keep his eye on David.
3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah. Saul had expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land.
4 The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and set up camp at Gilboa. 5 When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. 6 He inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.
Saul is facing a huge army that is better equipped, And he is afraid. He doesn’t have his spiritual guide.
Verse three is very important Samuel is dead. Saul has done nothing without Samuel and now he doesn’t have that support. How many of you have been in that situation. Think about something as simple as when you first moved out on your own. How much of a shift there was in learning to not have your parents there. or when you got married and you turned to your spouse instead (if you aren’t there are issues).
Then when someone dies.
Samuel is unsure of himself and so he turns to prayer
Isn’t this what we are taught to do. Isn’t this the right move. He wants to know the divine will of God and he gets nothing.
How many of you have been there as well. It can make you doubt your faith. It can make you question what did I do wrong. Did God not hear me? If God even real?
Why did Saul’s Pray go unanswered?
This a great question to ask yourself when you are reading this section.
God hears your prayers even if you are sinful person. Even in the pit of sheol he hears us and is with us. So that’s not it. I wonder if God didn’t answer because Saul just didn’t hear God.
Saul as a religious form man but sinful and not about faith, And shrinking further and further away from God is a theme in the OT. Saul gets caught up in the lie that is I do the religious activities then I am ok. I don’t need things like faith. In other words if I go to church and maybe read my bible its enough. Instead of doing things like surrendering to the will of God. Like doing as God commands. Like asking for forgiveness and repenting.
I am sure he did sacrifice to cover the bases. Like someone who says god forgive me but then keeps sinning. Forgive me for the sin I am committing. That is religious form.
Might be someone in here like that. Religious form. Go to church. Get my check list done. Ask for forgiveness about what I am doing. All good. I am done
Are your prayers being answered. Might not even be asking
Why else might prayers not be answered?
Priorities
Sometimes our prayers are not answered because the reason we are praying is wrong. View God as a candy machine or a vending machine. View god as Santa clause. Praying out of vengeance.
I pray for my enemies nightly. God please pour vats of boiling oil on their head, And break their banks. And make their car break down, And kill their cats ....
Try to turn God into a voodoo doll
What is the priority in prayer?
Communication with God.
You talk. Poor out your spirit: Complaints, Joys, Fears
He talks. Brings to mind scriptures. Places a person on your heart. Places a action. Something you have neglected. Sin, Priorities, James tells us that he honors eager prayer, honest prayer, prayer that is constant.
God sometimes doesn’t answer our prayers because he sees a Bigger picture.
Exodus 430 years of hearing that one. Elijah prayed stop the rain. What about all the Jews that were honestly praying for rain for their crops. Eagerly, with good priorities.
But God had a bigger picture going on.
When you can’t hear God for whatever reason sin, priorities, busy, not part of the big picture Where do you turn?
Saul turned to the world.
7 Saul then said to his attendants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her.”
“There is one in Endor,” they said.
8 So Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. “Consult a spirit for me,” he said, “and bring up for me the one I name.”
Saul turned to a Medium or necromancer.
Someone who consults with the dead on behalf of the living.
Samuel appear in form of a ghost?
Was this the woman speaks and pretends its Samuel?
Was this a demon speaking to Saul?
Was it easier to bring forms back from Sheol then it is heaven and hell?
I don’t have a good answer, I don’t know. But Saul seems to be speaking to Samuel through this woman.
And Samuel curses Saul for his actions in looking for a dead man to tell him what to do.
Every time we go to someone who is not in Christ for council we are doing the same thing. Dead in my sin
Where do you turn when you can’t hear?
Turn to self help books
Friends
Icebox
TV
Radio
Mama said (even though she dead)
Next Steps
Next Steps
Where do you need to turn?
Is there anything Stopping you from hearing God?
What are my priorities? Why do I want …..
What is the big picture?
Trust God
That is what prayer is
Sometimes have to keep praying till God changes your mind or answers. 430 years in slavery.
Where do you turn
pray