"Commendable Confidence"
Keys to Answered Prayers • Sermon • Submitted
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· 2 viewsFinale of the Series: Keys to Answered Prayer
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This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
WHAT A WONDERFUL THING IT WOULD BE IF WHEN WE COUNTED THE WAYS
GOD ANSWERS PRAYER, THERE WERE ONLY THREE......YES, NO AND
WAIT.....AMEN? BUT WALKING THROUGH THIS LIFE OF FAITH I HAVE SEEN GOD
DO MORE, SAY MORE AND ANSWER PRAYERS IN UNEXPECTED WAYS, TIMES AND
PLACES.......
AS WE PRAISE GOD TOGETHER TODAY, YOU’RE INVITED TO REFLECT ON YOUR
OWN FAITH WALK ALONG WITH THE HELP OF ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST
RENOWNED AND WELL KNOWN EVANGELISTS, LUIS PALAU, JR. WHO REMINDED
US OF THE WAY GOD LISTENS AND SEEKS TO ANSWER OUR PRAYERS SAYING:
Whatever the answer, your best interest is always in God’s mind.
BUT AS WE CLOSE OUT THIS SERIES ON KEYS TO ANSWERED PRAYERS THIS
MORNING, BELOVEDS, I WOULD ALSO SHARE THE CONVICTION COMING DOWN
TO US FROM THE BENEDICTINE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY........IT IS AN
AWARENESS OF WHAT PRAYER IS, AND WHAT IT BECOMES IN THE LIFE OF A
BELIEVER.......IT IS AN AWARENESS WE ALL ARE CALLED TO BEAR AS WE MOVE
THROUGH THIS LIFE AND ON TOWARDS ETERNITY.......
PRAYER IS MANY THINGS TO MANY PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN GOD....BUT FOR US
AS CHRISTIAN PEOPLE WE ARE CALLED TO ALWAYS REMEMBER......
PRAYER IS WORK. SAYING PRAYERS ALONE AND PARTICIPATING IN
CORPORATE WORSHIP MAKE UP ONE SMALL PART OF WHAT PRAYER IS ALL
ABOUT, AND THESE 2 ASPECTS SOMETIMES CAN SHIELD US FROM THE
AWESOME TASK OF GROWING INTO GOD. WE ARE BELOVED CHILDREN OF
A LOVING CREATOR WHO, THROUGH CHRIST, INVITES US INTO EVER
DEEPENING INTIMACY, AN INTIMACY WE SOMETIMES WELCOME BUT
OFTEN FEAR. PRAYER IS THE CONTEXT IN WHICH WE CONFRONT OUR
FEARS, RECOGNIZE RESISTANCE, LET GO OF DEMANDS FOR IMMEDIATE
SOLUTIONS TO LIFE’S DILEMMAS AND LEARN TO WAIT.
AND JUST LIKE PRAYER IS WORK, WE REMEMBER THAT TRUE PRAYER IS ONLY ANOTHER NAME FOR
THE LOVE OF GOD AND THAT IT’S EXCELLENCE DOES NOT CONSIST IN THE MULTITUDE OF OUR
WORDS BUT IN THE DESIRES OF OUR HEARTS TO HEAR FROM THE ALMIGHTY......OUR SCRIPTURE
THIS MORNING ASKS SOMETHING OF US AS WE COME TO THE THRONE OF GRACE, IT REQUIRES
SOMETHING FROM US....SOMETHING WE’LL CALL CONFIDENCE....
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
THERE IS A BEAUTY IN THAT EXCHANGE THAT IT NOT TO BE MISSED, BELOVEDS, AS WE SEEK TO
HEAR FROM GOD IN OUR PRAYERS GOD IS ON CALL, AND LISTENS AND HEARS US WHEN WE
PRAY.............
IN ALL THIS GOD IS TEACHING US TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN OUR WALK WITH THE DIVINE ONE........
IT IS IN THAT CONFIDENCE THAT WE CAN RECEIVE THESE 5 WAYS GOD ANSWERS OUR PRAYERS.....
#1 - GOD ANSWERS NO, I LOVE YOU TOO MUCH
#1 - GOD ANSWERS NO, I LOVE YOU TOO MUCH
IN WEEK #3 IF THIS SERIES, WE SETTLED ON THIS ENCOURAGEMENT TO
REMIND US OF GOD’S ABIDING LOVE AND EVERLASTING WISDOM....
Sometimes, when GOD’S answer is no, you might consider whether God said no
because the timing OF YOUR PRAYER wasn’t right...and find hope and
encouragement in knowing that GOD knows best.
IT IS THE LOVING PARENT WHO KNOWS THAT THEIR CHILDREN NEED TO
HANDLE THE ANSWER YES TO THEIR REQUESTS AS WELL AS THE ANSWER
NO.....
IT WAS THE GREAT ARTHUR ASHE, THE TENNIS CHAMPION AND WONDERFUL
FAMILY MAN WHOSE LIFE WAS CUT SHORT BY AIDS WHO SETTLED ON THIS
GREAT TRUTH:
GOD’S WILL ALONE MATTERS. WHEN I PLAYED TENNIS, I NEVER PRAYED
FOR VICTORY IN A MATCH. I WILL NOT PRAY NOW TO BE CURED OF HEART
DISEASE OR AIDS.
IT TAKES A PERSON OF CONSIDERABLE CONFIDENCE TO KEEP WORKING
THROUGH GOD’S ANSWER OF NO TO PRAYER.....AND TO GO FORWARD LIKE
ARTHUR DID TRUSTING, SOMEHOW, THE DIVINE WILL OF GOD.......
#2 - GOD ANSWERS, “YES, BUT YOU’LL HAVE TO WAIT”
#2 - GOD ANSWERS, “YES, BUT YOU’LL HAVE TO WAIT”
IT IS HERE THAT WE AFFIRM THE TIMELESS WISDOM OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH
WHO INSPIRED CHRISTIAN HYMN WRITERS AND BELIEVERS ALIKE WHEN HE
WROTE:
Even youths will faint and be weary,
and the young will fall exhausted;
but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint.
WE WILL NOT OFTEN QUIBBLE WHEN GOD ANSWERS YES TO PRAYER......BUT
THAT YES ANSWER CAN BE TEMPERED AND TIMED AND CAN REQUIRE US TO
STAY CONFIDENT IN THE WILL OF GOD UNTIL THAT ANSWER BECOMES EVIDENT
TO US .......
THE PRESBYTERIAN WRITER ANNE LAMOTT TOLD THIS POWERFUL STORY OF A
YES ANSWER TO PRAYER WITH AN IMPORTANT CONDITION TO IT:
A NUN I KNOW, SHE WROTE, ONCE TOLD ME SHE KEPT BEGGING GOD TO
TAKE HER CHARACTER DEFECTS AWAY FROM HER. AFTER YEARS OF THIS
PRAYER, GOD FINALLY GOT BACK TO HER SAYING: I’M NOT GOING TO TAKE
ANYTHING AWAY FROM YOU, YOU HAVE TO GIVE IT TO ME.....FROM THAT
ANSWER, ANNE CONCLUDED THAT WE ALL HAVE TO PRAY TO GOD FOR THE
WILLINGNESS TO GIVE UP THE STUFF WE HAT MOST ABOUT OURSELVES.
WE HAVE TO ASK GOD FOR HELP, AND SOMETIMES BEG.....THAT’S THE
HUMAN CONDITION.
BELOVEDS, IT ALSO TAKES CONFIDENCE....THE CONFIDENCE WE NEED IN
APPROACHING GOD, AS OUR SCRIPTURE SAYS FOR THIS MORNING, WE’VE GOT
TO PRAY LIKE WE KNOW GOD’S HEARING US....EVEN IF GOD ANSWERS OUR
PRAYERS WITH A YES....BUT NOT NOW, YES, BUT HOLD ON.....YES, BUT KEEP ON
BEING FAITHFUL, YES......YOUR TIME IS NOT NOW BUT YOUR YOUR TIME IS
COMING........
#3 - YES, BUT NOT WHAT YOU EXPECTED
#3 - YES, BUT NOT WHAT YOU EXPECTED
BELOVEDS, USE THAT MEASURE OF COMMENDABLE CONFIDENCE YOU HAVE HAVE IN THE LORD OUR
GOD TO MAKE SURE WHEN YOU PRAY.....YOU LEAVE ROOM FOR THE ALMIGHTY TO SURPRISE YOU.....
-YOU MAKE ROOM FOR THE GOD OF ALL CREATION TO CREATIVELY CARVE OUT NEW POSSIBILITIES IN
YOUR YES TO YOUR PRAYER
-YOU ALLOW THE GOD OF OUR WEARY YEARS AND THE GOD OF OUR SILENT TEARS TO LIFT YOU INTO
SOMETHING COMPLETELY NEW AND UNEXPECTED ON YOUR PART.....A NEW PATHWAY TO PURSUE, A
NEW THING TO DO, SOMETHING YOU NEVER IMAGINED YOU’D EVER ACCOMPLISH WITHOUT GOD ON
YOUR SIDE....
WE CAN BELIEVE THE THEOLOGIAN WHO WROTE ABOUT GOD’S SURPRISES THIS WAY:
AMAZING THINGS APPEAR IN OUR LIVES, ALMOST OUT OF NOWHERE — LANDSCAPES,
SEASCAPES, FORGIVENESS — AND THEY KEEP HAPPENING; SO MANY VISTAS AND SO MUCH
HEALING TO GIVE THANKS FOR. EVEN WHEN WE DON’T COOPERATE, BLESSINGS RETURN TO
OUR LIVES, EVEN SOMETIMES....IN THE AFTERMATH OF TRAGEDY...
WHAT IF WE MAKE IT OUR GOAL, IN OUR SPIRITUAL LIVES, BELOVEDS TO EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED
FROM OUR GOD......TO ANTICIPATE THAT THERE WILL BE TIMES WHEN GOD PUSHES US OUT OF OUR
COMFORT ZONES, OUT OF OUR PRE-CONCEIVED NOTIONS OR AWAY FROM OUR OWN SOLUTIONS,
OR EVEN OUR OWN ANSWERS TO EMBRACE WHAT ONLY GOD HAS TO SHOW US......
THE BROOKLYN TABERNACLE CHOIR SINGS A SONG THAT SAYS:
God surprised me with His power, God surprised me with his love (unison)
Just when I thought my case was hopeless, GOD sent an answer from above (harmony)
God surprised me with His mercy, God surprised me with SWEET grace (unison)
Just when I thought my case was hopeless, GOD sent an answer from above
No matter your trial, or difficult hour
My God is able, a mighty strong tower
God always surprises, with His power
God always surprises, with His power With His power, GOD is able to come through
#4 - YES, GOD CAN ANSWER, AND HERE’S MORE
#4 - YES, GOD CAN ANSWER, AND HERE’S MORE
THERE’S STILL A MARVELOUS ABUNDANCE IN OUR GOD AND IN GOD’S PLAN FOR HUMANITY.....
WE REMEMBER TODAY AND CELEBRATE THE TRUTH AND BLESSING IN JESUS’ OWN PROMISE IN JOHN 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
WE SERVE A GOD WHO CAN ANSWER YES TO OUR PRAYERS AND SHOW US THERE’S MORE TO DO,
MORE TO RECEIVE, MORE THAN ALL WE CAN CASK OR EVEN IMAGINE.......
THERE’S A OLD NEGRO SPIRITUAL WHOSE POWERFUL WORDS SAY TO THE LORD OUR GOD:
NO HARM HAVE I DONE YOU ON MY KNEES, ON MY KNEES....NO HARM HAVE I DONE YOU ON MY
KNEES, ON MY KNEES....WHEN YOU SEE ME ON MY KNEES DEAR LORD…COME HERE JESUS IF
YOU PLEASE......
AND WHEN JESUS IS IN THE MIX, BELOVEDS, IF WE EXPECT THE ANSWER TO ALL OUR PRAYERS TO BE
NEAT AND TIDY, WE’RE ONLY FOOLING OURSELVES......EVERY NOW AND THEN, OUR ANSWER WILL
COME WITH OTHERS TO HELP, AND MORE MISSION ATTACHED TO OUR ANSWERS......MORE REACHING
OUT TO DO......MORE DIVINE LOVE TO SHARE....
5th & FINALLY, GOD ANSWERS YES, I THOUGHT YOU’D NEVER ASK
5th & FINALLY, GOD ANSWERS YES, I THOUGHT YOU’D NEVER ASK
LUIS PALAU, JR., THE NOTED EVANGELIST CONTENDS:
Many people think prayer is complicated. Actually, the simplest prayer can bring you the
miracle you need, when you need it.
IT IS IN OUR REGULAR COMMUNION WITH OUR MAKER THAT WE COME TO KNOW THE BLESSED
ASSURANCES ONLY GOD CAN GIVE.......GOD’S PRESENCE, GOD’S GIFTS AND GOD’S GRACE, ONE AND
ALL ARE SECURED BY PRAYER...........
GOD IS READY ON THE THRONE OF GRACE TO HEAR FROM US WHENEVER WE ARE READY TO PRAY.....
ONE PREACHER SOUGHT TO INSPIRE CHRISTIAN BELIEVERS TO DO THIS:
THINK OF PRAYERS LESS AS AN ACTIVITY FOR GOD AND MORE AS AN AWARENESS OF GOD.
SEEK TO LIVE IN UNINTERRUPTED AWARENESS. ACKNOWLEDGE GOD’S PRESENCE
EVERYWHERE YOU GO. AS YOU STAND IN LINE TO REGISTER YOUR CAR THINK, THANK YOU
LORD FOR BEING HERE. IN THE GROCERY AS YOU SHOP, THINK — YOUR PRESENCE, HOLY ONE,
I WELCOME......
SURELY, THAT IS PRAYER WITHOUT CEASING..AMEN? SURELY THAT IS PRAYER BEYOND THE
EXPECTATIONS GOD MIGHT HOLD FOR US.....SURELY THAT IS PRAYER THAT FULFILLS PAUL’S
MANDATE TO THE ROMANS…IN ROMANS 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
WE SHOW THE CONFIDENCE WE HAVE IN APPROACHING OUR GOD EACH AND EVERY TIME WE
PRAY....GOD HEARS, GOD SEES, GOD KNOWS AND AFFIRMS ALL THAT’S IN US THAT GIVES GOD GLORY,
ALL THAT’S IN US THAT MAGNIFIES OUR GOD......
I PRAISE GOD TODAY AND ALWAYS FOR THE COMMENDABLE CONFIDENCE I’VE SEEN ACTIVE IN THIS
COMMUNITY FOR I KNOW IT IS AN AWESOME, DEPENDABLE KEY TO ANSWERED PRAYER......
GO TO THE THRONE OF GRACE, CONFIDENT EVER AND ALWAYS, BELOVEDS
GO TO THE THRONE OF GRACE, CONFIDENT IN THE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING GOD KNOWS,
GOD CARES AND GOD ANSWERS YOUR PRAYERS, DAY BY DAY, HOUR BY HOUR....PRAYER BY EACH AND
EVERY PRAYER......
LET US PRAY......