LifeFellowship

Prayer

There are many aspects of prayers. This is in context of questions being asked "if God answers all prayers then why all this trouble?" Are there unanswered prayer in the Bible?

Verse: Matthew 12:38-40

38 One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove your authority.”

39 But Jesus replied, “Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah. 

40 For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.

Here is one prayer that was made to Jesus and Jesus flat out denied the request. He then goes talk of Jonah and the Queen of Sheba

Jonah

Jonah did very little talking in his prayer time. He often wanted to hear from God. And God spoke to him and it was not what he expected. What happens when we hear from God and we don't like what we are hearing. We bargain - just like Abraham did. 

(Further reading: Jonah Chapter 1)

But God had his way. God didn't answer Jonah prayer to destroy the city. We know that his failed expectation turned to anger. What happens when our prayers are unanswered? Are we angry?

Verse: Matthew 11:6

And blessed is the one who is not offended by me

But do you know what was the prayer that God answered? It was the prayer of the people 

Verse: Jonah 3:10

10 When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.

Questions to ask

  • How did they pray? Their prayers shaped by the right input. 
  • What was the input they received? The input was the word of God from the prophet Jonah
  • Did God answer their prayers? Yes, because they received the knowledge of how they ought to pray

I don't know how Jonah got 100% of the people convinced. The only person he was not able to convince was God. His communication was so good that in his half hearted effort he managed such a feat. 

But the passage talks of the people of city who were willing to pray based on the input received. What is our input? We have the Bible with us. With the Bible we know exactly what to pray for.

Queen of Sheba

The Queen of Sheba traveled a long way to hear from Solomon. And when she heard from Solomon, it made a believer out of her. She had faith!!!

(Further Reading: Queen of Sheba)

Verse: 1 Kings 10:7

7 I didn’t believe what was said until I arrived here and saw it with my own eyes. In fact, I had not heard the half of it! Your wisdom and prosperity are far beyond what I was told.

The mindset change was brought about by the right input. The right input also made her to see that there is more to what she was told. Do you know what your faith can do in your prayers?

"YOUR FAITH HAS HEALED YOU" (Matthew 9:22, Mark 10:52, Luke 17:19)

The connected stories from the bible are

Do you want a faith to move the mountains?

Verse: Matthew 17:20

20 “You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.

Get the right input. The input is the Word of God - The Bible

Verse: Romans 10:17

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Our response

We can chose to receive the right input and be brave in the face of adversity or be bullied

Response of Jacob

Laban was a bully. But Jacob was patient and he waiting for God to show up

Verse: Genesis 31:42

42 In fact, if the God of my father had not been on my side—the God of Abraham and the fearsome God of Isaac—you would have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen your abuse and my hard work. That is why he appeared to you last night and rebuked you!”

Look the words Jacob used .... "abused". This is the next level of bully. But Jacob through his patience was able to bring the situation to a quietness and amicable parting

Response of Job

Job was being bullied by situation. He lost everything..... his wealth, his children and his health. Job was getting bullied and reacting to the whole situation. The gave his three friends fuel to keep going until God had to calm him.

Verse: Job 42:5-6

5 I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes.

6 I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.”

It was only when he was calm and composed in faith, knowing who God is, his blessing came through. Jacob had to wait for 20 years, Joshua had to wait for 40 years. Abraham had to wait for 400 years, The nation of Israel had to wait for 2000 years. Only faith can bring the answers to your prayers.

Conclusion

The Pharisees for a sign in the sky as a proof of Jesus authority. They didn't get to see it. But you can be sure that they will have a Job moment. They will see a sign and they will be remorseful

Verse: Zechariah 12:10

Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on the people of Jerusalem. They will look on me whom they have pierced and mourn for him as for an only son. They will grieve bitterly for him as for a firstborn son who has died.

We can choose to get to this point and be remorseful and say I wish I had read the Bible more. I wish my prayers were based on the inputs from the Bible. 

But Jesus answered the second part of the request - Proving his authority - He was dead for 3 days and is risen up

Verse: John 10:17-18

17 “The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. 

18 No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”

Let us not live our lives without the input from the Word of God. So so we can join in prayer with Jesus and say 

Verse: Luke 22:42

“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

Exercise

Passage: Psalm 2

1 Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans?

PRAYER: Dear God, We pray for our nation and its leaders. Please give them wisdom in their planning where they direct their energy for the good of the nation rather than perpetuating wasteful ideas

2 The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the Lord and against his anointed one.

PRAYER: Dear God, We ask for our nation to be on your side of the battle and not on the opposing one. We acknowledge that there is no one who is can be compared to you.  

3 “Let us break their chains,” they cry, “and free ourselves from slavery to God.”

PRAYER: Dear God, We pray against every way of life that is opposed to you. We pray against immorality, corruption

4 But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them.

PRAYER: Dear God, please forgive our nation. We have scoffed at you and claimed that God doesn't exist. Please forgive us. 

5 Then in anger he rebukes them, terrifying them with his fierce fury.

PRAYER: Dear God, please have mercy on us. We have sinned and we pray for your mercy and forgiveness

6 For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain.”

7 The king proclaims the Lord’s decree: “The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son. Today I have become your Father.

PRAYER: Dear God, We thank you for Jesus who you have given us. We worship you Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit

8 Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession.

PRAYER: Dear God, We pray that all the nations will come to see you. We know that it is not your desire that any perish. We plead to you that all will see eternal life

9 You will break them with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots.’”

PRAYER: Dear God, We praise and worship you for you are God Almighty

10 Now then, you kings, act wisely! Be warned, you rulers of the earth!

PRAYER: Dear God, please help us not be foolish

11 Serve the Lord with reverent fear, and rejoice with trembling.

PRAYER: Dear God, please help us to serve you

12 Submit to God’s royal son, or he will become angry, and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities— for his anger flares up in an instant. But what joy for all who take refuge in him!

PRAYER: Dear God, we accept you as our King and God and the one who can save us. We depend on your for eternal life. Come in our hearts and reign in all fullness.

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