N o doubt every child of God has faced what is some times known as the mystery of unanswered prayer. This has become a very real problem to many of God’s children. In purpose and intent they pray, but nothing happens. While seeking the face of God, they storm the throne of grace; yet the answer to their petitions does not come. Many of God’s people are discouraged on this point of their Christian lives. They seek an answer to the question: “Why does God not answer prayer?” Let us first clearly understand that prayer is a privi lege of every one of God’s children. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself said, “ Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:24). Again He said, “ If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your chil dren, how much more shall your Father, which is in heaven, give good things to them that ask him?” (Matt. 7:11). Prayer is a priceless privilege for every blood- bought, Spirit-born member of the Lord’s family. Unan swered prayer is not due to a faulty posture, or to poor diction, or to inept eloquence. God is more interested in the posture of the soul than He is in the posture of the body. The Lord is more interested in the culture of the heart than in the culture of the lips. There are certain laws in the prayer life that must be observed if we are to pray with power. While limita tions of space make it impossible to deal with those laws in this message, or even to state those laws in their totality, let us at least consider one law found in John 14:13: “ And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” “That the Father may be glorified in the Son” is the supreme motive in the Christian’s prayer life. We ought to pray that God will grant us the answer to our peti tions in order that, in turn, His name be magnified. In James 4:3, the writer says, “Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” The opening words, “ Ye ask and receive not” actually describes the experience of many believers. God points to the reason for it. We have asked amiss. We have missed the mark in praying to God. But where have we missed the mark? Another translation of the verse better indicates why we have missed the mark, “ That ye might spend it in your own pleasures.” Yes, we ask and receive not from God, because we fail to ask of God for His glory. Hence, often our chief motive in most prayers is a selfish one. We have no greater goal than the mere satisfaction of the needs of our own lives. I would urge upon you that whatever you ask of God, you would pray that the Lord shall grant it on the basis that His name be magnified. If you are praying for an unsaved loved one, then get beyond the convenience
that his salvation might bring to you. The lives of those who are unsaved basically dishonor God. Let us pray that God will save them that their transformed lives may bring glory to His holy name. Many times God would bestow much upon us yet He cannot trust us. We fail to give Him the honor and the glory. George Mueller was asked to state in sixty seconds how he got things so miraculously from God. He replied, “George Mueller has learned to trust the Father, and the Father is willing to trust George Mueller.” Oh, how much we forfeit at the place of prayer because God cannot fully trust us with the answer to our petitions. Pray much . . . just talk to God (without fancy phrases) about everything—your troubles, trials, wor ries, fears, phobias, sorrows, sins, mistakes and trage dies. Be sure to thank Him for all the blessings, joys, victories and benefits daily. The Bible says: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiv ing let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God . . . shall . . . keep your hearts and minds . . .” (Philippians 4 :6 ). Let nothing discourage you! Expect a battle with sin and Satan. Expect temptations and testings. Expect persecutions and misunderstandings. Even Christian friends may disappoint you. . . . But God will never fail you (Rom. 8:35-39). The Bible says: “Yea and all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (II Tim. 3:12). Pray in the morning. I don’t know why most people pray at night and never before. They are not going to get in much trouble while they are sleeping. Why don’t we begin each day with God, asking for power and strength to live the day—just one day at a time— knowing that God can keep us through the day? Then at night we can pause to thank Him for a successful day instead of apologizing for the failures and blunders of the last sixteen hours. I would like to urge you to do as the Bible says: “ Pray without ceasing” and particularly just previous to any special need. Bathe your daily affairs in prayer. I often urge young people to pray together as they start out on an evening “ date.” I urge business men to pray before they sign a contract or join a partnership. I ask mothers to pray at the pressure hours of the day. There may be a particularly weak moment each day in your life. Premeditate that moment and prepare yourself with prayer. God will amaze you with His protection and astound you with power and strength to actually live the life of Christ (I Corinthians. 10:12-13). May we seek much from the hand of our God that in turn He shall be magnified and glorified.
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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