Your Prayers Have been Answered · 2020-06-14 · YOUR PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED 1) Our prayers...

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YOUR PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWEREDRomans 8:26-28

Rev. David Lunsford

Baptist Network Northwest

December 2017 Togo, West Africa

February 2018

YOUR PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWEREDRomans 8:26-28

Rev. David Lunsford

Baptist Network Northwest

YOUR PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED

The key to praying well and seeing prayer answered is to understand what God calls “good” in Romans 8:28.

1) Our prayers are flawed by our humanity

This “weakness” is not a sin

This “weakness” is our humanity

a) Our humanity causes us to assume that “good” is:

• a comfortable life

• a pleasurable experience

• plans that work out easily

• days filled with fun

• relationships that are always enjoyable

b) Our humanity has limited knowledge

• We are human, God is divine.

• We are limited, and God is unlimited.

• We know a little, God knows all,

• How can we pray for His will when we are so limited?

Our natural inclination toward a pleasant life,and our limited knowledge of life causes us to pray in a way, that by itself, is ineffective.

2) Our prayers are refined by the Holy Spirit

IN our humanity we ask for things God the Father would reject, BUT the Holy Spirit takes our sincere but misguided prayers and translates them to God.

“makes intercession” The Holy Spirit steps in between us and God and translates our prayers.

John 16:23 And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.

I can offer my best Christ-like prayer and rest in the Spirit’s assistance and wait for God’s answer, not worrying that I didn’t say the perfect words.

3) Our prayers accomplish God’s good

God’s definition of “good” is for us to be like Christ

• “Good” doesn’t always mean comfort or safety

• “Good” doesn’t always mean we are in control

• “Good” doesn’t always mean that we will have a long easy life then die in our sleep

• “Good” is measured by the degree to which we are like Christ

God doesn’t always alleviate the suffering because in His divine wisdom, He knows that our suffering will bring about the greatest good of all…Christlike character IN US and Christlike ministry THROUGH US.

a) Confirmation of our walk with the Lord

b) Opportunity to witness for the Lord

Acts 8:1 Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Acts 11:19 Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word

c) Growth in our character

2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

The difficulties we went through confirmed and deepened truths already known

d) God’s provision of our physical needs

Psalm 90:15 Make us glad according to the days in which You have afflicted us, The years in which we have seen evil. 16 Let Your work appear to Your servants, And Your glory to their children.

e) God’s witness to Satan

Job 1:8 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?

Job 1:9 So Satan answered the LORD and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing?

10 Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.

11 But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!

Job 1:12 And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person. So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

4) Our prayers are only effective if we love God

1 John 4:19 We love Him because He first loved us.

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Mark 12:30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'

If you want to avoid frustration in the Christian life, pray more effectively, and see answers to your prayers, you must view life through God’s definition of good.

Your Prayers Have been Answered · 2020-06-14 · YOUR PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED 1) Our prayers...

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