Unanswered Prayer

Life is made-up of and .

Illustrations:  Robert Wadlow, Sir Edmund Hillary, and Apollo 13

Illustrations:  Chandra Dangi, Mpongeng gold mine, and Challenger Deep.

Who is Victor Vescovo?

Our last sermon ended on a note!  Prayers that changed things!

What about prayers that are ‘unanswered’…or God answers ‘no’? 

What about ? (Genesis 18–19)

What about ? (2 Samuel 12:14–31)

What about ? (2 Corinthians 12:7–9 and 2 Timothy 4:20)

What about ? (Matthew 26:39–44)

prayer is an everyday part of the Christian life.

“O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer” (Psalm 22:2).

There are nights we question, Where are you God?  (Psalm 42:3). 

“Now a certain man was , Lazarus of Bethany.” (John 11:1)

Yet Mary and Martha were filled with .

Their hope was fueled, not only by Jesus’ power over disease, but by Jesus’ for them.

“Lord, behold, the one You love is sick.” (John 11:3)

“Lord, if You had been here, my brother would have died.” (John 11:21 & 32)

They a miracle.  But, it’s not what they got.

Until now, whenever the word sick is used, it is always in the context of .

“So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two days longer in the place where He was.” (John 11:6)  

Jesus didn’t to answer their prayer.

Why not Lord?  Why did you not answer my prayer Lord?

1. God’s

“It is for God’s glory…” (John 11:4)

God’s glory is always for our . His glory is always for our joy. His glory is for our greatest good.

“God’s glory does not consist in sparing the faithful life’s .”   (Psalm 30:5).

2. Something is Happening

More than a healer, they needed a .

This is why Jesus adds, “so that the Son of God may be glorified.” (John 11:4) It’s a reference and foretelling of the sacrificial and atoning death of Jesus.

Jesus delayed so that He would .

“Therefore the chief priests convened a council … Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them … ‘it is expedient … that one man die.’ … So, from that day they planned to kill Him.” (John 11:47, 49, 53)

“Perhaps he means to strengthen us in patience … compassion, humility or meekness. … Perhaps he has new lessons in self-denial and self-distrust to teach us. Perhaps he wishes to break us of complacency or undetected forms of pride and conceit. Perhaps His purpose is simply to draw us closer to himself. … Or perhaps God is preparing us for forms of service of which at present we have no inkling.”  (J.I. Packer)

3. Because He

“Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.” (John 11:5)

Jesus loved each member of this family with the most personal and love possible and that this love would be never-failing.

Why did John feel the need to remind us of Jesus’ love for this family?

Never interpret an ‘unanswered prayer’ as an of God’s love!

4. A Deeper-in-faith with You

“I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.  Do you believe this?”  (John 11:27)

“Yes, Lord… I believe you are the Christ, the Son of God, who has come into the world.”  (John 11:27)

In the LOWS of unanswered prayer…we can be to new HIGHS in our relationship with God.

Illustration:  Bonnie Woolwine.