God doesn’t answer prayers

WHO TOLD YOU THAT? – God doesn’t answer prayers?

“About that time King Herod Agrippa began to persecute some believers in the church. ² He had the apostle James (John’s brother) killed with a sword. ³ When Herod saw how much this pleased the Jewish people, he also arrested Peter. (This took place during the Passover celebration. ⁴ Then he imprisoned him, placing him under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring Peter out for public trial after the Passover. ^5”But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.

⁶ The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate. ⁷ Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists. ⁸ Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Now put on your coat and follow me,” the angel ordered.

⁹ So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn’t realize it was actually happening. ¹⁰ They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate leading to the city, and this opened for them all by itself. So they passed through and started walking down the street, and then the angel suddenly left him.

¹¹ Peter finally came to his senses. “It’s really true!” he said. “The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me!”

Acts 12:1-11

BIBLICAL TRUTH TO LIVE BY: Prayer is our not our

A LIFE OF PRAYER…

1. Reveals our on God.

“Never stop praying.”

I Thessalonians 5:17

• • A church that does not pray is a church without .
  • A person who does not pray is a person who is missing the working in them and through them.

^14 “The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you.”

II Corinthians 13:14 (MSG)

2. our in God .

God’s will being done on earth is connected to our prayers… 

• • Prayer is for God to intervene.

“When he realized this, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered for prayer.”

Acts 12:12

3. a contrasting to the plans of the devil.

^5”But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.”

Acts 12:5

4. Invites GOD to show up in POWER.

“Then Isaiah sent this message to Hezekiah: “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: about King Sennacherib of Assyria, ²² the Lord has spoken this word against him.”

Isaiah 37:21-22

“May the people you pray for not escape the prayers you pray!”

HOW DO YOU PRAY WHEN YOUR LIFE IS FALLING APART?

“About that time King Herod Agrippa began to persecute some believers in the church. ² He had the apostle James (John’s brother) killed with a sword. James had just died…”

Acts 12:1-2

• • Pray faith when you don’t have it.

“Cornelius stared at him in terror. “What is it, sir?” he asked the angel. And the angel replied, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering!”

Acts 10:4

• • Pray without faith while it’s .

“He knocked at the door in the gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to open it.¹⁴ When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and told everyone, “Peter is standing at the door!”

¹⁵ “You’re out of your mind!” they said. When she insisted, they decided, “It must be his angel.”

¹⁶ Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking. When they finally opened the door and saw him, they were amazed. ¹⁷ He motioned for them to quiet down and told them how the Lord had led him out of prison.”

Acts 12:13-17

• • Pray with people who have faith.

^12 “When he realized this, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered for prayer.”

Acts 12:12

FINAL THOUGHT

Prayer does not change God it changes .

“And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.¹⁵ And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.”

I John 5:14-15