Positioned For However He Answers

December 2, 2020   /   Open Heart Church

Positioned for However He Answers?

Isaiah 65:24 NKJV

“It shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear.

When it feels like God is doing nothing

  1. INTRODUCTION
  2. WHERE IS THE ANSWER TO MY PRAYER?

I. SOMETIMES THE ANSWER IS NO

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 NKJV

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Matthew 26:40-43 NKJV

Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” 43 And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.

 

II. ARE WE LISTENING?

1 Kings 19:11-13 NKJV

Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 13 So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

  1. WE MUST EXERCISE PATIENCE

Lamentations 3:25-26 NKJV

The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him.

26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the LORD.

Job 14:14 NKJV

If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, Till my change comes.

III. AM I PRAYING THE RIGHT WAY?

  1. RIGHT WAY

Matthew 6:5 NKJV

“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

Isaiah 44:3 NKJV

For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground;

I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring;

  1. RIGHT HEART
  2. GOD’S TIME, GOD’S WILL

Philippians 4:6 NKJV

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

Luke 18:1 NKJV

Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,

2 Peter 3:8 NKJV

But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

IV. SEVEN THINGS TO REMEMBER WHILE PRAYING

  1. GOD IS SOVERIEGN
  2. FAITH GETS GOD’S ATTENTION

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

3. NO ACTION DOESN’T MEAN THAT GOD IS NOT ACTIVE

4. PERSEVERE IN PRAYER

Acts 12:12-16 NKJV

So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying. 13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. 15 But they said to her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, “It is his angel.” 16 Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.

Matthew 7:7 NKJV

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

5. ALWAYS KNOW THAT GOD HEARD YOU

Isaiah 59:1 NKJV

Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear.

6. WHEN PRAYING, IT’S NOT HOW LONG, BUT HOW STRONG

Always be in the position of hope and expectation. When you patiently wait on God, you are in a position of hope and expectation

7. PRAY WITH PRAISE

Philippians 4:6-8 NKJV

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

Acts 16:25 NKJV

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

 

V. Be Thankful No Matter What

1 Thessalonians 5: 15-18

See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Hebrews 13:14-16 NKJV

For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His Name. To do good and to communicate forget not, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

 

  1. POWER OF PARTNERSHIP
  2. There Can Be No Community Where There Is No Unity
  3. God Moves When We Are Together

VI. PRAISE SHOULD BE PERSISTENT

Luke 18:35-43

Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging. 36 And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. 37 So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 38 And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”39 Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”40 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him, 41 saying, “What do you want Me to do for you?”He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.”42 Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” 43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

  1. My Response to God’s Goodness Is Not Dependent Upon Circumstances
  2. Praise Him When You Feel Like It and When You Don’t
  3. PROCLAIM IT PUBLICLY
  4. Conviction Cannot Be Contained
  5. What You Release Is What You Receive
  6. PRAISE HIM FOR HIS POWER
  7. There Is Power in His Name
  8. I’ve Got So Much to Thank Him For

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