God Always Answers Prayer

God Always Answers Prayer

Though He does not always answer

in the way we expect.

Though He does not always answer

in the way we expect.

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Four Ways God Answers Prayer

1.There May Be A Denial.There may be times when

God will deny us our petitions.

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Four Ways God Answers Prayer

1.There May Be A Denial.There may be times when

God will deny us our petitions; He says "No."

There are at least seven reasons why this might happen.

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Seven Reasons for Denied Petitions

1.Something could be hindering our prayers.

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1 Peter 3:7

Husbands, likewise, dwell with Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.may not be hindered.

Husbands, likewise, dwell with Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.may not be hindered.

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Seven Reasons for Denied Petitions

1.Something could be hindering our prayers.

2.He does not want us to become proud.

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2 Corinthians 12:7,8

And lest I should be exalted And lest I should be exalted above measure by the above measure by the abundance of the revelations, abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might Lord three times that it might depart from me. depart from me.

And lest I should be exalted And lest I should be exalted above measure by the above measure by the abundance of the revelations, abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might Lord three times that it might depart from me. depart from me.

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Seven Reasons for Denied Petitions

1.Something could be hindering our prayers.

2.He does not want us to become proud.

3.Our prayers are too self-centered.

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James 4:3

You ask and do not receive, You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your you may spend it on your pleasures.pleasures.

You ask and do not receive, You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your you may spend it on your pleasures.pleasures.

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Seven Reasons for Denied Petitions

1.Something could be hindering our prayers.

2.He does not want us to become proud.

3.Our prayers are too self-centered.

4.We are inconsiderate of others in our prayers.

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Philippians 1:21-23

For to me, to live is Christ, and to For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard pressed cannot tell. For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. which is far better.

For to me, to live is Christ, and to For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard pressed cannot tell. For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. which is far better.

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Philippians 1:24-26

Nevertheless to remain in the flesh Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. And being is more needful for you. And being confident of this, I know that I confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of all for your progress and joy of faith, that your rejoicing for me faith, that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.Christ by my coming to you again.

Nevertheless to remain in the flesh Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. And being is more needful for you. And being confident of this, I know that I confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of all for your progress and joy of faith, that your rejoicing for me faith, that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.Christ by my coming to you again.

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Seven Reasons for Denied Petitions

5.He wants to build our character through deprivation.

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2 Corinthians 12:9

And He said to me, "My grace And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Christ may rest upon me.

And He said to me, "My grace And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Christ may rest upon me.

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2 Corinthians 12:10

Therefore I take pleasure in Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am For when I am weak, then I am strong.strong.

Therefore I take pleasure in Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am For when I am weak, then I am strong.strong.

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Seven Reasons for Denied Petitions

5.He wants to build our character through deprivation.

6.Granting the petition would demand an intervention into the natural order of things (In other words, a miracle).

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Hebrews 9:27,28

And as it is appointed for men to And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for time, apart from sin, for salvation.salvation.

And as it is appointed for men to And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for time, apart from sin, for salvation.salvation.

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Galatians 6:7

Do not be deceived, God is not Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.sows, that he will also reap.

Do not be deceived, God is not Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.sows, that he will also reap.

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Seven Reasons for Denied Petitions

5.He wants to build our character through deprivation.

6.Granting the petition would demand an intervention into the natural order of things (In other words, a miracle).

7.We have a deeper need that would not be met other than through deprivation.

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Daniel 3:17,18

"If that is the case, our God whom "If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up." gold image which you have set up."

"If that is the case, our God whom "If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up." gold image which you have set up."

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Four Ways God Answers Prayer

1.There May Be A Denial. 2.There May Be A Direct

Granting.

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Matthew 7:7-8

"Ask, and it will be given to "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.it will be opened.

"Ask, and it will be given to "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.it will be opened.

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Matthew 7:9-11

"Or what man is there among "Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your give good gifts to your children, how much more will children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who give good things to those who ask Him!" ask Him!"

"Or what man is there among "Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your give good gifts to your children, how much more will children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who give good things to those who ask Him!" ask Him!"

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Four Ways God Answers Prayer

1.There May Be A Denial. 2.There May Be A Direct

Granting.3.There May Be A Delayed

Granting.

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Luke 18:1-3

Then He spoke a parable to them, Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: "There was not lose heart, saying: "There was in a certain city a judge who did in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, 'Get she came to him, saying, 'Get justice for me from my adversary.'justice for me from my adversary.'

Then He spoke a parable to them, Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: "There was not lose heart, saying: "There was in a certain city a judge who did in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, 'Get she came to him, saying, 'Get justice for me from my adversary.'justice for me from my adversary.'

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Luke 18:4,5

"And he would not for a while; "And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear himself, 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary continual coming she weary me.'"me.'"

"And he would not for a while; "And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear himself, 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary continual coming she weary me.'"me.'"

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Luke 18:6,7

Then the Lord said, "Hear Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said. what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears night to Him, though He bears long with them?"long with them?"

Then the Lord said, "Hear Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said. what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears night to Him, though He bears long with them?"long with them?"

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Four Ways God Answers Prayer

1.There May Be A Denial. 2.There May Be A Direct

Granting.3.There May Be A Delayed

Granting. 4.There May Be A Different

Granting.

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Romans 8:26

Likewise the Spirit also helps Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which us with groanings which cannot be uttered. cannot be uttered.

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Different Granting

It is said that the following was found in the pocket of a Confederate soldier after a battle during our Civil War.

1. He was a Christian and he prayed.2. He asked for strength that he

might do greater things, but he was given infirmity that he might do better things.

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Different Granting

It is said that the following was found in the pocket of a Confederate soldier after a battle during our Civil War.

3. He asked for riches that he might be happy; but he was given poverty that he might be wise.

4. He asked for power that he might have the praise of men; he was given weakness that he might feel the need of God.

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Different Granting

It is said that the following was found in the pocket of a Confederate soldier after a battle during our Civil War.

5. He asked for all things that he might enjoy life; he was given life that he might have all things.

6. He had received nothing that he asked for; all that he hoped for.

7. His prayer is answered; he is most blessed.

He doesn’t always give us what we want but He always gives us

what we need.

He doesn’t always give us what we want but He always gives us

what we need.