Dive into a profound exploration of prayer with Adrian Rogers as he unpacks the mystery behind unanswered prayers. Using the story of Zacharias and Elizabeth, Roger addresses the difference between denied, delayed, and divinely altered prayers. Discover how God’s timing and will play a crucial role in how our prayers are perceived and answered.
Pastor, teacher, and author Adrian Rogers has introduced people all over the world to the love of Jesus Christ and has impacted untold numbers of lives by presenting profound truth simply stated. Thanks for joining us for this message. Here’s Adrian Rogers.
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Would you take your Bibles and turn to the Gospel according to Luke chapter 1? I want to talk to you today about prayer. And I want to talk to you on this subject, when prayer seems unanswered. Now that’s a problem to many of us. We hear that we’re to pray, and indeed we should. But so many times we pray and our prayer seems unanswered. Look, if you will, in Luke chapter 1, beginning in verse 5, there was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias of the course of Abiah, and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all of the commandments and ordinance of the Lord, blameless. And they had no child because that Elizabeth was barren. And they were both now well stricken in years. And it came to pass, while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course, according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was, that is Zacharias’ duty was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people were praying without, that is they were standing outside and they were praying at the time of incense. And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. And the angel said unto him, and here’s the key verse, Fear not, Zacharias, for thy prayer is is heard. And thy wife, Elizabeth, shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. And he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God and he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. NOW, WHEN WE PRAY, WE HAVE TO ASK THE QUESTION SOMETIMES, WHY DOESN’T GOD ANSWER MY PRAYER? Why does my prayer seem to be, at any rate, unanswered? You know, first of all, sometimes our prayers are not answered, very frankly, because we am asked. There’s the problem of unasked prayer, unoffered prayer. Have you ever thought how many commands in the Bible there are to pray? Whether you understand it or not, the Bible commands us to pray. As a matter of fact, I Samuel, chapter 12, verse 23, Samuel said, God forbid that I should sin. against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you. Prayerlessness very plainly is a sin. The Bible has commanded that we pray. First Thessalonians chapter 5 and verse 17, the Bible commands that we are to pray without ceasing. We are never to stop praying. Luke 18 verse 1, And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, always to pray. Mark 14, verse 38, Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. VERY FRANKLY, MANY OF US ARE FAILING SIMPLY BECAUSE WE DO NOT PRAY. THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR PRAYER. NOT ELOQUENCE, NOT ENERGY, NOT ENTHUSIASM, NOT INTELLECT. THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR PRAYER. I CAME ACROSS THIS, I WANT TO SHARE IT WITH YOU. I GOT UP EARLY ONE MORNING AND RUSHED RIGHT INTO THE DAY. I HAD SO MUCH TO ACCOMPLISH. that I didn’t have time to pray. Have you ever been there? So much to do, I didn’t have time to pray. Problems just tumbled about me and heavier came each task. Why doesn’t God help me, I wondered. He answered, you didn’t ask. I wanted to see joy and beauty, but the day toiled on gray and bleak. I wondered why God didn’t show me. But he said, but you didn’t seek. I tried to come into God’s presence. I used all the keys on the lock. God gently and lovingly chided, my son, you didn’t knock. I woke up early this morning and paused before entering the day. I had so much to accomplish that I had to take time to pray. Amen? Listen, friend, if you’re too busy to pray, You’re too busy. There is the problem of unoffered prayer. But what about the other problem? Unanswered prayer. We do pray. We do seek God. We do beg. We do try to get right and ask God according to His will. And yet our prayer seems to be unanswered. FIRST OF ALL, YOUR PRAYER MAY SEEM UNANSWERED BECAUSE IT HAS SIMPLY BEEN DENIED. GOD CANNOT AND GOD WILL NOT ANSWER YOUR PRAYER BECAUSE YOU’RE NOT ASKING ACCORDING TO HIS WILL AND HE CANNOT GIVE YOU THAT WHICH IS NOT ACCORDING TO HIS WILL. IT’S VERY OBVIOUS HERE THAT ZACHARIAH WAS A MAN WALKING WITH THE LORD, KNOWING THE WILL OF THE LORD. LOOK IF YOU WILL IN CHAPTER ONE VERSE SIX AND SPEAKING OF ZACHARIAH AND ELIZABETH AND IT SAYS THEY WERE BOTH RIGHTEOUS BEFORE GOD. walking in all of the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, blameless. And so these people were on praying ground. Very frankly, many of us don’t get our prayers answered because we are not on praying ground. You might put in your margin James chapter 4, verses 1 through 4. James is very practical. James doesn’t beat around the bush. James asks this question, from whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence even of your lust that war in your members? He’s saying people fight on the outside because they’re at war with themselves on the inside. And then James says, You lust and have not. Ye kill and desire to have and cannot obtain. Ye fight and war. Yet you have not because you ask not. Now that deals with unoffered prayer. You have not because you ask not. But then he says, You ask and receive not. might consume it upon your lusts. You adulterers and adulteresses, don’t you know that friendship with the world is warfare with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” Very frankly, God cannot answer some of our prayers because they’re selfish. We ask and receive not because we ask amiss. You say, Adrian, can’t I ask God for my personal needs? Of course you can, but not for your selfish needs. There’s a difference. God wants to meet every one of your personal needs, but God does not want to feed your lust and your pride and your selfishness. And if you’re a friend of this world and you’re asking God to make you a stronger person, why should God give you more strength to serve the devil? God calls friendship with the world spiritual adultery. Suppose there is a woman who’s married to a man and she’s unfaithful to her husband and she has a boyfriend and she comes to her husband and says, husband, would you give me some money to go to New Orleans and spend the weekend with my boyfriend? Why would he underwrite her sin? Why would God underwrite your spiritual adultery? Why should God give you more strength to serve the devil? Our prayers sometimes are not answered because we’re not like Elizabeth and we’re not like Zacharias. We are not on praying ground. We’re not praying according to the will of God. Prayer is not some sort of exercise where we get our will on earth done in heaven, but where God in heaven gets His will done on earth. Prayer is not some way where we bend God’s will to fit our will, but prayer is finding the will of God and getting in on it. Put this verse down also in your margin. 1 John 5, verse 14 and 15, and this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask Him anything according to His will, He heareth us. According to His will, He heareth us. And if we know that He heareth us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions we’ve desired of Him. And so, sometimes folks, very plainly, we’re just simply asking with sin in our heart out of the will of God and our prayers are simply denied. Now having said that, Let’s tighten the focus a little bit and give you the second reason sometimes that prayer seems unanswered. Sometimes it’s answered and God says, no. The second reason, however, not only is prayer sometimes simply denied because it’s out of the will of God, but sometimes, dear friend, it is strategically delayed. Strategically delayed. You see, with God, timing is more important than time. And God answers, but sometimes not when you think He should, but when it will be far better for His glory and your good for Him to answer. Now look at our verse in verse 13, And the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias, for thy prayer is heard. Now the Greek construction of this can be, and I think ought to be rendered right here, was heard. Was heard. Is heard is acceptable, but it may be translated, was heard. If you read this whole thing in its context, the idea is that Elizabeth and Zacharias have been praying and praying and praying. They were young and they were saying, oh God, we want a son. Oh God, give us a child. Oh God, Elizabeth is barren. Please God, please give us a son. And they had no son. As a matter of fact, when the angel comes now and tells Zacharias he’s going to have a son, Zacharias, he doesn’t even really accept it right away. I mean, he has ceased expecting an answer to his prayer. But the glorious thing is that a long time ago, Zacharias’ prayer was answered. God had granted His prayer a long time ago and now God is going to give today what God had granted a long time ago. And that prayer, my dear friend, that you think may not be answered, God has answered it. But He’s just now giving you the answer or waiting to give you the answer to your prayer. Sometimes prayers are delayed and they’re strategically delayed. I THINK ABOUT ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF DELAYED PRAYER, PRAYER THAT HAS BEEN GRANTED BUT NOT YET GIVEN. DO YOU REMEMBER DANIEL IN THE BOOK OF DANIEL? PUT THIS VERSE DOWN, DANIEL CHAPTER 10. Daniel had been praying and seeking an answer from God and in verse 12 we read this, the angel came to Daniel and he said, then he said unto me, fear not Daniel, from the first day that thou didst set thy heart to understand and to chasten thyself before God, thy words were heard and I am come for thy words. BUT THE PRINCE OF PERSIA, THAT’S THE PRINCE OF IRAN, WITHSTOOD ME ONE AND TWENTY DAYS. AND LO, MICHAEL, ONE OF THE CHIEF PRINCES, CAME TO HELP ME, AND I REMAINED THERE WITH THE KINGS OF PERSIA.” NOW THAT’S A VERY IGNIGMATIC AND HARD TO UNDERSTAND PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE. BUT GOD SAID, DANIEL, FROM THE VERY TIME THAT YOU BEGAN TO PRAY, YOUR PRAYER WAS HEARD. BUT IT WAS 21 DAYS LATER WHEN DANIEL RECEIVED THE ANSWER. You see, God may grant a prayer without giving the answer until a delayed time, until a later time. Let me give you a verse, Mark 11, verse 24. This impinges on all that I’m going to say right here. And I want to give it to you in William’s translation because I think it makes it abundantly clear. Here’s what William’s translation says. So then I tell you, whenever you pray and ask for anything, have faith and THAT IT HAS BEEN GIVEN YOU AND YOU WILL GET IT.” HAVE FAITH THAT IT HAS BEEN GIVEN YOU AND YOU WILL GET IT. THAT IS, GOD SAYS, YOU’RE GOING TO GET WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE. JUST BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE IT. NOW, IF YOU ALREADY HAVE IT AND BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE IT, THAT’S NOT FAITH. BUT WHEN YOU DON’T HAVE IT AND BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE IT, THEN THAT’S FAITH. IN OTHER WORDS, JUST BELIEVE THAT IT HAS ALREADY BEEN GIVEN YOU AND YOU WILL HAVE IT. YOU SEE, YEARS AGO, YEARS AGO, GOD HAD GIVEN ZACHARIAH’S AND ELIZABETH, GOD HAD GIVEN THEM A SON. AND THE ANGEL COMES AND SAYS TO ZACHARIAH’S, NOW HE’S AN OLD MAN, AND HIS WIFE IS OLD. HE SAYS, WELL STRICKEN IN YEARS. HA HA. AND THEN GOD SAYS, YOUR PRAYER WAS HEARD. YOUR PRAYER WAS HEARD. I THINK THERE ARE MANY OF US WHO’VE ASKED GOD FOR SOMETHING AND WE THINK THAT GOD HADN’T HEARD OUR PRAYER. BUT, DEAR FRIEND, OUR PRAYER WAS HEARD. And we’re waiting on God to give us what He has granted us. Why does God delay? Well, again, I want to tell you that with God, timing is far more important than time. Here’s a wonderful verse. I love this verse. Listen to it. Isaiah chapter 30 and verse 18. And therefore will the Lord wait for THAT HE MAY BE GRACIOUS UNTO YOU.” ISN’T THAT BEAUTIFUL? OH, LISTEN, IF YOU’VE BEEN ASKING GOD FOR SOMETHING AND YOU REALLY FEEL IT’S IN THE WILL OF GOD AND FOR GOD’S GLORY AND YOUR HEART IS CLEAN AND PURE AND THE ANSWER DOESN’T COME, AND THEREFORE WILL THE LORD WAIT THAT HE MAY BE GRACIOUS UNTO YOU AND THEREFORE WILL HE BE EXALTED. NOW WAIT A MINUTE, GOD WANTS TO BE GRACIOUS TO YOU AND GOD WANTS TO GET GLORY TO HIMSELF. GOD’S GRACE AND GOD’S GLORY reasons that God waits. Now watch it, therefore will the Lord wait that He may be gracious unto you, and therefore will He be exalted. God is going to answer your prayer when it will give to Him the greatest glory, that He may have mercy upon you. For the Lord is a God of judgment, that is a God of intelligence, a God of discrimination, a God of wisdom. The Lord is a God of judgment. Blessed are all they that wait for Him. The Oh, my friend, don’t quit waiting on God. God is waiting for you to wait on Him. And God wants you to wait on Him. Now, why does God delay? For example, why did God not give Zacharias and Elizabeth a son when they first asked? WHY DID THE ANGEL COME AND SAY WHEN THEY WERE OLD, YOUR PRAYER WAS HEARD, YOUR PRAYER WAS HEARD, WHY DID GOD WAIT? MAY I SUBMIT TWO REASONS TO YOU? FIRST OF ALL, TO DISPLAY HIS GLORY. TO DISPLAY HIS GLORY. REMEMBER OUR VERSE, THEREFORE WILL THE LORD WAIT THAT HE MAY BE GRACIOUS UNTO YOU, AND THEREFORE WILL HE BE EXALTED. YOU SEE, GOD WAITED UNTIL THE SITUATION WAS IMPOSSIBLE. LUKE 1 AND VERSE 18, AND ZACHARIAH SAID UNTO THE ANGEL, WHEREBY SHALL I KNOW THIS? FOR I AM AN OLD MAN, AND MY WIFE IS WELL STRICKEN IN YEARS. ZACHARIAH IS SAYING, IF GOD DOES IT NOW, It’ll be a miracle. As a matter of fact, it’s just beyond my comprehension. How can God do it now? But my dear friend, God did it when it was well nigh humanly impossible. And all the time they’re praying, God, give us a son. God, give us a son. God, give us a son. And Elizabeth is getting older and older and older. And she goes through the menopause and she passes the time of childbearing. May I tell you this, dear friend, that many times when you pray, ON THE ROAD FOR THINGS TO GET BETTER, THEY GET WORSE. THEY’RE PRAYING FOR A SON AND THE SITUATION IS GETTING WORSE AND WORSE AND WORSE. SOME OF YOU WOMEN HAVE UNSAVED HUSBANDS. YOU’VE BEEN PRAYING FOR THAT HUSBAND AND HE’S GETTING MEANER AND MEANER. NOW DON’T SAY AMEN OUT LOUD, BUT UH, YOU’RE PRAYING FOR HIM AND YOU’RE SAYING, OH GOD, BRING MY HUSBAND TO YOU. And rather than the situation getting better, it is getting worse and worse and worse. That’s the way it was with Elizabeth. That’s the way it was with Zacharias. But my dear friend, when it did happen, God got extraordinary glory. The same thing with Abraham and Sarah. God said to them He was going to give them a son. And they’re waiting and waiting and waiting. They tried to run Ishmael in as a substitute, but that didn’t work. Just brought the world all kinds of trouble. But my dear friend, when Abraham is 100 and Sarah is 90, then God gave them a son and God got glory. Let me give you another example. This time I want you to turn to it. Those of you who are waiting for God to answer your prayer. Turn to John chapter 11 with me for just a moment. John chapter 11 and begin in verse 1. Now a certain man was sick named Lazarus. Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord,” now they’re sending a message, this is a prayer, this is a prayer, “‘Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.'” When Jesus heard that, He said, this sickness is not unto death. Now, if you have your Bible, just underscore this next phrase, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. I’m glad that’s there because sometimes when God doesn’t answer your prayer, you may think that God doesn’t love you. When God doesn’t answer your prayer according to your schedule, that is. When he had heard, therefore, that he was sick, he abode two days in the same place where he was. Now just underscore the whole sixth verse. He loves them. He loves Mary. He loves Martha. He loves Lazarus. The Word comes and says, Jesus, Lazarus needs you. And Jesus deliberately delays. Jesus purposefully postpones. He just stays right there. And after a while He says to His disciples, let us go into Judea again. His disciples saying to him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee, and goest thou again? And so now Jesus finally goes. And Mary and Martha are there wondering, why didn’t he come? Why didn’t he come? Why didn’t he come? Lazarus is getting sicker and sicker. And they’re waiting on Jesus. And Lazarus is getting weaker and weaker. And finally, Lazarus dies. And Mary and Martha, while they’re waiting, say, why doesn’t he come? Is he ignorant? No, we told him. Is he indifferent? No, he says he loves us. Is he impotent? No, he can do it. Why doesn’t he come? Because he’s waiting, my dear friend, till the situation got impossible that he might get glory to himself. You know how this story ended? Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. And if you look in verse 40 there, here’s the climax. Jesus said unto her, said I not unto thee that if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God. The glory of God. You see, my dear friend, God sometimes delays the answer to prayer until the situation gets so difficult there’s no way that you’re going to get the glory from it. Let me give you a cardinal rule. God always takes the route that brings Himself the greatest glory. God always takes the route that brings to Himself the greatest glory. And really, that’s why we pray. Have you ever thought about why we pray? Here’s the reason we pray, if you’re praying correctly. John 14, verse 13, And whatsoever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. He doesn’t say, I’m going to do it, that you have what you need. Whatever you ask in prayer, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Is the desire of your life to have God glorified? You see, sometimes our prayers are strategically delayed to display God’s glory. Secondly, our prayers are strategically delayed to dispense God’s grace, to dispense God’s grace. You see, therefore will the Lord wait for that he may be gracious unto you. Now, how gracious God was to Zacharias and Elizabeth. Go back, if you will, to Luke chapter 1 with me for a moment and look at this wonderful, wonderful passage. And I want you to see God’s grace to these people. Look, if you will, in verse 13. The Bible says, Zacharias, thy prayer is heard. AND THY WIFE ELIZABETH SHALL BEAR THEE A SON, AND THOU SHALT CALL HIS NAME JESUS. NOW LISTEN TO THIS, AND THOU SHALT HAVE JOY AND GLADNESS, AND MANY SHALL REJOICE AT HIS BIRTH. LISTEN, YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE JOY AND GLADNESS, AND MANY SHALL REJOICE AT HIS BIRTH, FOR YOU SHALL BE GREAT IN THE SIGHT OF GOD. AND IT GOES ON TO TELL HOW HE’S GOING TO BE THE GREATEST PROPHET the last of the Old Testament prophets, Jesus said, of this son that was born. Not a greater shall be born of woman than this one. Oh, you see, God wanted to bless. God wanted to bless. And God had such a wonderful plan. You see, God was about to bring the Messiah into the world. And the Messiah was was to come in the fullness of time. That is, He did not come one second too soon, not one second too late. It was all choreographed and prophesied in the Old Testament. And God had been waiting 4,000 years to bring Messiah into the world. And God wanted a forerunner who would be John the Baptist. And God is going to bless the world. And so God has a strategic plan. to display His glory and to dispense His grace. God knows exactly what He’s doing. Now, Zacharias didn’t know it. ELIZABETH DIDN’T KNOW IT, NOT AT THAT TIME, BUT GOD KNEW IT. NOW HERE’S THE THIRD THING I WANT TO SAY TO YOU. SOMETIMES PRAYER MAY BE SIMPLY DENIED. WE’RE PRAYING OUT OF THE WILL OF GOD. SOMETIMES PRAYER MAY BE STRATEGICALLY DELAYED. GOD FOR HIS GLORY AND FOR HIS GRACE, WAITS THAT HE MAY BE GRACIOUS UNTO YOU. NOW HERE’S THE THIRD THING. SOMETIMES THE ANSWER TO YOUR PRAYER MAY BE STRANGELY DIFFERENT. Strangely different, significantly different. Now what they had been praying for was a son in their youth. But God gave them a son in their old age. Now suppose they had been given a son in their youth. I’m sure they would have loved him. I’m sure they would have said, thank you, Lord. I’m so grateful, Lord, that you gave us this son. Thank you for hearing our prayer. Thank you for hearing our prayer immediately. We asked that we might have a child and you gave us a child. Thank you, Lord. But God did not give them what they asked for. God gave them something better than they asked for. It was different. Not only was it delayed, it was different. But you see, God saved the best to the last. This son that they got was a son filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb. This son was the forerunner of the Messiah. And verse 17 says, and he shall go before him, that is Jesus, in the spirit and power of Elias. TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS TO THE CHILDREN. JESUS SAID, NOT A GREATER WAS BORN OF WOMAN THAN JOHN THE BAPTIST. NOW DON’T YOU THINK SHE’D RATHER WAIT TO HAVE THAT SET OF HER? YOU GAVE BIRTH TO THE GREATEST HUMAN BEING BORN OF A WOMAN. THAT IS, APART FROM THE MESSIAH HIMSELF. PUT THESE VERSES DOWN. PSALM 34 VERSE 10, The young lions do lack and suffer hunger, but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. Put this verse down. Psalm 84, verse 11. The Lord God is a sun and a shield. The Lord will give grace and glory. No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly. Now, my friend, if God withheld it for you, it wasn’t good. I MEAN, WHY DO YOU COMPLAIN IF GOD WITHHOLDS SOMETHING THAT FOR YOU WAS NOT GOOD? YOU SEE, MANY TIMES GOD DOESN’T GIVE US WHAT WE ASK. DO YOU KNOW WHY GOD DOESN’T GIVE US WHAT WE ASK? HE HAS SOMETHING BETTER THAN WE ASK. RUTH GRAHAM, WHO IS THE WIFE OF EVANGELIST BILLY GRAHAM, IS REPORTED TO HAVE SAID, IF GOD HAD GIVEN ME WHAT I ASK HIM, I WOULD HAVE MARRIED THE WRONG MAN SEVEN TIMES. Or seven times I would have gotten married to someone who was not God’s plan for me. But God had something better for her. I’m sure that Zacharias and Elizabeth had said, God, please, God, please. And God waited and God waited and God waited. Not only was the prayer strategically delayed, but my dear friend, it was sweetly different, sovereignly different, strangely different, significantly different, and so much better. Let me give you a verse. Romans chapter 8 and verse 26. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities, for we know not what we should pray for as we ought. All of us are there. Sometimes we pray, God, I think it’s this. I think it’s that. Lord, I don’t know. We don’t know what to pray for as we ought. But the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Thank God, dear friend, that we are asking for one thing. And God, the Holy Spirit says, now Father, there’s Adrian. He’s down there asking for something. He’s sincere. This is what he thinks he wants. But God, this is what he needs. Over here is Zacharias and Elizabeth praying and praying. And the Holy Spirit of God says, now Father, here’s what Zacharias is asking for. Here’s what Elizabeth is asking for. but Father, here’s what they really need. Here’s what they need. Sometimes the answer may be delayed, and sometimes the answer, my dear friend, may be different. Not very far from our house is a great big metal thing stuck on a pole. It’s called a transformer. Power lines, big lines come into that transformer. Surging energy goes into that transformer. somehow something happens in that transformer and that energy is changed and a line goes into my house and puts energy into our toaster. Now, my dear friend, if you took that energy off that wire and put it into our toaster without it going through that transformer, you’re talking about burned toast and toaster, I mean it’s all gone. Now it is the same energy, but it goes through a transformer that makes it adaptable and acceptable. And that’s the way it is with our prayers sometimes. It is the same energy. It is the same prayer. It is the same motivation. God knows our desire for His glory. And God puts our prayers through the Holy Spirit, that great transformer. who makes intercession for us, and He takes our prayers, He makes them acceptable to the throne of grace, and then our prayers are answered. Because sometimes we know not what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered. Hallelujah for that. Sometimes prayer may be denied because we’re out of the will of God. Sometimes prayer may be delayed for God’s glory and for His grace. And sometimes, my dear friends, prayers are different, but they are better. We used to have a preacher down in Florida. He was tongue-tied. His name was Ed Solomon. He was a great man of God. He was so wise. One time he was preaching in his own alma mater. I think I’ve told you this story. His college church and his wife were sitting out there and in his tongue tied way, he said, God never did give me anything I wanted. He said, I never got to go to the school I wanted to go to. That was his alma mater. And he said, God didn’t let me marry the woman I wanted to marry. And his wife was sitting right out there. And then he said, God never let me pastor the church I wanted to pastor. And his church people were out there. You talk about embarrassing. He said, God never did ever give me anything I ever wanted. But he said, God always gave me something better than I ever wanted. Oh, friend, listen. Listen. God gives the best. to those who leave the choice with Him. You just remember that. Sometimes prayer may be denied. Sometimes prayer may be delayed. Sometimes prayer may be different. Now what do you do then if you’re praying and your prayer seems to be unanswered? First of all you check up. Am I right with God? Am I seeking the glory of God? Am I? Am I asking for His glory or that I might consume it upon my lust? If you’re convinced that you’re asking for the glory of God, then continue to pray. Just keep on praying. Don’t quit. Pray and pray and pray and pray. The Bible says that we’re to pray without ceasing. Men ought always to pray and not to faint. And Jesus told about that woman who went to that unjust judge and she just wouldn’t shut up. The Lord Jesus told about that man who needed to borrow bread from a friend and he knocked on that friend’s door and the friend said, go away. He said, no, I just keep on knocking. The Bible says, ask and you shall receive. Seek and you shall find. Knock and it shall be opened unto you. that word actually means keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking, keep on, keep on, keep on, just keep on praying. You say, but wait a minute, wait a minute, doesn’t there ever come a time when I stop praying? Yes, yes. Number one, when you get the answer, you have the answer in your hand you can begin to praise. Maybe you don’t have the answer in your hand, God says it’s done and the burden is gone. THEN YOU SAY, ALL RIGHT, LORD, THANK YOU. I DON’T HAVE IT IN MY HAND, BUT I HAVE IT IN MY HEART. THANK YOU. I PRAISE YOU. JUST BEGIN TO PRAISE THEN. OR MAYBE GOD MAY SAY TO YOU, AS HE SAID TO PAUL, PAUL ASKED GOD THREE TIMES TO TAKE THE THORN FROM HIS FLESH. AND GOD SAID, PAUL, I’M NOT GOING TO DO IT, BUT I’M GOING TO GIVE YOU SOMETHING BETTER. I’M GOING TO GIVE YOU MY GRACE. MY DEAR FRIEND, YOU JUST KEEP ON PRAYING. until you have the answer in your hand, in your heart, or God shows you a better way. But men ought always to pray. Our greatest need as a church and as individuals is truly to know how to pray. Father, I pray in the name of Jesus that You would teach us to pray. Amen.
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