EPHESIANS 3:20 SAYS THAT GOD IS
ABLE TO DO MORE THAN WE CAN POSSIBLY ASK. SO, WHAT SHOULD WE
DO WHEN GOD SAYS NO TO WHAT WE ASK? NOW DO YOU WANT THE WILL OF
GOD IN YOUR LIFE? IF YOU DON’T WANT THE WILL OF GOD IN YOUR
LIFE WHY SHOULD YOU PRAY? PRAYER IS NOT SOME EXERCISE WHERE YOU
BEND GOD’S WILL TO FIT YOUR WILL. PRAYER IS FINDING THE WILL
OF GOD AND GETTING IN ON IT. ADRIAN ROGERS’ UNIQUE ABILITY TO
APPLY BIBLICAL TRUTH TO EVERY DAY LIFE WAS ONE OF THE MANY
THINGS THAT MADE HIM SUCH A REMARKABLE PASTOR, BIBLE TEACHER
AND WRITER. AND TODAY HE’LL BE BRINGING THAT UNIQUENESS TO THIS
BIBLE STUDY FROM GOD’S WORD. HAVE YOUR BIBLES OPEN AND JOIN
US FOR THIS POWERFUL MESSAGE. AND AS ALWAYS, YOU CAN LISTEN TO
THIS MESSAGE AGAIN, SHARE THIS MESSAGE AND OTHERS WITH A FRIEND
AND DOWNLOAD A COPY OF PASTOR ROGERS’ OUTLINE, NOTES OR A
COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT OF THIS MESSAGE ALL AT LWF.ORG. NOW,
LET’S JOIN ADRIAN ROGERS. BE FINDING THE BOOK OF JAMES.
IT’S BACK TOWARD THE BACK OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. AND TURN TO
CHAPTER FOUR, AND WHEN YOU’VE FOUND IT, LOOK UP HERE. AND I
REMIND YOU OF WHAT YOU OUGHT TO ALREADY KNOW: THAT PRAYER IS THE
CHRISTIAN’S GREATEST PRIVILEGE. AND ALAS, ALAS, IT IS SO OFTEN
OUR GREATEST FAILURE. NOW THERE’S NO SUBSTITUTE FOR
PRAYER. YOU CAN SUBSTITUTE MANY THINGS, BUT THERE’S NO
SUBSTITUTE FOR PRAYER, NOT ENERGY, NOT ENTHUSIASM, NOT
INTELLECT, NOT INTENT. THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR PRAYER. AND WE
NEED TO LEARN HOW TO PRAY. JAMES TALKS TO US TODAY ABOUT SOME
PRAYER PROBLEMS. LOOK IF YOU WILL IN CHAPTER FOUR, “FROM
WHENCE COME WARS AND FIGHTINGS AMONG YOU?” NOW LET ME JUST STOP
RIGHT HERE BEFORE WE READ THE REST OF THIS AND SAY THAT THERE
ARE TWO MAJOR PROBLEMS THAT JAMES MENTIONS IN THESE FEW
VERSES THAT WE’RE GOING TO READ, THE FIRST FOUR VERSES; TWO MAJOR
PROBLEMS CONCERNING PRAYER, MORE THAN THAT, BUT TWO MAJOR ONES.
AND I WANT YOU TO SEE IF YOU CAN SPOT THEM WHILE I READ. “FROM
WHENCE COME WARS AND FIGHTINGS AMONG YOU? COME THEY NOT HENCE
EVEN OF YOUR LUSTS, THAT WAR IN YOUR MEMBERS? YE LUST AND HAVE
NOT, YE KILL AND DESIRE TO HAVE, AND CANNOT OBTAIN, YE FIGHT AND
WAR, YET YE HAVE NOT BECAUSE YOU ASK NOT. YE ASK AND RECEIVE NOT
BECAUSE YE ASK AMISS, THAT YE MAY CONSUME IT UPON YOUR LUSTS.
YE ADULTERERS AND ADULTERESSES, KNOW YE NOT THAT THE FRIENDSHIP
OF THE WORLD IS ENMITY WITH GOD? WHOSOEVER THEREFORE WILL BE THE
FRIEND OF THE WORLD IS THE ENEMY OF GOD.” NOW WHAT ARE THE TWO
GREAT PROBLEMS THAT JAMES MENTIONS IN THAT PASSAGE OF
SCRIPTURE? FIRST OF ALL, THERE IS THE PROBLEM OF UNASKED
PRAYER. SOMETIMES WE JUST DON’T PRAY. “YOU HAVE NOT.” WHY? HA,
HUH, “BECAUSE YOU ASK NOT.” GOD, HA, WANTS TO LOAD YOU WITH
BENEFITS, GOD WANTS TO BLESS YOU, GOD HAS INVITED YOU, “CALL
UPON ME AND I WILL ANSWER YOU AND SHOW YOU GREAT AND MIGHTY
THINGS THAT YOU KNOW NOT,” BUT JAMES SAYS, “YOU DON’T HAVE
BECAUSE YOU DON’T ASK.” SO THERE IS THE PROBLEM OF UNOFFERED
PRAYER. BUT THERE’S ANOTHER PROBLEM HERE, AND THAT’S THE
PROBLEM OF UNANSWERED PRAYER. IT IS THAT PEOPLE ASK, BUT HE SAYS,
“YOU ASK AND RECEIVE NOT.” SO, WHICH IS THE GREATER PROBLEM?
WELL, EITHER ONE OF THEM, UH, CAUSES OUR PRAYERS NOT TO BE
ANSWERED. YOU SEE, GOD RESPONDS TO OUR PRAYERS IN ABOUT FOUR
BASIC WAYS, AND ALL OF THIS IS BY INTRODUCTION. SOMETIMES THE
ANSWER TO PRAYER MAY BE DIRECT. GOD JUST SAYS, “YES.” WE ASK GOD
FOR SOMETHING, AND GOD JUST SAYS, “ALL RIGHT, MY CHILD, YOU
ASK, HERE IT IS,” AND GOD GIVES US EXACTLY, PRECISELY,
IMMEDIATELY WHAT WE ASK. THAT’S, I LOVE TO PRAY THAT WAY. I LOVE
JUST TO SAY, “LORD, I NEED SO-AND-SO,” AND HE SAYS, “ALL
RIGHT, HERE IT IS, MY CHILD.” AND I THINK WE’VE ALL, IF WE’VE
WALKED WITH THE LORD FOR MANY DAYS, WE’VE SEEN THAT KIND OF AN
ANSWER TO PRAYER. I MEAN BEYOND COINCIDENCE, BEYOND ANY
HAPPENSTANCE, WE SAY, “YES, THIS HAS THE HALLMARK OF GOD; IT HAS
THE STAMP OF GOD UPON IT.” SO FIRST OF ALL, THE ANSWER MAY BE
DIRECT, AND GOD SAYS YES. SOMETIMES THE ANSWER MAY BE
DIFFERENT AND GOD SAYS, “BETTER.” NOW IF GOD DOESN’T
GIVE YOU WHAT YOU ASK, UH, HE MAY GIVE YOU SOMETHING FAR
BETTER THAN YOU ASK, AND SO THE ANSWER MAY NOT BE DIRECT. IT MAY
BE DIFFERENT. YOU ASK ONE THING, AND GOD GIVES YOU SOMETHING
ELSE. FOR THE BIBLE SAYS, “WE KNOW NOT WHAT WE SHOULD PRAY FOR
AS WE OUGHT, BUT THE SPIRIT HIMSELF MAKETH INTERCESSION FOR
US.” AND SO SOMETIMES THE HOLY SPIRIT SAYS, “ADRIAN IS ASKING
THIS, FATHER, BUT THIS IS WHAT HE NEEDS, AND GIVE HIM NOT WHAT
HE ASKS, BUT GIVE HIM SOMETHING BETTER THAN HE ASKS.” AND HE IS
ABLE, AH, TO DO “EXCEEDINGLY ABOVE ALL THAT WE CAN ASK OR
THINK,” THAT’S WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS. SO THANK GOD SOMETIMES
THAT THE ANSWER IS DIRECT, SOMETIMES THE ANSWER IS
DIFFERENT, AND THEN SOMETIMES THE ANSWER IS DELAYED. ISN’T
THAT TRUE? I MEAN, THE BIBLE SAYS, “THEREFORE WILL THE LORD
WAIT THAT HE MAY BE GRACIOUS UNTO YOU.” THE BIBLE SAYS, “ASK
AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN YOU, SEEK AND YE SHALL FIND, KNOCK AND IT
SHALL BE OPENED UNTO YOU.” UH, THAT’S IN MATTHEW SEVEN, I
BELIEVE, BUT THE, THE GREEK VERB IS “KEEP ON ASKING, KEEP ON
KNOCKING, KEEP ON SEEKING, UH, KEEP ON KEEPING ON,” BECAUSE THE
BIBLE SAYS, “THEREFORE WILL THE LORD WAIT THAT HE MAY BE
GRACIOUS UNTO YOU.” UH, WITH GOD, WITH GOD, UH, TIMING IS
MORE IMPORTANT THAN TIME. AND SO, AH, THE BIBLE SAYS, “YOU
HAVE NEED OF PATIENCE THAT YOU MAY BE PERFECT.” THAT DOESN’T
MEAN UH, WITH, UH, WITHOUT ANY FLAW. IT MEANS MATURE, AND SO IF
YOU WANT TO BE MATURE, SOMETIMES GOD MAKES YOU WAIT. IT’S LIKE,
UH, SOMETIME A CHILD WAITING FOR CHRISTMAS, THEIR CHRISTMAS MAY
BE ALL THE BETTER. ALL RIGHT NOW SOMETIMES THE ANSWER IS DIRECT.
GOD SAYS, “YES.” SOMETIMES THE ANSWER IS DIFFERENT AND GOD
SAYS, “BETTER.” SOMETIMES THE ANSWER IS, UH, DELAYED AND GOD
SAYS, “WAIT.” BUT SOMETIMES THE ANSWER’S “NO.” THE PRAYER IS
DENIED. IT, IT’S NOT DIRECT, IT IS NOT DIFFERENT, IT IS NOT
DELAYED, IT IS DENIED. GOD SAYS, “NO!” “WE ASK AND RECEIVE NOT.”
THAT’S WHAT JAMES SAYS. NOW WHY WOULD GOD SAY NO TO PRAYER? WELL
THAT’S WHAT WE WANT TO THINK ABOUT TODAY, AND WHAT I HAVE TO
SAY TO YOU IS NOT NECESSARILY NEW. I’M NOT GONNA SAY ANYTHING
THAT I’VE NOT SAID FROM THIS PULPIT BEFORE AT ONE TIME OR
ANOTHER. I’M NOT HERE TO CREATE TRUTH, HUH, HUH, HA, I’M HERE,
UH, TO REINFORCE TRUTH AND TO REMIND US OF THINGS THAT I NEED
TO BE REMINDED OF AND YOU NEED TO BE REMINDED OF ON AND ON AND
ON. SOMETIMES PRAYERS ARE NOT ANSWERED. WELL, IF WE PRAY AND
THE PRAYER IS NOT ANSWERED, WOULD WE SAY THAT, UH, THE
PROMISES OF GOD ARE WRONG? WOULD WE SAY THAT, UH, GOD IS NOT A
PRAYER-ANSWERING GOD? WELL I WANT TO ASK YOU A QUESTION. IF
YOU WENT INTO YOUR HOUSE THIS AFTERNOON AND, UH, TURNED THE
LIGHT SWITCH, AND THE LIGHTS DID NOT COME ON, HUH, WOULD YOU SAY
ELECTRICITY HAS FAILED? WOULD YOU SAY THAT THOMAS EDISON IS A
FRAUD, OR WOULD YOU SAY, “THERE MUST BE SOME PROBLEM.
SWEETHEART, DID WE PAY THE BILL?” HA, HA, HA, HUH, HUH. GO
OUT AND CHECK THE FUSE BOX. SEE WHAT HAS HAPPENED. YOU WOULD NOT
SAY THAT ELECTRICITY HAS FAILED. YOU WOULD SAY THERE IS SOMETHING
WRONG BECAUSE WE HAVE TURNED THE LIGHT SWITCH AND THE LIGHTS DID
NOT COME ON. NOW WE NEED TO ASK OURSELVES THIS QUESTION. WHEN WE
PRAY SOMETIMES AND THE ANSWER IS NOT DIRECT, IT IS NOT DIFFERENT,
IT IS NOT DELAYED, IT IS DENIED, THEN WHY? WHY DOES GOD SAY NO? I
WANT YOU TO GET SOME PAPER AND JOT SOME SCRIPTURES DOWN BECAUSE
I’M GONNA GIVE YOU A LOT OF SCRIPTURE THIS MORNING AND, UH,
AH, HUH, YOU WON’T EVEN HAVE TIME TO TURN TO THEM, YOU’RE
JUST GONNA HAVE TO TRUST ME AND, UH, I’M, I’M GOING, YOU CAN TURN
TO THEM IF YOU’RE FAST. IF YOU'RE A LITTLE BOY OR GIRL, YOU
CAN PROBABLY FIND THEM. IF YOU’RE AN ADULT, YOU’D JUST
BETTER WRITE THEM DOWN, NOW. [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] UH, LET, LET
ME JUST TURN THE THING AROUND AND SAY NOT ONLY WHY GOD DOES
NOT ANSWER OUR PRAYERS, BUT LET’S SAY WHY GOD DOES ANSWER
OUR PRAYERS, AND THEN WE’LL SEE WHY PERHAPS HE DIDN’T ANSWER OUR
PRAYERS. LET ME GIVE YOU, AH, ABOUT SIX PRINCIPLES. PRINCIPLE
NUMBER ONE: WE ARE TO PRAY IN HIS NAME. WE ARE TO PRAY IN HIS
NAME. NOW PUT THESE SCRIPTURES DOWN, JOHN CHAPTER 14 AND VERSE
SIX. WE ALL KNOW THAT ONE. “JESUS SAITH, ‘I AM THE WAY, THE
TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER BUT BY
ME.’” NOW WHEN YOU’RE COMING TO GOD IN PRAYER, YOU HAVE TO COME
THROUGH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. AND THEN IN JOHN 14, JOHN 14
VERSES 13 AND 14, HERE’S WHAT JESUS SAID, “AND WHATSOEVER YE
SHALL ASK IN MY NAME, THAT WILL I DO.” “WHATSOEVER YE SHALL ASK
IN MY NAME, THAT WILL I DO, THAT THE FATHER MAY BE GLORIFIED IN
THE SON. IF YE SHALL ASK ANYTHING IN MY NAME, I WILL DO
IT.” AND THEN PUT DOWN JOHN CHAPTER 16 VERSES 23 AND 24, “IN
THAT DAY YOU SHALL ASK ME NOTHING. VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU,
BUT WHATSOEVER YE SHALL ASK THE FATHER IN MY NAME, HE WILL GIVE
IT YOU. HITHERTO IF YOU ASK NOTHING IN MY NAME, ASK AND YE
SHALL RECEIVE THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE FULL.” SHOW ME SOMEBODY
GETTING HIS PRAYERS ANSWERED, AND I’LL SHOW YOU A JOYFUL
CHRISTIAN. YOU SEE, WITHOUT JESUS THERE IS NO WAY TO THE
FATHER. AND SO, UH, IF YOU WERE TO, SAY YOU WERE LOST IN A
NEIGHBORHOOD AND YOU STOP AND YOU ASK AN INDIVIDUAL, YOU’RE
WALKING AROUND THERE AND YOU SAY, “CAN YOU TELL ME HOW TO GET
TO THUS AND SUCH A SPOT?” THAT INDIVIDUAL SAYS TO YOU, “WELL,
IT’S QUITE COMPLICATED. I’LL TRY TO EXPLAIN IT TO YOU, BUT YOU
DON’T HAVE ANY WAY TO GET THERE.” “WELL,” YOU SAY, “I’LL
WALK.” HE SAYS, “IT’S TOO FAR.” HE SAYS, “I’LL TELL YOU WHAT
I’LL DO. YOU GET IN MY CAR, AND I’LL TAKE YOU THERE.” NOW HE’S
NOT JUST POINTING TO THE WAY, HE THEN BECOMES THE WAY. JESUS
DOESN’T JUST POINT US TO THE WAY, JESUS IS THE WAY. AH, HE
SAYS, “YOU CAN’T COME UNLESS I TAKE YOU TO THE FATHER.” NOW
THEREFORE, TO PRAY IN JESUS’ NAME MEANS THAT YOU HAVE
RECEIVED HIM AS YOUR LORD AND AS YOUR SAVIOR AND AS YOUR MASTER.
LET ME TELL YOU, LET ME GIVE YOU JUST THREE A’S AS TO WHAT IT
MEANS TO PRAY IN JESUS’ NAME. NUMBER ONE, IT MEANS TO PRAY
WITH HIS APPROVAL. YOU CAN’T SIGN HIS NAME TO SOMETHING THAT
HE DOESN’T APPROVE. YOU CAN’T JUST RATTLE OFF A LIST OF THINGS
THAT YOU WANT AND SAY, “IN JESUS’ NAME,” SOME LITTLE PET
PHRASE TO GET YOUR PRAYERS ANSWERED. YOU’RE, TO PRAY IN HIS
NAME MEANS WITH HIS APPROVAL. AND THEN IT MEANS TO PRAY FOR
HIS ACCLAIM, FOR HIS GLORY, NOT FOR YOUR GLORY, BUT FOR HIS
GLORY. AND THEN IT MEANS TO PRAY WITH HIS AUTHORITY. YOU HAVE
SIGNED HIS NAME TO YOUR PRAYER AND YOU CAN SAY, “SATAN, IN THE
NAME OF JESUS, LEAVE ME ALONE.” YOU CAN PRAY WITH HIS AUTHORITY
BECAUSE WHEN YOU PRAY IN HIS NAME, DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU’RE
SAYING? “I AM HIS AGENT, I AM HIS AGENT. I AM HERE ON EARTH,
ACTING ON BEHALF OF JESUS CHRIST IN HEAVEN, AND I AM PRAYING WITH
THE POWER OF ATTORNEY, I AM PRAYING WITH THE AUTHORITY OF
JESUS CHRIST. I’M SIGNING HIS NAME TO THIS PRAYER.” AND FRIEND
YOU CAN’T DO THAT IF YOU’RE NOT A CHILD OF GOD. DON’T FORGE HIS
NAME TO AN UNAUTHORIZED PRAYER. MMM. ALL RIGHT, NUMBER ONE, AH,
WE MUST PRAY IN HIS NAME. NUMBER TWO, WE ARE TO PRAY IN THE
SPIRIT. WE’RE TO PRAY IN THE SPIRIT. NOW IT’S NOT ENOUGH TO
BE SAVED SO YOU CAN PRAY IN HIS NAME; YOU MUST ALSO BE
SURRENDERED SO YOU CAN PRAY IN THE SPIRIT. NOW THERE’RE MANY
COMMANDS IN THE BIBLE TO PRAY IN THE SPIRIT. LET ME GIVE YOU TWO
OF THEM: EPHESIANS CHAPTER SIX AND VERSE 18, “PRAYING ALWAYS,
WITH ALL PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION IN THE SPIRIT.” AND THEN IN JUDE
VERSE 20, “BUT YE, BELOVED, BUILDING UP YOURSELVES ON YOUR
MOST HOLY FAITH, PRAYING IN THE HOLY GHOST.” NOW WHEN THE BIBLE
SAYS “HOLY SPIRIT” OR “HOLY GHOST,” THAT’S THE SAME THING.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A GHOST, WE’RE NOT TALKING ABOUT SOME
SPECTER. IT MEANS A, A SPIRIT, AN INVISIBLE SPIRIT. SO WE’RE TO
PRAY IN THE SPIRIT, THE HOLY SPIRIT. NOW WHY MUST YOU PRAY IN
THE SPIRIT? WELL OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE OF YOUR HUMAN WEAKNESS.
PUT THIS VERSE DOWN, ROMANS EIGHT VERSE 26, “LIKEWISE THE
SPIRIT ALSO HELPETH OUR INFIRMITIES, FOR WE KNOW NOT
WHAT WE SHOULD PRAY FOR AS WE OUGHT,” AHA, “BUT THE SPIRIT
HIMSELF MAKETH INTERCESSION FOR US WITH GROANINGS THAT CANNOT BE
UTTERED.” NOW THE WORD HELPETH IS A GREEK WORD WHICH MEANS “TO
TAKE HOLD OF.” IF YOU’RE TRYING TO PUT A, A BALE OF COTTON ON A
TRUCK, YOU’RE ON ONE SIDE, YOU’RE TRYING TO PUT IT ON THE
TRUCK, AH, SOMEBODY ON THE OTHER SIDE IS HELPING YOU, TO,
TOGETHER YOU “TAKE HOLD OF.” NOW THIS WORD IS, IS, IS A COMPOUND
WORD. IT, IT, IT HAS A PREFIX WHICH MEANS “TOGETHER WITH” AND
“INSTEAD OF.” IT’S A DOUBLE PREFIX. IT’S A VERY WONDERFUL
WORD. HE HELPS US, AND HE DOES IT INSTEAD OF US, AND HE DOES IT
TOGETHER WITH US. NOW WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? HA, HA, WELL IT MEANS
WHEN WE PRAY, HE IS THE ONE WHO GUIDES, ENERGIZES, INSPIRES OUR
PRAYERS. HE IS THE ONE WHO PUTS POWER IN OUR PRAYER. HE DOES IT
INSTEAD OF US, BUT HE DOES IT TOGETHER WITH US. WHAT DOES THAT
MEAN IN PLAIN ENGLISH? WE CAN’T DO IT WITHOUT HIM AND HE WON’T
DO IT WITHOUT US. WE ARE TO PRAY IN THE SPIRIT. WE PRAY TO THE
FATHER, THROUGH THE SON, IN THE SPIRIT. AND YOU SEE, THE SPIRIT,
HE’S THE ONE WHO ENERGIZES OUR PRAYER; HE’S THE ONE WHO
INSTRUCTS OUR PRAYER. THE BIBLE SAYS, “WE KNOW NOT WHAT WE
SHOULD PRAY FOR AS WE OUGHT.” UH, THERE’S SO MANY THINGS TO
PRAY FOR, AND SO MANY WAYS TO PRAY FOR THOSE THINGS. SO THE
HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD IS SORT OF THE DIVINE TRANSFORMER; HE TAKES
OUR PRAYER ENERGY AND HE TRANSFORMS IT SO IT IS
ACCEPTABLE TO GOD THE FATHER. WE’RE PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT. THE
BIBLE SAYS HE DOES THAT, “WITH GROANINGS THAT CAN’T BE
UTTERED.” THERE’RE THINGS THAT WE CANNOT ARTICULATE. THE WORD
GROANINGS IS A WORD THAT IS USED FOR A WOMAN IN LABOR, WHEN SHE’S
ABOUT TO BRING FORTH A CHILD, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD IS
THERE WHEN WE PRAY, THIS ALMOST WORDLESS PRAYING. HE IS THERE TO
ENERGIZE OUR PRAYER, TO MAKE OUR PRAYER ACCEPTABLE INTO HEAVEN.
BECAUSE OF OUR HUMAN WEAKNESS, AH, HE HELPS OUR INFIRMITIES.
BECAUSE OF OUR HUMAN IGNORANCE, “WE KNOW NOT WHAT WE SHOULD PRAY
FOR AS WE OUGHT,” THE DEAR, BLESSED HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD IS
THE ONE WHO ENERGIZES OUR PRAYERS. HE INSPIRES OUR
PRAYERS, HE GUIDES OUR PRAYERS, HE ENERGIZES OUR PRAYING, HE
SUSTAINS OUR PRAYING. SO IF YOU WANT YOUR PRAYERS ANSWERED, YOU
KNOW WHAT MY SUGGESTION TO YOU IS? NUMBER ONE, YOU GET SAVED.
NUMBER TWO, YOU BE SURRENDERED AND YOU SAY, “HERE, DEAR HOLY
SPIRIT OF GOD, YOU ARE THE SPIRIT OF GRACE, YOU ARE THE
SPIRIT OF SUPPLICATIONS, PRAY IN ME, THROUGH ME, WITH ME. GUIDE,
ENERGIZE MY PRAYERS.” NUMBER THREE, AH, WE ARE TO PRAY IN THE
WILL OF GOD. WE ARE TO PRAY IN THE WILL OF GOD. NOW WHEN YOU’RE
SAVED AND WHEN YOU’RE SPIRIT-FILLED, THEN YOU’RE GOING
TO BE PRAYING IN THE, IN THE WILL OF GOD. FIRST JOHN CHAPTER
FIVE AND VERSE 14, “AND THIS IS THE CONFIDENCE THAT WE HAVE IN
HIM. IF WE ASK HIM ANYTHING ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, HE
HEARETH US.” YOU SEE, WHEN WE PRAY IN THE SPIRIT, UH, WE'LL BE
PRAYING IN THE WILL OF GOD, BECAUSE THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD
IS NOT GOING TO GUIDE YOU TO PRAY FOR ANYTHING THAT IS NOT
THE WILL OF GOD, AND IF YOU PRAY FOR SOMETHING IN THE SPIRIT THAT
IS NOT THE WILL OF GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT SAYS, “THIS IS WHAT HE’S
ASKING, BUT THIS IS WHAT HE NEEDS.” SO IT’S VERY IMPORTANT.
THESE THINGS TRACK ONE UPON ANOTHER. NOW DO YOU WANT THE
WILL OF GOD IN YOUR LIFE? IF YOU DON’T WANT THE WILL OF GOD IN
YOUR LIFE, WHY SHOULD YOU PRAY? PRAYER IS NOT SOME EXERCISE
WHERE YOU BEND GOD’S WILL TO FIT YOUR WILL. PRAYER IS FINDING THE
WILL OF GOD AND GETTING IN ON IT. LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION.
DO YOU WANT YOUR PRAYERS ANSWERED? “YES SIR, PASTOR, I
WANT MY PRAYERS ANSWERED.” SECOND QUESTION: ARE YOU WILLING
TO DO THE WILL OF GOD? YOU SAY, “WELL, I, I THINK SO, WHAT IS
IT?” NO, YOU’RE NOT WILLING, YOU’RE NOT WILLING. YOU DON’T
SAY, “LORD, SHOW ME AND I’LL MAKE UP MY MIND.” YOU SAY,
“LORD, I HAVE FILLED, I HAVE SIGNED THE CONTRACT AT THE
BOTTOM. YOU FILL IT IN. [AUDIENCE: AMEN] YOU FILL IT IN.
I WANT YOUR WILL. ANYTIME, ANYPLACE, ANYWHERE, ANY COST, I
WANT YOUR WILL.” WHEN YOU WANT HIS WILL THAT WAY, YOU’LL KNOW
HIS WILL. “AND THIS IS THE CONFIDENCE THAT WE HAVE IN HIM,
IF WE ASK HIM ANYTHING ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, HE HEARS US.”
“WELL,” YOU SAY, “WHAT IF HE WANTS ME TO DO SOMETHING I DON’T
WANT TO DO?” DO YOU THINK GOD’S GONNA TRAP YOU? DO YOU THINK GOD
IS NOT A GOOD GOD? LISTEN. ROMANS CHAPTER 12 VERSES ONE AND
TWO, “I BESEECH YOU THEREFORE BRETHREN BY THE MERCIES OF GOD,”
THE GOD WHO DIED FOR YOU, “BY THE MERCIES OF GOD, THAT YE
PRESENT YOUR BODIES A LIVING SACRIFICE, HOLY, ACCEPTABLE UNTO
GOD, AND, AND, AND, AND BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD, BUT BE
TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND THAT YOU MIGHT PROVE
WHAT IS THAT GOOD, ACCEPTABLE, AND PERFECT WILL OF GOD.” LET
ME, I DON’T KNOW WHAT GOD’S WILL IS FOR YOU, BUT I KNOW THREE
THINGS ABOUT IT. IT’S GOOD, IT’S ACCEPTABLE, AND IT’S PERFECT.
GOD WANTS FOR YOU WHAT YOU’D WANT FOR YOURSELF IF YOU HAD
ENOUGH SENSE TO WANT IT. AH, I’M TELLING YOU, AH, AH DON’T, DON’T
EVER SAY, “OH, I, I HAVE TO DO THE WILL OF GOD.” YOU CAN SAY,
“BLESS GOD! I GET TO DO THE WILL OF THE ONE WHO LOVES ME SO MUCH
THAT HE DIED FOR ME.” I’VE LEARNED A LESSON ABOUT PRAYER.
THE PRAYER THAT GETS TO HEAVEN IS THE PRAYER THAT STARTS IN
HEAVEN. WHAT WE DO IS JUST CLOSE THE CIRCUIT. YOU SEE, IT IS THE
WILL OF GOD. PRAYER IS NOT SOME METHOD BY WHICH MAN ON EARTH
GETS HIS WILL DONE IN HEAVEN. PRAYER IS A METHOD WHERE GOD IN
HEAVEN GETS HIS WILL DONE ON EARTH, AND JESUS TAUGHT US TO
PRAY, “THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH, [SLAP]
THY WILL ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.” YOU KNOW WHAT PRAYER
IS? PRAYER IS THE HOLY SPIRIT FINDING A DESIRE IN THE HEART OF
THE FATHER, THEN PUTTING THAT DESIRE INTO OUR HEART BECAUSE
WE’RE PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT, AND THEN SENDING IT BACK TO HEAVEN
IN THE POWER OF THE CROSS BECAUSE WE’RE PRAYING IN JESUS’
NAME. [AUDIENCE: THAT’S RIGHT] WE’RE PRAYING IN THE WILL OF
GOD. PRAYER IS THE HOLY SPIRIT FINDING A DESIRE IN THE HEART OF
THE FATHER, PUTTING THAT DESIRE INTO OUR HEARTS BECAUSE WE ARE
IN THE SPIRIT, AND THEN SENDING IT BACK TO HEAVEN IN THE POWER
OF THE CROSS BECAUSE WE’RE SAVED AND IN, UNDER THE BLOOD OF THE
LORD JESUS CHRIST. AND SO WE ARE TO PRAY IN THE WILL OF GOD. NOW
THAT’S THE REASON SO MANY OF OUR PRAYERS ARE NOT ANSWERED. JAMES
TELLS US CLEARLY THAT, EH, THAT WE DON’T, THAT WE HAVE NOT
BECAUSE WE, WE’RE PRAYING OUT OF THE WILL OF GOD. LOOK, LOOK AT
THIS, “FROM WHENCE COME,” CHAPTER FOUR VERSE ONE, “FROM
WHENCE COME WARS AND FIGHTINGS AMONG YOU? COME THEY NOT HENCE
EVEN OF YOUR LUSTS,” THE WORD LUSTS HERE MEANS STRONG DESIRE,
“THAT WAR IN YOUR MEMBERS?” HE’S TALKING ABOUT YOUR EYES, YOUR
HANDS, YOUR FEET, YOUR HEART. “YE LUST AND HAVE NOT, YE KILL
AND DESIRE TO HAVE AND CANNOT OBTAIN. YET YE HAVE NOT BECAUSE
YE ASK NOT, AND THEN YOU ASK AND RECEIVE NOT BECAUSE YOU ASK
AMISS.” UH, THAT IS, YOU’RE, YOU’RE ASKING, UH, WITH THE
WRONG INTENT. YOU SAY, “WELL, PASTOR, CAN’T I ASK GOD FOR WHAT
I NEED?” OF COURSE. YOU CAN ASK GOD FOR PERSONAL NEEDS, BUT YOU
CANNOT ASK GOD FOR SELFISH NEEDS. AH, YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE
TAKE A VERSE LIKE THIS ONE, UH, PSALM 37 AND VERSE FOUR THAT
SAYS, “DELIGHT YOURSELF IN THE LORD AND HE’LL GIVE YOU THE
DESIRES OF YOUR HEART.” YOU SAY, “OH, MAN, THAT’S WONDERFUL. I’LL
HAVE, AH, I’VE ALWAYS WANTED REAGAN’S RANCH IN CALIFORNIA.
I’M GONNA BUY IT.” HA, HA, HA, I’LL JUST HAVE THE DESIRE OF MY
HEART.” NO. LISTEN TO WHAT GOD IS SAYING. “DELIGHT YOURSELF IN
THE LORD [THUMP] AND HE’LL GIVE YOU THE DESIRE OF YOUR HEART.”
DO YOU KNOW WHAT DETERMINES YOUR DESIRES? YOUR DELIGHTS. YOU
DESIRE WHAT YOU DELIGHT IN. NOW IF, HA, HE DOESN’T SAY IF YOU
DELIGHT IN THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD, GOD’LL GIVE THEM TO YOU.
NO, YOU DELIGHT YOURSELF IN THE LORD AND YOU WILL HAVE THE
DESIRE OF YOUR HEART. UH, YOU KNOW SOMETIMES PEOPLE THINK,
“WELL, THE PROMISES OF GOD HAVE FAILED,” AND, AND THE PROMISES
OF GOD HAVE NOT FAILED. THESE PEOPLE ARE JUST SELFISH IN THEIR
PRAYERS. FOR EXAMPLE, I QUOTED MATTHEW 7:7, WHERE JESUS SAID,
UH, “ASK AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN YOU, SEEK AND YOU SHALL FIND,
KNOCK AND IT SHALL BE OPENED UNTO YOU.” AND A PERSON SAYS,
“WELL I’VE ASKED, I DIDN’T GET; I SOUGHT, I DIDN’T GET; I
KNOCKED, IT WASN’T OPENED UNTO ME.” WELL, LISTEN. A TEXT
WITHOUT A CONTEXT IS A PRETEXT. THAT’S MATTHEW 7:7. JUST GO BACK
TO MATTHEW CHAPTER SIX AND VERSE 33, WHERE JESUS SAID, “SEEK YE
FIRST, FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL
THESE THINGS WILL BE ADDED UNTO YOU.” HA, HUH, WE COME WITH A
LAUNDRY LIST, A SHOPPING LIST OF THINGS THAT WE WANT, TA, DA, DA,
DA, DA, DA, DA, DA, DA. OVER HERE, HAVE WE SOUGHT FIRST THE
KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS? AND, ARE WE
DELIGHTING IN THE LORD? NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT. WE HAVE OUR, THE
LUST OF OUR FLESH, OUR CARNAL DESIRES, WE THINK OF GOD AS SOME
SORT OF A GLORIFIED BELLHOP, TO GIVE US WHATEVER OUR CARNAL
NATURES WANT, AND THEN WE WONDER WHY OUR PRAYERS ARE NOT
ANSWERED. NO, FRIEND. WE ARE TO PRAY IN THE WILL OF GOD.
THERE’RE SEVERAL INSTANCES IN THE BIBLE WHERE PEOPLE CAME TO
JESUS WHEN HE WAS HERE ON EARTH, AND THEY ASKED HIM FOR THINGS,
AND THE ANSWER WAS NO. PUT THESE DOWN IN YOUR MARGIN, LUKE 12
VERSES 13 THROUGH 15, “AND ONE OF THE COMPANY SAID UNTO HIM,
‘MASTER, SPEAK TO MY BROTHER, THAT HE DIVIDE THE INHERITANCE
WITH ME.’” NOW EVIDENTLY THE FATHER HAD DIED, AND THEY’RE
TRYING TO ADJUDICATE THE WILL, AND ONE BROTHER, UH, WAS NOT
DIVIDING WITH THE OTHER BROTHER. “AND HE SAID UNTO HIM,” JESUS
SAID TO HIM, “‘MAN, WHO MADE ME A JUDGE OR A DIVIDER OVER YOU?’
AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, ‘TAKE HEED AND BEWARE OF COVETOUSNESS,
FOR A MAN'S LIFE CONSISTETH NOT IN THE ABUNDANCE OF THE THINGS
WHICH HE POSSESSES.’” HERE IS A MAN WHO CAME TO JESUS WITH A
PRAYER. HE SAID, “JESUS! YOU STEP IN. YOU JUDGE THIS MATTER.
I WANT YOU TO BE THE EXECUTOR OF THIS ESTATE.” JESUS SAID,
“THAT’S NOT MY JOB. WHO MADE ME A JUDGE OR A DIVIDER AMONG YOU?”
THEN JESUS SAID, “YOU’VE GOT A COVETOUS SPIRIT.” A LOT OF TIMES
WE PRAY WITH A COVETOUS SPIRIT, AND WE WONDER WHY OUR PRAYERS
ARE NOT ANSWERED. LET ME GIVE YOU ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE SAME
THING. HERE’S ANOTHER PRAYER THAT WAS ASKED OF JESUS. MATTHEW
CHAPTER 20 VERSES 20 AND 22, “THEN CAME TO HIM THE MOTHER OF
ZEBEDEE’S CHILDREN WITH HER SONS, WORSHIPPING HIM.” NOW WHO,
WHO WERE THE SONS OF ZEBEDEE? JAMES AND JOHN. “AND DESIRING A
CERTAIN THING OF HIM.” IN OTHER WORDS, SHE’S PRAYING. “AND HE
SAID UNTO HER, ‘WHAT, WHAT WILT THOU?’” WHAT DO YOU WANT? “SHE
SAITH UNTO HIM, ‘GRANT THAT THESE, MY TWO SONS, MAY SIT, ONE
ON THY RIGHT HAND AND THE OTHER ON THY LEFT IN THY KINGDOM.’”
NOW HERE, SHE, SHE’S SAYING, “LORD, LOOK, I’VE GOT TWO FINE
BOYS HERE, AND I KNOW, HA, I KNOW YOU’RE THE MESSIAH, AND I
KNOW YOU’RE GOING TO RULE AND, OH, IN PLACE OF AUTHORITY. I’D
LIKE, UH, JAMES OVER HERE ON YOUR RIGHT HAND, AND I’D LIKE
JOHN OVER HERE ON YOUR LEFT HAND. THAT’D BE ALL RIGHT,
LORD?” HERE'S WHAT THE LORD SAYS TO HER. LISTEN TO THIS, “JESUS
ANSWERED AND SAID, ‘YOU KNOW NOT WHAT YE ASK. [TAP] ARE YE ABLE
TO DRINK OF THE CUP THAT I SHALL DRINK OF AND TO BE BAPTIZED WITH
THE BAPTISM THAT I AM BAPTIZED WITH?’ THEY SAITH UNTO HIM, ‘OH,
YEAH, WE’RE ABLE.’” THEY DIDN’T HAVE A CLUE, DID NOT HAVE A
CLUE! [TAP] HERE WAS A WOMAN WHO WAS PRAYING TO THE LORD! BUT SHE
WAS NOT PRAYING IN THE WILL OF GOD! WE’RE TO PRAY IN THE NAME.
WE’RE TO PRAY IN THE SPIRIT. WE'RE TO PRAY IN THE WILL OF
GOD. AH, AND THEN NEXT, WE ARE TO PRAY IN OBEDIENCE. THIS IS
VERY IMPORTANT. NOT ONLY ARE WE TO PRAY IN THE WILL OF GOD, BUT
WE’RE TO PRAY IN OBEDIENCE. THAT IS, IT IS ABSOLUTELY, TOTALLY
FOOLISH TO PRAY, A WASTE OF TIME TO PRAY, IF WE HAVE UNCONFESSED
SIN IN OUR HEARTS AND IN OUR LIVES. SO MANY TIMES OUR PRAYERS
ARE, “GOD, I KNOW I’M NOT RIGHT, BUT JUST BLESS ME ANYHOW.” DID
YOU KNOW THAT IF GOD WERE TO JUST “BLESS YOU ANYHOW,” THAT
WHAT HE WOULD BE DOING IS REINFORCING YOUR SIN NATURE? HE
WOULD BE REINFORCING, HE WOULD BE ENABLING YOU AS A SINNER. NOW
YOU OUGHT TO KNOW BETTER THAN THAT. LET ME GIVE YOU SOME
PEOPLE IN THE BIBLE WHO KNEW BETTER THAN THAT. JOT, JOT THESE
SCRIPTURES DOWN. KING DAVID KNEW BETTER THAN THAT BECAUSE HE SAID
IN PSALM 66 AND VERSE 18, “IF I REGARD INIQUITY IN MY HEART, THE
LORD WILL NOT HEAR ME.” NOW HE DIDN’T SAY, “IF I HAVE SINNED
THE LORD WILL NOT HEAR ME,” BUT HE SAYS, LET, LET MY BIBLE JUST
REPRESENT, UH, SIN. IT TELLS ABOUT SIN. AND LET’S JUST SAY I
HAVE A LITTLE PET SIN RIGHT DOWN HERE IN MY HEART, [KISS, KISS,
KISS] NICE FELLOW THERE [PAT, PAT, PAT, PAT, PAT] “NOW LORD,”
[KISS, KISS, KISS] “NOW LORD, HERE’S WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO FOR
ME.” ISN’T THAT RIDICULOUS? IS THAT NOT RIDICULOUS, TO REGARD
INIQUITY IN OUR HEART! AND THEN HAVE THE AUDACITY TO COME TO GOD
WHILE WE FLING OUR SIN IN HIS FACE AND ASK HIM TO ANSWER
PRAYER? ISAIAH KNEW BETTER THAN THIS. LISTEN TO ISAIAH CHAPTER
ONE VERSE 15, “AND WHEN YE SPREAD FORTH YOUR HANDS, I WILL
HIDE MINE EYES FROM YOU. YEA WHEN YOU MAKE MANY PRAYERS, I
WILL NOT HEAR. YOUR HANDS ARE FULL OF BLOOD. WASH YOU, MAKE
YOU CLEAN, PUT AWAY THE EVIL OF YOUR DOINGS FROM BEFORE MINE
EYES. CEASE TO DO EVIL.” WE CAN PRAY FOR GOD’S BLESSING ON
AMERICA AND KEEP KILLING BABIES, FRIEND, AND OUR HA, OUR PRAYERS
ARE NOT GONNA BE ANSWERED. HE SAYS, “YOUR HANDS ARE FULL OF
BLOOD.” ISAIAH PICKS UP THIS THEME BACK NOW IN THE LAST PART
OF THE BOOK OF ISAIAH, ISAIAH CHAPTER 59 VERSES ONE THROUGH
FOUR, “BEHOLD, THE LORD’S HAND IS NOT SHORT, THAT IT CANNOT
SAVE, NEITHER IS HIS EAR HEAVY THAT HE CANNOT HEAR. BUT YOUR
INIQUITIES HAVE SEPARATED BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR GOD, AND
YOUR SINS HAVE HID HIS FACE FROM YOU, THAT HE WILL NOT HEAR. YOUR
HANDS ARE DEFILED WITH BLOOD, YOUR FINGERS WITH INIQUITY, YOUR
LIPS HAVE SPOKEN LIES, YOUR TONGUE HATH MUTTERED
PERVERSENESS, NONE CALLETH FOR JUSTICE, NOR ANY PLEADETH FOR
TRUTH. THEY TRUST IN VANITY AND SPEAK LIES; THEY CONCEIVE
MISCHIEF AND BRING FORTH INIQUITY.” THAT, MY FRIEND, IS
MODERN AMERICA. AND WE WONDER WHY GOD IS NOT HEARING OUR
PRAYER FOR AMERICA. NOW GOD WILL LET US HAVE THE KIND OF NATIONAL
LEADERSHIP WE WANT, BUT GOD WILL NOT NECESSARILY ANSWER OUR
PRAYERS IF WE CHOOSE LEADERSHIP THAT IS CORRUPT OVER A GOD WHO
IS HOLY. FIRST SAMUEL CHAPTER EIGHT AND VERSE 18, GOD SAYS,
“AND YE SHALL CRY OUT IN THAT DAY BECAUSE OF YOUR KING WHICH
YOU HAVE CHOSEN YOU, AND THE LORD WILL NOT HEAR YOU IN THAT
DAY.” YOU’LL CRY OUT BECAUSE OF YOUR KING THAT YOU’VE CHOSEN
YOU! BUT I WON’T HEAR YOU. I’M TELLING YOU, FRIEND, WHEN WE
PRAY IN DISOBEDIENCE, WHEN WE LIVE, UH, UH, LIES AS,
NATIONALLY OR PERSONALLY, AND EXPECT GOD JUST TO OVERRULE AND
OVERRIDE, HE WILL NOT. EZRA KNEW BETTER. EZRA CHAPTER NINE AND
VERSE SIX, AND HE SAID, “OH, MY GOD, I’M ASHAMED AND BLUSHED, TO
LIFT UP MY FACE UNTO THEE, MY GOD, FOR OUR INIQUITIES ARE
INCREASED OVER OUR HEAD AND OUR TRESPASS IS GROWN UP UNTO THE
HEAVENS.” EZRA SAID, “OH GOD, I CAN’T EVEN LOOK YOU IN THE FACE
BECAUSE OF THE SIN OF THIS NATION.” JAMES KNEW THAT WE MUST
PRAY IN OBEDIENCE. JAMES SAID, “CONFESS YOUR FAULTS ONE TO
ANOTHER AND PRAY ONE FOR ANOTHER, THAT YE MAY BE HEALED.
THE EFFECTUAL, FERVENT PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN AVAILETH MUCH.”
THE APOSTLE JOHN KNEW BETTER. FIRST JOHN CHAPTER THREE AND
VERSE 22, “AND WHATSOEVER WE ASK, WE RECEIVE OF HIM, BECAUSE
WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS AND DO THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE PLEASING
IN HIS SIGHT.” WHAT ARE ALL OF THESE THINGS SAYING TO US? WHAT
IS DAVID SAYING, WHAT IS ISAIAH SAYING, WHAT IS JAMES SAYING,
WHAT IS JOHN SAYING, WHAT IS THE BIBLE SAYING OVER AND OVER
AGAIN? WE MUST PRAY IN OBEDIENCE! YOU WANT YOUR PRAYERS
ANSWERED. GET YOUR HEART CLEAN BEFORE GOD. ANCIENT ISRAEL WAS
IN TROUBLE. THE ARMIES OF ISRAEL HAD BEEN DEFEATED. JOSHUA, THE
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, WAS ON HIS FACE, AND HE’S PRAYING. AND GOD
SAYS TO JOSHUA, “WHY LIEST THOU UPON THY FACE? GET THEE UP.
ISRAEL HATH SINNED.” THAT IS, “JOSH, YOU DEAL WITH THE SIN IN
THE CAMP IF YOU WANT ME TO HEAR YOUR PRAYERS.” NOW FOLKS, IT’S
CLEAR, IT’S PLAIN: WE MUST PRAY IN OBEDIENCE. NOT ONLY SOMETIMES
THE SINS OF OMISS, UH, COMMISSION, BUT THE SINS OF
OMISSION. SOMETIMES WE THINK THAT WE’RE ALL RIGHT BECAUSE
WE’RE NOT LYING, STEALING, CHEATING, COMMITTING ADULTERY.
YOU KNOW ONE OF THE GREAT SINS IN AMERICA TODAY? WE’VE FAILED
TO HELP THE POOR AND THE NEEDY. DID YOU KNOW THAT? WE STUFF
OURSELVES FULL OF BREAD AND GIGGLE ABOUT BEING OVERWEIGHT.
AND THERE’RE PEOPLE, THEY’RE WALKING THE STREETS OF OUR
CITIES WHO HAVE NEED. PROVERBS 21 VERSE 13, “WHOSO STOPPETH HIS
EARS AT THE CRY OF THE POOR, HE ALSO SHALL CRY HIMSELF BUT WILL
NOT BE HEARD.” AND HE’S NOT TALKING HERE ABOUT COMMITTING
ADULTERY. HE’S JUST TALKING ABOUT A HARD HEART. YOU KNOW,
OUR LORD SAYS IN LUKE CHAPTER SIX AND VERSE 38, “GIVE AND IT
SHALL BE GIVEN UNTO YOU. WHAT MEASURE YOU MEET WILL BE
MEASURED TO YOU AGAIN.” YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE FAVORITE VERSES
MOST PEOPLE LIKE TO QUOTE, PHILIPPIANS FOUR VERSE 19, “MY
GOD SHALL SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEED ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES IN
GLORY.” NOW THAT IS A TRUTH, BUT IT’S LIKE THE OTHER TRUTH THAT I
WAS TALKING ABOUT OVER THERE IN MATTHEW 7:7. IT COMES IN A
CONTEXT. “MY GOD WILL SUPPLY ALL OF YOUR NEED.” BUT THAT’S IN
CHAPTER FOUR VERSE 19, BUT IN CHAPTER FOUR VERSE 16, HE SAYS,
“FOR EVEN IN THESSALONICA YE SENT ONCE AND AGAIN UNTO MY
NECESSITY.” WHAT’S HE SAYING? HA. HE’S SAYING, “I WAS HERE, A
MISSIONARY, AND WHAT DID YOU DO OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN?
[CLAP] YOU [CLAP] MET [CLAP] MY [CLAP] NEED.” AND HE SAID, “I’LL
TELL YOU SOMETHING ELSE, AND GOD’S GONNA SUPPLY YOUR NEED.”
MANY TIMES WE THINK, WELL, YOU KNOW, I CAN, I JUST, I, I CAN
JUST GET IT ALL FOR MYSELF AND I DON’T WANT TO BE, I DON’T WANT
TO BE POURING OUT GOD’S BLESSING, I JUST WANT TO BE, I
WANT TO BE, I DON’T WANT TO BE A CONDUIT, I JUST WANT TO BE A
RESERVOIR. AND I JUST WANT TO QUOTE AND PUT IT ON MY
REFRIGERATOR, UH, “MY GOD SHALL SUPPLY ALL OF MY NEED.” MY GOD
IS NOT GONNA SUPPLY ANY OF YOUR NEED, MY DEAR FRIEND, IF YOU’RE
SELFISH, IF YOU’RE SELFISH. WE HAVE TO PRAY IN OBEDIENCE.
AGAIN, I WANT TO TELL YOU, PRAYER IS NOT JUST SOME WAY THAT
GOD IS GOING TO BLESS YOU AS HIS LITTLE DARLING WHERE YOU CAN
LIVE A LIFE OF SELFISHNESS AND LUST AND DESIRE TO HAVE AND
FIGHT AND WAR. ONE REASON YOU HAVE NOT IS YOU ASK NOT. ANOTHER
REASON YOU HAVE NOT IS BECAUSE YOU ASK AMISS. MANY OF US, YOU
KNOW, WE HAVE ABOUT ALL THAT GOD CAN TRUST US WITH FINANCIALLY.
LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING. GOD SAYS, “GIVE AND IT’LL BE GIVEN
TO YOU.” HMM. YOU SHOVEL OUT, AND GOD SHOVELS IN. BUT GOD’S
GOT A MUCH BIGGER SHOVEL THAN YOU HAVE. LISTEN, WE NEED TO
PRAY IN OBEDIENCE. NOW HERE’S THE, HERE’S THE FIFTH THING.
WE’RE TO PRAY IN FELLOWSHIP. WE’RE TO PRAY IN FELLOWSHIP. NOW
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IT MEANS THAT IF YOU HAVE A GRUDGE IN
YOUR HEART TOWARD SOMEBODY ELSE, DON’T EXPECT GOD TO HEAR YOUR
PRAYERS. MARK 11 VERSES 25 AND 26, “AND WHEN YOU STAND PRAYING,
FORGIVE IF YE HAVE AUGHT AGAINST ANY THAT YOUR FATHER WHICH IS IN
HEAVEN MAY FORGIVE YOU YOUR TRESPASSES. BUT IF YE FORGIVE
NOT, NEITHER WILL YOUR FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN FORGIVE YOUR
TRESPASSES.” THAT’S PLAIN. IF YOUR HEART IS HEADQUARTERS FOR
HATE, IF YOU’RE HARBORING GRUDGES, DON’T EXPECT GOD TO
HEAR YOUR PRAYER. AND, AND LET ME ASK A QUESTION: IS THAT
GRUDGE THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR HEART, IS IT WORTH NOT HAVING
YOUR PRAYERS ANSWERED? A LITTLE GIRL WAS MAD AT HER MOTHER.
MOTHER TOOK, PUT HER TO BED AND SAID, “NOW SAY YOUR PRAYERS.”
THE LITTLE GIRL PRAYED, AND PRAYED FOR HER FATHER, PRAYED
FOR HER BROTHERS AND SISTERS, AUNTS AND UNCLES, AND ALL OF HER
COUSINS, AND THEN LOOKED AT HER MOTHER AND SAID, “I GUESS YOU
NOTICED YOU WEREN’T IN IT.” HMM. [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] I DOUBT THAT
LITTLE PRAYER WAS HEARD THAT NIGHT. SOMETIMES THE, THE GRUDGE
IS BETWEEN HUSBAND AND WIFE. LISTEN TO THIS VERSE, MARRIED
PEOPLE. FIRST PETER THREE VERSE SEVEN, “LIKEWISE, YE HUSBANDS
DWELL WITH THEM,” THAT IS, YOUR WIVES, “ACCORDING TO KNOWLEDGE,
GIVING HONOR UNTO THE WIFE AS UNTO THE WEAKER VESSEL, AS BEING
HEIRS TOGETHER OF THE GRACE OF LIFE, [TAP] THAT [TAP] YOUR
[TAP] PRAYERS [TAP] BE [TAP] NOT [TAP] HINDERED.” YOU FIGHT LIKE
CATS AND DOGS IN THE HOUSE, YOU’RE NOT GETTING ALONG
DOMESTICALLY, YOU’RE NOT PRAYING IN FELLOWSHIP, YOUR PRAYER IS
HINDERED. NOW I WANT TO MENTION THE LAST THING HERE. WE’RE JUST
SAYING, WHY DOES GOD SAY NO? WHY DOES GOD SAY NO? LAST OF ALL, WE
MUST PRAY IN FAITH, WE MUST PRAY IN FAITH. WE’RE TO PRAY IN
FAITH. MATTHEW CHAPTER 21 AND VERSE 22, “AND ALL THINGS,
WHATSOEVER YE SHALL ASK IN PRAYER, BELIEVING, YE SHALL
RECEIVE.” HEBREWS 11 AND VERSE SIX, BUT, “WITHOUT FAITH IT IS
IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM, FOR HE THAT COMETH TO GOD MUST BELIEVE
THAT HE IS AND THAT HE IS A REWARDER OF THEM THAT DILIGENTLY
SEEK HIM.” PRAY AND BELIEVE AND YOU’LL RECEIVE. PRAY IN DOUBT,
YOU DO WITHOUT. YOU CANNOT PLEASE GOD WITHOUT FAITH. GEORGE
MUELLER, A MAN OF ANOTHER GENERATION, WAS A MAN GREATLY
USED OF GOD IN ANSWERED PRAYER. AS A MATTER OF FACT, HE KEPT A
PRAYER JOURNAL, AND HE HAD TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND,
TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND RECORDED ANSWERS OF SPECIFIC PRAYER.
SOMEBODY ASKED GEORGE MUELLER, “WHAT IS THE SECRET OF YOUR
ANSWERED PRAYER?” YOU KNOW WHAT HE SAID? “HAVE FAITH IN GOD,
HAVE FAITH IN GOD.” SIMPLE ANSWER. NOW I DON’T THINK HE
SAID, “HAVE FAITH IN GOD,” I THINK HE SAID, “HAVE FAITH IN
GOD.” THE EMPHASIS WAS NOT SO MUCH UPON HIS FAITH AS IT WAS
THE GOD THAT MADE HIS FAITH THE GREAT FAITH THAT IT IS. NOW, UH,
WHAT IS FAITH? FAITH IS NOT WORKING YOURSELF UP INTO A
FRENZY, FAITH IS NOT POSITIVE THINKING, FAITH IS NOT SAYING,
“I’LL NAME IT AND CLAIM IT,” FAITH IS NOT WISHING TO MAKE IT
SO. FAITH IS HEARING FROM GOD, BELIEVING GOD, AND ACTING ON
WHAT YOU HEAR AND BELIEVE, AND LAYING HOLD OF THAT. PRAY IN
FAITH. NOW YOU SAY, “PASTOR, HOW CAN I HAVE THIS FAITH?” WELL,
LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING. I’VE MENTIONED SIX THINGS, AND IF
YOU’LL DO THE FIRST FIVE, YOU’LL FIND FAITH’LL BE AUTOMATIC. YOU
WILL FIND FAITH WILL BE AUTOMATIC. YOU GIVE YOUR HEART
TO JESUS CHRIST. YOU BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT OF GOD. YOU
BEGIN TO PRAY IN OBEDIENCE, AND ALL OF THESE OTHER THINGS, AND
YOU’RE GONNA FIND OUT THAT IT’S SO MUCH EASIER TO PRAY AND
BELIEVE AND RECEIVE FROM GOD WHAT YOU NEED AND WHAT YOU WANT.
NOW BELOVED FRIEND, LISTEN TO ME. IT ALL BEGINS WITH PRAYING
IN THE NAME OF JESUS. JESUS SAID, “HITHERTO HAVE YE ASKED
NOTHING IN MY NAME. ASK AND YE SHALL RECEIVE.” YOU BEGIN BY
PRAYING IN THE NAME OF JESUS. AND YOU CANNOT, LISTEN TO ME,
DON’T PUT UP YOUR STUFF. I’M NOT FINISHED YET JUST ‘CAUSE I CAME
DOWN HERE, [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] HA, HA, HA, HA. LISTEN, YOU
CAN’T PRAY IN THE NAME OF JESUS IF YOU HAVEN’T RECEIVED HIM INTO
YOUR HEART AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR. THAT’S HYPOCRISY, THAT’S
HYPOCRISY. HAVE YOU GIVEN YOUR HEART TO JESUS? I MEAN ARE YOU
SAVED? I DIDN’T ASK IF YOU WERE A BAPTIST OR METHODIST,
PRESBYTERIAN, EPISCOPALIAN, ROMAN CATHOLIC. ARE YOU SAVED? I
DIDN’T ASK IF YOU WERE RELIGIOUS, I DIDN’T ASK IF YOU
WERE MORAL; I’M ASKING, ARE YOU SAVED? JESUS WILL SAVE YOU THIS
MORNING, AND HE WILL SAVE YOU THIS MOMENT IF YOU’LL TRUST HIM.
WOULD YOU BOW YOUR HEADS IN PRAYER? HEADS ARE BOWED AND EYES
ARE CLOSED. IF YOU’RE ALREADY SAVED, WOULD YOU BEGIN TO PRAY
FOR THOSE ROUND ABOUT YOU WHO MAY NOT BE SAVED? LET ME PRAY
FOR YOU TODAY IF YOU’RE NOT A CHRISTIAN. WELL, YOU SAY, “WELL,
PASTOR, I’M A CHRISTIAN. I MEAN I BELIEVE IN JESUS.” YES, BUT
I’M, I’M TALKING ABOUT A PERSON WHO’S, WHO’S BEEN BORN AGAIN. IF
YOU HAVEN’T BEEN BORN AGAIN, IF YOU’RE NOT TRULY A CHILD OF GOD.
I’M NOT ASKING IF YOU’RE RELIGIOUS. IF, IF YOU’RE NOT
TRULY SAVED, LET ME JUST PRAY FOR YOU RIGHT NOW. AND I, FATHER
GOD, I PRAY IN THE NAME OF JESUS THAT YOUR SPIRIT WILL MOVE IN
THIS PLACE TODAY. AND OH, HOLY SPIRIT, THAT YOU WILL OPEN
HEARTS. LORD, THAT YOU WOULD GRANT FAITH, THAT YOU WOULD DRAW
MEN, WOMEN, BOYS AND GIRLS TO JESUS CHRIST. NOW WHILE HEADS
ARE BOWED AND EYES ARE CLOSED, WHY DON’T YOU PRAY THIS WAY?
“LORD JESUS, I NEED YOU. I’M A SINNER AND MY SIN DESERVES
JUDGMENT, BUT I NEED YOU AND I WANT YOU. YOU PROMISED TO SAVE
ME IF I WOULD TRUST YOU. THANK YOU FOR PAYING FOR MY SIN WITH
YOUR BLOOD ON THE CROSS. I BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE THE SON OF
GOD. I BELIEVE THAT YOU WERE RAISED FROM THE DEAD, AND I
RECEIVE YOU NOW, TODAY, RIGHT THIS MOMENT, RIGHT NOW, AS MY
LORD AND SAVIOR. I TURN FROM MY SIN TO YOU, LORD JESUS, AND I
TRUST YOU TO SAVE ME. BEGIN NOW TO MAKE ME WHAT YOU WANT ME TO
BE, AND HELP ME NEVER TO BE ASHAMED OF YOU. IN YOUR NAME I
PRAY, AMEN.” AREN’T YOU SO GLAD FOR THE LOVE
OF GOD THAT IS THE ABSOLUTE OPPOSITE OF THE BITTERNESS THAT
SOMETIMES WE FEEL IN OUR HEART? YOU KNOW, IT’S NOT ENOUGH,
MEERELY, TO ROOT OUT BITTERNESS, BUT TO LET GOD FILL THAT VOID
WITH HIS LOVE, HIS PEACE, HIS GRACE, HIS MERCY. AND YOU CAN
ONLY KNOW THAT IF YOU’RE SAVED. AND TO BE SAVED MEANS TO RECEIVE
JESUS CHRIST INTO YOUR HEART AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR. YOU’RE NOT
SAVED BY BEING A BETTER PERSON. CHRISTIANITY IS NOT, UH,
BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION. THE LORD HAS COME AS A SAVIOR, NOT AS A
REFORMER, NOT MEERELY AS A TEACHER, NOT AS AN EXAMPLE, NONE
OF THOSE ALONE; HE HAS COME PRIMARILY AS A SAVIOR. WOULD YOU
LET HIM SAVE YOU TODAY? THE BIBLE SAYS, “BELIEVE ON THE LORD
JESUS CHRIST AND YOU WILL BE SAVED.” EVERY SIN FORGIVEN,
BURIED IN THE GRAVE OF GOD’S FORGETFULNESS; GOD’S PEACE IN
YOUR HEART, HEAVEN FOR YOUR HOME. PRAY A PRAYER LIKE THIS,
“OH, GOD, I’M A SINNER AND I’M LOST AND I NEED TO BE SAVED.
FORGIVE MY SIN, CLEANSE ME, SAVE ME. YOU PROMISED TO DO IT IF I
WOULD TRUST YOU. I AM TRUSTING YOU. THANK YOU FOR DOING IT.
BEGIN NOW TO MAKE ME THE PERSON YOU WANT ME TO BE. AND HELP ME
NEVER TO BE ASHAMED OF YOU. IN YOUR NAME I PRAY, AMEN.” NOW IF
YOU PRAYED THAT PRAYER, REJOICE, TELL THE LORD YOU LOVE HIM.
WRITE TO US AND LET US KNOW; WE WILL REJOICE WITH YOU, PRAY FOR
YOU AND SEND YOU SOME LITERATURE, ABSOLUTLEY FREE, TO
GET YOU STARTED IN YOUR CHRISTIAN LIFE. GOD BLESS YOU.
WE HOPE THAT TODAY’S MESSAGE HAS BEEN AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO YOU AS
WE’VE STUDIED GOD’S WORD TOGETHER. FOR MORE RESOURCES
FROM ADRIAN ROGERS INCLUDING COPIES OR DOWNLOADS OF THIS
MESSAGE, AS WELL AS PASTOR ROGERS OUTLINE, NOTES OR A
COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT OF THIS MESSAGE, PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT LWF.ORG. AT LWF.ORG, YOU CAN ALSO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FROM ADRIAN ROGERS DELIVERED DIRECTLY TO
YOUR COMPUTER OR YOUR MOBILE DEVICE EACH MORNING. AND IF YOU
WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHO JESUS IS WE HOPE YOU’LL
VISIT THE DISCOVER JESUS LINK ON OUR HOMEPAGE. OR IF YOU’RE
LOOKING FOR SOME INSPIRATION OR ENCOURAGEMENT TO GET YOU THROUGH
THE WEEK, CHECK US OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA @LWFMINISTRIES. JOIN US
NEXT TIME AS ADRIAN ROGERS BRINGS US MORE PROFOUND TRUTH,
SIMPLY STATED WITH ANOTHER POWERFUL MESSAGE FROM GOD’S
WORD. THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR TODAY’S PROGRAM, WE’LL SEE YOU
NEXT TIME. LOVE WORTH FINDING IS A VIEWER SUPPORTED MINISTRY. AND
AS THANKS FOR YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT THIS MONTH, WE WANT TO
SEND YOU A COPY OF, “A FAMILY CHRISTMAS TREASURY” FROM ADRIAN
ROGERS. THIS COLLECTION OF SCRIPTURE PASSAGES, THOUGHTFUL
MEDITATIONS AND PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS WILL HELP YOU LIVE
THE MEANING OF JESUS’ BIRTH EVERY DAY AS THIS CHRISTMAS
SEASON APPROACHES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.
