HOW TO RECEIVE AN ANSWER FROM GOD
Prayer Can Change Your Life
Luke 1:5-23
We need FOUR attitudes in order to receive an answer from God.
TO RECEIVE AN ANSWER FROM GOD YOU MUST BE WILLING TO:
1. LET GOD ANSWER IN HIS OWN TIME.
Zechariah: “How can I be sure of this?” Luke 1:18
“The angel said to him, `Don’t be afraid Zechariah, your prayer had been heard.'” Luke 1:13
Why does God delay our answers to prayer?
a. To prepare us first.
b. To get us ready.
c. For us to grow up.
The fact of the matter is this: God is never LATE. God’s delays are not God’s denials.
What do I do and how do I pray when prayer is being delayed?
You keep on praying until one of three things happens:
I. You get the ANSWER.
II. You get the ASSURANCE that you are going to get it.
III. Until God reveals to you that it is not His WILL.
2. LET GOD ANSWER IN HIS OWN WAY.
“… My ways are not your ways…” Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)
God’s ways are always BETTER and usually BIGGER when He answers.
Our problem is twofold:
We ask TOO LITTLE, and we want it TOO QUICKLY.
“But God is able to do even exceedingly above what you are able to think or imagine.” Ephesians 3:20
3. LET GOD ANSWER IN HIS OWN POWER AND ABILITY.
Martha: “Lord if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.” John 11:21
Jesus: “Martha, your brother will rise again.” John 11:23
4. LET GOD ANSWER FOR HIS OWN PURPOSE.
Why does God answer prayer? What are His reasons?
For our GROWTH and for His GLORY.
Apostle Paul: Romans 1:7; 10; 15; 24.
Romans 15 – Paul’s great prayer. He lived and breathed his desire to go to Rome.
“It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.” Romans 15:20
“Pray that I’m going to have a prosperous journey.” Romans 1:10; 15:24
Did God ever answer Paul’s prayer? YES, but notice how He did it.
Luke says, talking about Paul: “When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself with a soldier to guard him.” Acts 28:16 (NIV)
Why did Paul want to go to Rome? TO PREACH
Why did God want Paul in Rome? TO WRITE
How God answer’s our Prayers:
When you pray and the request is not right, God says “NO.”
When you pray and you are not right, God says, “GROW.”
When you pray and the timing is not right, God says, “SLOW.”
When everything’s in place, God says, “GO.”