Hot Topics: Unanswered Prayer – Part 2
Pastor Zach Bearss
June 4, 2023
Ephesians 6:10-19, Rev 12:10-12, Daniel 10: 8-14, Romans 12:12, Matt.18:1- Romans 5:3-4, Psalm 66:18, James 5:16, Isaiah 58:1-9, Matt 17:20 Matt 21:22
Connect: Where do you struggle with prayer? Where have you changed in light of Zach’s first message on prayer or still have questions?
Engage: #6 Spiritual warfare
Have you ever experienced spiritual warfare and what was that Like for you?
Romans 8:26 says that the Spirit prays for us with world less groans and Heb 7:25 says that Jesus is interceding for us. How do those 2 verses sit with you? What do they evoke in your spirit?
Walter Lippmann – “The Modern skeptical world has been taught for some 200 years a conception of human nature in which the reality of evil, so well- known to the age of faith has been discounted. We shall have to recover this forgotten but essential truth- along with so many others that we lost when thinking we were enlightened and advanced, we were merely shallow and blind.”
What do you think of that statement?
#7 Perseverance – God has not answered them…. Yet
Delay is not denial. Where are you praying for something that has not been answered yet? Are you discouraged by that or trusting that God hears you?
Example of James Fraser – How does the example of James Fraser and DL Moody encourage you?
#8 Because of Sin
God is often wanting to deal with something deeper in our lives. Unanswered prayer exposes something in my heart.
How does that show up in your life? How do you feel about that statement?
Miracles often occur when we allow God to turn us into an answer to prayer – Peter Grieg.
Look at Isaiah 58:1-10 What do you get out of those verses? What do you think God is saying in those verses?
#9 Faith – we do not believe they will be answered. Matt. 17:20, Matt.21:22
Tim Keller “A faith without some doubts is like a human body with no antibodies in it. A person’s faith can collapse almost overnight if she failed over the years to listen patiently to hear own doubts which should only be discarded after long reflection.”
Faith is taking God at His word. “(Faith) is a relational posture of trust that enables us to receive the well of God in a way that others can’t. Faith is a pair of own hands.” Peter Greig
What do you think of that statement – What does that look like for you in your life?
Ways to Build your Faith: Prayer and worship Fellowship
Fasting
Bible study Remembering Listening to God
Which ones of these do you do well? Which ones do you struggle with and where is wanting God to grow you?
Apply: What is one thing that the Lord is inviting you to apply to life considering this sermon? Which one of these statements is God asking you to l
Help me to stand.
(The poem Zach closed with)
Lord
Help me to stand today.
Temptations and trials abound.
Where life hurts,
I get confused dishonest, suspicious, and critical.
I put on the belt of truth.
When life hurts
My relationships suffer – especially my relationship with You. I put on the breast plate of righteousness.
When life hurts
I either great lazy or I make myself really busy.
I put on the shoes of the gospel.
When life hurts,
I let down my guard and leave myself exposed.
I take up the shield of faith.
When life hurts
My thinking gets negative, and I question everything,
I put on the helmet of salvation.
When life hurts
I’m a coward.
I take hold of the sword of the Word.
Lord, it doesn’t feel very finished down here.
I don’t feel very finished.
See me kneeling.
Help me stand.
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