Pastor Wayne Cordeiro
November 21, 2004 - W0447

The Bible tells us that Paul prayed to God three times asking Him to remove the “thorn in his flesh.” We don’t know exactly what that thorn was or whether it was something physical or spiritual. Nevertheless, God responded to Paul’s cry by saying: “…My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness…” (2 Cor. 12:9)

And throughout the Bible God answered many prayers like that from men and women of faith in a way they didn’t expect. That does not mean they failed or did not have faith. In fact, Hebrews 11 lists these people in what we call the “Hall of Faith”. Some of these people are honored because they conquered kingdoms, escaped death, or did great feats. Still others are honored because of great personal sacrifice – people who suffered great mocking, scourging, stoning, and even torture. And even though these people did not receive what they prayed for, they had the approval and commendation of God because of their great faith.

There’s an inscription found after the Civil War which has been posted in many venues which expresses the writer’s understanding of prayer. It reads: “I asked God for strength that I might achieve; instead I was made weak so that I would learn to humbly obey. I asked God for health that I might do great things; instead I was given infirmity that I might do better things. I asked for riches that I might be happy, but I was given poverty that I might become wise. I asked for power that I might have the praise of men, but instead I was given weakness so that I might feel the desperate need for God. I asked for all things so that I could enjoy life. God gave me life so that I could enjoy all things. You know I got nothing I asked for but I received everything I hoped for. And almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered and now I am among all men most richly blessed.”

Should we pray? Absolutely, but we must allow God the power to override our prayers by letting Him answer them in His time and in His way. It is much like the old style public busses where the commuter pulls the overhead cord to signal the bus driver that he wants to get off at the next stop. Still the bus driver (being able to view a situation much better from the driver’s seat) may override a request and stop at a place that is less hazardous. So like a bus driver, God is in the driver’s seat of our lives and has the power to override our prayers. Really, it is for our own protection when He denies our request. So we must be grateful because often we do not always pray for God’s best.

Daniel was someone who gained some understanding of prayer when God warned him of the coming troubles in Jerusalem. Daniel was so disturbed by those visions that he prayed and fasted for 24 days desperately waiting for God’s answer.  Then on the 24^th day an angel appeared and said, “Daniel, don’t be afraid. God has heard your prayers ever since the first day you decided to humble yourself in order to gain understanding. I have come in answer to your prayer. [But] the angel prince (Satan) of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days …” (Dan. 10:12-13).

In other words, the angel told Daniel that God heard his prayer and immediately dispatched this angel in response to the cry of his heart. However, because Satan opposed the angel for 21 days, the angel fought a spiritual battle in order to protect Daniel from what the enemy was trying to do. 

PRINCIPLES OF PRAYER:

So though our own prayers appear to go unheeded at times, we may not be aware of what God is doing on our behalf at the very instant we pray. That’s why we need to understand some principles God teaches in order to help us have a greater sense of assurance when praying. And the first principle is…

1.     ALWAYS PRAY WITH THANKSGIVING REGARDLESS OF YOUR EXPECTATIONS. 

There’s something about Thanksgiving that guards our hearts. It simply means that we are thankful God is working in our lives even when we may not know or even understand what He is up to. But what we do know is that God in His infinite wisdom knows what’s best for our lives and thus we “Pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1Thess. 5:17-18).

Why must we pray with thanksgiving? Because it is God’s will for us. The dangerous result should we lose that heart of thanksgiving is that our hearts become susceptible to bitterness, resentment, discouragement, and we tend to give up. The Bible tells us…

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7). In other words…

A THANKFUL HEART = A GUARDED HEART. 

It’s not to say that we will not face pressures in life. In fact we may even get angry with God when it seems like He hasn’t heard our prayer. The fact is we don’t always know or understand what God is up to the instant we utter a prayer.

The Bible says, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom.8:28). And so when we pray …

·        PRAY WITH GREAT WISDOM.

Why? Because there are two great pains in life. The first is the pain when we don’t receive what we want. The second is actually getting what we pray for. Then after we get what we want, we desperately pray for God to rid us of it. So be careful and “Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few’ (Eccl. 5:2).

Become a people who pray with great wisdom because God is in the driver’s seat and sees beyond what we do. He indeed hears us pulling on the overhead cord, but will override our prayers in order to protect us.

When it seems at times like God doesn’t hear our prayers we may be praying for Him to bless our actions even when it’s not His will. We really should instead pray for help in doing what God is blessing because …

·        PRAYER IS NOT FORCING GOD TO DO SOMETHING FOR YOU. 

Jesus said it well, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Even Jesus allowed God veto rights in His life. Billy Graham said prayer is not pulling God closer to us, but aligning snuggly to God.

We can also learn from Daniel that when he decided to humble himself to gain understanding, His prayer was answered. Of course if we do try to force God to do something for us we may lose something precious in the bargain as the Jewish people found out. “They lusted exceedingly … and tempted God in the desert.  And He gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul” (Ps. 106:14-15).  The Jews were in the desert and tired of eating Manna from Heaven. So they demanded God give them meat instead. Though He granted their request, He sent leanness to their souls. In effect their souls became empty. So be mindful and follow God’s will, otherwise we may get our way by demanding it of God, but our souls will be barren.

We must recognize that sometimes God answers our prayer in a round about way. I remember when I was in Bible College. God answered my early prayers, but it wasn’t in the way I expected. Yet looking back, I would not trade those early years of poverty for anything. Though I cried out to God to take away that season, all I learned about faith came in those times when I struggled, prayed and watched God do little miracles. Doing without and being creative with what we did have helped me to become a better man of God.

In other words, God answered my prayers by not answering my prayers. So we need to be a people who understand the ways of God and trust Him because…

REASON? THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL NOT ONLY ANSWER OUR PRAYER FOR OUR LIFE. HE WILL GO A STEP FURTHER …

2.     HE WILL ANSWER THE FATHER’S PRAYER FOR OUR LIVES.

This is because the Father sees much further in the future than we can and He knows and wants what is best for us. “…the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words… because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of  God” (Rom. 8:26-27).

I remember years ago when I was confronted with the wisdom of God overriding my desires. Other churches criticized New Hope for destroying churches in Hawaii and demanded that I leave. At first, I wanted to fight and defend myself and thought of arguments against them. Instead, God specifically told me to “die” to my desire to stand up for myself. I remember struggling with God over it. Finally I was reminded how Jesus sacrificed Himself on the cross so that the Church could live. So I surrendered my will to His. Then in doing so, I learned to communicate better and work together with these churches and their leaders and today many are some of my closest friends.

God knows what is best for our lives even if we disagree. So He gives us two principles of prayer that will help us allow God override rights in our life. The first principle is thankfulness in all things. Even though we may not understand, having a thankful heart guards our souls from dying. Pray with wisdom instead of impulse. Remember, prayer is not something we demand of God because it may just cost us our soul. And finally we learn that the Holy Spirit answers the Father’s prayer for our lives because He knows God’s will. Therefore, stay faithful for “…God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” We can pull on the overhead cord, but remember that God is in the driver’s seat and we must allow Him to override our prayers.

Questions

1. How has God answered your prayers? Was it what you expected and how has your experience helped you in your walk with Jesus?
2. What do you think “leanness in their soul” looks like?
3. How can you tell if Satan is at work or whether your troubles are part of God’s plan?
4. What things can you do to cultivate and guard your heart of thanksgiving?
5. How has prayer changed your life?
6. What most impacted you about today’s lesson and how will you apply that to your life this week?