THE PROBLEM OF UNANSWERED PRAYER (13 OF 13)
by Bailey Smith
Scripture: ACTS 16:31, EPHESIANS 4:26, HEBREWS 11:6, I TIMOTHY 5:24-26, ISAIAH 1:13-17, ISAIAH 1:21-31, JAMES 1:6-7, JAMES 4:3, MATTHEW 5:23-24, MATTHEW 17:14-20, MATTHEW 17:24-27, MATTHEW 25:40, NUMBERS 22:36-41
This content is part of a series.
The Problem of Unanswered Prayer (13 of 13)
Bailey Smith
God does not have to fit anyone's concept of who he is. God is who he is, not what we want him to be. If you were to talk to all socioeconomic levels of American society, you would find varied opinions on who God really is.
People seemingly want to carve God out of their own desires into the image of what they want him to be. But God is not what we expect him to be; God is not even what we want him to be; God is not what we desire for him to be; God is not the product of our imaginations; God is God! God can be whoever God wants to be. Old-time theologians called this capacity the "Sovereignty of God." This means God can do anything he wants to do. He is a sovereign God. He does not have to act because we think it is just, merciful, kind, or loving. God can do whatever he wants to do. That's one reason we know he is God. He doesn't have to answer to any of our logic, intellectual observations, or twisted reasoning. God is God.
In that regard, there are some prayers in which God is not interested. Sometimes, by humanity's definition, God can be very cruel. To humans God can be very impatient. Look at Proverbs 28:9, "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination." Have you ever prayed a prayer that did you harm?
God says it is possible. Look in Isaiah 1, "Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me." [God says, "Don't bring your tithes and offerings."] He says, "The new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies [I'm tired of your revival meetings], I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. [Even when you look holy, it is a sin.] Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear" (Isa. 1:13-15).
According to the above Scriptures, there are ...
Bailey Smith
God does not have to fit anyone's concept of who he is. God is who he is, not what we want him to be. If you were to talk to all socioeconomic levels of American society, you would find varied opinions on who God really is.
People seemingly want to carve God out of their own desires into the image of what they want him to be. But God is not what we expect him to be; God is not even what we want him to be; God is not what we desire for him to be; God is not the product of our imaginations; God is God! God can be whoever God wants to be. Old-time theologians called this capacity the "Sovereignty of God." This means God can do anything he wants to do. He is a sovereign God. He does not have to act because we think it is just, merciful, kind, or loving. God can do whatever he wants to do. That's one reason we know he is God. He doesn't have to answer to any of our logic, intellectual observations, or twisted reasoning. God is God.
In that regard, there are some prayers in which God is not interested. Sometimes, by humanity's definition, God can be very cruel. To humans God can be very impatient. Look at Proverbs 28:9, "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination." Have you ever prayed a prayer that did you harm?
God says it is possible. Look in Isaiah 1, "Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me." [God says, "Don't bring your tithes and offerings."] He says, "The new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies [I'm tired of your revival meetings], I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. [Even when you look holy, it is a sin.] Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear" (Isa. 1:13-15).
According to the above Scriptures, there are ...
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