- Losing heart or giving up.
NIVO Luke 18:1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.
This is a great story of the widow who received it because she kept ASKING.
Please read this chapter for yourself as it will ‘stir your faith’.
In conclusion, I think it would be beneficial to leave you with some thoughts that you may want to examine in your own quiet time and allow The Lord to Speak or enlighten you regarding some matters you have perhaps ‘overlooked over the years.
- Disobedience – (see Deuteronomy 1:42-45; Isaiah 1:19-20; Hebrews 4:6)
- Prejudice and hate – (see Proverbs 26:24-28; 1 John 2:9-12; 3:15-22)
- Unrepented sin – (see Psalm 19:12-13; 66:18; Isaiah 59:1-2)
- Touching (attacking) God’s anointed – (see 1 Samuel 26:5-11; Psalm 105:15)
- Fear – (see Psalm 56:11; Proverbs 29:25; 1 John 4:18)
- Not examining yourself before communion – (see 1 Corinthians 11:27-31)
- Despising God’s Word – (see Proverbs 28:9)
- Indifference – (see Proverbs 1:24-28)
- Neglect in showing mercy – (see Proverbs 21:13)
- Not honouring one another – (see Deuteronomy 5:16; 1 Peter3:7)
- Idolatry, which is anything you worship above God – (see Deuteronomy 7:25-26; Joshua 7; Ezekiel 14:3)
- Speaking evil of each other – (see Galatians 5:26; James 4:11; 5:9)
*may I encourage you to take time and open the above Scriptures, taking time to read them then you are allowing The Holy Spirit to ‘convict, convince and restore’ perhaps areas of your life that have over the years become either: -
- Broken
- Neglected
- Discarded
- Or perhaps (you have just lost your first love and need restored spiritually)
NLT Revelation 2:4 "But I have this complaint against you. You don't love me or each other as you did at first!
(Numbers 6:24-26 NIRV)
24 " ' "May the LORD bless you and take good care of you.
25 May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you.
- May the LORD look on you with favour and give you his peace." '
*I think this is the best way to end this particular teaching!
There are 3 questions that are most often asked by Christians and they are:
- Why was my prayer not answered?
- Why did God allow this to happen to me? (accident, loss of loved one, or broken romance)
- Why was I treated like this by another Christian?
In looking at this area of unanswered prayer very often it falls into the category of: -
- “Why did my prayer go unanswered” or “why wasn’t my prayer answered the way I wanted it?”
Of course, we do not have all the answers but here are a ‘few insights from Scripture’
In looking at the way we are addressing this matter you will see that we are working from a ‘negative statement to a positive answer’. Scripture often does use this method to qualify God’s point of view.
- Not fellowshipping with God.
NIVO 1 Corinthians 1:9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
What is your present relationship with God like?
Are you angry, resentful, or bitter?
- Why not take a moment now and ask for forgiveness before we proceed with our time together!
See: Luke 6: 12-13
- Not asking or asking with the wrong motives.
I read this and it really does fit right now – ‘God wants more than your grocery list. He wants to dine with you’.
NIVO Hebrews 4:2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.
- You must believe that this is God’s will for your life when asking.
- Faith touches 3 vital areas of our lives.
- The mind – the emotions – then the will
When you ask are you really:
- Convinced in your mind?
- Stirred in your emotions?
- Believing in your will to see God’s will accomplished?
See: Revelation 3:20