Bible Study: God Answers Our Prayers

Hi Everyone

Here are the notes for the latest Bible Study. You can access the audio here. You can access any of the other files from the same folder.

Blessings!

Chris

1 Talk to Your Father

It is all based on love. A relationship.

Adam had a sweet communion with God in the Garden before the Fall. This was broken as a result of sin. We see how through the Old Testament, sin brought Man further and further from God.

Genesis 4:9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” (NKJV)

Cain was familiar enough with God! But it went downhill from there and God’s voice became less and less heard, except for a few people and less and less directly.

Luke 1:28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” 29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. (NKJV)

By Mary’s time, even an angel frightened here.

Luke 19:10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (NKJV)

Jesus came as the second Adam and put right what Adam’s sin had made wrong. He came to save us from our sin, restore us to a right relationship with God.

Today, like Jesus, we have a right to talk to God as our Father. More importantly, we have the ability to hear Him.

Because of this, we can strip away any religiosity around prayer and making it just us talking to God.

KNOW THAT SIN IS NO LONGER IN THE WAY. God is not angry with you!

The devil seeks to steal this knowledge of your righteousness, because from this relational standpoint, he can rob you of the rest.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray without ceasing, (NKJV)

As you talk to God throughout the day, you pray without ceasing. Keep a spirit of intimacy – that’s why it is important to know that you are righteous in Him and that He loves you always.

2 Pray According to the Word

What has already been promised in the Word is yours.

2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. (NKJV)

Things that contradict the Word, don’t even bother asking e.g. want a new spouse,

Other things neutral in the Word – whether to change jobs, buy a certain house, specific directions – go ahead and talk to Him about it, but seek to know His will.

Also, don’t thank Him FOR suffering, thank Him IN suffering. God gives good things, the devil gives bad, so don’t believe for the wrong things!

Romans 5:3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. (NKJV)

3 Give Thanks and Praise Him

The more we know His promises, the more we just want to thank Him. Stay in the Word. You have heard so much about His goodness in our Bible studies, so meditate on these and keep a spirit of thanksgiving and praise.

1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (NKJV)

Psalm 100:4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. 5 For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations. (NKJV)

Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (NKJV)

Prayer, supplication and thanksgiving without worry guards our hearts with a peace that surpasses all understanding.

Last-day people are just the opposite:

Romans 1:21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. (NKJV)

The attitude doesn't just glorify God – it helps you!

4 Pray Knowing Who You Are

You are not a whipped puppy. Pray knowing who you are:

Son/daughter of the Most High God
Deemed worthy of His Son’s blood
Joint Heir with Christ
One having the Glory, His Spirit, within
King and Priest
Ambassador
More than a Conqueror
BELOVED of the Lord!

That's why Paul said:

Ephesians 1:15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. (NKJV)

5 Speak to the Mountain

Speak to the mountain about God, not to God about the mountain.

Mark 11:22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. (NKJV)

Understand that the day you received the Lord, you have the Holy Spirit in you. The same God that spoke the world into existence dwells in you willingly and is one with you.

You now possess immense power to speak over situations, to bless, to call forth. It works from a relationship, like a prince decreeing. If you don’t know that you are a prince, you will not behave like one.

Again, a love relationship with Him is the key.

6 Come to Know God

The more you know Him, the more you are in sync with Him. The more we are in sync with Him, the more we know His thoughts, His will for us.

Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. (NKJV)

He wants to share His thoughts with you.

Psalm 25:14 The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant. (NKJV)

He speaks and we hear

John 10:4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” (NKJV)

Romans 12: 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (NKJV)

Throw yourself at Him. You will be transformed as you read the Word and you will know His good, well-pleasing and complete will.

7 The Take Away