THANK GOD FOR UNANSWERED PRAYER - Christian Hope ...

Message for THE LORD'S DAY EVENING, August 18,2013Christian Hope Church of Christ, Plymouth, North Carolinaby Reggie A. Braziel, MinisterThank God For Unanswered PrayerMatthew 7:7-11 (NKJV)Please turn with me in your Bibles to the seventh chapter of Matthew's gospelAnd let's read verses 7-11.MATTHEW 7:7-11 (NKJV)7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will beopened to you.8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocksit will be opened.9 Or what man is here among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him astone?10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how muchmore will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him?”P R A Y E R>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>ILLUSTRATIONIntroductionIf you are a fan of country music, I'm sure you remember the hit song recorded by GarthBrooks back in 1990, entitled “Unanswered Prayer.”In the first verse of that song, Brooks talks about a guy who ran into one of hisold high school sweethearts one day. And as his mind started wandering backto the days when they were boyfriend and girlfriend, he remembered how he usedto pray that GOD would one day let her become his wife.Then in the second verse, the guy comes back from his little trip down memory lane, andhe looks at the wonderful wife God blessed him with instead and he thanked GOD forUnanswered Prayer.

As you look back over your life aren't you thankful God didn't always give youexactly what you asked for? In fact, some of the greatest blessings in our livesare the result of GOD not giving us what asked for.Because you and I have limited knowledge and understanding, especially inmatters related to our future, we have asked for things we thought would begood for us, and GOD didn't give it to us because He knew the terribleheartache and misery it would bring.How many times have we begged GOD to open a door of opportunitythat we thought would be ideal, only to have GOD open a different doorinstead that turned out to be a far greater blessing?Because He loves us, GOD will never deprive you and me of anything we askfor that is within His divine will. But it is also because He loves us that GODwill never give us anything we ask for that is outside His will.Isn't that how any loving parent would respond to a request of hisson or daughter?Let's say this Christmas one of your kids asks for a “pet rattlesnake.”Are you going to give it to them? Absolutely NOT! Why?Because you love them and care for them you know a “petrattlesnake can harm them.”That is exactly the point Jesus is making in these VERSES. If we as lovingparents would never knowingly give something to any of our kids that wouldharm them, then isn't it reasonable to expect our loving Heavenly Father to dothe same when it comes to answering our prayers?>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>For the remainder of the message I would like to share with you a couple ofexamples from the scriptures of “Unanswered Prayers” and show you howthose unanswered prayers turned out to be wonderful blessings.

Our first example comes to us from the Old Testament . And that is.......I. The Unanswered Prayer of ElijahPlease turn with me to I KINGS chapter 19, and let's read verses 1-4.I KINGS 19:1-4 (NKJV)1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executedall the prophets with the sword.2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me,and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them bytomorrow about this time.”3 And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba,which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came andsat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, andsaid, “It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.1. “LORD, TAKE MY LIFE!” What would ever cause this great prophet ofGod to reach such a “breaking point” that he would actually pray thatGod would take his life?”2. Consider this:(A) This was the prayer of A DESPERATE MAN.Desperate people pray desperate prayers. Elijah was a “markedman!” After hearing that he had executed the 450 prophets ofBaal, Queen Jezebel went “ballistic.”She sent a messenger to tell Elijah that he was going to beput to death by that same time tomorrow.Now I don't know about you, but if I knew the government wassending people to execute me within the next twenty four hours,I would probably be pretty desperate too, wouldn't you?

So when Elijah prayed, “LORD, take my life” that was theprayer of a desperate man who had a bounty on his head.What Elijah was praying was that he would rather that GODtake his life than to die a violent death at the hands of Jezebel's“hit men.”(B)This was the prayer of A DISCOURAGED MAN.After GOD'S decisive victory over the prophets of Baal at MountCarmel, Elijah believed that the Northern Kingdom (Israel) andthe Southern Kingdom (Judah) might once again be unitedand their worshiping of the One true God in Jerusalem.When Elijah received word that Jezebel had ordered hisexecution, all of Elijah's hopes and dreams for a restoredIsrael were shattered.This was the prayer of A DESPERATE MAN.This was the prayer of A DISCOURAGED MAN.(C)This was also the prayer of A DOG – TIRED MAN.You know what it means to be “dog-tired” don't you? We'veall had those days that literally wore us out to the point wecould hardly put one foot in front of the other. And we dozedoff to sleep the moment our head hit the pillow. That's “dog-tired.”Elijah was “dog-tired.” Earlier that day Elijah had the contestwith the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. That contest drugon for many hours as the prophets of Baal were unsuccessfulin their attempts to get Baal to answer their prayers to consumethe sacrifice they had laid on the altar. We know that contestended abruptly when GOD sent down fire from heaven andcompletely consumed the water-drenched altar Elijah had setup.

After the success on Mount Carmel, Elijah commanded thechildren of Israel to seize the 450 prophets of Baal and takethem down to the Brook Kishon, where the scriptures tell usElijah executed them.Even though Elijah was carrying outGod's command, can you imagine the emotional and physicalstress of executed or ordering the execution of 450 men?After that, ELIJAH climbed back to the top of Mount Carmeland engaged in a period of intense prayer to GOD to bring thethree-year long drought to an end.When Elijah saw that cloud the size of a man's fist out overthe Mediterranean Sea, he tied his robe up and ran sixteenmiles from Mount Carmel to Jezreel.Are you tired yet? I know I am! But wait, there's more! AfterElijah received word that Jezebel had put out a warrant forhis death, VERSE 3 tells us, “He arose and ran for his life, andwent to Beersheba.”We're talking 95 miles! That wouldbe like like running from here (Plymouth, NC) to Norfolk, Virginia.3. Do you understand now why Elijah prayed, “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH,LORD, TAKE MY LIFE!”This was the prayer of A DESPERATE,DISCOURAGED, DOG-TIRED MAN who was so blinded by hiscircumstances he could see no way out. He had lost all hope!4. Thankfully, God didn't give Elijah what he prayed for. Psalm 103tells us, “As “a father pities his children, so the LORD pities thosewho fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that weare dust.”5. Rather than giving Elijah the “death” he prayed for, God allowedElijah to get some much needed rest. And God sent an angelto provide food and water for Elijah in the wilderness for the nextforty days and nights to prepare Elijah for the next phase of hisprophetic ministry.

Another interesting thing to note is that not only did GOD not takeElijah's life the day he prayed that prayer, GOD never took Elijah'slife. Elijah was one of only two men in the entire Bible to neverexperience death; Enoch being the other.6. Thank God for Elijah's Unanswered Prayer!>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Our second example comes to us from the New Testament.II.The Unanswered Prayer of The Apostle PaulPlease turn with me to II Corinthians 12, verses 7-10.2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (New King James Version)7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, athorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I beexalted above measure.8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.9 AndHe said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect inweakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the powerof Christ may rest upon me.10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, indistresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

1. In this scripture we see three things:(A) First, we see PAUL'S PROBLEM (v.7)Paul refers to his problem as “a THORN in the FLESH.”When we think of a “thorn” we think of something prickly that causesa slight pain or irritation. But the Greek word Paul used for “thorn”is the same word as “tent stake.” In other words he is talking aboutsomething that caused him excruciating pain.Now just what Paul's “thorn-in-the-flesh” was is something that hasbeen debated virtually since the day Paul wrote this second letterto the Corinthian Church.Some have speculated his “thorn-in-the-flesh” could have beenepileptic seizures.......a speech impediment.....fleshly temptations......hateful persecutors who caused him constant trouble......recurring earaches.......a grotesque physical appearance ......andsome have even suggested his “thorn-in-the-flesh” was anestranged wife who made his wife miserable.However, the two most common suggestions are that Paul suffered fromrecurring bouts with malaria which causes migraine-like headaches that aredescribed as being like having a hot iron driven through one's forehead.The other common suggestion is that Paul suffered from extremely pooreyesight.In GALATIANS 6:11 (NKJV) Paul wrote: “See what large letters Ihave written to you with my own hand.” Who writes with largeletters? Someone with very poor eyesight.At any rate, we will never know for sure just what Paul's thorn-in-the fleshwas while we remain here on earth.

(B)The second thing we notice in this passage is PAUL'S PRAYER.v. 8 “Concerning this thing (this “thorn-in-the-flesh”) I pleaded withthe LORD three times that it might depart from me.”In the original Greek “three times” indicates an action that was repeatedover and over again. Paul prayed over and over again that God wouldtake away his “thorn-in-the-flesh.”Perhaps when this problem first appeared, Paul thought, “No problem, I'lljust ask God to take it away from me............PROBLEM SOLVED!” Butnothing happened, so he prayed again! STILL NOTHING! And so heprayed again.......and again......and again.......AND PAUL'S PRAYERTURNED INTO “AN UNANSWERED PRAYER” AT LEAST IN THE SENSE THATGOD DIDN'T GIVE PAUL WHAT HE ASKED FOR.And that brings us to THE THIRD THING we see in this passage andthat is......(C)The third thing we see in this passage is GOD'S PROVISION.v.9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength ismade perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boastin my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”While GOD didn't respond the way Paul had hoped He would respond,GOD did answer Paul's prayer in a different way. Instead of “taking away”Paul's thorn -in-the-flesh, GOD gave him His all-sufficient grace andstrength to live with the infirmity.

Why didn't GOD give Paul what he prayed for? We see at least tworeasons in our text:One, was to keep Paul HUMBLE. . Two times in verses 7, 8, Paulacknowledged that his “thorn-in-the-flesh” was to keep him from“being exalted above measure.”Remember before Paul becamea Christian he had “prided” himself on being “the Pharisee of allPharisees. Perhaps that “pride” was an on-going battle in Paul'slife. And by NOT removing his “thorn-in-the-flesh” GOD kept Paul'spride in check.The other reason God didn't give Paul what he prayed for wasbecause Paul's weakness MAGNIFIED Christ's greatness. (vs.9,10)There is a tendency among some Christians to exalt the MAN of GODabove Christ.By NOT taking away his thorn-in-the-flesh, GOD wasinsuring that people could see the source of Paul's strength wasCHRIST not himself.2. I would venture a guess that everyone of us here this morning hasPRAYED at some time or another that GOD “change something” or“remove something” from our lives.*Perhaps you have prayed that GOD would take away somephysical infirmity.*Or maybe you have prayed that GOD would change somedifficult situation you and your family deal with every day.*Or maybe you have begged GOD to open the door to get anotherjob or maybe you have asked GOD to get rid of an over-bearingboss or co-worker. (I don't mean “take them out of this world!)

3. What if that one thing you have asked GOD over and over againto change or remove from your life, is actually a blessing in disguise?What if that one thing is keeping you humble? What if that is the onething that causes you to lean on the LORD for strength and help?4. Perhaps we should THANK GOD FOR OUR UNANSWERED PRAYERS!C O N C L U S I O NAs we close I want to take you back to that night when JESUS prayed in the Gardenof Gethsemane.Do you remember what He prayed?“LET THIS CUP PASS FROM ME.”Have you ever wondered how differentour lives would be if GOD had answered that prayer?*There would be NO FORGIVENESS of our sins, “For without them sheddingof blood there is NO FORGIVENESS.”*We would have NO SALVATION! NO HOPE! NO FUTURE! NO HEAVEN!NO ETERNAL LIFE! We would be condemned to horrors of hell foreverand ever!Thank GOD Jesus finished His prayer by asking that HIS FATHER'S WILL BEDONE!THANK GOD FOR UNANSWERED PRAYER!