"God why don't you answer my prayers?"

Thoughts, Feeling and questions series

Dr. Dennis Deese - www.fantheflame.org

JAMES 5:16-18

While Josh McDowell was attending seminary in California, his father went Home to be with the Lord. His mother had died years earlier, but Josh was not sure of her salvation. He became depressed, thinking that she might be lost. Was she a Christian or not? The thought obsessed him. “Lord,” he prayed, “somehow give me the answer so I can get back to normal. I’ve just got to know.” It seemed like an impossible request.

Two days later, Josh drove out to the ocean. He walked to the end of a pier to be alone. There sat an old woman in a lawnchair, fishing. “Where’s your home originally?” she asked.

“Michigan—Union City,” Josh replied. “Nobody’s heard of it. I tell people it’s a suburb of —”

“Battle Creek,” interrupted the woman. “I had a cousin from there. Did you know the McDowell family?”

Stunned, Josh responded, “Yes, I’m Josh McDowell!”

“I can’t believe it,” said the woman. “I’m a cousin to your mother.”

“Do you remember anything at all about my mother’s spiritual life?” asked Josh.

“Why sure—your mom and I were just girls—teenagers—when a tent revival came to town. It was the fourth night—we both went forward to accept Christ.”

“Praise God!” shouted Josh, startling the surrounding fishermen. Our Daily Bread, September 18

James 5:16 Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Lu 11:9-10 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Joh 14:13-14 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do [it].

Joh 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

Ro 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

As we survey the landscape of Christianity, we should be surprised by the lack prayerful achievements. I know that many of the answers to prayer can’t be measured by visible results; however, it just seems reasonable for God’s children to be the dominant force of power on the earth in the realm of the supernatural and consequently having a measurable impact upon the physical realm and in particular in our own lives.

The emphasis in this passage is not healing, but prayer! The point he is supporting is how powerful praying really is.

He points to an example of just how powerful praying can be. It can have an immediate effect upon the natural and supernatural realm. Elijah’s prayer was one more supernatural experience to behold!

Let’s face it, praying is a job and can be difficult. If you doubt that, how many of you have prayed more than 20 minutes today? So, if praying is difficult, then how much more difficult is effective praying?

If I am going to take the time to labor in the ministry of prayer, then I certainly want it to be successful. After all, there’s little point to praying if it’s not advantageous. That’s what is meant when he says, “availeth” much. A prevailing force that is supernatural.

AVAILETH: 5791 This word is given to us by God in the present tense and indicative mood and active voice which means - if we put into practice the spiritual force of prayer it represents a simple statement of fact or reality viewed as occurring in actual time. In other words, if an action (the action of effectual fervent prayer) really occurs or has occurred or will occur, it will be rendered as promised - what is that rendering? AVAILING MUCH!

I want to provide some points that will lead us to successful praying. James defines some contingencies that enable us to effectively pray. Successful praying is contingent upon:

I.        RIGHTEOUSNESS 5:16 confess your faults

Proverbs 15:29 The LORD [is] far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.

Psalms 14:3 They are all gone aside, they are [all] together become filthy: [there is] none that doeth good, no, not one.

Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

          A.       Positional - Requires Salvation and Reconciliation

Proverbs 15:29 The LORD [is] far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.

John 9:31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

Ephesians 2:11-18 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

          B.       Practical - Requires Confession and Repentance