Why Are My Prayers Not Answered? (Pastor Josiah Shipley)

The Majesty of Christ and the Call to Repentance

Now I want you to pay attention it wasn't anything in Israel wasn't their military. We almost don't need to preach. You know before we get into our sermon by the way We're gonna be in Matthew chapter 7 if you would turn your Bibles there Matthew 7 Real quick.

I want to talk about what we just sang. One of the scriptures we read a moment ago was Acts 17 29. Which says he commands all men everywhere to repent. So often I think we miss this in our genuine hearts desire.

Now some of y 'all listen to me on this and our genuine hearts desire to see the law saved. We'll say something like Well, God really just wants what's best for you, and he's just trying his darndest to reach you and you're just not responding.

But that's okay. You take your time. God will be there when you're ready. The scripture we just read in Acts 17 29 doesn't say he's suggesting all men everywhere to repent. It doesn't say he's begging all men everywhere to repent.

Acts 17 29 says he commands all men everywhere to repent. Repentance is a command not a suggestion or a plea and It comes to bear when we sing songs like that. When you recognize the glory of an angel when you read the scriptures and how one of them can destroy whole armies when we see in Scripture a million of those creatures groveling before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords gives you a taste of the majesty of Jesus because those creatures Continually sing his praise those creatures that can wipe out entire armies.

Millions upon millions will bow before Jesus just when he walks in a room. That's the power of Jesus and I beg today when you hear his word to recognize that you are not reading the word of An eight-and-a-half pound baby Jesus in a manger, but the King of Kings that's coming back and this time He's not coming back as a lamb.

He's coming back as a lion. Matthew chapter 7 verse 7 through 11. And I opened by asking this simple question. Why are my prayers not answered? Why do we not have that which we pray for. His scripture says you ask anything in my name and I will do it.

So what's up with that God? Well, where are we at on that? Why are my prayers not answered and that is the question posed today seven reasons. But first, let's read Matthew 7 verse 7 through 11 and hear the Word of God.

Ask and it will be given to you seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be open. For everyone who asks receives the one who seeks finds and the one who knocks it will be opened. Which one of you if his son asked him for bread will give him a stone or if he asked for a fish Will give him a serpent if you then who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children.

How much more will your father who's in heaven give good things to those who ask of him? I want to read very quickly these Seven reasons, but before I do on your handout, I want to know. This is about the 12th or 13th time the pastors of this church have done this this year on the back is homework.

So for those of you who always say I just I want to study the Bible. I just don't know where to start. There you go. And for those of you who will ignore it go ahead and ignore it and Continue to not pray with your wife continue not to study continue not to grow and Continue to not be fed by the Word you do whatever you want to do.

But for the rest of you who want to grow in the Lord, there's a starting place and a suggestion for you. Seven reasons number one. You haven't consistently asked for it. Number two You have a lack of faith that God can or will do what you've asked.

Number three, you haven't asked for with the right intentions. Number four you have unconfessed unrepentant sin that you're holding on to. Number five you haven't worked for it. Number six, you don't need it or number seven.

You don't need it yet. And I I thought deeply about this and I don't normally do topical sermons. I normally go verse by verse but this one was on my heart and these are I think Biblically the seven reasons why we do not have that which we prayed for okay, so This is not a sermon about the mechanics of prayer, this is not a sermon about how you should pray.

I'll let Cynthia Barber take care of that in her prayer class. This is a sermon about why does it seem my prayers going answered? This is a sermon about Why does it feel like God never answers my prayers at least not with a yes.

Persistent Prayer and Faith That God Can Answer

Number one you have not consistently asked for and I put there in Luke Jesus tells them a parable to the effect. They ought to always pray and not lose heart. Will not God give justice to his elect who cry out to him day and night?

Will he delay over them long? I tell you he will give justice to them speedily. Do not lose heart when you pray ladies and gentlemen in what you see as a delayed answer do not lose heart in what you see as a delayed answer.

Second Peter says he does not delay and Just as for you parents. You know there are reasons by you do not give the gifts to your children. When they ask there are reasons for that the all-sovereign Almighty God can have those as well however the scripture says to continually ask.

Continually seek. One of the reasons why some of us do not have what we pray for is that we not consistently ask for number two. You have a lack of faith that God can or will do what you have asked of him.

I want to read real quick from James chapter 1 and there's a lot of scriptures. We're going to get to today, but I'm just going to read this one for you. This is James 1 5 through 8 and by the way if you want to start memorizing scripture Let me encourage you that your first one be James chapter 1 verse 5.

James chapter 1 verse 5 and here we go. Let's read. If any of you lacks wisdom let him ask of God who gives to all. Generously and without reproach and it will be given to him, but let him ask in faith.

Without doubting. For one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord. He is a double-minded man unstable in all his ways.

On the Puerto Rico mission trip last year We Didn't have enough room for all 70 of us 65 of us however many it was to Worship inside so we had to worship outside every night. Well being on an island and on the coast the weather app called for rain every night.

So we prayed God let it not rain on us while we're worshiping you and not one time. Not one time did it rain on us while we were worshiping. Before after but not while we were worshiping that was our prayer.

In the same way when we went to do communion outside. The weather app called for rain and our simple prayer as a staff was God. Let the rain hold off until we're done with our service. And we finished our service and as I was driving home started raining on my windshield while I was driving home.

And I said, thank you Lord when we Had trunk retreat and it was raining all day long while we're setting up. All of our workers prayed God when our guests get here. Let the rain stop. And wouldn't you know not a drop until we were done.

Not a drop. Yesterday when we're handing out sleeping bags and coats. We started to feel a little rain and Tasha and Johnny and Pastor Christian Pastor Maya prayed Lord let the rain hold off until we're done serving our guests and yet it did.

But somebody in this room and I actually have forgotten who it was. The day of trunk retreat while we're setting up. I said, hey, man. We We rented these tents because and here's why Shadrach Meshach and Abednego.

What'd they say? God's gonna deliver us from the fire, but even if he doesn't I'm still not worshiping that statue. Lord, we're gonna pray that you hold off the rain. And if you choose not to we have a plan B and I was telling somebody, you know, we we all prayed at staff meeting Monday that it would not rain when our guests get here.

And he said well, you need to get past that idea. It's gonna rain. And I said do you not pray. You believe in a God that from eternity past can save your soul from damnation. But he can't stop water from falling from the sky.

One of the reasons we don't have what we asked for is because you lack the faith that he can or will do what you've asked for. And ladies and gentlemen. If you believe that the Almighty all-sovereign God Has already spoke the world into existence if you believe that God became man and died for sin Raised himself from the dead and will bring all people to him.

Then what are wind and waves to him? Ladies and gentlemen the winds and the rain still obey God when he was on that ship and He said to the winds and waves peace be still. It's as if the wind and the waves Remembered the voice of the one who created them.

When he said let there be and created them to come to being. They had heard that voice before and when he said be quiet they stopped. Let those examples be a testimony to you of where God has let this little place serve him before.

And for those you and your brain right now who are thinking those must be coincidences. I Asked you to have a little faith to remove that doubt and walk forward and obey anyway and see how he can do it in your life.

Asking with the Right Motives and Desiring God Above the World

Number three reason and we'll probably spend more time on this one than any other. Why do I not have what I prayed for? Because you haven't asked for it the right intentions. And I put this on your paper in James again chapter 4 verse 2 through 4 he says this.

You desire and don't have so you murder you covet and cannot obtain so you fight and quarrel. You don't have because you don't ask for it. You ask and do not receive it because you ask wrongly to spend it on your passions you adulterous people.

Do you not know what friendship with the world is enmity with God. Whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God dear friends. You say what? No, it's not but it is kind. You do not want to be in the position where God is your enemy you will lose.

Whenever my children and I'm correcting him and they want to rebel against that I make them say the words every time. Daddy always wins and I make them say it and when I say make them I mean physically make them and we're not going to be done until they utter the words.

Daddy always wins. Ladies and gentlemen, God always wins. He will get what he wants. How painful will be for you is up to you, but he will be getting what he wants. He's God if the difference between my child and I is this the difference between me and God is immeasurable.

He says you asked and You don't have it because you asked wrongly to spend it on your passions. Ladies and gentlemen, I'm here to tell you today especially for those of you who ask Josiah I want To want the things of God more than the things of the world.

Now if you don't then you haven't even begun the process. But if you're one of those saying I want to want the things of God more than I want the things of the world. How do I do that? And I said this months ago.

Do you know that your desires are malleable? Tyler what's malleable mean? They can be changed they can be molded. If you've ever said you've heard someone say you can't help what you like. That is a lie.

We have a phrase called an acquired taste that means you didn't like it at first and you made yourself like it. Yes. Yes, some of us have done that with things. We shouldn't. You can change your desires.

And let me tell you how I Read this recently and it's so true. Your will that what you desire has a stopgap before it acts your mind. Informs your will how valuable something is your mind. Informs your will how valuable something is and tells your will what is to be desired and what is not.

If there is nothing in your mind to tell you what is valuable and what is not then it'll be all natural instinct. And what's the problem with our natural instinct? Evil. Jeremiah 17 9 says what the heart is desperately wicked and incurable.

Sometimes well-meaning Christians will say well. Yeah, he's not a Christian yet, but he has a good heart. No, he doesn't. No, he doesn't. He may have an Ethical heart. He may have a moral heart. He does not and neither do I and neither do you until Jesus has taken that out and put in a heart of flesh?

You can change your desires your mind informs and I'll give you a couple examples. When I was a kid My parents would give me an option. Let's say Josiah. We can throw an ice cream party for all your friends or we can all go to Longhorn Steakhouse and I would 100 of the time choose Longhorn Steakhouse.

I'll see my friends next week. That's a steak, right? That's food and That was always my favorite restaurant, wasn't it? That was always when Rachel and I first started dating. That was still my favorite.

I loved Longhorns. And the recipe never changed was always the exact same and I'm one of those that I Normally go to a restaurant in order the exact same thing the exact same way every time and I get mad at myself because I want To try the whole menu, but I can't because I know this is so good, right?

When I got a little older my father took me to a place called butcher shop and They have this thing called Georgie style where you can pour Eight ounces of garlic and butter on top of your steak. Do you know I'm talking about now?

Gluttony is a sermon for next week. We'll get to that later. All of a sudden Longhorn just didn't taste as good to me. Now the ingredients hadn't changed. What happened. My mind was informed there was something more valuable.

Well then a few years later Donovan took pastor Jeff and I to a place in Germantown called Southern Social and then about a year later Tim Nichols says hey Josiah me and Teresa. I want to take you and Rachel out to dinner.

I'm like, all right, let's go to Huey's let's go to you know central and we drive to this place called folks Folly and that steak that was put on my plate. Was that thick and it was you know charred but rare on the inside.

That's how you're supposed to eat a steak by the way and I Got done. I couldn't even get to the mac and cheese and the mashed potatoes or whatever else I ordered because it was so much. And all of a sudden I looked back and it had been eight years since I've been to Longhorn and no desire to go back.

Nothing on the menu of Longhorn ever changed what changed. My mind. Informed by will there was something more desirable more valuable. Okay, I am not a very I Would say I'm maybe this is a positive sometimes negative.

I'm not a very materialistic guy. All right, I Can do without very much. I don't need a whole lot some of my friends in here would call me cheap. I just use the term. I like what I have and I don't need anything else with you.

There is one giant exception. Gentlemen, have you ever been this you're perfectly happy with your tools and then you learn there was a tool you didn't know about. And all of a sudden what you have. Well, you don't even want to do another job with it now that you know that exists.

You're like why am I why have I'm messing with this for five years? Exactly. How did I do and all of a sudden it's not valuable to me anymore. Well, I am that way with one one thing only and that is flashlights.

I Have never fallen for an infomercial my whole life. Except for flashlights. I'm like babe. Look they ran over with a Humvee and it still works. And yes, my shop is filled with flashlights and here's why I will love my flashlight and then we'll go on a hunting trip and Parker Brian and hunter Chapman will show up.

And then don't let me start with Jake. That's coveting. That's what that is they will shine their flashlight on the 300 foot mountain and it is 300 and it is much brighter than mine and All of a sudden I don't really like my flashlight anymore.

All of a sudden the budget when I talk with Rachel includes a line item for flashlights. And then I go hunting and I've got my flashlight and then Evan shines his and we can see a deer in the dark. And and then I need that.

Do you know that my flashlight that I had previously can still shine the exact same amount of lumens? It's still the exact same product. It did not change what changed my mind received new information that made that less valuable and something else more valuable and This can be a horrific thing and a beautiful thing, let's start with the horrific thing.

There are some of us in this room. That's how you are with the things of this world. Not just with silly flashlights. It is never enough for you. Sin is never enough for you. You always need more the thing you spend so much time Effort and money on things that will pass away on your bodies on the rental God has given you for 70 years and You don't think about the thing that's lasting in eternity and you waste your life never being satisfied and always needing more and You will look back and realize that is a wasted life.

So let me give you an alternative. How do I desire the things of God more than the things of this world. You must feed your mind the necessary information. So that you can finally see how valuable he is.

How worthy he is that word worthy worth it. When you see how valuable Jesus is in comparison to all these other things That don't matter that will rot in the ground. You will realize and wake up and realize you've been living in the matrix and you have been spending your whole life Chasing something that doesn't matter and won't last but until you receive The necessary information that will properly let you value how much something is worth you will keep valuing the pig slop.

More than you will the meal inside. You will be the prodigal outside on your face. Eating after the pigs and saying it tastes good because you have no idea what's inside the house. Because you won't go in.

If you feed your mind The necessary information in God's Word if you just get to know his Word. You will finally be able to wake up and value things for what they really are. And you will love God more than you love the things that are passing away.

But until you receive the information from the word until you get to know God the way he told you to get to know him. You will keep devaluing him. And our job as Christians is to magnify God. Not like a microscope a microscope makes little things appear bigger than they really are but like a telescope.

That makes things that are huge really look like the size. They really are. I want to magnify God by making him appear as big as he really is and Valuing him appropriately for how much he is worth, you know, we sing all glory and honor wisdom and power to you alone but in our own lives.

Some of us seem that we value everything else more than that. Everything else and until you receive the proper information of how valuable he is. You're never going to be able to even realize what you're doing.

A reason to feed on the word is so that your mind can make influential decisions and tell your will how much something is worth and. Then you will quit eating the ramen bricks and you will finally realize the feast that is before you in Valuing Jesus more than anything else one of the reasons you did not have what you pray for is because you asked for it the wrong intentions because your Passions are still set on valuing things more than Jesus.

Does that make sense to everybody? Would this altar be full today? Because there's some of us in this room right now that are still valuing everything else more than Jesus and You will continue to give those other things more of your attention more of your money more of your time more of your thoughts.

More of your dreams more of everything. Than Jesus because you do not value him because you don't have the proper information. You are the guy walking in the Pawn Stars with a watch and you don't know how valuable it is.

Unconfessed Sin, Integrity, and God’s Timing

And you'll trade it away for a trinket. You're that guy because you don't realize how valuable it is. Reason number four. You have unconfessed unrepentant sin that you are holding on to Isaiah 59 to says your iniquities have built a barrier between you and your God.

So he does not hear you and I'm afraid some of us just heard me quote that wrong. Not so he cannot hear you. He does not hear you. Let me read that again. Isaiah 52, excuse me 59 verse 2 your iniquities have built a barrier between you and your God.

So he does not hear you now. He can't he chooses not to. Is Lucy Burkett here, oh man, that was my example, okay, I'll think of somebody else we y 'all can picture Lucy. We all know Lucy, right? We love Lucy.

Let's say that Lucy Walks up to Marissa and slaps her in the face. And says give me $20 right now just smash my face and hurry up and give me the $20 you owe me Marissa. How would that go over? At least not for her right.

Some of us have unrepentant sin before God Almighty like you're just smacking him in the face and then you ask him for $20 and then You complain that he hasn't answered your prayers. Is that your attitude towards anybody else or anything else.

No, here's the difference. I Didn't say with any sin for none of us could ever pray for anything. I said with unrepentant unconfessed sin. You have not even begun to lay that the altar of Jesus say God, I don't want to do this anymore.

I want to value you more than I value it. Some of us are Uncomfortable in our sin and let me tell you that scares me. That scares me and we've been over it so many times. Pastor Jeremiah pastor Jeff have been over this so many times.

My fear is not for people that are struggling with sin. Remember what a struggle mean? To fight. My fear is with those that are swimming in it and are at total peace with it. I fear for your soul. I fear for your soul.

That is not the marker of a Christian in the scriptures and that would include. Unfortunately, I think some in this room That if your life ended today, you would drop forever in the abyss of hell because you love your sin more than you love Jesus.

And here's the difference between a follower of Jesus and that oh, they still have their sin. But you know what? They hold on to it a little less tightly than it did five years ago. They do it a little less because they've surrounded themselves With the scripture with prayer and with people that will hold them to a standard all of a sudden.

It's starting to not taste as good anymore all of a sudden they're leaving it behind a little more and loving Jesus a little more and we can see a Progression in that heart and that mind and Jesus says I'm pleased with that.

Do you know the scripture says that you can please the Almighty God. One of the most comforting phrases in the whole Bible to me. Is that creatures made from dirt. We have nothing to offer him. Nothing he needs or wants and yet can please him with our measly efforts to obey him.

Make him happy. Make him joyful. I'll say well done. Good job. We can please that God. That's amazing to me. And that is absolutely wondrous to me. Unconfessed sin. David praise God forgive me of the sin I know about and of the sins I don't know about forgive me of both and make me aware of them.

So I can get rid of them if anyone else. Had that wrong against you and asked you for money you would want that made right first wouldn't you. It is the same with God. Before I pray for petitions I first pray for forgiveness.

Number five you haven't worked for it. Let's look again in Matthew. Let's look again. He says ask and it will be given seek and you will find. Maybe some of us are asking and not enough of us are seeking.

You've asked for something. You haven't got to look for it yet. Ask it will be given to you seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be open. We can do more on that another day. I need to have enough time to do the last two points.

Would you turn with me please to Psalm 84? Psalm 84 and this is reason number six. You don't need it now. You say Josiah. I feel like I need what I'm praying for. Well. Sometimes we may feel that way but in reality, we don't need what we're praying for.

And let's read Psalm 84 and this is one of your homework questions. So for all of us that will be doing this this week what homework questions. The ones on the back I told you about in the beginning. You can do this here.

Psalm 84 10 through 12. There are many of you that I have read this with for a few weeks now. I love this passage. For a day, I'm in verse 10 of Psalm 84 for a day in Your courts is better than a thousand somewhere else.

Let me read that again for one day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I'd rather be a doorman in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For Yahweh God is a sun and shield.

Yahweh bestows favor and honor. No Good thing does he withhold from those who walk in integrity? Yahweh of hosts blessed is the one who trusts in you. Let me read that again. No good thing. Does he withhold from those who walk in integrity?

Now walking in integrity seeking first the kingdom of God and his not second not third not fourth. Seeking first the kingdom of God not Josiah not Robert not Mike seeking first the kingdom of God and his Righteousness, and then all these things will be added.

But for those who are walking in integrity. But read it with me. He withholds no good thing from them. So if I don't have it, it's not good yet now. It may appear good to me, but for a reason known to God alone.

It's not good yet. And I can accept that I can accept that a sovereign God knows more about what I desire than me. And I can accept that it will happen when he's ready, but until it does we do not serve a God.

Who does not want us to be? Satisfied in him we not serve a God who wants to withhold things that we desire. We serve a God who loves to give good gifts to his children. We serve a God who loves delights in giving good gifts to his children.

So if I don't have it yet, it's not good yet. It's not good yet. And I am satisfied that the Almighty God can know that better than I. And I don't have to know why. The God who created all things also governs my life.

And I can be satisfied in knowing that it will happen when he's ready and our last passage 1st Peter chapter 5 if you would please almost at the very back of the Bible. We have been going through 1st Peter in In Sunday night Bible study.

We've been at it for three weeks, which means we're at verse 12 of chapter 1 so Chapter 5 we'll get there in a few months. I'm sure 1st Peter chapter 5 verse 6 humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God.

So that at the proper time He may exalt you some of your Bibles will say in due time at the appropriate time. Maybe. This is how some of us read it. Maybe this is how some of our attitudes are. Humble yourself therefore under the mighty hand of God.

So at my time He can lift me up because he lives to serve me because I'm really God and he's not he's to get off the throne that I created. Maybe that's how some of our attitudes are towards God. But what the scripture says is humble yourself.

Therefore under the mighty hand of God and in due time at the proper time at The appointed time at the time that is most necessary for my sanctification at the time Where he is working all things up to the counsel of his will at that time.

He will lift me up At that time and I trust that when the scripture says he works all things according to the counsel of his will that includes what I'm praying for so Why do I not have my prayers answered number one we haven't consistently asked for.

Number two, we have a lack of faith that God can or will do what we've asked. Number three, we haven't asked for it with the right intentions the right desires. Number four, we have unconfessed unrepentant sin.

We are holding on to number five. We haven't worked for Number six, we don't need it or number seven. We just don't need it yet. It'll happen when he wants us to in summary, I Asked that when we all pray We get our desires right first.

Maybe some of you that mindset of I Don't know how to desire the things of God. I Beg you to remember what the scripture says When it says grow in the knowledge of him. For Libyan's one nine on this this I'll just quote this here.

It says I pray this that your love will keep on growing in Blank and blank now, we're gonna fill in the blank today. You ready? Philippians 1 9 says your love will keep on growing in two things in two things now.

If I were to give a pop quiz to every Christian on this planet today. And I says the Bible says your love grows by these two ways. I wonder how many would get this, right? Your love grows. Bible says Ricky, do you know no, but that's an excellent thing to do and I love you.

The Bible says your love grows by knowledge and discernment. Knowledge and discernment and some of you especially those of us who have only an emotional view of love. Cannot understand how it can grow by knowledge.

Brandon taught a marriage class a communication marriage class this last year and one of the things he pointed out quite rightly is That one of the reasons he loves Sarah now more than he did when they first got married is because he knows her better now.

His love has grown by more knowledge you see. The Bible says our love grows by knowledge and every kind of discernment. Maybe for some of us the reason that your love for God is not growing because you don't really know him.

Or you haven't gotten to know him any better since the day he called you. This is how you know who he is what he loves and what he hates. This is how you know what he desires. Your love grows by knowledge and discernment and that's how your desires change, too.

Prayer for Leaders, Repentance, and the President

All right. We're about to wrap up the music people may come Carla or whoever's doing that hunter. But I want to end with a challenge for some of us. I Said this a couple weeks ago, and I don't think I said it right or I think it fell on deaf ears or whatever.

But in the mindset of prayer and in the mindset of the election that pastor Jeff brought up I want to end with this. The scripture says in 1st Timothy chapter 2 to pray for your leaders. The scripture says in 1st Peter chapter 3 to honor the Emperor while Our president has Fallen short quite a bit these past four years.

Let's just is that is that a fair way to put it when Peter wrote that Nero was the Emperor one of the most egotistical blood-thirsty people to ever rule Rome. And Peter said of them honor the Emperor.

First Timothy 2 verse 2 says pray for your leaders. How many y 'all obeyed that the past four years? Now how many you feel no conviction about that. There are some of you lying right now. The good news is the altar is wide enough that today when we repent you can come up here and repent of that as well.

And here's why ladies and gentlemen our current president Quite frankly is kind of an embarrassing representative for us amongst the nations. Yes, but he is By his physical and cognitive abilities quite close to meeting his creator.

He will be meeting him much sooner than most of us in this room, yeah. He has a lot to answer for. I would see him saved our current new president. May we never be a people? That loves What he can do for my wallet.

More than where his soul is going. May we never be a people? That cares more about what he can do for me financially, which is great. Then where he will spend eternity. And for the two or three of you that still make a case for that man being a Christian.

I just simply point out this if he were a member of this church He would be under church discipline and probably removed from membership. No, that doesn't make somebody a bad president. But I want his soul to come to know the Saving Lord.

And if we had a church praying for that more than we did what he can do with the economy. What could God do with that man's repentance? You ever thought about that? Probably not because you're more worried about what he can do for your 401k.