God’s answer to our prayers | Sunday Sermon | March 8, 2020

Good Morning Church!

Today is a beautiful day that our God has made. Today is also a very important day, as we will be learning about, ‘God’s answer to our prayers‘.

And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”  And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”  And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

Every description which the evangelists give of the state of mind in which our Lord entered upon this conflict, proves the tremendous nature of the assault, and the perfect foreknowledge of its terrors possessed by the meek and lowly Jesus.

Here are three things not in the other evangelists.

1. When Christ was in his agony, there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. It was a part of his humiliation that he was thus strengthened by a ministering spirit.

2. Being in agony, he prayed more earnestly. Prayer, though never out of season, is in a special manner seasonable when we are in an agony.

3. In this agony his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down. This showed the travail of his soul.

We should pray also to be enabled to resist unto the shedding of our blood, striving against sin, if ever called to it. When next you dwell in imagination upon the delights of some favourite sin, think of its effects as you behold them here! See its fearful effects in the garden of Gethsemane, and desire, by the help of God, deeply to hate and to forsake that enemy, to ransom sinners from whom the Redeemer prayed, agonized, and bled.

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days.

Let us learn about few things about when God answer our prayers:

And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.”  And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”  But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.

What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent;  or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?  If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Christ encourages fervency and constancy in prayer. We must come for what we need, as a man does to his neighbour or friend, who is kind to him. We must come for bread; for that which is needful. If God does not answer our prayers speedily, yet he will in due time, if we continue to pray. Observe what to pray for; we must ask for the Holy Spirit, not only as necessary in order to our praying well, but as all spiritual blessings are included in that one. For by the influences of the Holy Spirit we are brought to know God and ourselves, to repent, believe in, and love Christ, and so are made comfortable in this world, and meet for happiness in the next. All these blessings our heavenly Father is more ready to bestow on every one that asks for them, than an indulgent parent is to give food to a hungry child. And this is the advantage of the prayer of faith, that it quiets and establishes the heart in God.

Understand this, God will give you what is good for you. He will not give anything which isn’t good in His eyes.

We need to understand that God takes time, not because He is too busy, or not listening, but thats because He is aware of the right time. It is likely that what we are asking may not be good for us or may be bad for not just our physical health, spiritual health as well. Most of the times, we are inspired with worldly desires and similar needs, which aren’t actually a necessity. Nonetheless, God knows us, even before we were born. He knows what we need and when we need it.

The following was alleged  to have been found on a CSA casualty at the Devil’s Den, Gettysburg. This is considered to be one of the Christian Confederate Soldier’s Prayer.

Two things which are very important that you should take from today’s service.

1: God hears every prayer.

2: God always answers our prayers.

Do you think your prayers have been unanswered all these days or months or even years, then behold, allow Lord to act as per His will, not as per ours. Nevertheless, be assured, He has already heard you.

We hope you are encouraged with today’s service. We look forward to see you again on next Sunday. God bless!