Why God Won't Answer Our Prayer

“Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.” (2 Corinthians 12:8)

OK, it's not quite true to say that God does NOT answer our prayer (the prayer of the believer). But He answers in a way different than we expect. Still, the question remains. Why?

William Biederwolf writes that one reason God does this is "in order that a higher and better blessing may come to us." (How Can God Answer Prayer, p. 238). Indeed, Paul had prayed that God would remove the thorn in his flesh. But as we learn from reading 2 Corinthians, God in His great wisdom saw fit to let him keep it for in so doing, Paul's spirit was tempered to respond rightly before God and react rightly before men. It humbled him in just the right measure suited to his work. Paul thought he needed the "thorn" gone. But, as Octavius Winslow writes:

The Lord knew best what was for the good of His dear servant. He saw that, on account of the peculiar revelations that were given him in his visit to glory, the discipline of the covenant was needed to keep him low in the dust. And, when His child petitioned thrice for the removal of the thorn in the flesh, he for a moment overlooked, in the painful nature of the discipline, its needed influence to keep him “walking humbly with God.” So that we see even an inspired apostle may ask those things of God, which He may see fit to refuse. 

Biederwolf, quoting Adam Slowman, adds, "Some ask for success and speedy deliverance, and they get disappointments which bring them nearer to Him who will deliver them gloriously in trouble if not always out of trouble." Then he adds this thought which is so well suited to our present situation at church where we have experienced numerous trials, "Some ask for health of body and they get health of soul instead and learn what it is to gain the highest attainable gift of a submitted will which brings changeless peace and is worth all the prosperity gifts put together."

Winslow again,

In withholding, however, the thing we ask of Him, we may be assured of this, that He will grant us a perfect equivalent. The Lord saw fit to deny the request of the apostle; but He granted him an equivalent- yes, more than an equivalent, to that which He denied him- He gave him His all-supporting grace. “My grace is sufficient for you.” Beloved reader, have you long asked for the removal of some secret, heavy, painful cross? Perhaps you are yet urging your request, and yet the Lord seems not to answer you. And why? Because the request may not be in itself wise.
Were He now to remove that cross, He may, in taking away the cross, close up a channel of mercy which you would never cease to regret. Oh, what secret and immense blessing may that painful cross be the means of conveying into your soul!

If God were always to give us what we asked WHEN we asked it, we would actually lose out on the greater grace he has in store for us. This is precisely the reason we must pray with a submissive spirit, deferring to his wisdom, and trusting in his loving care. Pray, yes! But entrust the answer into the hands of the One who knows better than you ever could what you most urgently need.

“Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. ” (2 Corinthians 12:8, ESV)

A Rare Interview with D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Thanks to Adrian Warnock of the UK, who drew my attention to this "rare" interview with Dr. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. (I think it is rare because Lloyd-Jones was never one to have attention focused on himself). I owe a debt of gratitude to this man of God. My first reading from him was his wonderful sermon series on the Sermon on the Mount, which I used as the basis for a series on the Beatitudes way back in the mid-70's. I have often recommended his works to our church folk, especially in the classroom, for his works though well thought out and expositional are in no degree "untouchable" to the lay person. He reaches people of every age. 

Ryle on the Reality of Hell

The Reality of Hell

There is such a place as hell. Let no one deceive you with vain words. What people do not like, they try hard not to believe. When the Lord Jesus Christ comes to judge the world, He will punish all who are not His disciples with a fearful punishment. All who are found unrepentant and unbelieving; all who have clung to sin, stuck to the world, and set their affections on things below; all who are without Christ; all such shall come to an awful end. Whosoever is not written in the book of life shall be “cast into the lake of fire.” [Rev 20:15]

I call on all who profess to believe the Bible, to be on their guard.
1) I know that some do not believe there is any hell at all. They think it impossible there can be such a place. They call it inconsistent with the mercy of God. They say it is too awful an idea to be really true. The devil of course, rejoices in the views of such people. They help his kingdom mightily. They are preaching up his old favorite doctrine, “You shall not surely die.”

2) I know furthermore, that some do not believe that hell is eternal. They tell us it is incredible that a compassionate God will punish people forever. He will surely open the prison doors at last. This also is a mighty help to the devil’s cause.

3) I know also that some believe there is a hell, but never allow that anybody is going there. All people with them are good. As soon as they die, all were sincere, all meant well, and all, they hope, got to heaven. Alas! what a common delusion this is!

If I never spoke of hell, I should think I had kept back something that was profitable, and should look on myself as an accomplice of the devil. Reader, I beseech you, in all tender affection, beware of false views of the subject on which I have been dwelling. Beware of new and strange doctrines about hell and the eternity of punishment. Beware of manufacturing a God of your own: a God who is all mercy, but not just; a God who is all love, but not holy; a God who has a heaven for everybody, but a hell for none; a God who can allow good and bad to be side by side in time, but will make no distinction between good and broad in eternity. Such a God is an idol of your own, as truly an idol as any snake or crocodile in an Egyptian temple. The hands of your own fancy and sentimentality have made him. He is not the God of the Bible, and beside the God of the Bible, there is no God at all.

Book Recommendation: HELL UNDER FIRE

I was glad to see that Justin Taylor put this resource on his blog. In light of the attacks from many quarters on this age-old doctrine of eternal damnation, I pass this book along for those anxious to find a good resource on the subject. I have not yet read it (which I realize is not the best way to endorse something), but reviewing the list of contributors alone induces my support.

Here’s a book I highly recommend if you want serious engagement with exegetical issues related to the doctrine of hell: Hell Under Fire: Modern Scholarship Reinvents Eternal Punishment , edited by Christopher Morgan and Robert Peterson (Zondervan, 2004).
Here are the chapters with contributors:

1. Modern Theology: The Disappearance of Hell (R. Albert Mohler Jr.)
2. The Old Testament on Hell (Daniel I. Block)
3. Jesus on Hell (Robert W. Yarbrough)
4. Paul on Hell (Douglas J. Moo)
5. The Revelation on Hell (Gregory K. Beale)
6. Biblical Theology: Three Pictures of Hell (Christopher W. Morgan)
7. Systematic Theology: Three Vantage Points of Hell (Robert A. Peterson)
8. Universalism: Will Everyone Ultimately be saved? (J. I. Packer)
9. Annihilationism: Will the Unsaved Be Punished Forever? (Christopher W. Morgan)
10. Pastoral Theology: The Preacher and Hell (Sinclair. B. Ferguson)

Does God Empower the Unimpressed?

A word from A. W. Tozer to off-set our presumption with regard to the Holy Spirit's power: 

To teach that the filling with the Holy Spirit is given to the Christian to provide "power for service" is to teach truth, but not the whole truth. Power for service is but one effect of the experience, and I do not hesitate to say that it is the least of several effects. It is least for the very reason that it touches service, presumably service to mankind; and contrary to the popular belief, "to serve this present age" is not the Christian's first duty nor the chief end of man....

 

The primary work of the Holy Spirit is to restore the lost soul to intimate fellowship with God through the washing of regeneration.... God wants worshipers before workers; indeed the only acceptable workers are those who have learned the lost art of worship. It is inconceivable that a sovereign and holy God should be so hard up for workers that He would press into service anyone who had been empowered regardless of his moral qualifications. The very stones would praise Him if the need arose and a thousand legions of angels would leap to do His will.

That Incredible Christian, 36-37.

Free Audiobook: The Holiness of God

Here is one of the most widely loved books by R. C. Sproul for FREE on audiobook. Take advantage and download it. 

Free Audiobook: The Holiness of God

Theology in a lost Jabra headset

Yep, you read that title correctly. A few months ago, when my son, Dave & I were at Best Buy, I bought a Jabra headset. Actually, this is the third one over the years, having lost the other two. Each time I think I'll not get another. But really, IF we're to obey the laws that be, we mustn't talk on the phone in our cars any other way. It helps too when you want to talk AND plunk away on your computer. Hands free. Oh, what spoiled people we can be!

Jabra Extreme

My point? I had lost this latest headset a couple of week's ago. (Somehow deep inside, I thought it wasn't really lost. I would find it. But I always think that!). Well, my gut was right. I "happened" to find it in our car yesterday where it had fallen down between the driver's seat and the console. Actually, to be quite honest, I wasn't planning to find it, but the Lord put it in my mind to go out to our car and see if I had left it connected to the special Jabra car charger. While I was changing out some CDs (I got distracted after not initially finding the headset), my eye caught sight of the little ear piece, and . . . voila!

The Theology Behind It?

What do I mean by this? Well, . . . and you may think this a bit eccentric. But follow me. Over the years, I have had numerous occasions to lose or to misplace something which I either subsequently found or lost for good. We all have I'm sure. It's a part of life. But I must say that for years something else came to me when this occurred. I'm sure it was the Holy Spirit. But I began to consider how many truths of God or His Word had I not taken advantage of even though they were right there, as it were, hidden between the seat and the console? Truly, God has give us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). But what good is that if we treat those truths with the same amount of usefulness as we do a lost item? It's like reaching in your wallet for a dollar for a drink on a hot day and not finding one, only to discover later that there was one in another back pocket!? We blurt out, "Oh, if I had only known . . ." You know what I'm talking about. 

Well, learn that these every day kinds of frustrations can lead us all to a kind of spiritual reflection which aims to "find" all we need of Christ right under our noses! So much of what we need to know of Christ is right there, evident, ready to be used, if we'd only pay more attention, and not let them become "misplaced," overlooked.

Another lesson is that we sometimes find what we've lost when we're doing something else profitable. In the process, God will often bring other things into our path. I think He does this on purpose; His purpose being to keep our minds attached to himself and not on a myriad other things.

God give us eyes to see what's right in front of us! 

That's all . . . Amen.