Sermon Audio Archive

What Must I Do To Be Saved?

  

FROM: 3/10/02 Radio Program

Question: "The Bible teaches: 1) Pray without doubting. 2) God does not always give us what we pray for. Please comments on these differences and why."

Answer:

It is true that the Bible teaches us to pray without doubting. James said, "Let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord" (James 1:6-7).

Yet, we need to remember also that God does not give us what is not in accordance with His will. Again, James wrote, "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss" (James 4:3). Sometimes, the things we ask for are not what God intends for us to have. In this case, He will not give us what we ask for.

This does not mean we give up on praying. Jesus said we ought always to pray and "not lose heart" (Luke 18:1). Paul told the Thessalonians to "pray without ceasing" and "in everything give thanks" (I Thessalonians 5:17-18). We just need to remember that God will respond according to His will, and not ours!

One thing we might also address: Sometimes, people have the attitude that if God does not give us what we want, then our prayer has gone "unanswered." This is not so. Sometimes, in answer to our prayers, God says "Yes." But, sometimes He says "No." (Isn't "no" an answer?) Sometimes, He says "Wait a while." Sometimes, God answers our prayers in an entirely different way than we expect. We just need the patience and wisdom to know the difference!

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