 Okay, welcome back everyone. So good to have you back in this session. We were talking about reasons why our prayers are not answered and there were a whole bunch of comments People said that we don't pray the right prayer. We don't pray in the right way then it's not God's time or someone else was mentioning that Maybe we haven't done something right. So these are all the views opinions that we've got so far But we'll see what does the Bible say so we can have an opinion But what is it that the word of God is telling us is the important question to ask here in the chat? Daniel says because of our faith we pray But we don't have faith that our prayers will not be answered Okay, the lack of faith is also another reason why we don't get the answers So there are a few reasons that are listed in our notes. The first one is Asking a miss or asking with the wrong motives That's a reason why we may not receive What we are asking for for example, if I am seeking a position of authority There can be many reasons why I could see that position so that I can have a Greater influence that I can do more good Be a blessing to the people. These are all the positive reasons why somebody seeks a position of authority now the negative reasons would be to Simply gain power or to get an ego boost like you feel great that I am the person in charge. I'm great. So These are all the wrong reasons or we Don't want to treat people well No, we just want to be the boss over everyone These all would be the wrong reasons. So now when we pray and we say God, I want that I want that I want that position What's happening the motives are not right and that's what James Talks about in James chapter 4 verses 1 through 3. He says look you ask But you're not asking for the right reasons. How can God even answer your prayers? So when we ask with the wrong motives, then we won't get it But when we pray with the right motives or we pray in line with what God's word says He always hears us is what the Bible says. Okay, somebody had mentioned that Maybe God doesn't hear so only in the case of demonic hindrance one passage we read that God didn't hear or the prayer didn't go forth to God but in all other places God hears us if we are praying a line to the will of God always remember God will hear there's nothing stopping our prayer from reaching God. So this is a really beautiful passage one John chapter 5 Versus 14 and 15 I would request a Person to please read it. Maybe Brother Komal, could you please read? One John 5 14 and 15 This is the confidence we have in approaching God That if we ask anything According to his will he hears us And if we know that he hears us Whatever we ask we know that we have what we asked of him Yes, thank you. So as we can see here Then we can have confidence That whenever we pray right we ask anything according to his will. What does he do? He Hears us. So we have this confidence that This is the confidence that we have in him If we ask anything according to his will he hears us So it is very simply put that Whenever I pray Align to the word of God align to the will of God God is hearing my prayer. I must never think that hey, maybe God didn't hear my prayer. What happened? You know, where did my prayer escape? Where did it fly away? God didn't hear it No, what does the scripture says? Say it says One John chapter 5 verse 14. Remember this always that This is the confidence That we have in him that if we ask anything according to his will He hears us. So when I pray aligned to the will of God Certainly God will hear me. I don't have to have the smallest doubt Okay, it's only when I am or the opposite is also true So the opposite would be that we will have no confidence if we are praying Misaligned to the will of God if you bring something outside the will of God, how can God answer that prayer? He won't hear us But if you're praying in the will of God for our lives When we pray valid prayers sometimes we call them valid prayers because in the scriptures, there are You know verses that tell us that these promises are available God's guidance. Yes. Can I ask God every day Lord? Please lead me show me the way strengthen me You know, give me a vision. Give me a dream for my life Very valid because it is there in the Bible the same God who spoke to Abraham the same God who let Abraham Will do it for us each one of us today. So God's guidance or you want to ask for wisdom Understanding all these things are granted in the word of God So we get asked and God always hears us because we can go back to the scripture on John 5 verse 14 Yes, in this we have confidence that if you ask anything in the will of God, he hears us right, but if we don't Ask in the will of God, that's where the problem happens and be wonder Why is God not answering? Why is he not making this happen? It's just not happening Maybe it's not aligned to God's word. That is the reason why we are not getting answers to our prayers Or our motives are not correct Those kind of prayers God will not answer. It's already written in God's word now Let's see what are some of the other reasons Using the wrong kind of prayer wrong kind of prayer. We will you know look at The different kinds of prayer later on but then you see We must we would need to use the right kind of prayer. There are some times that a Prayer of thanksgiving will be the most powerful prayer for example in What was that passage on 11? What did Jesus say father? I thank you that you always hear me He didn't start off with I command you Lazarus come out of the grave But there was an appropriate prayer. He prayed in that moment. He said father. Thank you that you always hear me So there are different kinds of prayers thanksgiving petitioning God You know praying in the spirit So there are all these types of prayers that we can pray through Knowing which kind of prayer to pray in a given moment in a given situation is something that we need to grow into So maybe we are not praying the right kind of prayer So that is also a reason why we may not have an answer the next reason as You know Cyril pointed out the timings of God the Sunday our sermon was about God's timing, right? So God has a timing we may Because of our desire we may present to God and say no God you got to do it right now, but We must align our hearts to God's calendar God may have another time in another season where he would grant that need So we must trust God and journey with God till that time to see the fulfillment of God's promise Sometimes what happens? The promise is true But waiting for that faithfully Can be quite challenging. That's when people give up and they say God never answered my prayer Okay, but that's not true. Maybe we just didn't wait for God's time Usually I'm in the ministry when we start out doing the ministry I've heard some pastors share this they start a church But the initial years are so challenging because they have to do everything. They have to preach They have to organize. They have to go invite the people. They have to visit the people People have needs. They have to minister to the needs of the people. So growing a church not so easy at all And I'm sure you know many of us know that but you think about this It's because many of these ministers of God men and women of God, they have journeyed with God patiently Persevered with commitment. They never gave up that You know, sometimes it takes a decade two decades to see the kind of growth that we may look at it now and say wow Look at that, you know, look at that congregation. It's thriving. This is happening. That is happening But it's because of people who didn't give up They journeyed with God for years decades Before some of these promises have materialized. This is the reality. So there is a timing God's timing Sometimes we just want it tomorrow, right? We are the Microwave generation they call us the microwave generation now One second one not even one minute. It's too late. It's taking one minute to heat my food What a waste of time make it faster. Make it faster. Everything one click, right? We want to shop one click Everything the degree also you want one click baby. I don't know but it's not possible We have to put in the hard work. So this microwave thing doesn't work with God. We have to be patient We have to trust God God's timing is when certain prayers will We'll see the fulfillment of those prayers So if we give up in the middle and we say that God didn't answer my prayer That is not correct because God wants to answer. We are the ones who We stepped out of God's purpose and God's plan. So that is a reason another reason why we don't see answers now We have a few more listed here hindrances in our own lives as someone stated Pride somebody mentioned it unbelief. Yes, that also stops God from God's answers from coming in to our lives. There can also be disobedience For example Saul in the Bible, right Saul We know that God selected him as the king But he was full of rebellion God wanted him to do certain things. He was doing his own You know activities and God did not like it. What did he tell him finally? He said look obedience is better than sacrifice. I want obedience from you I don't want all these great, you know a show of Achievements and your sacrifices. I don't want all that simple obedience. That's what I want So when we walk in disobedience to God and we say but God you said in your word, you give me you give me How can God answer us because we are not walking in obedience, right? These are all the issues that happen when we you know, don't understand what God's word is saying to us So obedience in our lives is very important before the Lord So the way our heart is before the Lord the way our character is before God all these things matter a lot And we need to develop ourselves. Maybe you know, we are not the we see some of these weaknesses It's time to say God. I repent. I would I want to change. I want to grow And I want to become that obedient believer or child of God to See victory in my life in every way even in the area of prayer Okay, so disobedience is a problem sin is a problem sometimes Believers so unfortunate. We know that scriptures tell us that the Lord Jesus has set us free Right, we are no longer slaves of sin because of the of what Jesus did on the cross He broke the power of sin over our lives the Romans not the study of the book of Romans It teaches us if I am a believer Jesus set me free from being a slave to sin Otherwise what does sin do to people it makes a slave of the people that people can't come out They are in bondage. They are in chains. But what the scriptures? What does the scripture tell us Jesus set us free if I'm a believer sin has no Dominion over my life meaning I can conquer I can live the life that God is calling me to live for him I can't make excuses that this person is making me do this or you know, I I couldn't get out of Some of the problems of yesterday those those things are haunting me If you look at what the Bible says Sin shall not have dominion over you. That's what the Bible says. We are no longer under We're no longer under the devil, but now we come under the power of the cross So we are overcomers, right? So walking in sin is not an option for a believer Okay, there is no excuse to walk in sin, but unfortunately some of us know we may continue We know some things are wrong, but we never give up. We just keep doing the same thing again and again a Lifestyle like that will not bring answers Okay, so that is also a reason why we may not receive answers from God then a Wrong understanding of prayer. So as I said earlier without Faith we pray and we just hope that there'll be some response from God that is not praying in faith Because when we pray we expect God will do something when I pray it has to because that is the right Pattern or design of prayer if I pray God hears me he will respond But when we pray thinking not sure it may hit the target. It may not hit the target, right? That's not right. So there's no faith there Then how do we expect an answer to what God is wanting to do? So these are all things for us to think about. I'll look at the chat here Okay, Esther Okay, Esther is Yeah Sure. Yeah, thank you Esther for correcting me Yeah, so I I stated earlier that the prayer did not reach God. I am wrong my I apologize So she posted she posted the Scriptures here. So the prayer was heard the first day the answer was delayed. So that is the hindrance Okay, bless me. I correct myself. So the prayer was heard but the answer was delayed So that that was the delay that came into that situation. So thank you Esther. I appreciate that Okay. Now moving on Sanjay Sanjay is sharing a passage. He says let my prayer be set before You as incense the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. So some 141 verse 2 Okay, and the rest of the passage there where you know the psalmist is Expressing his his desire For prayer and you know, he talks about his prayer. Thank you Sanjay for sharing that Did you have a question associated with that or some specific insight? No, okay, fine. Then we'll go forward right, we've looked at some of the reasons why We don't receive answers from God, but that should not be the case We should always receive answers from God if we are If we are in line with what God's word is saying Okay We've settled that now. Let's talk about boundaries boundaries and prayer He said that the way prayer is designed It should always work. It should always be effective and successful however There are some boundaries to keep in mind one being With prayer we cannot manipulate people's will or Control them or force them. So this means if you take a situation where let's imagine a Friend, okay, we just this is an imaginary Situation and that I'm telling you about so there are two friends. Let's let's think that you know one friend He's in need and the other friend seems to be doing very well So the friend who's in need wants Maybe, you know some money or Okay, let's imagine some money from the so-called the friend who's doing well Now can this friend in need pray? God make him give me help. You know make him help me make him do this make him You know respond to me make him These prayers are outside of the boundary of prayer. Why why why do you think? It's outside the boundary if we pray to for God to Sort of impose something on a person's will and make them do it Is that a correct way of praying or not? Okay All right, so the Sunday says no If you don't mind, could you elaborate? Why you're saying no, all right, so a couple of comments that are coming in here Fine I'll go ahead and I'll just share the answer Okay, so some just said no for some other reason Okay, the answer to the question that I asked, you know, can we pray a prayer which says God Forced somebody to do something for us It won't work because what we're doing is we are praying against The will of that person God has given all of us a will and he never forces us so Will is the ability to make choices the way God created Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and He gave them choices and we may ask the question God already knew that He Adam and Eve would sin. So why didn't he stop them? Why didn't he tell them beforehand? Be careful the serpent will come to you and please don't do this He never tried to manipulate. He told them what needed to be done, but then it was their choice From the beginning God gives man and woman choice. You know what you want to do So when we pray a prayer which tries to override the will of someone and we want to make them You know help us make them like us make them do this Those prayers are not the way God has created us. Everyone has free choice So we cannot try to manipulate people's will to make them do things that we want them to do So such prayers are not Biblical prayers again We can't pray prayers that contradict God's word or The overall plan of God for mankind. We've already discussed this So these are things to keep in mind. We can't use prayer going back to the first point to Force people sometimes we I don't know if You know it's happened to you, but I have thought about this Why can't we we make let's say a child has gone far away from God and the parents are praying for that child They are praying and they can also pray that you know God a minister to my son And speak to him send godly people into his life And let him have encounters These are all valid prayers But if they pray something like make him he has to choose this college and he has to she has to Husbands and wives, you know, they pray they have to she has to he has to that's not correct because God gives everyone Free will Okay, we can't override free will even through prayer because when we try to override people's free will in the Bible it actually refers to Witchcraft because that's what people who do witchcraft Are all about what do they do whatever they want it they want to make people do those things But that's against God God doesn't work like that. God gives a free will right? So manipulating using prayer is it doesn't work and we should never do that There is a boundary though. We are saying prayer is meant to be Successful effective The boundary is we cannot override human choice Free will we can influence We can try to be a very positive influence so that they can choose the right options But we cannot make people Do things even salvation think about this the Lord Jesus died on the cross at 2,000 years ago today We are preaching the gospel and who so ever shall believe It's a choice. This is what Jesus did We have to make the choice to say, okay, Jesus forgive my sins come into my life make me a new person So this is how even prayer works God allows us to have our free will Now, let me just go back to our comments here Daniel says the point you are discussing is the answer of one of my questions Okay, which was not which I was not getting for past many years praise God. We are glad to hear that Daniel and let's see Okay, so he gave us an answer for the example that I share Angeline says it's Selfish prayers not aligned to God's character. Instead. We should ask God to provide for us. Okay, all right and Brother Eric. He says they are intentional prayers and God does not Is not a respecter of people and Daniel also says because we are not praying But rather we are using prayer for our own need. Yeah, again, we're asking a miss. So these are all things for us to note. I Also want us to consider this section in our notes Which talks about Paul's prayer Because we said that prayer is meant to be okay So bless is asking and some scriptures. Okay regarding which why which point bless see the We can't we can't overwrite people's will for that. Okay, we can't overwrite people's will so The example that I gave you about Adam and Eve. No, that's that's in itself a scriptural example because God gave man free will and also Regarding salvation Because God doesn't force anyone we can't force people to have faith in Jesus Christ So that also shows us that even though God can if he wants to he's giving all of us free will But are you convinced with these two examples? Thank you. So specific scripture. Okay, I can't think of like a verse maybe but one Point that comes to my mind is at the time in the book of Acts when a lot of persecution came Even at that time you find that the believers were praying to God They could have prayed and said, you know, God you make these Rulers change their mind you make them you make them but the prayers were not like that the prayers were not to manipulate their will but it was more for You know protection it was more for the believers to thrive It was more for, you know, the the kingdom the church to grow powerfully So we don't find even believers like the early church believers praying such prayers and God always gives us that option Yes, so I'm not able to tell you one verse Let me see if I find something later. I'll tell you. Thank you Yes Hello, sister Yeah, we can hear you Yeah, say now in Manipur all the situation is taking place and there's such so many inhuman things happening over there now can't we pray for the authorities against their behavior towards those people Yes, of course we can pray. So that's what I'm saying. I'm saying influence Right Influence is possible. So when we pray what happens? It's a spiritual Influence we are saying God, you know, you do this you appoint the right people give them the wisdom give them the Understanding help them to walk in the fear of God, you know, let the policies be regulated Let the people be protected. We can pray prayers like that The point I'm making is we we cannot we cannot impose or force You know our will on another person using prayer That's the difference. I Mean the leaders The leaders we have elected. They are the ones who are doing this to the people Which is I mean we have given them authority to rule the people and this is injustice Which is done. So if you pray against the leaders, is it wrong? See pray against the leaders I wouldn't say that sister because if you look at other passages of scripture Like first Timothy chapter 2 verse 1 we are encouraged to pray for the pray for those who are in authority So instead of praying in a condemning way Yeah, the things they are doing May not be right, but still scriptures are encouraging us to pray to bless pray to You know for God to intervene Right in those circumstances not like against those people Does it I mean are you are you agreeing with that or? I'm not sure because I myself. I'm not convinced because The thing is I feel we have voted them and they promised to Take care of the people and to treat everybody equally and what is happened is this so much Against you know, is it not because they are these because they're Christian and I don't know what is exact the reason But they are not kept to that word what they promised to do I'm in spite of doing so much harm. They're not even trying to help them This is what I mean what they're doing is wrong But is it wrong for us to pray that you know that they will take Action and they will change them behavior and to change what they're doing. Is it wrong to pray in that way? Is it wrong to pray that they will change their attitude? Yes behavior and you know to help these people Yeah, so that we can pray because that would come under the category of influence Okay, there is a scripture in the book of Proverbs also I'm just not able to remember the number But it says that the heart of the King is in the hands of the Lord and he turns it whichever way he wants So that that is a prayer which says God you have control over the hearts of these people So we are praying to God To change their hearts what I am saying is I'm saying to You know pray condemning prayers over leaders is not scriptural. Yes, they are not correct that I agree with you They're not correct But still the prayers that we pray would be more of Influencing them. Okay by which I mean Lord give them good understanding Or you know Lord give them the wisdom Fill them with the fear of the Lord in this manner we can pray instead of saying, you know This person is wrong and I want him out Because I don't see any such, you know passages here even coming here to acts chapter 4 So I'm here in acts chapter 4 Yeah, so acts chapter 4 The last section Yeah, so when you come here This is also a prayer system. Maybe you can go through it a little later You can read from verse 23 to verse 31 When the rulers are not being right. They're not being fair Peter and John are arrested And many things happen So you can just notice the way they pray because they are also praying at a time when the rulers are You know not walking in justice So that should give us an idea about how is it that we can pray? You know when when things are not going right Yes, Esther Sister to add on to what you just said Who did get through the question? We are we God has given us the authority to pray and condemn the things which are wrong However, we are not allowed to Dominate or make a decision for somebody else like That is what you're trying to say What I feel here is that whenever we are praying God has given us complete authority and it is not the rulers or the people or the flesh and blood our warfare is against the powers of darkness It's not the person or the garment, but it is the we should condemn the acts exactly condemn the Intentions of them, but at the same time it is not the people whom we should hate or build a strife in our hearts it is the Evil which is within them who is using them as a you know puppet and making them do all this Act should be condemned. We should pray for people in authority. What is wrong is wrong However, not the it's not no hate it towards them. Yes. Yeah. Thank you Esther I think you put it, you know quite clearly there And quite on you know, we were able to understand it. So that's the point that I'm also making And just want to add to that what Esther said is we are not here Against human beings against people but our battle is against Not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers Right and spirits of wickedness in the heavenly places. So Efficient 612 tells us that we are here to battle against demonic powers not to battle against People and thanks Sam. I see the scripture there Sam has posted the probes 21 1 that's the scripture that I quoted about the heart of the king Which is in the hand of the Lord. So just going back to the comments. There are some more comments Yeah, so Lucy is asking then how do we pray for salvation of people? Is it okay to pray Lord? Let your salvation salvation flow into their lives. Yes, that is correct Lucy You can pray like that about praying for people salvation will come back to it there's an entire chapter about it and Sanjay adds pray against the sin not against the sinner our battle is not against flesh But principalities and powers in high places. Okay. Thank you. Thank you everyone. It's really nice to hear your thoughts Now, let me go to the last section in our chapter here since we were talking about success in prayer and you know hundred percent Effectiveness of prayer in the life of Jesus, we know that he was you know always successful but there is one incident or one Passage about the life of Apostle Paul that may confuse us because there is a time when you know Paul prays regarding Regarding a problem that is going through but God tells him my grace is sufficient for you Right and based on this we as believers we sometimes excuse our We may not have received an answer to our prayer, but we excuse ourselves saying oh God is just saying Okay, keep going through this issue because my grace is sufficient for you, but let's understand that Passage really well. That's what I want us to do now Can someone turn to second Corinthians chapter 12 Versus 6 through 10. It's kind of a little long passage So who would like to blessy can you read it please second Corinthians 12 6 to 11 Even though I am untrained in speech that I am not in knowledge But we have been truly manifested among you in all things Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted because I just one moment blessing? Please hold on Is that second Corinthians or are you it is 12 6 to 12 6 second Corinthians 12 6 is it For though I might decide to post I will not be a fool for I will speak the truth But I refrain lest anyone should drink of me above what he sees me to be or hears me from me and Lest I should be exalted about measure by the abhorrence of the Revelations a thorn in the flesh was given to me a messenger of certain to buffet me less I be exalted about above measure Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that I might depart from me And he said to me my grace is sufficient for you for my strength is made for perfect in weakness Therefore most gladly gladly I will rather boast in my Infirmities that the power of Christ may be rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities in reproaches in needs in persecutions in Distress for Christ's sake for when I am weak, then I am strong. Okay. Thank you. Thank you Bless you. So here in this passage we find that Paul prayed to God to take away a thorn in the flesh What is that thorn in the flesh? There is an explanation in verse 7 it says a messenger of Satan to buffet me meaning thorn in the flesh was a demon Okay, okay, let's move on and then when he prayed to get rid of this demon God told him my grace is sufficient for you for my strength is made perfect in weakness. So though Paul prayed He didn't get the answer that he wanted God said my grace is sufficient for you And what was the thorn in the flesh? It was not another human being. It was not a sickness Okay, these days when we don't understand this passage there is that tendency to attribute that thorn in the flesh as a person People have said things like, you know, oh my boss is a thorn in the flesh or you know, this person is a thorn in my flesh That's incorrect because Paul was not referring to a human being. He was referring to a demon and What else do we notice here when he prayed for us for God to Get rid of this demon. How how many times thrice? Trice. What did God tell him? My grace is sufficient for you for my strength is made perfect in weakness But let's also understand why this happened Okay, let's look at Verse seven It says lest I should be exalted above Measure by the abundance of the revelations So there is the answer Why did God not take away that demon? to humble Paul Why humble Paul because Paul is saying the abundance of revelation So for us today to say I have a thorn in the flesh and God is not going to answer my prayer God is only saying my grace is sufficient for you. God will not answer. He will not take away You know, he will not deliver me or he won't heal me Because God is saying my grace is sufficient for you will not be the right application Because it was only Apostle Paul who had abundance of revelation Which is why God wanted to keep him humble Understood. Now can any one of us compare with Paul's revelation? I don't think so. He wrote most of the New Testament That kind of revelation God gave Paul So scriptures, you know, tell us that for Paul to be humble and lest I should be exalted Above measure. He says that I should not become proud. This was a very specific Situation to Paul So none of us can take this passage and state that I have a thought in the flesh Or God is not going to answer my prayer and God is saying my grace is sufficient for you will be incorrect Simply because this is a unique situation It is applicable only to Apostle Paul because of his abundant revelations which none of us can compare with even the Apostles at the time of Paul they were different their grace their gifting was different But Paul had abundance of revelations and for that sake, you know God God he's a God who Whatever is meant for evil. He turns it around for our good So in this case a demon was troubling Paul, but God used that situation to help him be humble Okay, so this is a clarification which we thought that you know, we can talk about at this point Any thoughts any comments? Okay, wonderful. Thank you for acknowledging Sure. So in that case if we don't have any further questions Pray and close so that in the next class I can just begin with a new topic and continue from there I'll leave this opportunity open for Maybe someone from online. Could you please pray as we close today's session? Yeah, I'll I'll go ahead and pray Sam, please. Thank you. Okay, father. We just thank you for this time. Thank you for this class Thank you Lord for all the things that we have learned Thank you Lord for all the revelation and I just thank you Lord for the truth that has been imbibed in our hearts. I pray that it would take deep root I pray Lord that as we learned about prayer that we would look to Jesus the Author and perfect of our faith and we would follow him Lord in our prayer life Just as Jesus prayed I pray Lord that our hearts would desire Lord to long after you Lord and you would take us to newer levels from where we were in our prayer life and I pray Lord that all the doubts that were asked and Doubts in our minds would be cleared by the revelation of your Holy Spirit Lord So we just submit our lives to you and we just thank you once again for this time and this opportunity in Jesus mighty name We pray amen Amen, amen. Thank you. Thank you Sam. Thank you everyone. God bless you Thank you for being part of these sessions Please continue to go over your notes as often as possible and we'll come back again to discuss About prayer and intercession in the next class. Okay. Thank you and bye for now. God bless you Thank you very much, ma'am. Thank you. Thank you brother Pankaj. Bye. God bless