The Space between our Prayers and Praise

 What do we do while we wait for our prayers to be answered?

 

In Daniel 10:11-13,  Daniel's prayer was answered the first day he prayed, but he had to wait 21 days for the answer to come.    

 

1. God hears our prayers.  

 

Psalm 18:6

ESV

In my distress I called upon the Lord;
    to my God I cried for help.
From his temple he heard my voice,
    and my cry to him reached his ears.

 

2. God answers our prayers.

1 John 5:15

 

ESV

And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

 

Matthew 7:11

 

ESV

 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!

 

3. God uses the time that we wait for our prayers to be answered.

Matthew 7:11

 

ESV

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!

Our struggle is to not take matters into our own hands.

4. Don't waste the time that we wait for our prayers to be answered.  

Psalm 130:1-6 

 

ESV

 

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!

²     O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
    to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

³ If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
    O Lord, who could stand?
⁴ But with you there is forgiveness,
    that you may be feared.

⁵ I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
    and in his word I hope;
⁶ my soul waits for the Lord
    more than watchmen for the morning,

    more than watchmen for the morning. 

A.  Focus on God's ways.

Hebrews 10:23-25

 

ESV

 

 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, ²⁵ not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

 

B. Focus on God's Word.  

Find a verse and make it personal.  God's will is His Word.    

1 John 5:14 

ESV 

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.

C.  Focus on God's work.

Hebrews 12:1

 

ESV

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Mark 9:23

ESV

 

 And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”  

How to have a successful business.

The first letters of the word "C.O.W.S." will help you to remember these principles.  

 

Customers must benefit.

Owners must benefit.

Workers must benefit.

Society must benefit.  

 

God wants us to be generous to others.  

Giving frees us from being greedy.   

Proverbs 1:19 New Living Translation

Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money;    it robs them of life.

Proverbs 13:11 New Living Translation

Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears;
    wealth from hard work grows over time.

Malachi 3:8-12 New Living Translation

⁸ “Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me!

“But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’

“You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. ⁹ You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. ¹⁰ Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! ¹¹ Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease.^[a] Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. ¹² “Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

We are to give God back the first 10%.  Why does God want that?  He doesn't need our money.

Giving back to God helps us to have...

1.  Gratitude for the past.

2.  It puts God first place in our lives.

3.  It demonstrates trust in God.

If you can't trust God in your finances, how can you trust Him with your salvation?

Proverbs 3:9-10

New Living Translation

9 Honor the Lord with your wealth
    and with the best part of everything you produce.
10 Then he will fill your barns with grain,

    and your vats will overflow with good wine.

If you want God's blessing in any part of your life, put Him first in that area.

Don't confuse your net worth with your self worth.

Proverbs 13:7

New Living Translation

7 Some who are poor pretend to be rich;

    others who are rich pretend to be poor.

 

Can God trust you with greater blessings?

 

Proverbs 11:25

New Living Translation

The generous will prosper;

    those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

Proverbs 10:22

New Living Translation

 

The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich,
    and he adds no sorrow with it.

 

It's not our money.  It's God's.  He just wants us to learn to be unselfish.  

 

 

We must trust God and His Son, Jesus Christ.  

 

 

 

Acts 16:31

New King James Version

...“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved...”

How to handle delay.

"Be PATIENT, my friends, until the Lord comes back. Remember how patient farmers are as they WAIT for their valuable crops to mature and ripen. They also WAIT PATIENTLY for the spring and fall rains to do their work. You too must be patient! Don't give up, because the Lord could arrive at any time! And don't complain – especially against each other – or God will judge you! Remember that the real Judge is standing at the door! Another example of patience in the face of suffering is God's prophets who spoke God's truth in hard times. Today, we honor them for their patient endurance when they suffered unjustly. Then remember the example of Job. Job continued to patiently trust God while enduring great pain. But we know how God fulfilled his purpose for Job and that his plan for Job ended in good because the Lord always treats us with tender compassion and merciful kindness."James 5:7-11

WHEN IS WAITING PATIENTLY AN ACT OF FAITH?

1. WHEN  

you can't control your circumstances.

"Be PATIENT, my friends, until the Lord comes back. Remember how patient farmers are as they WAIT for their valuable crops to mature and ripen. They also WAIT PATIENTLY for the spring and fall rains to do their work. You too must be patient! Don't give up, because the Lord could arrive at any time!"James 5:7-8

2. WHEN  

the truth is unpopular.  

"Another example of patience in the face of suffering is God's prophets who spoke God's truth in hard times. Today, we honor them for their patient endurance when they suffered unjustly."James 5:10-11a

"Don't grumble about each other, my brothers and sisters, or God will judge you. Remember, the great Judge is coming. He is standing at the door!"James 5:9 (NLT)

3. WHEN  

pain is unbearable and unexplainable.  

"Then remember the example of Job. Job continued to patiently trust God while enduring great pain. But we know how God fulfilled his purpose for Job and that his plan for Job ended in good because the Lord always treats us with tender compassion and merciful kindness."James 5:11

WHAT SHOULD I REMEMBER WHILE I'M WAITING?

1. REMEMBER  

God is in control.

"Be patient, my friends, until the Lord comes back." James 5:7

"Be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near."  James 5:8

"Don't complain . . . the Judge is ready to come!" Jam. 5:9 (NCV)

2. REMEMBER  

that God rewards patience. 

"We consider BLESSED those who have persevered." Jam. 5:11 (NIV)

"Let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing IF we don't get discouraged and give up." Gal. 6:9 (LB)

3. REMEMBER  

this is not the end of the story.  

"We know how God fulfilled his purpose for Job and that his plan for Job ended in good because the Lord always treats us with tender compassion and merciful kindness."James 5:11b

"'I know what I am planning for you' says the Lord. 'I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I'll give you hope and a good future!'"Jer. 29:11 (NCV) 

HOW DO I TRUST GOD DURING A DELAY?

1. LIKE FARMERS,  

wait expectantly.   Get ready.  

". . . I wait expectantly, trusting God to help, for He has promised." Ps. 130:5 (LB)

"No one who waits for my help will be disappointed." Isa. 49:23 (TEV)

2. LIKE THE PROPHETS,  

wait without complaining. 

"It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."  Lam. 3:26

3. LIKE JOB,  

wait confidently.  

"If a man dies, can he come back to life? I will wait for better times; I will wait till this time of trouble is ended." Job 14:14 (TEV) 

"Those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint!"Isa. 40:31 (NLT) 

"The Lord isn't being slow in keeping his promise to return. Instead, he's waiting on you, being patient with you, because he doesn't want anyone to be lost and perish. Instead he is giving you time to change your heart and turn to him!"2 Pet. 3:9

What on Earth am I here for?

“It is in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. . . part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.”Ephesians 1:11 (Mes) 

“Everything, absolutely everything. . . got started in Christ and finds its purpose in him.” Colossians 1:16 (Mes) 

1. GOD PLANNED ME  

“You God created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created!” Revelation 4:11b  

“The Lord takes pleasure in his people.” Psalm 149:4 (TEV)  

“Long before he laid down earth's foundations, God had us in mind, and settled on us as the focus of his love.” Ephesians 1:4 (Mes) 

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.” Matthew 22:37-38 (NIV)  

“I don't want your sacrifices - I want your love! I don't want your Offerings - I want you to know me!” Hosea 6:6 (LB) 

THE 1st PURPOSE OF LIFE IS TO:  

know and love God.  

“WORSHIP”

2. GOD FORMED ME  

for his family. 

“God’s unchanging plan has always been to ADOPT us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure.”Ephesians 1:5 (NLT) 

“God has given us the privilege of being BORN AGAIN so that we are now members of God's own family.” 1 Peter 1:3 (LB) 

“That family is the church of the living God, the support and foundation of the truth.” 1 Timothy 3:15 (NCV) 

“Love your spiritual family.” 1 Peter 2:17 (Mes)  

THE 2nd PURPOSE OF LIFE IS TO:  

learn to love others.  

“FELLOWSHIP”

“Let us not give up the HABIT OF MEETING TOGETHER. . . instead let us encourage one another.” Hebrews 10:25 (TEV) 

3. GOD CREATED ME  

to become like Jesus.  

“From the very beginning God decided that those who came to him--and all along he knew who would--should become like his Son.” Romans 8:29 (LB)    

“We look at the Son and see God’s original purpose in everything created” Colossians 1:15 (Mes) 

“In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus.” Phillipians 2:5 (NCV) 

“As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him.” 2 Corinthians 3:18b (NLT) 

THE 3rd PURPOSE OF LIFE IS TO:  

spiritually.  

“DISCIPLESHIP”

“Let us go on. . . and become mature in our understanding, as strong Christians ought to be.” Hebrews 6:1 (LB) 

“By now you should be teachers. Instead, you still need someone to teach you. . . !” Hebrews 5:12 (GW) 

4. GOD SHAPED ME  

to serve Him.  

“You shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother's womb.” Psalms 139:13 (Mes)  

Spiritual Gifts

Heart

Abilities

Personality

Experiences

“God made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which he planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.” Ephesians 2:10 (NCV) 

“God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God's many kinds of blessings.”1 Peter 4:10 (LB) 

THE 4th PURPOSE OF LIFE IS TO:  

serve God by serving others.  

“MINISTRY”

“What can I GIVE BACK to God for the blessings he's poured out on me?” Psalms 116:12 (Mes)  

5. GOD MADE ME  

for a mission.  

Jesus: “In the same way that The Father gave me a mission in the world, I give you a mission in the world.” John 17:18 (Mes) 

(Paul) “I consider that my will be wasted unless I use it to complete my mission and finish the assignment that the Lord Jesus has given to me – to tell everyone the Good News about God's grace.”Acts 20:24    

THE 5th PURPOSE OF LIFE IS TO:  

share with others what God has done for me.  

“WITNESSING”

“The things that you have learned from me I now want you to PASS ON to other reliable people, so that they can pass it all on to even more people.”2 Timothy 2:2 

“Through Christ, God has made peace between us and himself, and He gave us the work of telling everyone about the peace we can have with Him. . . So we have been sent to speak for Christ!”2 Corinthians 5:18,20  

“God’s people are like trees that bear life-giving fruit. They show their wisdom by saving souls.” Proverbs 11:30 

THE FIRST CHRISTIANS & CHURCH DID GOD’S PURPOSES

“Those who BELIEVED. . . were BAPTIZED and ADDED to the church. . . They JOINED with the other believers and COMMITTED themselves to the apostles' TEACHING AND FELLOWSHIP. . . they SHARED everything with each other and they WORSHIPED together regularly at the Temple. . . and met in GROUPS in homes. . . and everyday the Lord added to their number those who were being SAVED!”Acts 2:41-47 

NOTE THE ORDER:

1. God wants me to BELIEVE in Jesus

2. Next, he wants me to be BAPTIZED

3. JOIN the MEMBERSHIP of a church family

4. Commit to regular WORSHIP

5. Connect to a small group FELLOWSHIP

6. Start serving in some MINISTRY

7. BRING my friends and neighbors to Christ