Keep Praying

 In the aftermath of recent hurricanes, we've seen stories about the immense devastation. But I've also seen stories about what survived. One Church in Ashville, North Carolina was spared and is now being used to distribute donations to those who lost everything. Another story told about a chapel that had been torn apart, but the cross at the front was left standing. I also heard a story of a family who watched their cat be swept away by the flood - but they were miraculously reunited three days later.

Since God is in control - why did He allow some Churches to be spared while others were swept away? Why did He allow a cross and a cat to be saved, but hundreds of people lost their lives? I want to ask a potentially controversial question - why did God allow those hurricanes in the first place? Were the people of North Carolina, Georgia and Florida not praying hard enough? If there were plenty of people praying - did God just ignore all of those prayers?

I'm not trying to be provocative - but I'm sure there are some who privately may be asking the same questions. And asking questions isn't a sin - God is big enough to handle our questions. And it's not about a lack of faith, but exploring legitimate questions. - Because I have no doubt that many who experienced the devastation may have asked...

I. Does prayer matter?

Some people believe it really doesn't matter whether they pray or not. Some just figure that God's gonna do, what God's gonna do anyway – so why bother? Or, they regard prayer as a last resort after all other efforts have failed. Maybe they'll shoot up occasional appeals - but in their heart of hearts, they don't really view prayer as making that big of an impact in their every day lives.

Have you ever thought, 'Does prayer matter?' Those of us here today would say, "Well, of course it does!" However - do we always live and act as though we really believe prayer matters? Do we catch ourselves looking to prayer as a last resort that may or may not make a difference?

I want to take a look at the Biblical character of Daniel from the Old Testament. Many might remember the story of "Daniel in the Lion's Den" from the sixth chapter of the Book of Daniel. In the account – a decree was passed that made it a crime to pray to anyone other than the king. Daniel rejected the decree and continued to publicly pray three times a day to God. For his crime, he was thrown into a lion's den. And when Daniel prayed, God sent an angel to save him from the lions.

Daniel didn't think of prayer as a last resort – it was the first thing he did in any situation. Daniel believed prayer mattered. He relied on God for help and guidance and wisdom and protection. - Now if we jump a few chapters ahead in the Book of Daniel, we find another story that again shows Daniel's belief in prayer. Let's look at Daniel, chapter 10, vs. 1-14. Here we find that Daniel had been praying every day for weeks about the safety of his fellow Israelites without an answer…

Daniel 10:1-14 (NIV)

In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar). Its message was true and it concerned a great war. The understanding of the message came to him in a vision. (2) At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. (3) I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over. (4) On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris,

(5) I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of the finest gold around his waist. (6) His body was like chrysolite, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude. (7) I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; the men with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. (8) So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless.

(9) Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground. (10) A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. (11) He said, "Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you." And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling. (12) Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel.

Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. (13) But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. (14) Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come."

I want to look again in verse 12, notice it says…

Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.

The angel told Daniel that as soon as he prayed; God heard his prayers and sent an angel. Does prayer matter? - Only if you think that God sending an angel to answer a prayer matters. Daniel was blessed enough to see a supernatural answer to his prayer. According to God's Word - Prayer matters! The challenge is to pray and…

A. Don't give up

Daniel was praying for 21 days without an answer, but when he finally got his answer – I'm sure it was more than he bargained for.

And if we jump to the New Testament, we find Jesus teaching His disciples about prayer. Let's turn to Luke 18:1-7 (NIV)...

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. (2) He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. (3) And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' (4) For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself,

'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, (5) yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!'" (6) And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. (7) And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?"

Jesus isn't saying we should just bother God until He gives in like the judge in the story. He's pointing out that even if an unjust judge who 'doesn't care about anyone' will eventually respond – how much more will our righteous, loving God do for us when we ask! When my kids ask me for help - I definitely want to help. That's me, a flawed earthly father. God is our perfect, all powerful Heavenly Father! If I want to help my kids when they ask - won't God desire to do so much more for His children?

But even though we know this - we still doubt. (I still doubt...) 'But I've been praying this same prayer for years. How long do I keep praying without giving up?' - As long as it takes. 'But I've done this over and over so many times – I've been faithful. How many more times do I have to 'not give up'? - Every time. 'But that's not the answer I want to hear! When do I get my prayers answered and then get to rest?' - When we get home…

In our prayer life – we can count on God to answer us! It may not be the answer we want, or on our timetable, or even in this life – but He will answer. And I don't particularly like that understanding - but our prayers shouldn't depend on God answering prayers our way! If God only answered prayers my way - that would mean I was in charge. That would make me God. And I'm not...

- Don't give up on prayer! Paul challenges us in Romans 12:12 (NIV)...

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

It's hard to do – but really what choice do we have? Just give up on God? God is our only source of hope! I don't want to sound condescending, but those who always question whether prayer matters or not - I wonder if they really...

B. Understand prayer?

I found something I needed to remember about prayer in a quote from my father in an old sermon of his I read, "If the true purpose of your prayer is not God directed it will not be God answered." Am I seeking to get my will done through God, or am I seeking to accomplish God's will through me? And am I spending enough time with God in prayer to better understand His will? Am I only asking God to change circumstances, or am I also asking Him to change me? - For His purposes...?

God is always willing to listen to a sincere prayer from one of His children – that's the right we get when we accept Jesus! God doesn't need to be pestered into answering us – He loves us and wants what's best for us. But don't get discouraged because God doesn't answer the way you'd like.

We live in a fallen world where bad things happen. And many times, when we don't understand the 'why' of things, some stop praying - because they don't understand God. But if I stop praying because I don't think that prayer is effective - is the problem with God or in me? We've been granted access to the God of the Universe through Jesus Christ and prayer, but do we neglect that privilege on a regular basis? Pray and don't give up! Listen to Paul's words in Philippians 4:6 (NIV)...

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

God is never too busy and no request is too big or too small for our loving Heavenly Father to listen and answer. But some still struggle, needing encouragement and in their despair still ask...

II. Why not give up?

I want to look back again to our story from Daniel. Remember what the angel told him in Daniel 10:12-13 (NIV)...

Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. (13) But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia."

We already talked about how God sent the angel as soon as Daniel prayed, but don't miss the reason for the delay in the answer in this particular case. There was a spiritual battle going on. The angel was battling demonic forces – that's what he meant when he said he was detained with the king of Persia. Don't think for a moment that a paltry human king could delay an angel...

I'm not suggesting that there's always a huge spiritual battle going on behind every single prayer request. But the reality is - we simply don't know!

Daniel kept praying for an answer even though he didn't know why it appeared that God wasn't answering. In a rare moment, because Daniel was faithful in prayer and humbled himself before God - God gave Daniel a glimpse of what was going on in the spiritual realm. Daniel was able to then see why he had to wait for his answer. You and I have to remember, we don't see…

A. The whole picture

When you're tempted to give up in prayer, remember – God is in control and you don't always get to see the reason behind God's answers to prayer, or any apparent lack of an answer.

It's like when you're at a play and the curtain is closed. You don't usually see what takes place behind the curtain. If you didn't know any better, you might not realize that while the curtain is closed - the props are brought out, the scenery is changed, the actors take their positions. But every once in a while somebody might slip up and the curtain is accidentally drawn back and you see what's taking place behind the scenes. That's in essence what God intentionally did for Daniel. He drew back the curtain so he could see what was hidden before.

When Daniel prayed, demonic forces rose up and angelic warfare broke out! That means – when you pray – you can request the very powers of Heaven when your will is aligned with God's will! That means – when you pray – you have the power to battle the very forces of darkness! That means – when you pray – angels are willing to fight to answer your prayers!

Hebrews 1:14 (NIV)

Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

Think of the implications of that verse. 'Those who will inherit salvation' - that's us! Don't just pass that off as insignificant! When we pray for God's will to be done - angels will help serve us in accomplishing that goal! Will we see them? - Probably not. So does prayer matter? It all boils down to having…

B. Faith in what we cannot see

In Romans, Paul talks about the future hope of Heaven, this reality that we can't presently see…

Romans 8:24-26 (NIV)

For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? (25) But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. (26) In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

We can't always see God's plans for us or the answers to many of our prayers – but understand that God knows what we need even before we do.

So What?

Many of you have shared some of your struggles with me with which you are currently dealing. I know for a fact that some of you here have lost jobs, some are struggling with finances, some are dealing with serious health issues, some are struggling with the loss of a loved one, some are dealing with marriage or family issues. I can only imagine what questions you have for God in your prayer times.

I know the last few years have stretched me in learning to practice what I preach when it comes to prayer...

Bottom line - I don't know 'why' God allows what he does. But I do know God is bigger than those circumstances. I do know that God can bring good out of any bad thing. And whether I understand God's response to anything, I do know what my response is supposed to be. - To pray to my Father and trust Him to do what is best and to follow Jesus and His Word faithfully... And 'faithfully' means each and every time we're tested. God loves us!! Keep praying!