CHAPTER 2 WHY DO MY PRAYERS GO UNANSWERED?

Revisit feeding of the 5000 Read Luke 9:10-17 Notice it says 5000 men, the were many more women and children. What do you get out of these verses?

Let’s use this as an exercise in a different way to read the Bible. WORDS STORIES TRUTHS

One of our problems is that is that we often just read the words in the Bible. When you read John 3:16, did you notice it never mentions crucifixion or resurrection to get ever lasting life or that it does not mention eternal punishment only perish.

What does the Bible say about fire and eternal punishment? Read Matthew 25:41 This only says the fire is eternal.

What do the beatitudes say about the poor? Read Matthew 5:3 Read Luke 6:20 One is speaking about being spiritually poor and the other about being materially poor. Had you noticed the difference?

When we read the stories, there are different ways to read them, literally is only one way. Literal vs. Metaphorical (ex. Hyperbole) Theological vs. Historical Faith vs. Reason What method or methods would you choose to help you understand the verses we just read?

Regardless of which method or methods you chose, the main thing you need to take away from these verses is the basic truth it conveys. What truth do you find in these verses? For me, the main thing I take away from these verses, is that no matter how young or seemingly insignificant someone appears to be, God can use them to do great things.

Have you ever felt, that you were not a person that God can use? Are you willing to take you understanding of these verses and apply them to your life and let God work through you?

Contemporary examples of when prayers were not answered. In 1976, 12 year old Hector Pieterson left home to join protests against apertheid in Soweto. Hector’s mother prayed every day for hector’s safety and well being.

Picture from Soweto March

Hector was killed when police opened fire on the marchers. His friend Mbuyisa Makhubo carried his body

Hector became the face of the evil of apartheid and the photo was the beginning of the end of apartheid in South Africa. Bellow is the hector Pieterson memorial.

Hector’s friend, Mbuyisa Makhubo was harassed by the security services, and was forced to flee South Africa after the picture was released. His mother received a letter from him from Nigeria in 1978, but never heard from him again.

A memorial to hector’s friend Mbuyisa Makhubo.

How does God answer prayer? When looking at the Bible closely, we see that when God wants something done, God typically sends someone ex. Moses, Jesus.

Miracles can happen, but miracles are not the ordinary way God makes things happen. Miracles are the exception and not the rule. How do you feel about God using us as instruments to accomplish His will and as an answer to prayers rather than just performing miracles? Is this a new way of thinking for you?

Knowing that God intends to use us to answer the prayers of others, will that make you more attentive to those little prods you get from time to time?

Does God suspend another’s free will to answer your prayers? If the answer to the above question is no, then how will you pray when you answer will require action by someone else?

God can and does work miracles. I think an excellent example is God raising Jesus from the dead. But in general, God works through doctors, counselors, friends, etc. GOD WORKS THROUGH US!!

If we don’t blame God for the bad things, then why would we give God credit for the good? How do you express thanks when tragedy happens and you or someone close to you survives, but others die?

Have you ever come through a life threatening situation and had a feeling that God has a plan for you? What have you done since then?

God has a plan for everyone, His intentional will for your life regardless if you have had a life threatening situation of not. So how much time have you spent trying to figure out what it is that you are supposed to be doing?

We don’t typically blame God for natural disasters. We recognize that illnesses are just part of life because we have physical bodies and someday we will all die. We recognize that because of free will, our lives might be negatively affected by poor decisions, either our own or someone else’s.

So then, what is the purpose of prayer? We often talk about intercessory prayer, a prayer that asks for God’s intervention and help. But maybe prayer is not primarily about intercession at all.

Sometimes, we come to God with a wish list or to do list, but God is not a diving vending machine where we insert a prayer and out comes a miracle. Prayer should not be our way of instructing God on how to run the world.

Maybe we shouldn’t think of prayer as something that needs answering, or as a transaction, but as a relationship or a communion. Maybe we should treat prayer as a conversation with God.