The Prayer of FaithDoes God Always Answer It?

The Prayer of FaithDoes God Always Answer It?

Copyright by Norman L. Geisler 2005 Copyright by Norman L. Geisler 2005

IntroductionIntroduction• Jesus replied, “Because you have so

little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Mt. 17:20)

• Jesus replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Mt. 17:20)

Two Preliminary Questions:Two Preliminary Questions:• Is there a God?

• Can He do anything?

• Is there a God?

• Can He do anything?

Is There a God? Ask an AgnosticIs There a God? Ask an Agnostic• “Now we see how the astronomical evidence leads to a biblical view of the origin of the world…. The chain of events leading to man commenced suddenly and

sharply at a definite moment in time, in a

flash of light and energy" (Robert Jastrow, God and the Astronomers).

• “Now we see how the astronomical evidence leads to a biblical view of the origin of the world…. The chain of events leading to man commenced suddenly and

sharply at a definite moment in time, in a

flash of light and energy" (Robert Jastrow, God and the Astronomers).

In the Beginning, What?In the Beginning, What? "The scientists pursuit of the past ends in the moment of creation. This is an exceedingly strange development, unexpected by all but theologians. They have always accepted the word of the Bible: `In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth'" (Jastrow, God and the Astronomers, 115).

"The scientists pursuit of the past ends in the moment of creation. This is an exceedingly strange development, unexpected by all but theologians. They have always accepted the word of the Bible: `In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth'" (Jastrow, God and the Astronomers, 115).

Is There a God? Ask Einstein

Is There a God? Ask Einstein

•Einstein: "The harmony of natural law. . . reveals an intelligence of such superiority that, compared with it, all the systematic thinking and acting of human beings is an utterly insignificant reflection" (cited by Heeren, Show Me God, 66).

•Jastrow: "That there are what I or anyone would call supernatural forces at work is now, I think, a scientifically proven fact" (interview in Christianity Today, 15, 18).

•Einstein: "The harmony of natural law. . . reveals an intelligence of such superiority that, compared with it, all the systematic thinking and acting of human beings is an utterly insignificant reflection" (cited by Heeren, Show Me God, 66).

•Jastrow: "That there are what I or anyone would call supernatural forces at work is now, I think, a scientifically proven fact" (interview in Christianity Today, 15, 18).

Two Preliminary Questions:Two Preliminary Questions:• Is there a God? Yes!

• Can God do anything? No!• A. He can do anything possible:

• “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible (Mt. 19:26).

• B. He can’t do what is impossible:• “It is impossible for God to lie!” (Heb. 6:18).

• Is there a God? Yes!

• Can God do anything? No!• A. He can do anything possible:

• “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible (Mt. 19:26).

• B. He can’t do what is impossible:• “It is impossible for God to lie!” (Heb. 6:18).

Is it Possible for God to do Miracles?Is it Possible for God to do Miracles?• Yes! He has already done the biggest miracle;

He created the world! Smaller ones are no problem.

• If He can create water, then he can make wine out of water.

• If He can create wheat, He can multiply loaves.

• If He can create life, He can resurrect the dead!

• Yes! He has already done the biggest miracle; He created the world! Smaller ones are no problem.

• If He can create water, then he can make wine out of water.

• If He can create wheat, He can multiply loaves.

• If He can create life, He can resurrect the dead!

Will God Do Anything You Ask?Will God Do Anything You Ask?

Questions:Questions:• Will God do anything you ask, if you

have enough faith?

• Can you name it and claim it?

• If you can conceive it, can you achieve it?• Didn’t Jesus say, “And all things,

whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive” (Mt. 21:22).

• Will God do anything you ask, if you have enough faith?

• Can you name it and claim it?

• If you can conceive it, can you achieve it?• Didn’t Jesus say, “And all things,

whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive” (Mt. 21:22).

Outline:Outline:• I. Can God Act Without the Belief of the Recipient?

Yes!• A. Jesus turned water to wine (Jn. 2:1-11)

• B. He calmed the sea (Mt. 8:18-27)

• C. He raised Lazarus (Jn. 11:17-44)

• D. He raised the dead boy (Lk. 7:11-15)

• E. He raised the dead girl (Mt. 9:18-26)

• F. He created the universe (Jn. 1:2; Col. 1:16)

• He did all this without their faith!

• I. Can God Act Without the Belief of the Recipient? Yes!

• A. Jesus turned water to wine (Jn. 2:1-11)

• B. He calmed the sea (Mt. 8:18-27)

• C. He raised Lazarus (Jn. 11:17-44)

• D. He raised the dead boy (Lk. 7:11-15)

• E. He raised the dead girl (Mt. 9:18-26)

• F. He created the universe (Jn. 1:2; Col. 1:16)

• He did all this without their faith!

Outline:Outline:• I. Can God Act Without Belief Present? Yes

• II. Can God Act With Unbelief Present? Yes• A. Jesus healed the sick in Nazareth (Mk. 6:5-6).

• “...He laid hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he was amazed at their unbelief.”

• I. Can God Act Without Belief Present? Yes

• II. Can God Act With Unbelief Present? Yes• A. Jesus healed the sick in Nazareth (Mk. 6:5-6).

• “...He laid hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he was amazed at their unbelief.”

•II. Can God Act With Unbelief Present? Yes A. Jesus healed the sick in Nazareth (Mk. 6:5-6).

•II. Can God Act With Unbelief Present? Yes A. Jesus healed the sick in Nazareth (Mk. 6:5-6).

• B. He appeared to doubting Thomas (Jn. 20:27).• “But Thomas, called Didymus, one of the twelve, was

not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe’ (Jn. 20:24-25).

• But Jesus appeared to him anyway! (v. 26)

• B. He appeared to doubting Thomas (Jn. 20:27).• “But Thomas, called Didymus, one of the twelve, was

not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe’ (Jn. 20:24-25).

• But Jesus appeared to him anyway! (v. 26)

•II. Can God Act With Unbelief Present? Yes. A. Jesus healed the sick in Nazareth (Mk. 6:5-6).

•II. Can God Act With Unbelief Present? Yes. A. Jesus healed the sick in Nazareth (Mk. 6:5-6).• B. He appeared to doubting Thomas (Jn. 20:27).• C. He appeared to unbelieving James (1Cor. 15:6).• John declared: “For even His [Jesus’] brothers did

not believe in Him” (Jn. 7:5).• But later Jesus appeared to his brother James:• “After that He was seen by over five hundred

brethren at once, of whom the great part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James…” (1 Cor. 15:6-7).

• B. He appeared to doubting Thomas (Jn. 20:27).• C. He appeared to unbelieving James (1Cor. 15:6).• John declared: “For even His [Jesus’] brothers did

not believe in Him” (Jn. 7:5).• But later Jesus appeared to his brother James:• “After that He was seen by over five hundred

brethren at once, of whom the great part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James…” (1 Cor. 15:6-7).

•II. Can God Act With Unbelief Present? Yes A. Jesus healed the sick in Nazareth (Mk. 6:5-6).

•II. Can God Act With Unbelief Present? Yes A. Jesus healed the sick in Nazareth (Mk. 6:5-6).• B. He appeared to doubting Thomas (Jn. 20:27).• C. He appeared to unbelieving James (1Cor. 15:6).• D. He cast a demon out of a young man (Mt. 17:14).• After His disciples failed to cast the demon out,

Jesus said: “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me. And Jesus rebuked the demon, and he came out of him” (Mat. 17:18).

• B. He appeared to doubting Thomas (Jn. 20:27).• C. He appeared to unbelieving James (1Cor. 15:6).• D. He cast a demon out of a young man (Mt. 17:14).• After His disciples failed to cast the demon out,

Jesus said: “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me. And Jesus rebuked the demon, and he came out of him” (Mat. 17:18).

Outline:Outline:• I. Can God Act Without Belief Present? Yes

• II. Can God Act With Unbelief Present? Yes• III. Does God Always Act With Belief Present?No

• A. Even Paul was not healed (2 Cor. 12:7-9).

• B. Job was a “perfect” man that “feared” (trusted) God, yet he fell deathly sick (Job 1:1).

• C. Blind man was not sick because of sin (Jn. 9:1-2).

• D. Paul left Trophimus sick (2 Tim. 4:20).

• E. Epaphroditus was sick to death (Phil. 2:25-27).

• F. The most godly persons alive will eventually get sick and die (Rom. 5:12; Heb. 9:27).

• I. Can God Act Without Belief Present? Yes

• II. Can God Act With Unbelief Present? Yes• III. Does God Always Act With Belief Present?No

• A. Even Paul was not healed (2 Cor. 12:7-9).

• B. Job was a “perfect” man that “feared” (trusted) God, yet he fell deathly sick (Job 1:1).

• C. Blind man was not sick because of sin (Jn. 9:1-2).

• D. Paul left Trophimus sick (2 Tim. 4:20).

• E. Epaphroditus was sick to death (Phil. 2:25-27).

• F. The most godly persons alive will eventually get sick and die (Rom. 5:12; Heb. 9:27).

Joni Erickson TadaJoni Erickson Tada

When someone once said she didn’t have enough faith to get out of her wheel chair, she replied: “You don’t have enough faith to get in it!”

When someone once said she didn’t have enough faith to get out of her wheel chair, she replied: “You don’t have enough faith to get in it!”

Outline:Outline:• IV. Does The Prayer of Faith Have Conditions?

• Yes! It is conditioned on:• A. Having faith in God (Mk. 11:22).

• 1. It is not belief in belief but belief in God.• 2. It is not faith in faith but faith in the Father.• 3. It is not the power of faith but the power of the object of faith that

counts.

• B. Having faith in Jesus’ words (Mk. 11:23).• 1. “If My words abide in you…” (Jn. 15:7b).• 2. “If you abide in Me…” (Jn. 15:7a).• It is not the power of our prayer but of His Word!

• IV. Does The Prayer of Faith Have Conditions?

• Yes! It is conditioned on:• A. Having faith in God (Mk. 11:22).

• 1. It is not belief in belief but belief in God.• 2. It is not faith in faith but faith in the Father.• 3. It is not the power of faith but the power of the object of faith that

counts.

• B. Having faith in Jesus’ words (Mk. 11:23).• 1. “If My words abide in you…” (Jn. 15:7b).• 2. “If you abide in Me…” (Jn. 15:7a).• It is not the power of our prayer but of His Word!

• C. Having no known sin in our life

• “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins” (Mk. 11:25).

• “If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me (Psa. 66:18).

• D. Asking according to God’s will• “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that

if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us” (1 Jn. 5:14). • “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from

Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” (Mt. 26:39).

• C. Having no known sin in our life

• “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins” (Mk. 11:25).

• “If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me (Psa. 66:18).

• D. Asking according to God’s will• “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that

if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us” (1 Jn. 5:14). • “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from

Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” (Mt. 26:39).

• Two problems with our faith:• 1. We have unconditional faith in conditional promises, for

example:• a. That God will prosper us (Heb. 11:32-40)

• b. That God will heal us (Job, blind man, and Paul)

• 2. We have conditional faith in God’s unconditional promises, for example:

• a. Salvation (2 Tim. 2:13; Rom. 10:13).

• b. God’s presence (Heb. 13:5).

• c. God’s grace (2 Cor. 12:9). • We should only have unconditional faith in unconditional promises and

conditional faith in conditional promises (“Not my will but Thy will”).

• Two problems with our faith:• 1. We have unconditional faith in conditional promises, for

example:• a. That God will prosper us (Heb. 11:32-40)

• b. That God will heal us (Job, blind man, and Paul)

• 2. We have conditional faith in God’s unconditional promises, for example:

• a. Salvation (2 Tim. 2:13; Rom. 10:13).

• b. God’s presence (Heb. 13:5).

• c. God’s grace (2 Cor. 12:9). • We should only have unconditional faith in unconditional promises and

conditional faith in conditional promises (“Not my will but Thy will”).

Some Conclusion About Prayer• 1. It is not the power of our faith that counts; it is the power of the object of our faith that counts in

prayer.

• 2. It is not our belief in God that is most important; it is the God in whom we believe that is most important in prayer.

• 3. It is not the greatness of our faith but the greatness of our God that makes prayer effective.

• 4. Prayer is not the power of our faith being released through God; it is the power of our God being released through our faith.

• 5. Prayer is not a means by which we get our will done in heaven;

• it is a means by which God gets His will done on earth.

• 6. Prayer is not the way we overcome Divine reluctance;

• it is a means by which God utilizes of our willingness.

• 7. God always answers the prayer of faith in unconditional promises unconditionally but conditional promises conditionally.

Some Conclusion About Prayer• 1. It is not the power of our faith that counts; it is the power of the object of our faith that counts in

prayer.

• 2. It is not our belief in God that is most important; it is the God in whom we believe that is most important in prayer.

• 3. It is not the greatness of our faith but the greatness of our God that makes prayer effective.

• 4. Prayer is not the power of our faith being released through God; it is the power of our God being released through our faith.

• 5. Prayer is not a means by which we get our will done in heaven;

• it is a means by which God gets His will done on earth.

• 6. Prayer is not the way we overcome Divine reluctance;

• it is a means by which God utilizes of our willingness.

• 7. God always answers the prayer of faith in unconditional promises unconditionally but conditional promises conditionally.

I. Possible Answers to PrayerI. Possible Answers to Prayer• 1. Yes

• Isa. 65:24: “Before they call I will answer; while they are

still speaking I will hear.” • 1John 5:14: “This is the confidence we have in

approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”

• Matt. 7:7: “Ask, and it will be given to you;

seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”

• 1. Yes

• Isa. 65:24: “Before they call I will answer; while they are

still speaking I will hear.” • 1John 5:14: “This is the confidence we have in

approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”

• Matt. 7:7: “Ask, and it will be given to you;

seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”

• 2. No• 2Cor. 12:8-9: “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it

away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’”

• 1 John 5:16: “There is a sin lading unto death. I do not say that he should pray about that.”

• James 4:3: “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”

• 2. No• 2Cor. 12:8-9: “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it

away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’”

• 1 John 5:16: “There is a sin lading unto death. I do not say that he should pray about that.”

• James 4:3: “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”

• 3. Wait • Isaiah 40:31: “But those who wait upon the LORD will

renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

• Psalm 69:3: “I am weary with my crying; My throat is dry; My eyes fail while I wait for my God.”

• Prov. 20:22: “Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.”

• 3. Wait • Isaiah 40:31: “But those who wait upon the LORD will

renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

• Psalm 69:3: “I am weary with my crying; My throat is dry; My eyes fail while I wait for my God.”

• Prov. 20:22: “Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.”

4. Here is something better 4. Here is something better

• Psalm 84:11: “No good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.”

• 1Tim. 6:17: “[Do not] trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us all things richly to enjoy.”

• Mt. 7:9-11: “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?… If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

• Psalm 84:11: “No good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.”

• 1Tim. 6:17: “[Do not] trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us all things richly to enjoy.”

• Mt. 7:9-11: “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?… If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

Concluding ThoughtsConcluding Thoughts• 1. Yes, God always answers prayer, but the answer is not

always Yes.

• 2. A “No” answer to prayer is not no answer to prayer. • 3. No good father gives his child whatever he wants. Nor

will our heavenly Father....

• 4. A negative answer can be a positive thing.

• 5. God is good when He gives supremely good, Nor less when He denies.

Even crosses from His gracious Hand

Are blessings in disguise.

• 1. Yes, God always answers prayer, but the answer is not always Yes.

• 2. A “No” answer to prayer is not no answer to prayer. • 3. No good father gives his child whatever he wants. Nor

will our heavenly Father....

• 4. A negative answer can be a positive thing.

• 5. God is good when He gives supremely good, Nor less when He denies.

Even crosses from His gracious Hand

Are blessings in disguise.

(Mk. 6:5-6).

– 1. It is not that He physically couldn’t but that He morally wouldn’t (He can do anything possible-- Mt. 19:26).

• 2. He did not waste wonders on the wicked (Lk. 23:8).

• 3. He did not cast pearls before pigs (Mt. 7:6).