All Nations Community Church
When God Seems Uncooperative
Life doesn’t always go the way we expect, and we pray to God for help and guidance. But sometimes it seems like even though we pray with faith, God doesn’t do what we've asked. We seek Him, but don’t feel His presence. We go through pain, but our cries for relief seem to go unanswered. Sometimes, our lives just don't make sense. In this three-week series, Pastor Steve takes a close look at what we can do when we are "Waiting on God". Topics cover the delays and changes we sometimes experience when we surrender our lives to God's planning.
Locations & Times
All Nations Community Church
18620 Kedzie Ave, Homewood, IL 60430, USA
Sunday 9:45 AM
“We pursue God because, and only because, He has first put an urge within us that spurs us to the pursuit.” A.W. Tozer
He explains this paradox, “To have found God and still to pursue him is the soul’s paradox of love!”
He explains this paradox, “To have found God and still to pursue him is the soul’s paradox of love!”
THREE THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT PRAYER
1) TRUE PRAYER ISN’T ABOUT GETTING OUR WAY, BUT SURRENDERING OUR WILL.
About the Apostle Paul:
- Journey begins with hating Christians (persecuted),
- Later he gets saved
- He wrote 13 books NT
- Had visions/revelations
- Raised the dead (Eutychus)
- Rebuked demon possessed girl
- Healed individuals, etc.
- Planted 14 churches (3 missionary journeys).
Suffered: Imprisoned, Shipwrecked, 5x Whipped, Bitten by Snake, Beaten Rods, Stoned, Left for dead.
1) TRUE PRAYER ISN’T ABOUT GETTING OUR WAY, BUT SURRENDERING OUR WILL.
About the Apostle Paul:
- Journey begins with hating Christians (persecuted),
- Later he gets saved
- He wrote 13 books NT
- Had visions/revelations
- Raised the dead (Eutychus)
- Rebuked demon possessed girl
- Healed individuals, etc.
- Planted 14 churches (3 missionary journeys).
Suffered: Imprisoned, Shipwrecked, 5x Whipped, Bitten by Snake, Beaten Rods, Stoned, Left for dead.
Thorn (Greek Skolops)-Stake vs. thumbtack – physical, spiritual, emotional, other
There was a “thorn in the flesh.” Meaning that it was bad!
- Paul expressed that the "thorn" was straight-from-devil bad, if you read the passage closely enough. It was a “messenger from Satan,” sent to torment him.
- Times like these, means that its prayer time!
- However, we must simplify our approach to God.
2) PRAYER REMINDS US THAT WE’RE NOT IN CONTROL AND KEEPS US CLOSE TO THE ONE WHO IS.
There was a “thorn in the flesh.” Meaning that it was bad!
- Paul expressed that the "thorn" was straight-from-devil bad, if you read the passage closely enough. It was a “messenger from Satan,” sent to torment him.
- Times like these, means that its prayer time!
- However, we must simplify our approach to God.
2) PRAYER REMINDS US THAT WE’RE NOT IN CONTROL AND KEEPS US CLOSE TO THE ONE WHO IS.
Patterned after Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:39-41)
Doesn’t necessarily mean he prayed 3x today, but passionately praying
- Repetition in the Hebrew expresses intensity
Think about it like this:
- Paul received the “thorn,” and said, ‘I’ll give it over to the Lord’”
- 2nd time; “This is a tough situation, I’ll pray again.”
- 3rd time; “Now wait a minute; the Lord must be telling me something!”
Paul begs, “Please take this away!” God's response, v. 9a
Doesn’t necessarily mean he prayed 3x today, but passionately praying
- Repetition in the Hebrew expresses intensity
Think about it like this:
- Paul received the “thorn,” and said, ‘I’ll give it over to the Lord’”
- 2nd time; “This is a tough situation, I’ll pray again.”
- 3rd time; “Now wait a minute; the Lord must be telling me something!”
Paul begs, “Please take this away!” God's response, v. 9a
God's response is, "My grace is sufficient." What is grace? Forgiveness of sins—No, more!
Grace: Greek charis—Undeserved favor, grace. God freely extends Himself, leaning and reaching to us
Therefore, prayer in times of trouble reminds us that we are not in control; And a reminder that God [and His Grace] is all we need.
“Trouble is one of God’s great servants because it reminds us how much we continually need the Lord.” Jim Cymbala
3) PRAYER ISN’T JUST ASKING, BUT TRUSTING.
Grace: Greek charis—Undeserved favor, grace. God freely extends Himself, leaning and reaching to us
Therefore, prayer in times of trouble reminds us that we are not in control; And a reminder that God [and His Grace] is all we need.
“Trouble is one of God’s great servants because it reminds us how much we continually need the Lord.” Jim Cymbala
3) PRAYER ISN’T JUST ASKING, BUT TRUSTING.
In this particular passage, Paul receives a special message from the Lord.
Jesus told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
It is in that place of greatest pain, and there alone, that this discovery of God's grace and strength can be made.
Talk it over with someone!
· Be honest. What's something you need or want, but it feels like God just won't cooperate?
· What would you have to do differently to realize God's grace is simply enough?
Jesus told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
It is in that place of greatest pain, and there alone, that this discovery of God's grace and strength can be made.
Talk it over with someone!
· Be honest. What's something you need or want, but it feels like God just won't cooperate?
· What would you have to do differently to realize God's grace is simply enough?
