Discussion 2: Answered Prayers

Conversation Starter: Give an example of your prayer that God has answered.

Main Text: Jeremiah 33:3 (KJV) Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee
great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Introduction: We may not understand God's answer but as we continue we will

know His plan and ways are perfect. In this discussion we will know How God
answers our prayers and what we should do while waiting for His answer.

Points to teach:

I. How does God answer our prayers?

A. Ephesians 1:11 (KJV) In whom also we have obtained an inheritance,
being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all
things after the counsel of his own will:
B. Psalms 115:3 (KJV) But our God is in the heavens: he hath done
whatsoever he hath pleased.
C. In our answered prayers He wants us to know that:
1. He knows you (Matthew 6:8)
2. He is alive (Isaiah 59:1)
3. He is powerful (Acts 12:1-17)
4. He is faithful (Psalms 25:6)
5. He is dependable (Psalms 25:5, 20)
D. God hears every request from his children, and he answers with
whatever is best. (Matthew 7:7-11)
II. What should we do while waiting for His answer?:
A. Humble ourselves before God. (1 Peter 5:6)
B. Admit that we are weak, and we stumble (James 3:2, James 5:16)
C. Continue praying to His will (James 4:15, Luke 18:1-9)
D. As we receive God's answer to our prayer we should acknowledge Him
through worship, thanksgiving, service and continuous prayer. (James
5:16)

Biblical Examples:
1. When God answers Yes. 2 Chronicles 20:1-17
a. This is the story of Jehoshaphat against the children of Moab and the
children of Ammon. When Jehoshaphat heard that there is a great
multitude that will come to battle, he feared and set himself to seek the
Lord and not just Jehoshaphat but the whole of Judah gathered
themselves together, to ask help of the LORD. And so, the Lord answered
Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the
battle is not your’s but God’s…
2. When God answers No. Genesis 17:16-21
a. This is the story when God talked to Abraham and changed the name
of Sarai to Sarah and told him that Sarah shall be a mother. Abraham,
at first, did not believe in his heart and questioned God because of
Sarah’s old age and instead prayed to God that He should bless Ishmael
instead (v.18) But God said NO, and reassured Abraham that He will
bless him with a child which is Isaac. (v.19) He would bless Ishmael
(v.20) but His covenant is with Isaac (v.21)
b. We would see here that God’s NO is always for the best. When God
says NO it means He has a different blessing in store for us.
3. When God answers Wait. The prophet Habakkuk
a. Habakkuk 1:2 (KJV) O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not
hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!
b. This was Habakkuk’s cry. He was in a hard place and he came to God
with some hard questions. Judah, the country surrounding Jerusalem
where Habakkuk lived, teemed with immorality, cult worship and
injustice. Why wasn’t God doing something? Why was He waiting so
long to intervene?
c. This was the Lord’s answer to Habakkuk.
d. Habakkuk 2:2-3 (KJV) And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the
vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak,
and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it
will not tarry.
e. The Lord’s answer is yet for an appointed time and he would need to
wait for it; because it will surely come.
f. Yet in the midst of this waiting Habakkuk learned to still rejoice in the
Lord
 g. Habakkuk 3:18-19 (KJV) Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the
God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make
my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high
places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

Last question to ponder: Do we trust God to answer our personal prayers? Do we

trust that He would answer our prayers for the soul of our loved ones?