June 4-5, 2005, Selected

LIVING VERTICALLY!
“Understanding God’s Answers”
Mark Briggs

God’s End Statement
God wants nothing more than for you to love him.

1- He answers in His own timing.

2- He answers in His own way.

Isaiah 55:8 (NLT)
““My thoughts are completely different from yours,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 9For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”

When it comes to God answering our prayers:
· If the request is wrong, God says No.

· If the timing is wrong, God says Slow.

· If you are wrong, God says Grow.

· If the request, timing, and you are right, God says go!

3- He answers for His own purposes.

Secret to answered prayer: Allowing your will to be aligned to God’s will.

Luke 22:42 (NCV)
“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine.”

John 6:38 (NLT)
“For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do what I want”.

God’s Overriding Purposes:

· His Glory

John 14:13 (NCV)
“And if you ask for anything in my name, I will do it for you so that the Father’s glory will be shown through the Son.”

· Your Growth

o Build Your Faith

God is more interested in your faith than your comfort.

o Draw You Near

Revelation 3:20 (NLT)
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with you, and you will eat with me.