The English Puritan Theologian Thomas Brooks (1608–80), made reference to the attitude human beings should possess as it pertains to getting our prayers answered. He states, “God looks not at the oratory of your prayers, how elegant they may be; nor at the geometry of your prayers, how long they may be; nor at the arithmetic of your prayers, how many they may be; not at logic of your prayers, how methodical they may be; but the sincerity of them He looks at.”
He also agrees that, “If you would have God hear you when you pray, you must hear Him when He speaks. He stops His ears against the prayers of those who stop their ears against His laws.
God hears no more than the heart speaks; and if the heart be dumb, God will certainly be deaf.”
I believe Thomas Fuller, the English Theologian contemporary to Thomas Brooks was in full agreement with him when he wrote, “Leave not off praying to God: for either praying will make thee leave off sinning; or continuing in sin will make thee desist from praying.”
I am therefore in agreement with the Scottish Poet Robert Burns (1759–96), who wrote, “They never sought in vain that sought the Lord aright.”
It is certainly true that Satan continues to cause us not to receive answers to our prayers by making us do things which he knows will directly place us out of harmony with God. In his assault on the Christian he not only makes us become preoccupied with things of minor importance to the neglect of prayer, but he further leads us to become involved in sinful and ungodly practices, of which he is fully aware will prevent our prayers from being answered. In this way our Christian profession is a mockery, for we are no different in character from the sinner who knows not Jesus! Indeed we are but the Devil’s children using the Lord’s name.
It is necessary to identify some of the things Satan leads us to do, which will ultimately prevent us from enjoying a growing, victorious prayer life with God.
Why Some Christian Prayers are Not Answered
1 Lack of faith – “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6.
“Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” Matthew 21:21, 22.
“Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” Mark 11:24.
We are reminded by God’s servant, “Learn to believe, as you pray to God for help.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 88. Also, we are told that, “The prayer of faith is the great strength of the Christian and will assuredly prevail against Satan.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 296.
It is evident therefore that the Devil understands the importance of faith in the prayer life of the Christian, thus he leads many to become unbelievers, for in this way he is sure of his prey.
2 Prayers will not be answered if people deliberately disobey God or who purpose to do so – The Scripture states, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” Psalm 66:18.
“The Lord is far from the wicked: but He heareth the prayer of the righteous.” Proverbs 15:29.
“He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.” Proverbs 28:9.
“And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” I John 3:22.
In order for prayer to be acceptable to God, it must be coupled with a purpose to forsake all known sins. So what we need to understand most seriously is that sin allowed in the heart becomes a fatal hindrance to prayers being answered. Now please remember that prayer is the Christian’s strength and Satan knows this fact very well. It is no wonder he causes us to devalue prayer, then engages us in all kinds of sins that we find difficult to give up. When this is our experience we are left totally vulnerable to his attacks.
The servant of the Lord says, “If we live according to His word, every precious promise He has given will be fulfilled to us. We are undeserving of His mercy, but as we give ourselves to Him, He receives us. He will work for and through those who follow Him.
“But only as we live in obedience to His word can we claim the fulfillment of His promises. The psalmist says, ‘If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me’ (Psalm 66:18). If we render to Him only a partial, halfhearted obedience, His promises will not be fulfilled to us.” The Ministry of Healing, 226, 227.
3 Our prayers will not be answered if they are “form or lip” service – “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. … But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him.” Matthew 6:5, 7, 8.
The Lord, through the prophet Hosea, talks about those who cry to Him in a halfhearted manner. “And they have not cried unto Me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against Me.” Hosea 7:14. “Such petitions are prayers of form, lip service only, which the Lord does not accept.” In Heavenly Places, 73.
4 God will not hear our prayers if our home relationship is not right –The word of God, as stated by the apostle Peter, reveals this fact. “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.” I Peter 3:7. Note carefully, the husband who does not treat his wife with Christian respect need not expect God to answer his prayers. This principle forms the bedrock for answered prayers within the family circle, understanding clearly that the husband and father is the one responsible to God for the spiritual direction of the household. This also is true; the wife and children must be aware that their mistreatment of the husband and father will most assuredly prevent their prayers from being answered as well!
Could this be the reason why so many Christian homes are severely affected by Satan’s assaults, because prayers are not being answered as a consequence of the fact that things are not right at home?
5 An unforgiving spirit and an unwilling attitude to reconcile will no doubt hinder our prayers from being answered – Matthew 6:14 tells us, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” Also, in chapter 5:23, 24 the following is recorded: “Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.”
“When our duty is so plainly marked out, why do so many church members go contrary to a plain ‘Thus saith the Lord,’ and speak of their difficulties to those who know nothing in regard to them or in regard to those whom these difficulties concern? Jesus the great Teacher, has told us what our duty is. Our gifts, our prayers are not acceptable to God while we leave this duty undone, and let the poison of envy, evil-surmising, and jealousy, take possession of our souls, and spoil our union and happiness. …
“A few words of explanation might change entirely the views of those who have been at variance, cherishing bitter feelings. We cannot be obedient to the law of God until we put out of the mind all differences, until we allow our hearts to be softened and subdued by the Spirit of Christ. Our prayers are hindered by our pride of heart, by our refusal to confess faults and to remove wrong impressions.” This Day With God, 19.
“The Lord Jesus has given special directions as to what each of His ‘little children’ is to do. When we pray, ‘Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those that trespass against us’ (Matthew 6:12), do we do our part to answer this prayer? … If our brother has ought against us, we are to leave on the altar the gift we have brought to God, and be reconciled to our brother. Then we are to come and offer our gift. This is the only way in which we can keep in our hearts the peace of God.” Ibid. This is one of the most successful ways that the devil utilizes in destroying the Christian! He sets church members against each other and then hardens them in an unforgiving spirit and irreconcilable attitude knowing very well that such disposition will cause their prayers not to be heard.
This matter is so important that I hope you will feel the weight of the matter. In an article entitled, “Instruction to Church Members,” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, April 8, 1902, the following is recorded: “Christ sees that little heed is paid to His instruction. His people come to Him in prayer, asking favors of Him, while at the same time they are cherishing hatred against their brethren, not only thinking, but speaking evil of them. God cannot bless them; for they refuse to put out of the way that which causes discord and variance. They would not appreciate the blessing of God should He give it to them as they desire. …
“It is impossible for their prayers to reach His throne, because the rebellion of disobedience is the substance of their petitions.” [Emphasis supplied.]
6 Failure to humble ourselves leads to unanswered prayer – “Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank Thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.” Luke 18:10, 11.
7 Prayer motivated by selfishness cannot be answered – The apostle James states, “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” James 4:3.
8 Failure to pray in the name of Jesus will lead to unanswered prayer – John 14:13, 14 says, “And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in My name, I will do it.”
Ask yourself, Are you under the devil’s assaults with any, if not all of these? Satan knows that prayer is the life of the Christian, the strength and stronghold of every believer, and this is why he is doing everything to cut off our communication with heaven. This is why he works overtime to lock us in these areas whereby our prayers will never be heard. As long as this is the case with us we will never gain victory over sin and the devil, and for certain we will lose Heaven. Well, Jesus says to you and me today, “Come unto me!” Amen!
Pastor Ivan Plummer ministers through the Emmanuel Seventh Day Church Ministries in Bronx, New York. He may be contacted by telephone at: 718-882-3900.