8 Reasons Why God Might Not Be Answering Your Prayers

I've got all kinds of problems. I pray I've got all kinds of problems. I pray for them all the time, years. And I'm for them all the time, years. And I'm for them all the time, years. And I'm not saying I have more problems or less not saying I have more problems or less not saying I have more problems or less problems than anybody else. They're just problems than anybody else. They're just problems than anybody else. They're just problems, [music] you know, and I I pray problems, [music] you know, and I I pray problems, [music] you know, and I I pray about them. A lot of them don't get about them. A lot of them don't get about them. A lot of them don't get answered. And and and then I think about answered. And and and then I think about answered. And and and then I think about it and I'm like, "What do you What does it and I'm like, "What do you What does it and I'm like, "What do you What does that mean?" that mean?" that mean?" >> I would like to as a pastor respond to >> I would like to as a pastor respond to >> I would like to as a pastor respond to Shawn Ryan's question. So, a lot of Shawn Ryan's question. So, a lot of Shawn Ryan's question. So, a lot of people know this, the Bible actually people know this, the Bible actually people know this, the Bible actually lists lists lists >> [music] >> [music] >> [music] >> eight very specific reasons that God >> eight very specific reasons that God >> eight very specific reasons that God might not be answering your prayer. God might not be answering your prayer. God might not be answering your prayer. God might not be answering your prayer one might not be answering your prayer one might not be answering your prayer one because you didn't pray the prayer because you didn't pray the prayer because you didn't pray the prayer right. right. right. >> [laughter] >> [laughter] >> [laughter] >> Like some people are just sitting around >> Like some people are just sitting around >> Like some people are just sitting around like, "I'm just sort of waiting." like, "I'm just sort of waiting." like, "I'm just sort of waiting." >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> "I ain't asking, but I'm waiting, you >> "I ain't asking, but I'm waiting, you >> "I ain't asking, but I'm waiting, you know." know." know." >> This is James 4:2. It says, "You have >> This is James 4:2. It says, "You have >> This is James 4:2. It says, "You have not because you ask not." [music] So, not because you ask not." [music] So, not because you ask not." [music] So, like, "Hey, man, we got to ask." God's a like, "Hey, man, we got to ask." God's a like, "Hey, man, we got to ask." God's a daddy, wants us to ask. All right, daddy, wants us to ask. All right, daddy, wants us to ask. All right, number two, because you got unconfessed number two, because you got unconfessed number two, because you got unconfessed or cherished sin in your life. Psalm or cherished sin in your life. Psalm or cherished sin in your life. Psalm 66:18, "If I had [music] cherished sin 66:18, "If I had [music] cherished sin 66:18, "If I had [music] cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have in my heart, the Lord would not have in my heart, the Lord would not have listened." It doesn't say if I sin, it listened." It doesn't say if I sin, it listened." It doesn't say if I sin, it says, [music] "If I cherish sin." So, says, [music] "If I cherish sin." So, says, [music] "If I cherish sin." So, it's like, man, I'm protecting sin in my it's like, man, I'm protecting sin in my it's like, man, I'm protecting sin in my life. I'm covering sin in my life. I'm life. I'm covering sin in my life. I'm life. I'm covering sin in my life. I'm intentionally [music] intentionally [music] intentionally [music] trying to grow and stay in sin in my trying to grow and stay in sin in my trying to grow and stay in sin in my life. That's what it's talking about. life. That's what it's talking about. life. That's what it's talking about. Okay, number three, because of doubt. Okay, number three, because of doubt. Okay, number three, because of doubt. James 1 says this, "But when you ask, James 1 says this, "But when you ask, James 1 says this, "But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt because you must believe and not doubt because you must believe and not doubt because the one who doubts is like a wave of the the one who doubts is like a wave of the the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea blown and tossed by the wind.

sea blown and tossed by the wind. sea blown and tossed by the wind. [music] That person should not expect to [music] That person should not expect to [music] That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord." Number receive anything from the Lord." Number receive anything from the Lord." Number four, because of wrong motives. So, this four, because of wrong motives. So, this four, because of wrong motives. So, this [music] is James 4:3. It says, "When you [music] is James 4:3. It says, "When you [music] is James 4:3. It says, "When you ask, you do not receive because you ask ask, you do not receive because you ask ask, you do not receive because you ask with wrong motives that you may spend with wrong motives that you may spend with wrong motives that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." By the what you get on your pleasures." By the what you get on your pleasures." By the way, this [music] right here is what way, this [music] right here is what way, this [music] right here is what clears up the confusion about what Jesus clears up the confusion about what Jesus clears up the confusion about what Jesus means when he says, "Hey, if you ask means when he says, "Hey, if you ask means when he says, "Hey, if you ask anything in my name, it will be done for anything in my name, it will be done for anything in my name, it will be done for you." [music] So, just real quick, you." [music] So, just real quick, you." [music] So, just real quick, praying in Jesus' name is praying for praying in Jesus' name is praying for praying in Jesus' name is praying for something [music] that you know is from something [music] that you know is from something [music] that you know is from him. I know Jesus would want this I'm him. I know Jesus would want this I'm him. I know Jesus would want this I'm praying for. Uh number five, because you praying for. Uh number five, because you praying for. Uh number five, because you have unforgiveness in your life. [music] have unforgiveness in your life. [music] have unforgiveness in your life. [music] Mark 11:25 and 26 says, "And whenever Mark 11:25 and 26 says, "And whenever Mark 11:25 and 26 says, "And whenever you stand praying, forgive [music] if you stand praying, forgive [music] if you stand praying, forgive [music] if you have anything against anyone, so you have anything against anyone, so you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven that your Father also who is in heaven that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive [music] you your may forgive [music] you your may forgive [music] you your trespasses." Two Christians being trespasses." Two Christians being trespasses." Two Christians being reconciled is such a big deal to the reconciled is such a big deal to the reconciled is such a big deal to the Father just like with me with my kids. Father just like with me with my kids. Father just like with me with my kids. I'm like, "I'm not going to talk to you I'm like, "I'm not going to talk to you I'm like, "I'm not going to talk to you about anything till you get with your about anything till you get with your about anything till you get with your [music] brother or sister. God's going, [music] brother or sister. God's going, [music] brother or sister. God's going, hey, same thing, man. I got one thing hey, same thing, man. I got one thing hey, same thing, man. I got one thing I'm willing to talk to you about right I'm willing to talk to you about right I'm willing to talk to you about right now. Get right with your brother or now. Get right with your brother or now. Get right with your brother or sister. Number six, um God might not be sister. Number six, um God might not be sister. Number six, um God might not be answering your prayers because you are answering your prayers because you are answering your prayers because you are ignoring hurting people. Whoever shuts ignoring hurting people. Whoever shuts ignoring hurting people. Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will his ears to the cry of the poor will his ears to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be heard.

also cry himself and not be heard. also cry himself and not be heard. Number seven, God might not be answering Number seven, God might not be answering Number seven, God might not be answering your prayers because you are being your prayers because you are being your prayers because you are being [music] a bad husband. It's 1 Peter 3:7. [music] a bad husband. It's 1 Peter 3:7. [music] a bad husband. It's 1 Peter 3:7. It says, husbands likewise dwell with It says, husbands likewise dwell with It says, husbands likewise dwell with your wives in an understanding way, your wives in an understanding way, your wives in an understanding way, giving honor to your wife as the weaker giving honor to your wife as the weaker giving honor to your wife as the weaker [music] vessel, as being heirs together [music] vessel, as being heirs together [music] vessel, as being heirs together of the grace of life. Listen, so that of the grace of life. Listen, so that of the grace of life. Listen, so that your prayers may not be hindered. your prayers may not be hindered. your prayers may not be hindered. [music] So, God is literally saying [music] So, God is literally saying [music] So, God is literally saying like, hey man, you think you're going to like, hey man, you think you're going to like, hey man, you think you're going to mistreat my daughter and then come mistreat my daughter and then come mistreat my daughter and then come [music] and and ask me for stuff and [music] and and ask me for stuff and [music] and and ask me for stuff and we're going to be good? He's like, no, we're going to be good? He's like, no, we're going to be good? He's like, no, that that's not how this works. And then that that's not how this works. And then that that's not how this works. And then last one, number eight, [music] last one, number eight, [music] last one, number eight, [music] uh God might not be answering your uh God might not be answering your uh God might not be answering your prayers um very frankly because he's got prayers um very frankly because he's got prayers um very frankly because he's got [music] something better. That's right. [music] something better. That's right. [music] something better. That's right. And he actually is answering your prayer And he actually is answering your prayer And he actually is answering your prayer uh just in a way you didn't expect.