When God Says "No"

Prayer is an important spiritual discipline of the Christian faith. Most, if not all, of us have at least prayed once in our life. We ask God for toys when we were children. We ask God for more stuff in high school, such as a girlfriend, good grades, getting into the right university, and etc. We ask God to get into a good program once we're in university and hopefully we will get a career moving. 

We are taught that God answers prayer. "Answered Prayer" has become an ambiguous phrase. Sometimes we think "answered prayer" means God says, "yes I will give it to you." However, when our prayers are not answered, sometimes we think God neither heard us nor responded to us. 

How should we respond biblically when prayers go unanswered? In James 4:3, people do not get what they receive because God says, "no". Why does he say, "no", to prayers? It is because people ask wrongly. Also, people seek after self-centered passions when they pray.

When you read James 4, these people fight and quarrel because they don't have the stuff they want. They don't have the stuff they want because they never asked for them. That's true. But when you read a little further down, you see that God doesn't always answer prayers. God doesn't always give you what you want. Not only that, God doesn't always listen to or isn't always attentive to people's prayers. Here are some reasons:

James 1:5-8 says that if we doubt when we ask God for wisdom, then we're not going to receive anything. 

James 4, what we just read, says that if we have a wrong motive in asking God, then we're not going to get anything. 

1 Peter 3:7 says that if a husband does not respect/honor his wife in an understanding way, then his prayer will be hindered. 

Isaiah 58 says that if we don't care for the poor even though we fast and pray, then he's not going to listen. 

Isaiah 1:12-17 says that God doesn't even want to hear our prayers because our hands are full of blood and we fail to seek justice for the fatherless and the widow. 

Amos 5:21-24 says that God doesn't even want to receive our worship unless there is justice and righteousness.

A helpful way to examine your own prayer is this: is your prayer self-seeking or self-centered? If so, it is possible that God has already said "no" to your prayer. 

God can answer prayers with a "no" even if it's not self-centered, and Christians can still be faithful to God and trust His plans. What if God does not heal your cancer or disease? What if God closes the door for that career opportunity or school opportunity that you are pursuing for? What if God closes the womb? These questions are tough to swallow. 

If it is according to God's will, then let His will be done. Our response should always lead us to trust and place our faith in God - His way is infinitely better than ours. And, do not cease from prayer. (Luke 18:1-8)

Leading A Church In Prayer

This is an excerpt from Kevin DeYoung. 
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Some traditions use set prayers. Others rely on extemporaneous prayers. Both have their place. But I believe what our congregations need most are studied prayers, well prepared, well expressed. These prayers may or may not be read, but will be thought through ahead of time. Publicly leading a church in prayer deserves thoughtful preparation. 

1.) Use forms with freedom. Learn from The Valley of Vision or Hughes Oliphant Old or the Book of Common Prayer. But suit their prayers to your own purposes. The Didache, after laying down set prayers for Communion, also allows "the prophets to give thanks however they wish."

2.) Pray Scripture. Don't just ask God for what we want. Let him teach us what we should want.

3.) Don't footnote. Charles Spurgeon: "It is not necessary in prayer to string a selection of texts of Scripture together, and quote David, and Daniel, and Job, and Paul, and Peter, and every other body, under the title of "thy servant of old"". The Lord already knows who said everything, so don't tell him again in your prayers.

4.) Leave the preaching for the sermon. Don't exhort. Don't explain texts. don't unpack complex theology. Spurgeon again: "Long prayers either consist of repetitions, or else of unnecessary explanations which God does not require; or else they degenerate into downright preaching, so that there is no difference between the praying and the preaching, except that in the one the minister has his eyes shut, and in the other he keeps them open. It is not necessary in prayer to rehearse the Westminster Assesembly's Catechism.

5.) Share some details of congregational life, but not all. A good shepherd will often mention by name various sheep that need special care. But don't try to cover every engagement in the last three months or surreptitiously announce the youth retreat in your prayer ("Lord, be with our young people gathering this Friday at 5:00pm with their Bibles and a sleeping bag"). Spurgeon once more: "There is no need to make the public prayer a gazette of the week's events, or a register of the births, deaths, and marriages of your people, but the general moments that have taken place in the congregation should be noted by the minister's careful heart.""

6.) Pray so that others can follow you easily. The goal is edification (1 Corinthians 14:17). So don't let your sentences get too long, too flowery, too ornate. If you write our your prayers, write for the ear not for the eye. On the other hand, don't use distracting colloquialism like, "Lord, you're so sweet."

7.) Keep it relatively brief. Better to e too short than too long. Five minutes is plenty in most North American churches. Seven to ten minutes is possible if you are experienced and have trained your people well.

8.) Remember you are praying with and on behalf of others. Use "we" and "our" (as in the Lord's Prayer). This is not the time to confess your personal sins or recount your personal experiences.

9.) Order your prayer. Make sure there is a flow and direction. Don't get too wordy. Keep a good pace. It often makes sense to work from inside out, praying first for concerns of the congregation and then moving out to the community, the global church, and the world.

10.) Beware of verbal ticks. For example: popping your p's, smacking your lips, sighing, ums, mindless repetition of the divine name, overuse of "just" and "like," an over-reliance on the phrase "we pray" or "we would pray" instead of simply praying.

11.) Show proper reverence, confidence, and emotion. Pray like you mean it. After all, God is God, and he really hears us! 

12.) Pray before you pray. Ask God for help as you prepare, and for humility and grace as you go up to pray. 

Immerse Program

Today, I can finally make a big announcement regarding the shift of changes in my life. My church, the pastors, elders, and deacons, called me forward and introduced me as their new staff at Oakridge Baptist Church.

What is my position? I am a Seminarian Intern. If I am a seminarian, then that means I attend a seminary. What seminary am I attending? I am attending Northwest Baptist Seminary & College. What program am I attending? The program that I am in is called the Immerse Program. 

In a brief description, Immerse Program is not like any program that other seminaries can offer. It is a robust-training that theologically equips students for the work of ministry and practically applies the studies within the context of the local church. I am grateful to have three highly trained/experienced/seasoned mentors who will guide and help me through this program.You can listen to the promotional video by Kent Anderson, the President of Northwest Baptist Seminary & College.

What do you hope to do after the studies? The goal and vision of this program are not simply to put books/textbooks into my brain. In their effort to pour out their strength and experience in me, they hope that I would grow in character, leadership, knowledge, experience and competency so that in the future, I would be able to pastor a local church. In short, after I graduate from the program (Lord willing), I will be well-experienced and seasoned to lead a church with the given competency that I will have. In this program, I am specializing in Lead Pastor Training.

Prayer Request 

• I recently started this program, and it is moving quite slowly since I do not know what to do at the moment. Patience is important as I am waiting for the next instruction.
• Please pray for wisdom, knowledge and unity for my church, pastors, mentors and leaders as they are also directly or indirectly involve with this program 
• Pray for the Seminary and Students who are being raised up to become future leaders.
• Even the Apostle Paul, as godly as he was, needed prayer in his ministry. Please pray for me in terms of my physical health, spiritual health and ministry.

God is very good, and I am excited for what He will be doing in the church. 

If you have any questions, then feel free to leave a comment. 

Speak O Lord

This hymn, Speak O Lord, has been speaking to me lately. My church sings this song very often before my pastor steps onto the pulpit and preaches. I sang it way too much that the melody and the sound dulled my hearing of its lyrics. I took some time to listen to it more often, and I realized that not only did it edify me, it also showed me how to pray before I read His Word or hear His Word preached. May this hymn show us something new when we approach the Scripture because God has ultimately spoken to us through His Word.

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Speak O Lord

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Verse 1
Speak O Lord as we come to You
To receive the food of Your holy word
Take Your truth plant it deep in us
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness
That the light of Christ might be seen today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith
Speak O Lord and fulfill in us
All Your purposes for Your glory 

Verse 2
Teach us Lord full obedience
Holy reverence true humility
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
In the radiance of Your purity
Cause our faith to rise
Cause our eyes to see
Your majestic love and authority
Words of power that can never fail
Let their truth prevail over unbelief 

Verse 3
Speak O Lord and renew our minds
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time
That will echo down through eternity
And by grace we'll stand on Your promises
And by faith we'll walk as You walk with us
Speak O Lord till Your church is built
And the earth is filled with Your glory

Prayer For 2013

Sitting and meditating as I pray to God, a lot of petitions, requests and needs that I want to lay down before the Lord. As I'm praying, why not share with others about what I'm praying about? This sudden urge would hopefully help you guys to think about what to pray for 2013. You do not have to follow this list, but if there is something in this list that you want to pray to God about or haven't gotten a chance to talk to God about it, then find time and speak to God (Matthew 6:6; 7:7-11). There ain't any top or lowest priority in this list.

• Urgent need for laborers in the harvest. May God send more laborers (Matthew 8:37-38).
• Sanctification in my walk with God (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).
• Grow in repentance of sin through the power of the Spirit (Romans 6:12).
• Learning to give generously (2 Corinthians 9:6-8).
• God would sanctify His people at Oakridge Baptist Church (the church I attend) and other churches around the globe (Ephesians 5:25-27)
• God would sanctify His people through the Word (John 17:17)
• May Christians not be ashamed  of the Gospel (Romans 1:16-17).
• Increasing need to be reminded what is the "first importance", which is the Gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-11).
• May the Spirit lead me as I am finishing University this year (Psalm 119:105; Romans 8:14)
• May the Lord humble me as I seek for a position after university (Matthew 6:25-34; Ephesians 4:28)
• Meditating and memorizing Scripture (Psalm 1:1-12; 119:9-11).
• Love God (Matthew 22:37).
• Love my neighbor (Matthew 22:39).
• Grow in humility (Philippians 2:3-5).
• Grow in knowledge and grace (2 Peter 3:18).
• Gospel penetrate the hearts of unbelievers and place everything to Jesus (Acts 15:7-9).
• Give me opportunity to proclaim the gospel (Ephesians 6:18-20).
• Surrender my life to God (Acts 20:24; Philippians 3:7-11).
• If my death approaches in 2013, then I want to echo what Paul said (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
• If I die in 2013, then I hope to hear Jesus say this to me (Matthew 25:23).

This is an exhaustive list, but it could be even more exhaustive. I need God every single moment of my life, today, tomorrow, and 2013, and forevermore. I lay down my request to King Jesus who is sovereign and ruler of every living being in this world. 

One thing I ask......

How is your prayer life? What do you ask God for lately?

Let's meditate Psalm 27:4

One thing have I asked of the LORD,
        that will I seek after:
    that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
        all the days of my life,
    to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
        and to inquire in his temple.

In the context of this verse, the enemy is attempting to overwhelm David, but is David going to fear them?

Two points I briefly want to make:

• Fear enemy or fear God (v.3: Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear)

• Relying on flesh or on God as you cultivate your relationship with Him (v.11: Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies)

Highly encourage you to read Psalm 27 yourself. David has God by his side, THEREFORE, whom shall David fear!? What do you fear?

Unanswered Prayer?

This is the first entry on the new category that I am posting. It is called Edifying. In this entire blog, my purpose is to make less of myself, and make much more of Jesus Christ. Lifting up His name which is above every name in this world. As much as I want to glorify Jesus Christ, I also desire to help other Christians by edifying and encouraging them to see that "Jesus is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him", in reference from John Piper's quote.

There are many prayers that are unanswered in my life. I could go through a list of them, but I just want to specify some just to make my point. My family is non-Christian, and I am praying for them to come to know the knowledge and the work of Jesus Christ. Basically I desire them to be saved. By the sovereignty of God, He has not yet done so. I am currently still jobless, and I have been searching for a job during summer. Sometimes I get stressed out and frustrated when I cannot get a job offer. In all honesty, sometimes I wonder if God can hear me. As sinful as I am, I do worry and doubt.

Even James clearly says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind." (James 1:5-6)

"You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions." (James 4:2-3)

Strong and convicting passages. The gospel ultimately makes a difference in our lives whether we realize it or not. Because I believe the gospel isn't just only words or a message, but, as Paul says it, it is "also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction." (1 Thessalonians 1:5) Jesus Christ, who claimed to be God, was crucified on the cross, died for my sin (my anxiety, my unbelief) and has resurrected from the dead and now all authority in heaven and on earth belongs to Him. Therefore, I trust Jesus who has foreknowledge of my life. As God said, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" so that I could put my worries to death and my anxieties will NOT be placed in worldliness (Jeremiah 29:11).

Prayer is not about getting something from God, but it is about talking to God as your Father (Psalm 5:1-3; Philippians 4:4-7; Matthew 6:5-13). Jesus knows what we need in our daily lives. Knowing what Jesus has done for us, we need to respond back to Him. Repent of our anxiety in trusting ourselves, our own control in dealing with life, and the mentality of thinking you have everything under control regarding your future, and turn and trust in Jesus who is sovereign over your life, and He also hears your prayer and has already answered it.

“Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call upon him while he is near;
let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
(Isaiah 55:6-9)

You know what, there are many reasons why we can't seem to see God answering our prayers. Sometimes I can relate to the psalmist in Psalms 13. I highly encourage you to listen to what Francis Chan says in "what we should do about unanswered prayer" in the link below:

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/what-should-we-do-about-unanswered-prayer#ooid=d3MWhwMjpcdQyZoY3HN8GYpzYReT9j7c