Prayer That God Hears | Francis Chan

Summary

This powerful message reflects on the importance of reverent, authentic prayer, drawing from Hebrews 5:7 and Jeremiah 32:38. The speaker emphasizes that Jesus' prayers were heard because of His reverence, urging us to approach God in humility and faith. The message explores how conditional prayer is, with references to James 1:6 and 1 Peter 3:7, highlighting the impact of our actions on God's response to our prayers. The speaker calls for a revival of the fear of God in our hearts, stressing that true prayer requires sincerity and deep reverence for God's holiness.

Takeaways

• 😀 Jesus' prayers were heard because of His reverence and humility, not just because He is the Son of God. Prayer must be offered with a sense of awe and submission to God’s will.
• 😀 Prayer is conditional; it’s not just about asking but about having the right heart attitude. Faith, humility, and reverence are key for God to hear our prayers.
• 😀 Genuine prayer requires awareness of who we are praying to. We should approach God with reverence, not just with words, but with a heart aligned to His will.
• 😀 The fear of God is not a negative thing. It’s a life-changing, protective force that helps us stay aligned with God’s will and prevents us from straying.
• 😀 Prayer is often less effective in public settings like National Day of Prayer due to the distractions of self-awareness and fear of judgment from others.
• 😀 The speaker practices pausing before praying to remember that every breath is a gift from God, and that we need God’s help to pray authentically.
• 😀 Doubt in prayer leads to instability. James 1:6 warns that those who doubt should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
• 😀 The way we treat others, especially spouses, impacts the effectiveness of our prayers. 1 Peter 3:7 emphasizes that disrespecting your spouse can hinder your prayers.
• 😀 Scripture is filled with 'if-then' conditions about God answering prayer. 2 Chronicles 7:14 and other verses show that God listens when His people humble themselves and seek His face.
• 😀 The speaker prays for the fear of God to be instilled in hearts, particularly within their community, so that people may stay faithful to God despite the challenges of the world.

Q & A

What is the central verse that the speaker is focusing on in this message?

The central verse is Hebrews 5:7, which talks about Jesus offering up prayers with loud cries and tears, and being heard because of his reverence.

What initially puzzled the speaker about Hebrews 5:7?

The speaker was puzzled by the idea that Jesus was heard because of his reverence, given that Jesus is the Son of God and could presumably pray directly and effortlessly.

What does the speaker suggest about the nature of prayer?

The speaker emphasizes that prayer is conditional and not automatic. It must be offered with reverence, faith, and submission to God's will.

How does the speaker describe the challenge of praying in public settings?

The speaker describes the difficulty of praying authentically on stages, where awareness of the audience's opinions can cause self-consciousness, detracting from the genuine connection with God.

What does the speaker do before praying to regain focus?

Before praying, the speaker takes a breath to remind themselves of God's sovereignty, acknowledging that every breath comes from God and focusing on the seriousness of communicating with Him.

What scriptural passage does the speaker cite to show that prayer is conditional?

The speaker references James 1:6, which teaches that prayer must be offered in faith without doubt, and that those who doubt should not expect to receive anything from God.

What does 1 Peter 3:7 suggest about how a person's relationships impact their prayers?

1 Peter 3:7 says that a husband's treatment of his wife affects whether or not his prayers are hindered. If a husband does not honor his wife, his prayers may not be heard.

What does 2 Chronicles 7:14 teach about the conditions for God hearing prayers?

2 Chronicles 7:14 highlights that God's people must humble themselves, seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways before He will hear and respond to their prayers.

What personal transformation does the speaker describe in relation to a specific Bible verse?

The speaker describes being transformed by the promise in Jeremiah 32:38, where God promises to put the fear of Him in the hearts of His people, which prevents them from turning away from Him.

How does the speaker explain their continued faithfulness to God and moral choices?

The speaker attributes their faithfulness to the fear of God placed in their heart, which shapes their behavior and decisions, such as remaining faithful to their wife and resisting the temptations of money and success.