More Reasons for Unanswered Prayers

“And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”

Luke 22:31, 32

We have been counseled time and time again concerning Satan’s machination—crafty schemes, his malignity—malice against the Christian; he will not abate his efforts to overthrow you and me. The following two statements should begin to help us to understand how our archenemy feels about us:

“It is Satan’s studied plan to make the workers weak in prayer, weak in power, and weak in influence, because of their defects of character.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 592.

Also, “As soon as Satan can separate the soul from God, the only Source of strength, he will seek to arouse the unholy desires of man’s carnal nature. The work of the enemy is not abrupt; it is not, at the outset, sudden and startling; it is a secret undermining of the strongholds of principle.” Conflict and Courage, 177.

The devil is so desperate to destroy the Christian that he leads us to do things that are offensive to God, whereby our connection with Jesus is totally severed. Such life practices make it difficult for God to answer the Christian’s prayers.

We have previously looked at eight reasons (“Why Some Prayers are Not Answered,” Landmarks, May 2013) that certainly prevent the Christian’s prayers from being answered, namely: 1. Lack of faith; 2. Deliberate disobedience; 3. Form or lip service prayer; 4. If home relationship is not right; 5. An unforgiving spirit or an unwilling attitude to reconcile; 6. Failure to humble ourselves; 7. A disregard for the health laws; 8. Failure to pray in the name of Jesus.

We will now look at eleven more reasons why God will not answer prayers, especially if they are uttered by Christians. As a reminder, it is Satan’s effort to lead us to commit these offenses so that our communication with God may be severed. Consequently we will be completely powerless to resist his assaults.

  1. Selfish Prayer – The prayer of the Pharisee was not only based on pride, but it was also rooted in selfishness. “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. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.” Luke 18:11, 12. In the book Our High Calling, 147, the following is recorded: “There are selfish prayers, proceeding from a heart that is cherishing idols.”
  2. Petulant or Impatient, Fretful Prayer – The servant of the Lord states, “There are petulant, fretful prayers, murmuring because of the burdens and cares of life, instead of humbly seeking grace to lighten them. Those who offer such petitions are not abiding in Christ. They have not submitted their will to the will of God. They do not comply with the condition of the promise, and it is not fulfilled to them.” Ibid.
  3. Presumptuous Prayer – “And saith unto Him, If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down: for it is written, He shall give His angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.” Matthew 4:6. “Only he who has true faith is secure against presumption. For presumption is Satan’s counterfeit of faith. Faith claims God’s promises, and brings forth fruit in obedience. Presumption also claims the promises, but uses them as Satan did, to excuse transgression. Faith would have led our first parents to trust the love of God, and to obey His commands. Presumption led them to transgress His law, believing that His great love would save them from the consequence of their sin. It is not faith that claims the favor of Heaven without complying with the conditions on which mercy is to be granted. Genuine faith has its foundation in the promises and provisions of the Scriptures.” The Desire of Ages, 126.
  4. Abominable Prayers – “I [Ellen White] saw that since Jesus left the holy place of the heavenly sanctuary and entered within the second veil, the churches have been filling up with every unclean and hateful bird. I saw great iniquity and vileness in the churches; yet their members profess to be Christians. Their profession, their prayers, and their exhortations are an abomination in the sight of God. Said the angel, ‘God will not smell in their assemblies. Selfishness, fraud, and deceit are practiced by them without the reprovings of conscience. And over all these evil traits they throw the cloak of religion.’ ” Early Writings, 274.

“Selfishness, pride, envy, malice, evil surmising, backbiting, gossiping, and tattling have been cherished among them, until the Spirit of God has but little to do with them. While some who profess to know God remain in their present state, their prayers are an abomination in His sight.” Testimonies, vol. 3, 52.

  1. Prayer not According to God’s Will – “Saying, Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me: nevertheless not My will, but Thine, be done.” Luke 22:42. “And He went a little farther, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt.” Matthew 26:39.

“We know that God hears us if we ask according to His will. But to press our petitions without a submissive spirit is not right; our prayers must take the form, not of command, but of intercession.” The Faith I Live By, 315.

  1. God Does not Hear the Prayers of Those Who Take Their Brothers and Sisters to Worldly Court – We are taught and instructed from the word of God that we are not to take each other to civil courts; such actions will prevent our prayers from being answered. The apostle Paul told the Corinthian Christians, “Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?” I Corinthians 6:1.

In an address given to some brethren, Ellen White reminded them of the principle the apostle Paul established and told that if they disobeyed, their names would be recorded in heaven as unbelievers. Furthermore, she stated, “Let these men know that God does not hear their prayers. They insult His holy name, and He will leave them to the buffetings of Satan until they shall see their folly and seek the Lord by confession of their sin.

“Matters connected with the church are to be kept within its own borders. If a Christian is abused, he is to take it patiently; if defrauded, he is not to appeal to courts of justice. Rather let him suffer loss and wrong.

“God will deal with the unworthy church member who defrauds his brother or the cause of God; the Christian need not contend for his rights.” Selected Messages, Book 3, 299. Satan has been very successful with this point of attack because so many Christians have disregarded this injunction and are now Christians only in name.

  1. God Will Never Answer the Prayers of Those Who Oppress the Poor, the Hireling and the Needy – The Prophet Isaiah confronts God’s people with their existing conditions as to why their prayers are not answered: “Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and Thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and Thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.” Isaiah 58:3.

The servant of the Lord, speaking to a church brother, explains to him how his actions are causing his prayers from being answered: “God has given reasons why your prayers were not answered. … You have oppressed the destitute and have benefited yourself by taking advantage of their necessities. In regard to means, you have been close and dealt unjustly. You have not possessed that kind, noble, and generous spirit which should ever characterize the life of a follower of Christ. You have oppressed the hireling in her wages.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 156, 157.

  1. Prayers Without Praise and Thanksgiving Will Not be Answered – The Psalmist mingles his request to God with much praise and thanksgiving: “I will worship toward Thy holy temple, and praise Thy name for Thy lovingkindness and for Thy truth: for Thou hast magnified Thy word above all Thy name. In the day when I cried Thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.” Psalm 138: 2, 3.

“But as for me, my prayer is unto Thee, O Lord, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of Thy mercy hear me, in the truth of Thy salvation.” Psalm 69:13.

“You who complain that God does not hear your prayers, change your present order and mingle praise with your petitions. When you consider His goodness and mercies you will find that He will consider your wants.

“Pray, pray earnestly and without ceasing, but do not forget to praise.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 317.

  1. God Will Not Acknowledge the Prayer of the Indifferent – “To those who are indifferent at this time Christ’s warning is: ‘Because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of My mouth’ (Revelation 3:16). The figure of spewing out of His mouth means that He cannot offer up your prayers or your expressions of love to God.” Ibid., vol. 6, 408.
  2. Those Who Rob God’s Tithes and Offerings will not Have Their Prayers Answered – Reading from the prophet the words of the Lord, “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed Me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed Thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed Me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” Malachi 3:8–10.

The servant of the Lord, commenting on this matter, states: “Some who profess to be Christians need a genuine conversion. They desire to be accepted of God; they pray in a casual way that they may be accepted, and yet through their desire for gain, their worldliness and selfishness, their robbery of God, they shut themselves away from Him. His curse is hanging over them for their selfishness and worldly lusts. Their prayers will be wholly in vain unless they comply with the condition specified in the Word of God.” The Upward Look, 22.

Also, Ellen White further points out: “There is another matter too often neglected by those who seek the Lord in prayer. Have you been honest with God? …

“As the Giver of every blessing, God claims a certain portion of all we possess. This is His provision to sustain the preaching of the gospel. And by making this return to God, we are to show our appreciation of His gifts. … It may be that here is the secret of unanswered prayer.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 144.

  1. The Use of Unsanctified Words Prevent Prayers From Being Answered – Jesus shows the importance of our words in our Christian experience, for He clearly taught, “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Matthew 12:37. From the book, The Voice In Speech and Song, 127, we see this most sobering statement: “The counterworking power of unsanctified, faithless, cheap words is the great hindrance to our prayers. God will draw nigh to every soul that will draw nigh to Him. But the Spirit of God will depart from those who leave the presence of God, and enter into vain conversation, speaking many words that are of no weight or purpose. The spiritual experience of such will stop abruptly.” This is exactly what Satan wants for you and me, that we become comfortable practicing and rationalizing away these sins until we are totally defeated by him!

It is therefore critical that we heed the counsel of one who speaks by experience, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” I Peter 5:8.

“And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” Luke 22:31, 32.

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.