2nd Corinthians 5:4-7, “For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)”
This is a precious passage of Scripture full of truth. If you are a Christian, the day you got saved you became a member of God's heavenly family. The Apostle Paul reminds us here that as believers, even though we are present in an earthly body, we are also absent from the Lord.
This world is not my home
I'm just a-passing through
My treasures are laid up
Somewhere beyond the blue
The angels beckon me
From heaven's open door
And I can't feel at home
In this world anymore
Oh Lord, you know
I have no friend like you
If heaven's not my home
Then Lord, what will I do?
The angels beckon me
From heaven's open door
And I can't feel at home
In this world anymore
I like that Gospel song. I am reminded each day by the blessed indwelling Holy Spirit that I am just a pilgrim passing through, and not a settler here on earth. 2nd Corinthians 5:7 says we walk by faith, not by sight, as saints. That is such a vital biblical truth to always keep in mind, especially when it comes to prayer. Living by faith means that we stay focused on the invisible things of God in the spirit world, which Romans 1:20b says “are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.”
Beware of Ignorant Preacher's False Teachings
That being said as introduction, I read a disturbing article today in the Sword of the Lord biweekly newspaper. The article by Pastor Len G. Broughton (1865-1936) starts on the front page, titled: “Why Prayer Is Not Answered.” The article then jumps to page 15, and then continues and finishes on page 19. I hate when the Sword prints articles haphazardly all over the place. Why the chaotic arrangement?
It's just like Pensacola Christian College's (PCC) multiple contradictory plans of salvation, which Sword editor Dr. Shelton Smith shameful sanctions and promotes. I am so disgusted with the Sword of the Lord. Contrary to their slogan displayed at the top of every newspaper which says they contend for the faith, they do not. They falsely claim to “stand” for salvation by faith, but then wickedly bid Godspeed to PCC's Lordship Salvation counterfeit gospel.
It is tragic that the love of money (a career) is a higher priority today to the Sword of the Lord than defending right doctrine. RIGHT DOCTRINE MATTERS!
PCC donated $7,000 to the Sword of the Lord back in 2015. Birds of a feather flock together. I will go to seed exposing these ungodly organizations, as did the Apostle Paul. Philippians 1:17b, “I am set for the defence of the gospel.” Paul admonishes his convert and soulwinning apprentice Titus in Titus 1:13b-14, “Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.” Titus was not an apostle, and neither am I, but like Titus I am rebuking PCC and the Sword of the Lord sharply for their damnable false teachings. By supporting PCC, Dr. Shelton Smith and company are guilty partakers of PCC's heresies.
In his misleading article, Pastor Len G. Broughton lists three reasons for unanswered prayer:
- Sin Harbored in the Heart
- Lack of Faith Hinders
- Prayer Blocked by Lack of Surrender
I cringed as I read this misleading article, because it is nonsense. Dear reader, prayer is asking which in itself is faith. We all have sin in our heart. And no one is wholly submitted to God. The whole spirit of Pastor Broughton's article is rooted in one's self righteousness, not trusting God. His requirements to get your prayers answered is to that YOU must surrender, YOU must turn from your sin, and YOU must have more faith. I contend that we should simply obey the Bible in 1st Peter 5:7b, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
Either God will or won't answer your prayer, it's as simple as that. But dear reader, I discourage you from going down that worrisome road which Pastor Len G. Broughton is trying to take you down, putting the dangerous idea into your head that unless everything in your spiritual life is Kosher, you're screwed. The most discouraging book I've ever read is by Dr. John R. Rice titled, “Hindrances To Prayer.”
We know from the following passage that our prayers can be hindered by sin. 1st Peter 3:7, “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 humbly think it boils down to this. God sees everything (Psalms 139:1-6). Proverbs 24:12, “If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?” The Lord cares about how we treat each other as human beings (Matthew 7:1-12).
God Will Answer Your Prayers If He Wants To
The first of the Ten Commandments deal with how we treat God. The last five deal with how we treat our neighbor. Galatians 5:14, “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” It's all really quite simple dear friend. If you love God and people, and it's more than mere phony lip service that exists in 99% of Bible colleges and churches today, then God will answer your prayers according to His will.
But if you hurt people, like Pastor Jeff Redlin at PCC's Campus Church banning me from returning to their church, God won't answer your prayers. PCC is an abomination in His sight!
If you hurt people like Family Baptist Church kicked I and my wife out of church in June of 2025, God won't bless that hateful organization in their arrogance, worldliness and sin. The pastor's worldly wife and mother wear ungodly sexy pants, and their henpecked husbands sanction immodesty. Woe unto those wicked families in eternity! Woe unto Family Baptist Church and their damnable heresy that you must repent "of your sins" to get to Heaven.
I am so sick and fed up and tired of hearing these fearmonger preachers, who place a bunch of impossible burdens upon people's shoulders, trying to make us all worry for two dozen reasons why God won't answer our prayers. I hate that book by Dr. John R. Rice about “Hindrances To Prayer,” because after reading that impossible book I felt hopeless ever praying again.
I mean, there's no way that I could ever live up to all those high expectations to get my prayers answered. I am not a good Christian. In fact, I feel like a terrible Christian all the time (and so will you if you draw close to our holy Creator). I have enough faith to pray, but beyond that I am at a loss. God knows that I desire to think and live right to please Him, but I fail all the time. I have many faults, and so do you dear reader. There's no such thing as a “good Christian,” and there never has been and never will be. Only Jesus is sinless (Hebrews 4:15).
Beware Of Reasons for Unanswered Prayer Nonsense
I hate when preachers give a list of all the reasons why God won't answer your prayers. In so doing, they are wickedly placing heavy burdens upon your shoulders, which will cause you to continually question and worry why God didn't answer your prayers.
Over the past 24 years of my website ministry at Jesus-is-Savior.com, I have received countless emails from hurting, confused and worried people, who have been lied to by wicked neo-evangelical preachers (like Ray Comfort and Paul Washer) to continually worry if they are really saved because of the sins in their life. Since everyone struggles with sin (Romans 7:14-25), these poor folks are trapped in a cruel world of religious scrupulosity, worrying all the time if they are saved because of their sinful bad habits. Folks, that is not the free grace Gospel taught in 1st Corinthians 15:1-4.
The inspired King James Bible teaches that forgiveness of sins and eternal life are a free gift from God (Romans 5:15-18). In that beautiful passage of Scripture you will find the word “gift” mentioned SIX TIMES! And the phrase “free gift” is mentioned THREE TIMES! We know that nothing is free in this universe, and that applies to salvation as well. We read in 1st Peter 1:18-19 that it was Jesus who paid for our sins with His precious blood. How ridiculous is it then, when an incompetent pastor stands behind a pulpit and insists that you must turn from your sinning to receive God's free gift?
In the same foolish way, pastors make getting your prayers answered about works instead of faith. Hebrews 11:6, “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.” Dear friend, all God expects of you is your faith. That is, that you trust and rely upon Him. Throughout my day in my home, I often say: “ Excuse me to the Lord” if I am distracted while talking to Him. That is faith. God is pleased by that acknowledgment of His existence. I treat God like an individual person, because that is exactly who He is. Every day I often pause for a moment from whatever I am doing, and I say sincerely: “I love you Lord.” That is faith.
Every time I work on my website and blog ministry and write another article, that is faith. Faith pleases God. The John 3:16 sign on my front lawn is faith in Christ. The “Jesus Loves You!” sign in my backyard is faith.
It is a dangerous and unwise thing to pray and then put God on the spot to see if He answers. In so doing you are walking by sight, not by faith. I pray and then trust the Lord's wisdom and protective hand upon my life and ministry. Nothing can happen in any saint's life without the Lord's express permission (Job 1:10). 1st John 4:4b says “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” When Len G. Broughton and John R. Rice write about reasons for unanswered prayers, they are walking by sight. How do you know if God answers your prayers or not? I'm simply not qualified to make that call, and neither are you.
I find the whole idea of trying to teach about unanswered prayer to be very frustrating. I feel like God never answers my prayers. But what do I know? I trust the Lord and I believe the Bible when it says in 1st Peter 5:7 that God cares about me. 1st Corinthians 1:9 teaches that God is faithful. I refuse to question those divine truths. Psalms 139:1-6 teaches that God knows when I lay down and rise up, and my very thoughts. God is omniscient.
We know from 1st Peter 3:7 that mistreating one's spouse can hinder prayer. And we know from Matthew 5:23-24 that if a brother has ought against us, we are commanded to go make things right with our brother, and then come back with our gift to present to God. In other words, you cannot be wrong with people and right with God.
Pastors' Jeff Redlin at PCC's Campus Church, Marty Herron (former incompetent pastor of Harvest Baptist Church on Guam), Bill Adams (incompetent pastor of Smyrna Baptist Church in Pensacola), Brad and Bobby Moffett (incompetent pastors of Family Baptist Church in Pensacola) all threw me under the bus and cannot be right with God until they make things right with me first. That is 100% biblical. Those ungodly phonies should all be fired. If you think I'm being hard on them, just wait until God deals with them (Psalms 6:1; Galatians 6:7).
Have Faith In God
Jesus said in Mark 11:22b, “Have faith in God.” The only thing you need to worry about when it comes to prayer is how you treat other people. I do not believe surrendering to God has anything to do with getting your prayers answered. Discipleship has nothing to do with salvation.
And of course, it all depends on what you are asking God to do. Pastor Jack Hyles in his helpful book 'Exploring Prayer With Jack Hyles' says if you want to purchase some bread from a bakery, that is simply a matter of asking. However, if you want to work in the bakery, that is something entirely different and requires much more. If we ask for something for our self, Jesus said you don't need to pray long prayers LIKE THE HEATHEN DO, because the heavenly Father already knows your needs (Matthew 6:7-8). But if you want something for others, then importunity in prayer pleases God (Luke 11:1-8).
I reject all these crazy sermons and books about why God doesn't answer our prayers. The plain truth is that God will answer your request if He wants to, and it is not our place to analyze God's reasons. Walk by faith dear reader, and trust God with the rest. Proverbs 3:5-7, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.”
Please don't allow well-meaning preachers to discourage you dear reader. In Acts 12:1-15 tells the remarkable story about James and Peter. Herod had just murdered James, beheading him. When Herod saw it pleased the Jews, he intended to kill Peter also, but the early church prayed for God to deliver Peter. When Peter came to their door, Rhoda ran to tell them while they were still praying, but they called her “mad” (crazy). This true story just proves that even when you don't believe God will answer your prayers, He still might. Prayer in itself is all the faith you need if it is God's will to help you.
Please don't misunderstand, there are some things that can hinder our prayers, which I have mentioned in this article, but I think most preachers go way overboard and that discourages Christians from praying. I don't think every sin hinders prayer, otherwise none of us could receive answers to prayer, because we all sin. I do think mistreating others hinders our prayers. I don't think God will refuse to answer your prayers because you smoke cigarettes, play the lottery or watch Hollywood movies. That is just my humble opinion.
We read in James 4:6, “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” God resists proud people! God resists the prayers of arrogant pastors like Jeff Redlin at PCC who refuse to heed the truth that Lordship Salvation and Misunderstood Repentance are false teachings. I think preachers often focus on the wrong reasons why God doesn't answer one's prayers. The Lord is far more concerned about the condition of your heart, than He is about your bad sinful habits. And the way that you treat God and people reveals the condition of your heart (Mark 12:30-31).
And I also believe that the good Lord usually gives us everything that we need in advance, so that we don't even need to pray for those things. God has been so good to all of us. I want to encourage you to pray, which is why I wrote this article. Please don't let preachers discourage you by misleading you to think that you've got to become Super Christian to see answers to prayer. Those miserable believers at Rhoda's house were so carnal that they didn't believe her when God actually answered their prayer. I love that!
You just keep on praying dear friend, and trust your God that He knows what is best. God doesn't have a long list of reasons for not answering your prayers, He looks at your heart.
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