Does God Answer Prayers?

The following sermon notes are sourced, with adaptation, from Rev Bobby Chaw's preaching from the Book of Numbers, Chapter 16, at City Harvest Church on 24 November 2018.

In English the fourth book of the Holy Bible is called the Book of Numbers as it began with God's command to take a census of all the congregation of Israelites.

However, in Hebrews it is known by the key word of its first sentence, Bemidbar, which means "in the wilderness" of Sinai where God gave the aforesaid command.

In Numbers 16:1, Korah, Dathan and Abiram and other leaders numbering two hundred and fifty started a rebellion against Moses and Aaron. Consequently, God instructed Moses and Aaron to stand apart from among this congregation which He is slating for destruction.

However, these two priests of the LORD "... fell on their faces, and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and You be angry with all the congregation""(Numbers 16:22 NKJV)?

The ringleaders and their households were swallowed up by the ground which had split open and then closed after they had fallen in. 

In a second rebellion (v. 41), all the surviving congregation turned against Moses and Aaron. "And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.” Again they fell on their faces" (Numbers 16:44, 45 NKJV).

"So Moses said to Aaron, “Take a censer and put fire in it from the altar, put incense on it, and take it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them; for wrath has gone out from the Lord. The plague has begun.” Then Aaron took it as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the assembly; and already the plague had begun among the people. So he put in the incense and made atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead and the living; so the plague was stopped" (Numbers 16: 46-48 NKJV).

Prayer makes a difference. It stops death and safeguards life. 

Pray for your enemies and those who mistreat you. "“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you" (Luke 6: 27-28 NKJV).

The incense are the prayers of the saints . "Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints"(Revelation 5:8 NKJV). 

Prayers make the difference. Prayer is the greatest outlet of power.  

The Holy Spirit is our inlet of power. ""But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth"" (Acts 1:8 NKJV).

In order for us to be an outlet for the power of the Holy Spirit in us, we need to yield to Him and be led by Him rather than treat Him like a temporary guest.

There are 4 outlet of power:

1. Our Life

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13 NKJV). Our lives are more powerful than our serving. 

2. Our Lips

"And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God" (1 Corinthians 2:4-5 NKJV).

3. Our Services to People

""But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many”" (Matthew 20:25-28 NKJV).

"how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him" (Acts 10:38 NKJV).

Our services to people, the Jesus' Way, is matter of Faith and Power instead of face and powder. 

4. Our Prayers

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV).

We can do nothing of power until we have done the prayer thing. 

Prayer is not the only thing, it is the first thing we do. Our lives are empowered through prayers. 

"When He came to the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”" (Luke 22:40 NKJV)

When we pray, Heavenly help comes. "And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed,... Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him (Luke 22:41-43 NKJV). 

Keep praying always. "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak" Ephesians 6:18-20 NKJV).

Our services are empowered through prayers. "Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints," (Romans 15:30-31 NKJV)

"The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing" (Psalm 34: 10 NKJV).

God still answers prayers. Rev Bobby then went on to share from George Muller's memoir concerning the orphanage ministry through which Muller sought to demonstrate that God will provide for the ministry through the power of prayer alone -- to prove that God answers prayers. He had a bigger mission to magnify that God answers prayers than just caring for the orphans. 

One highlight is the rhema word which Muller received from the LORD on 5 December 1835, namely: "I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it" (Psalm 81:10 KJV). 

Click here to read a biography of George Muller.

Then Rev Bobby shared a moving testimony by a Taiwanese pastor of how his parents finally came to the LORD, dramatically, after much prayers. You can catch this once the YouTube clip of this sermon is ready for me to include in this blog.

Prayer makes a difference. Don’t allow circumstances to beset you. Prayer is not an option, it is required. 

""If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”" (Luke 11:13 NKJV)

"And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness"(Acts 4:31 NKJV).

In conclusion, does God answer prayers? The answer is: Yes! Yes! Yes!