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Objection to Prayer: If God is sovereign why pray?
Selected Verse
Establish the need: If God is sovereign why pray?
Purpose: Today we shall consider six points in answering the question: If God is sovereign why pray?
- Point 1: We need to affirm God is sovereign
- Point 2: We pray simply because prayer is commanded by God
- Point 3: Prayer requests presupposes God’s sovereignty
- Point 4: The question wrongly assumes prayer is just asking for things
- Point 5: Prayer doesn’t change God’s mind
- Point 6: Prayer changes our situation
Point 1: We need to affirm God is sovereign
Point: Some try to solve this problem by making God less than sovereign. But the sovereignty of God is clearly taught.
Proof
- Remember the definition of God’s sovereignty such as Wayne Grudem’s definition: “God’s sovereignty is his exercise of his rule as ‘sovereign’ or ‘king’) over his creation.[1]
- God’s control over His inanimate creation: “The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the Lord.” (Proverbs 16:33)
- We often thing casting of lots is driven by “chance.”
- Here we see God’s control in that it’s “decision” is “from the Lord.”
- God’s control over animals
- “Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.” (Matthew 10:29)= Here it says sparrow cannot fall apart from His will!
- We can think of examples such as God bringing animals into Noah’s ark, the plagues of Egypt with the frogs, flies and locusts; the lions with Daniel, etc.
- God’s control over human history
- “and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation,” (Acts 17:26)
- Notice that God is control with the nations in that He has“determined their appointed times”
- Notice that God is control with the nations’ “boundaries of their habitation.”
- “The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But victory belongs to the Lord.” (Proverbs 21:31)
- Who wins and loses wars shapes history.
- Notice man’s attempt: “horse is prepared for the day of battle”
- Yet the result is controlled by God: “But victory belongs to the Lord.”
- “and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation,” (Acts 17:26)
Practice
- Seeing these passage do you affirm God is sovereign?
- Don’t deny God’s sovereignty which is clearly biblical even if you don’t understand bigger theological questions.
Point 2: We pray simply because prayer is commanded by God
Point: If God asks us to pray that is a sufficient reason alone to pray.
Proof
- “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
- Greek word for prayer here covers comprehensively all forms of reverent approach to God.
- Paul modeled a ceaseless prayer life according to 1 Thessalonians 1:3 and 2:13.
- “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, [c]be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,” (Ephesians 6:18)
- Here we are told more of how to pray.
- Note here that we don’t just pray for ourselves but also others.
- “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;” (Colossians 4:2)
Practice
- If God wants you to do something, and you know He loves you, isn’t that enough of a sufficient reason to do something?
- Do you realize it’s imperative you pray?
Point 3: Prayer requests presupposes God’s sovereignty
Proof
- “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Phillipians 4:6)= Since God is Sovereign, Paul in the Bible can say for everything!
- “casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)
- Notice it says “all your anxiety.”
- We can cast “all your anxiety” because God must be sovereign and able to do something about it no matter what sphere in life!
Practice: Rather than see God’s sovereignty goes against prayer we need to see prayer request require God’s sovereignty as a prerequisite. Let that comfort you.
Point 4: The question wrongly assumes prayer is just asking for things
Proof
- Praying to God is more than asking things from God.
- Prayer include also praise![2] See Psalm 150.
- We also pray even after we do or do not get something, with prayer of thanksgiving that He answered us: “Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name.” (Psalm 100:4)
- Prayer is about a relationship with God and not just getting what you want!
- Both the Spirit of God and Jesus Christ prays
- Holy Spirit prays“In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;” (Romans 8:26)
- Christ prays“Therefore He is able also to save [a]forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25)
- Why did they pray when they could have done it themselves or knew it would happen since they are God? The key for prayer is now evident: It is to commune with God.
- Both the Spirit of God and Jesus Christ prays
- Spouse may know what each other will say but they will still speak since it is about a relationship and not just information or requests![3]
Practice
- Do you go to God in prayer for more than prayer requests?
- Do you thank God, do you praise Him and adore Him too?
Point 5: Prayer doesn’t change God’s mind
Point: There are verses which shows God doesn’t change His mind.
Proof
- “Also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind.”” (1 Samuel 15:29)
- In the context these are the words that Samuel the Prophet spoke to King Saul (28)
- These words were spoken after the Lord has rejected Saul as king since Saul disobeyed the Lord by being impatient and went ahead to give his own sacrifice to God (22-23)
- Besides stating “the Glory of Israel will not lie,” the verse also states that He does not “change His mind” twice.
- The second time the verse says God does not “change His mind” the writer gives the reason for this truth that God being that God “is not a man.”
- “For this the earth shall mourn And the heavens above be dark, Because I have spoken, I have purposed, And I will not change My mind, nor will I turn from it.” (Jeremiah 4:28)à Notice the verse record God stating in the first person “I will not change My mind.”
- “(for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him, “The Lord has sworn And will not change His mind, ‘You are a priest forever’”);” (Hebrews 7:21)
- This passage is citing Psalm 110:4 which we examined earlier.
- Once more we see the truth that the Lord “will not change His mind.”
- Seeing that this is a New Testament passage citing an Old Testament passage we see that there is a continuity in both Testaments concerning the truth that God is immutable.
Practice:
- A big application from this is that we should pray according to the will of God.
- Ponder and meditate: Are your prayers God-centered or man-centered?
Point 6: Prayer changes our situation
Proof
- We read in Scripture instances where our prayers are “effective” in that it changes things such as James 5:16b-17: “The effective [o]prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed [p]earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months.”
- Again prayer doesn’t change God’s ultimate plan but prayer changes circumstances.
- God’s mean of bringing things to past include the means of using our obedience and also our prayers.
Practice
- Pray! Know God is working through you even as you pray!
- You need to believe God uses prayers!
[1] Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids: Zondervan), 217.
[2] RC Sproul, Does Prayer Changes Things (Orlando, Reformation Trust Publishing), Kindle Locations 72.
[3] RC Sproul, Does Prayer Changes Things (Orlando, Reformation Trust Publishing), Kindle Locations 76.
Thank you for these points, Jim! I’ll ponder on them as I’ll compose my prayers.
Encouraged to hear that Gersom. How is your Saturday so far? Going to go to nap now and be up to work on my sermon prep again!
GOD bless on your sermon Pastor Jim! Saturday, is fine, thank GOD.
Prayer is intimacy with God where the longing of our hearts are raised to Him and He responds as only He can. He fills our emptiness, He sustains that which we do not have. And the lists of things we ask for are not in themselves the means by which we can come into His presence, He already knows what we need before we ask for it, it is the intimacy of our hearts reaching out to Him where He meets us. The unspoken words, that longing for oneness with Him. And the beauty of prayer is that He creates this need in us and then He responds. He feeds us with Himself. Prayer is a gift. Blessings Jim.
Amen! I forgot to add RC Sproul’s comment in the post where he says prayer changes us morE than anything and that itself is already a good reason to pray. It is indeed a relationship with God and prayer is a gift! How may I pray for you Bruce?
Mention our daughter Rebecca if you would Jim and thank you. I always mention you in my prayers, anything specific I can join with you on?
Thanks for this excellent lesson outline on prayer! You’ve given us much good teaching and exhortation. I’ve also thought about how “prayer” is the common platform/vehicle used at ecumenical and interreligious events. Everyone is encouraged to pray together to their god/higher power. Some undiscerning Gospel Christians get sucked into a mindset of, “Well, these other religionists are earnestly praying, too, so their spirituality must be legitimate as well.” We even have undiscerning evangelical pastors recommending “devotional” materials written by the religious unsaved to their congregations. But the Bible says God does not hear the prayers of the unsaved/unredeemed unless they are on the road to genuine repentance.
https://tabletalkmagazine.com/article/2019/03/god-hear-non-christians-pray/
Amen! I think a big presupposition of ecumenicalists is the assumption of the universal brotherhood of man. But spiritual brotherhood is in relations to how one relate to Christ and the Gospel amen? The Bible teaches there is not an automatic spiritual brotherhood of man though it teaches everybody is one’s neighbors. What does your Saturday looks like?
Yup, relationship to Christ via the genuine Gospel is key, but so many undiscerning evangelicals are hoodwinked by the false piety of religious unbelievers.
We have San Diego weather here in ROC, sunny and 75F. My wife and I went to the grocery earlier and I just got done mowing half the backyard. Will do the wash and weekly bills then it’s time to putter around. What’s going on with you today besides sermon prep obviously?
Thanks for the great teaching and resource. Very helpful.
You’re welcome thanks for reading this. Any Memorial Day weekend plans?
None yet. We are working. I’m thinking about organizing a parade for our staff staying on the property. Are you going to the beach?
“Pray changes OUR situation” All goodness from God is for our benefit.
Amen! Romans 8:28. Have a blessed weekend, hope you might be able to see some of your family (kids and grandkids) this Memorial day weekend though it doesn’t fee like it
To you also, my grand. Have a blessed day.
Bookmarked
I agree that prayer is relational. How can you know someone if you do not spend time with that person. I grieve for those whom are in my sphere of influence who do not understand that while God is Sovereign, He wants to commune with them personally. They do not have to be afraid of talking with God about their feelings, thoughts, situations etc. This is a great and needed post Jim! Thanks for your hard work on this!
Thanks for reading and your comment! I know for myself even as a young believer forgetting that because God is sovereign that does not mean we don’t pray or that God is more distant! Yes He’s more transcendent than I first thought but He has Condensed so we can commune with Him thought Christ! Thank you for noticing the work behind this post sister! This posts is part of a weekly series I’m doing with my church on prayer, if there’s things you feel I should cover let me know yeah?
Oh man, Jim, I wish I was part of your study! I LOVE teaching and learning about prayer! For months I have thought about writing on Trinitarian prayers. My final project for Communicating Biblical Truth was “How to pray Trinitarian prayers.” My prayer life totally changed when our Triune God taught me that when I pray I need to the whole Trinity and to each Person. While there are no direct prayers offered to the Holy Spirit in Scripture, I submit to you that when we need immediate help or wisdom there is nothing wrong with asking the Holy Spirit specifically for His guidance, direction, help, words etc. John Stott’s Trinitarian Prayer is beautiful and a great example of how to pray Trinitarian prayers! I think it is paramount for people to understand that we pray in Jesus’s Name through the Holy Spirit to God the Father. We also pray in the Spirit through the Son to the Father. Triadic patterns of prayer exist in Scripture and I think we need to teach people this. It will make prayer far more personal and effective. Thank you for allowing me to share! Love and blessings to you and your family! Do y’all have any plans for Memorial Day tomorrow?
Thank you for this great teaching on prayer pastor Jim.
And we can pray at any time anywhere!