Can You Hear Me Now?

0:00 This is the FBCG Live Podcast with Pastor John K. Jenkins Sr. Today's message is titled, Can You Hear Me Now? God is always inclining His ear to us. He wants to hear what we have to say, but sometimes God does not answer our prayers because of our sinful behaviors. Wherever you're joining us from, we pray this message encourages and empowers you in your daily walk with God. All right, open your Bibles to Jeremiah chapter 33.

0:34 This is a Bible study. Today is a Bible study. Y'all know what I say about that, right? Go ahead, tell your neighbor. Yeah, I got to bring Bible study to you since you don't come to Bible study. here's what Jeremiah 33 and verse 3 says call to me and I will answer you that's why we're shouting because when we call to him he answers then it says this and show you great and mighty things which you do not know what an incredible promise from God that you cry out to him you call on him and he will answer and show you great and mighty things. Here's what that means.

1:30 I'm going to show you some stuff that you ain't never even seen. And I've entitled this message, Can You Hear Me Now? Can you hear me now? So it's 10.33. I got 27 minutes to get through. I can't take my time. Stop telling me that. Y'all know that. I got 27 minutes to get through seven points. How many minutes is that? Three and a half minutes for a point. Here's what I want to talk about, because I feel tension in the room, even though I read this passage to you that God says, call to me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things which you do not know. I feel tension in the room because there's some people here today that say, I've called on the Lord and he didn't answer.

2:27 I've had some experiences where he didn't respond. and I think it's appropriate for me to spend some time teaching you again why God doesn't respond to your prayers. Because the Bible is crystal clear about it. It gives you specifics. And I'm going to give you seven reasons today. Not that there might be more, but I'm going to give you seven.

2:53 Y'all supposed to say, go ahead and give me the seven. I gave you space and time, but y'all didn't say nothing. I love this verse, Jeremiah 33, because God says, if you cry out to me, if you call my name, I will respond, I will answer, and I'll show you, I'll make known. As a matter of fact, that's what God desires. He desires to show his hand so strong in your life that all of the people who are watching you, they will want to say, now what in the world is happening with you that you're getting this and I'm not getting that? God wants to demonstrate his power through your life. But my job today is to show you seven reasons why he's not responding to your prayers. Here's number one. Go to Isaiah 59. This is a Bible study. This is a topical message, by the way.

3:45 So I'm looking at a bunch of several different verses on these seven points. Here's Isaiah 59 verse 1 and 2. Here's what Isaiah 59 verse 1 and 2 says. Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened that it cannot say, nor his ear heavy that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he will not hear.

4:24 It can't be no more clear than that right there. look at your neighbor and say, you got sin. Look at the person on the other side. He said, he can't answer your prayer because you got sin. You got sinful behavior. He says, your iniquities have separated you from your God, and your sins has hidden his face from you because of your behavior, because of your sin, because of the practices in your life, because of the things that you do that causes God to say, I can't hear. that's the first reason that God will not hear and respond to your prayers oh by the way I need a time keeper because I got to put three minutes apiece three and a half minutes who can keep the time for me let me see can I find somebody let me come over here one of our faithful deacons is going this is going to be it's one of our new deacons over here this is Deacon Jefferson so look When I get to three and a half minutes, you got to make me know.

5:29 I'll let you know. If you got to stand up, run around the building, let me know when I get to three and a half minutes. Because if I don't get through these, I can't, I got to get through these seven today. Yes, sir. We got something else scheduled next week, the next two weeks. So I can't, this can't be a run over. You have less than 60 seconds on this one. I got less than 60 seconds on this one? Okay. Thank you.

5:57 You're doing your job. Give D.M. Jefferson a hand. Somebody say sinful behavior. Here's number two. Let's go to Psalm 66, verse 18. Psalm 66 and verse 18. Now, this is a very significant and important one. It's a very significant and important one. It says, if I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear. Wow, that's, y'all, did y'all get that? If I regard iniquity. Now, the key word in this passage is the word regard. That's the key word, regard. What does that word mean? I'm glad you asked the question. the word regard means if I can see it in my mind here's what that means you don't have to actually do the sin all you have to do is see it okay y'all y'all are confused let me break it down to all you have to do is imagine it picture it in your mind that's where most of y'all mess up because y'all be dreaming about stuff I feel tension over here in these two sections right here.

7:19 If I can picture it in my mind, if I can imagine it in my mindset, if I can put it in my mind to think about it, it impacts God's ability to respond to my prayers. That's what Isaiah, I mean, that's what Psalm 66, 18 says. If I regard iniquity, if I see it, the Lord will not hear. That's pretty clear. Is that clear? That's clear. God said, I want you to control your thought life. That's why you got to be careful what books you read, what pictures you look at, what movies you watch. because it's painting pictures in your mind that impacts God's ability to respond to your prayer requests that's the teaching of the word of God now here's a little saying I say all the time if I sow a thought I will reap a feeling or a desire if I sow a desire I will reap an act if I sow an act I reap a habit if I sow a habit I reap a lifestyle if I sow a lifestyle I reap a destiny and it all started with a thought Let me let that sink in with y'all for just a second.

8:51 So my second point is these sinful thoughts. You have thoughts that you think that impacts God's ability to respond to your prayers. Here's number three. James chapter four, verse three. James four. verse 3 says this.

9:15 You ask and do not receive because you ask amiss that you may spend it on your pleasures. James 4, 3. Let me read it again. You ask and do not receive because you ask amiss. The key word is the word amiss. What does that word mean? It means worthless. It means you're asking for something that's worthless. that you may spend it on your pleasures. You're asking for something to consume it on or waste it on your own desires. It's not about the kingdom of God. It's not about helping somebody else. It's not about advancing the name of the Lord. It's about you. You're asking for a new car, but it's not because you want to pick up people to bring them to church. It's because you want a profile in it.

10:09 You want to have a diamond in the back, sunroof top. come on talk to you look at me How does it go? Diamond in the back, sunroof, top, digging. The gangsta league. Woo-woo. Y'all got it. Y'all know the song.

10:36 I don't know if the 12 o'clock crowd or know it, but the 10 o'clock crowd got it. You're asking for a new car, and you want God to bless you, but you ain't giving nobody rides in the car you got. Go ahead, clap. Clap together. I mean, y'all too late. It's too late. You want a new house, but you ain't making no space for nobody to stay with you. You ain't using your house. You trying to make a name for you. It's about you. It's all about you. Look at your neighbor because they're not hearing me. Say it's about you. It ain't about you though, baby.

11:18 The kingdom is not about you. The kingdom is not about your kingdom. It's not about your name. It's not about your reputation. It's not about your business. it's not about you it's about him and that's what he says I can't answer I can't respond I can't do it you asked for it but you can't receive it because you're not about my kingdom preach on pastor Jenkins you're not advancing my kingdom you're not thinking about how to push the kingdom of God forward it's not about his name it's about the name of the Lord kingdom and so you're asking for all the wrong reasons. So, ask yourself whatever blessing that you're wanting, whatever blessing you're asking God to give to you, ask yourself who's going to benefit from it. Is God going to benefit from it or is this for my own sake? Because God's looking. He says, you asked and I didn't give it to you because you want to spend it on your own pleasures, on your own name and reputation. Here's number four.

12:22 1 John 5, verse 14 and 15. 1 John 5, verses 14 and 15. Now, this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of him. Here's what this passage means. Here's what it's saying. If we ask anything according to his will, his will. See, sometimes God doesn't answer your prayer because it's not his will. And the reason we try to teach you the word is so that you'll know what God's will is. When you know what God's will is, you can ask it based on his will.

13:18 But sometimes you're asking God for stuff that's not his will. Go ahead, look at that lady next to you. Say, God, I don't want you asking for somebody else's husband to be with you. That's not his will. Go ahead, tell her, tell her. Don't be asking Mr. Maioza's husband. Go ahead, tell your neighbor. Don't ask God for you to win the lotto. He doesn't want you to win the lottery. Stop asking. That's not his will. It's not the will of God for you to take care of yourself through the games of chance. Look at who's clapping and look at who's not clapping. The people who are not clapping, they got a lotto ticket in their wallet right now. Let me see your wallet right quick.

14:14 What is the will of God? What is the will of the Lord? Can I find a scripture to support what it is? I'm asking. So whatever I'm going to ask God, I want it to be within the parameters of what his will is and not outside of his will. Y'all with me? Are y'all still with me? Here's number five, 1 Peter chapter three. This is a life changer for me. This one right here, 1 Peter 3, 7.

14:44 Here's what it says, husbands, likewise dwell with them with understanding. Giving honor to the wife has to the weaker vessel and has being heirs together of the grace of life that your prayers may not be hindered. Look at all of the sisters clapping, praising the Lord. Praise God. This is a profound passage here because I can't think of a verse. I don't know a verse in the scripture that says the same about men. That says wives do so and so so your prayers won't be hindered. I don't know a verse because if I had written a Bible. I would surely put that verse in there, but I didn't write it. And this was life-changing for me because I was guilty of being insensitive to my wife.

15:46 I was guilty of not listening to her. She'd probably tell me what's bothering her and tell me what she's stressed out about. and I would say that's the devil. I did. That's what I did. I said, that's the devil. And I would dismiss her feelings. And then God had to jack me up and take me to this verse. That if I wanted my prayers answered, I better start dwelling with her with understanding. As difficult as that might be, because understanding her changes from day to day, hour to hour, minute to minute.

16:43 She feel one way this day, another way another day. I'm about to lose my mind. Up in here, up in here. And so I had to, and I am still learning. Amen.

17:05 This verse challenges me that if I want my prayers answered, I better be sensitive. That's the big bird word for the brothers today, sensitivity. I got to be sensitive. I've got to dwell with her with understanding. I had to learn. I'm doing things that I had to learn to do. I had to learn to listen. one time she was talking and she figured out that I wasn't listening and she said you ain't even listening to me and I said I heard every word you said she said what did you what did I say I said you said blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah I'm trying to be honest with y'all that I had to learn and so I'm learning haven't quite gotten there yet but I'm learning I'm doing better I'm doing better I'm doing better it's a tough hill to climb but I'm doing better amen brothers don't leave me hanging out here by myself do I have any brothers that understand how difficult of a task it is to understand I don't understand I don't always understand rarely do I understand but I I'm learning to just Listen, and here's what I do.

19:09 I'm going to save some marriages right here. When she's talking, I'm learning to listen. And I'll say this to her. What? Dude, jail, what in the world? I'm trying to help you brothers. I'm trying to help.

19:34 Because you know she always want to talk when there's two minutes left and the game is tied. And then she want to ask questions about the game that she don't understand, but she want to act like she understand the game. You know, so in the football game, Dr. Shell, in the football game,

20:02 they score a touchdown and they start high-fiving. And she said, why are they beating up on each other? Why are they doing that? She don't understand. That's a way of celebration for men. We bump chest bumping and hitting each other on the head and all that kind of stuff. We ain't hurting each other. We celebrate. They celebrating. But she don't, you hear she say, it don't make sense. Talk about what don't make sense. Talk about what don't make sense. Let me just leave that alone right there for a second. I'm about to work my way out of a place to stay. Somebody say, move on, Pastor. Move on. I better move on. I might need a place to stay. Who will let me stay in their house with them? Thank you, bro. I appreciate it. But that's a key point that this passage is telling us, that if you want your prayers to be answered, you have to dwell with your wife with understanding.

21:04 You got to listen to her. I started going shopping with my wife. I hate shopping. I hate, despise shopping. I despise. Because when she goes shopping, when I go shopping, I go straight to the department for what it is I want. Y'all know where I'm going with this, right? She got to walk through the whole darn store. No plans, they ain't gonna buy nothing. Oh my time is up Sit yourself down. I want to hang on this one for just a few moments.

22:13 I thought I saw you out the corner of my eye, but I didn't want to see you. Y'all got that point? Y'all understand? Here's number six. Matthew 17, verses 14 through 21. Matthew 17, verses 14 through 21. Here's what it says. And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to him, kneeling down to him, saying, Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely, for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. So I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him. Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to me. And Jesus rebuked the demon, and he came out of him and the child was cured from that very hour.

23:17 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, why could we not cast it out? So Jesus said to them, because of your unbelief, for assuredly I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to the mountain, move from here to there and it will move and nothing will be impossible for you. however this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting this point is the unbelief when you come to God you got to believe that he is that's what Hebrews 11 6 says he that comes to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him without faith without having faith it's impossible to get God's attention God is God moves and responds to faith. You got to believe. And the problem is you're continuing to put yourself in environments where your faith is not being boosted up. You got to get in a place where you can build your faith, strengthen your faith. You got to get in a posture to believe God.

24:26 I don't know where y'all are, but I know God is a miracle worker. I know he answers prayer. And you want to be in an environment where you are building your faith, building the confidence that you know that we serve a God who is more than able and more than capable to solve problems. Let me give you number seven and I'll be finished. matter of fact jot down Hebrews 11 6 with that unbelief and Matthew 21 22 Matthew 21 22 says whatever things you ask in prayer believing you will receive that's Matthew 21 22 and whatever things you ask in prayer believing you will receive so God doesn't respond if you don't believe here's my final point seventh point is from Proverbs 28 verse 9. Proverbs chapter 28 one who turns away his ear from hearing the law even his prayer is an abomination if you disregard the word if you reject the word if you dismiss the word if you if you say, I don't believe it anymore, I don't trust it, I'm not reading it, I'm not going to obey it. The devil wants you to doubt and question the Word of God. And when you reject the Word, when you dismiss the Word, God will not answer your prayers. That's what the Scripture says.

26:00 Your prayer is an abomination. God wants us to be in a posture or place to believe His Word. jot down 1 John 3 22 and that this goes with this too and i'm finished 1 John 3 22 says whatever we ask we receive from him because because we keep his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight what does that mean the key word in this verse is the word keep and that word keep means to guard protect it means to to put police officers around it to guard and keep the enemy from stealing it out of your life how many of you know as soon as you get a word from God the devil gonna try to steal it from you he wants you to dismiss it he wants you to reject it but you got to put a guard around it you got to do whatever's necessary to get that word in your heart and put a guard around it and don't let the enemy take it from you.

27:05 Amen. Don't you know that we serve a God who wants to work miracles in your life? He wants to show himself strong. The Bible says the eyes of the Lord are looking to and fro, looking for somebody who believes him, trust him, has confidence. He wants to show himself strong. God wants people to see his hand working in your life so that they have to say, what causes this to happen in your life? And you'll be able to say, it's the God that I serve. Now this is true. These seven points are true. These seven principles, these seven facts are the facts of what causes your prayer life to be hindered. But by the way, it begins first of all that you have a personal relationship with Jesus. that you know him, that you believe he died on the cross for your sins and was buried, and that he got up out of the grave and rose from the dead.

28:08 It begins by a person putting their faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Some of y'all prayers have never been answered because you never got saved. You might be religious, but you ain't been saved. You might go to church, but you ain't never been saved. You might have been baptized, but you haven't gotten saved. Y'all understand. You haven't believed Jesus. You haven't put your trust in him. You haven't repented of your sin. You haven't been born again. You have to be born again. I grew up in this church. I grew up in the First Baptist Church of Glenard. And my testimony is, and I tell it all the time, I sang in the choir. I was an usher. I taught Sunday school. I was in church every time I got the opportunity. I was a faithful person in church. But one day I realized there was something missing in my life. There was a void. There was an emptiness. I had religion, but I didn't have a walk with God. And one Tuesday night, I got up and got saved.

29:03 I didn't care what people thought about me. I don't care what they said about me. All I knew is that there was something lacking and void in my life, and I wanted Jesus in my life, and I came forward, and he had the audacity to save me and forgive me of my sins. and there's some of you in this very same position. You go to church, you might even be a member here. Your name might be on the road. You might have been baptized, but you truly haven't been born again. It hasn't been a change in your life. In my appeal, I beg you, I beseech you, I cry out to you. Get right with God before it's everlasting too late. Get saved. Come and cry out to him and let him save you.