Well, we welcome you in our Savior's name. We're turning to 2 Corinthians chapter number 12. 2 Corinthians chapter 12. For those who are watching online tonight, it will be a very brief message. We're having a few nights of prayer, and so it will be a short message, and then we'll be seeking the Lord together. So 2 Corinthians chapter 12. Let's pray with the word of God open before us. Let's seek the Lord. Our Father, we thank Thee for the return to the house of prayer. My house shall be called a house of prayer of all nations. And Lord, we bless Thee, dear God, that that was said, that that would make us joyful in such a place. Lord, lift our hearts, take us away from the world, all of its unnecessary care, all of the things that would cram in and would steal our joy, and may we come to Be blessed as we meet together. What a blessing to hear the saints of God pray. Lord, to pray for us and to pray for the work and to pray for their families and their loved ones out of Christ. Lord, we pray, O God, that you'll hear prayer, hear from my dwelling place, attend to the voice of our supplications, and be pleased, Lord, in my time and my way to answer these, our feeble petitions, we pray now for the help of the spirit to read the scripture to understand the word we pray these are prayers in jesus precious name amen so at 2nd corinthians chapter number 12 and we'll read from the verse 1 it is not expedient for me doubtless to glory i will come to visions and revelations of the lord a new man in christ above 14 years ago whether in the body i cannot tell or whether out of the body I cannot tell God knoweth such a one caught up in to the third heaven and I knew such a man whether in the body or out of the body I cannot tell God knoweth how that he was caught up into paradise and heard unspeakable words which is not lawful for any man to utter of such a one will I glory yet of myself I will not glory but in mine and firmities, for though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool, for I would say the truth, but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me, unless I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations there was given to me, a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me and he said unto me my grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness most gladly therefore will i rather glory in my infirmities that the power of christ may rest upon me therefore i take pleasure in infirmities and reproaches and necessities and persecutions and distresses for christ's sake When I am weak, then am I strong. We'll end there at the end of the verse number 10. You know, as a minister, when you come to times of prayer like these that have been set aside, you want to bring messages that inspire prayer, encouraging the congregation to lay hold of God and to seek mercy and grace to help in our time of need. But what if God says no to our prayers? Have you thought about that possibility? You know that God can answer our prayers in one of three ways. Yes, wait, or no. Now we're all very happy when God grants us our requests and he says yes to that which we ask him for. We're content, albeit a little frustrated, when God tells us to wait. It's just not his timing. But we're not just so pleased when God says no. to our prayers and to our petitions. No was the answer that God gave to Paul when the apostle asked God to take from him a thorn in the flesh. Three times Paul prayed specifically along these lines. And God responded with the words, my grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness. So what do we do when God says no to our prayers? What do we do? Well, number one, we submit ourselves to God's wisdom. We submit ourselves to God's wisdom. You see, God would say in such times when He denies us our request, God would say, for my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord, for as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." Wisdom guides God, infinite wisdom in all that He does, and especially when it comes to the matter of prayer. He is most wise, the most wise God, and so we are to simply submit ourselves to His wisdom and to just rest in the fact that He has said no, no. Second of all, we understand that God has something else to give us in its place when God says no. Now for Paul, it was grace, grace to bear him up onto the trial. Paul wants the thorn in the flesh to be removed, but God gives him something in its place. He gives grace. He doesn't send his servant away empty, but rather he gives him something better. Something that he believes is better for the Apostle Paul at that particular time. You see whatever God gives us in its place, we can be assured that it will be better than that which we asked him for. How do I know that? Because in Matthew 7 verse 11 we read, If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? And so we can be assured that he'll give us what is better, what is best for us. We may not feel it to be so, but we can understand that God has something else to give us in its place when he says simply no. And then thirdly, what are we to do when God says no to our prayers? well we keep on praying we keep on praying for those who are parents here tonight and even those of you who have friends and those of you have neighbors even whenever we say no to one of their requests, whether it's a child or a friend or a neighbor. It doesn't stop that child or that friend or that neighbor asking for something else, certainly not in our home. If you say no to one thing, you can be sure there'll be another request being made by Andrea, no, no, by Abigail with regard to that. She'll be watching in, so she will. You know, they just keep asking in the hope that you'll give in and that you'll grant them what they are asking for. They keep on asking. Just because you say no to your child once doesn't stop the career and their constant asking and asking and asking. And brethren and sisters, just because God says no, we're to keep on praying. Now not praying for the same thing where God has said no, but praying that God will give us what he deems fit to give us in its place. Don't lose heart. when God says no. Keep praying. Paul would continue to pray. He would keep on praying. As Matthew 6 verse 32 reminds us, our Father knows what we have need of. But folks, He also knows what we don't have need of. Let's look at it in that way. Yes, He knows what we need, but He also knows what we don't need. And too often times we think we are wiser than him and we think that we need such a thing and God says, no, no. Let's not get into some kind of spiritual huff and stop speaking to our God in prayer like petulant children. That's what happens to a child. You say no and they go off away in a huff and maybe don't speak to you for an hour or two. Let's not be like that as God's children. Let's pray on, knowing that he will give us what we need. And so there are times that God says, no. What do we do? Submit to his wisdom, understand that he has something else to give us in its place, and then just keep on praying. Because God hears, and God answers prayer. You're an evidence of that. Did you not seek him in salvation? you saw him in prayer and he heard that prayer and from that moment he continues to pray even for his believing people and he continues to hear and answer our prayer so let's be encouraged even when it's said when god says no let's continue to labor on even in prayer so let's come to the lord in prayer let's take these moments then that we have together To pray, seek the Lord, and let's leave it to Him how and when He will answer prayer. That's His part, that's not our part. We are to pray. And so let's do that, brethren. Let's seek the Lord. We have a goodly number tonight. We're just going to 9 o'clock as we have on other nights. So let me encourage you to pray. Seek the Lord. I'll open briefly in prayer, and then one after the other. And maybe you think I can't pray. Well, none of us can pray. And I've said it last night, Christ perfects all our prayers. Don't you think that he doesn't take the minister of prayer and perfect them? For he certainly does. And he'll perfect your prayers. You seek the Lord, if at all possible. Lift your voice to God and let's just lay hold of God. Let's seek him for his mercies and for his favor upon us once again. Let's cry to God. Loving Father, we do rejoice that thou art our Father and we bless thee that thou art the God of love. thou art the God who knows what is best to give to us and the best things that thou wilt withhold from us and we thank thee Lord that thou art all wise in this and so we come we lay ourselves before thee we pray according to thy will we pray for our own sanctification we pray for progress in our Christian lives. Lord, remove this stagnation. Remove, Lord, just apathy and indifference. Lord, we cry to thee for zeal and for passion and, Lord, for revival, personal revival. Come and revive our hearts. Revive us, Lord. We rejoice in thy church. We thank thee for every blood-bought saint. Thank thee for mums and dads who are here. lay hold of God on behalf of their children maybe not will vocally express it but Lord they're here to publicly say Lord that they need thee they need intervention they need God to work and so it is in all of our families many a situation Lord we thank thee for the God of intervention Lord, come and intervene, help us to seek Thee, and to do it earnestly, and to do it diligently. We thank Thee that Thou art the rewarder of them that diligently seek Thee. Help us to seek in such a manner tonight, and lead us now in prayer. We offer prayer in Jesus' name. Amen.