Do not pray for this people!

Presented on zoom to the South Africa 5AM Virtual Prayer Ministry

This sermon is available on YouTube if you click this link https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=143hDxj3dec&feature=youtu.be

Jeremiah 7:16

“So do not pray for this people nor offer any plea or petition for them; do not plead with me, for I will not listen to you.

Jeremiah 11:14

“Do not pray for this people or offer any plea or petition for them, because I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their distress.

This the clearest evidence that prayer doe not change the will of God. What He has determined to do He will do regardless of how we pray

God had resolved to punish Israelites so that after experiencing the pain of sin, the future generation will be saved. These ones had to be punished by all means and that was God’s will

First we learn that – Prayer must be according to God’s will

Prayer changes us to accept the will of God and the answer He will give

Secondly, when probation closes prayer will be useless and ineffective

By the time God says do not pray for these people- He had patiently waited for reformation in vain. God didn’t rush to these conclusion

Thirdly, and of our concern today is that prayer does not substitute what God expects us to in order to get answers to prayer- we must play our part or forget about getting answers for our prayers

Israelites were so sinful that they now sinned without guilt

Israelites were so deep in sin that any favor from God would only support them in sin

God had demanded and still demands total reformation of life

Prayer does not and cannot substitute the required reformation of life

There is what we do and what God does for a project to succeed. Prayer should not be used to make God do both parts

A student who refuses to study but wants God to grant success. A farmer who sits at home doing nothing but wants God to bless his farm. God says – do not pray for these people!

They know what to do but they have refused to do it – do not pray for these people!

Prayer cannot substitute what must be done. If they can’t do what they must. If they refuse to do what they must – do not pray for these people

Lepers were told to go show themselves to the priests- if they refuse to go, do not pray for these people!

Others were told to rise up and walk, others to take up their mat and go – if they can’t do it , do not pray for these people!

There are times when God does everything, but there are times He demands action on our side, if we refuse to act, God says to those who are praying for us – do not pray for these people!

People who are praying for wealth and income but have refused to stop exploiting others and stealing from governments and organizations. They don’t pay their workers on time even though they have money- do not pray for these people!

People who want God to provide a perfect life partner but they are engaged in constant adultery and fornication and are not even trying to stop? – do not pray for these people!

People who want happiness in marriage but can’t forgive, reconcile or change their offensive ways? – do not pray for these people!

People who are praying for good health but have never stopped contacting witches and the likes – do not pray for these people!

People who do not attend church or study the Bible and don’t even pray but expect God’s blessings- don’t pray for these people!

People who know the Sabbath and break it deliberately continuously? – do not pray for these people!

People who cheat in exams and continue to do so because they passed exams and they expect to succeed in life? – do not pray for these people!

A time comes, a point comes when more than prayer must be done because that is what God expects

Prayer does not substitute what we must and should do

1 Corinthians 5:5

hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh,, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.

1 Timothy 1:20

Among them are Hyimenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.

If physical suffering will shake us back to our senses then let it be so

Let the man who committed incest face the law and suffer physically (destruction of flesh) and probably he will come to his spiritual senses

Let Hymenaeus and Alexander suffer in satan’s hand and they will wake up spiritually and never blaspheme God

Do not pray to stop a painful process that may save a person’s life

Some will get better spiritually if they lose jobs, health, family or even freedom by getting locked up in prison- do not pray to prevent these painful process

The prodigal son came to his senses after suffering in hunger in a pig sty. That pain was critical for His reformation

Israelites had to go through that pain to be saved – therefore God tells Jeremiah not to pray against such a painful but helpful plan

Do not pray for these people!

Dear God teach us to know Your will do that we pray according to it

Help us to make the right decisions early before it is too late to even pray

Help us to know and do what You expect from us in order for prayers to be answered

Help us to accept and bear with pain that may trigger us to properly return to you

Amen!

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