Christians should bring every request to God with thanksgiving, leave the outcome in His care, and rest in the peace of God—whether His answer is yes, no, or later.
In the example Les uses, a prayer for healing received an immediate yes, but he acknowledges it could have been a no or a 'maybe later' that leaves a person in limbo. Paul's conclusion in Philippians 4 is that prayer results in the peace of God, which guards the heart and mind. That peace is available to the believer even when circumstances don't improve.
Philippians 4:6-7 — This is the passage Les says puts the cap on the whole concept of bringing every request to God and receiving His peace.
Scripture commands believers not to be anxious about anything but to make every request known to God with prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving. In response, God promises to give "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding" to keep the heart and mind through Christ Jesus. When an answer seems delayed or unclear, Romans 8:25 says believers wait patiently for what is not yet seen, and the Holy Spirit helps our weakness in prayer. Scripture also teaches that the carnal mind is enmity against God, that believers should live peaceably and leave vengeance to God, and that God is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.
Les tells a contemporary example: a woman asked prayer for her mother who had been diagnosed with cancer. Within weeks, exploratory surgery found no cancer at all—an immediate yes answer. But Les points out that God may have chosen to leave her with the cancer, which would have been a no, or He may have said, 'just be patient; down the road we'll make her better,' which would be a later answer. He says a 'maybe later' can leave us in limbo.
Les says "you made peace with God the day that you took his offer of salvation; see, that's reconciliation." The peace of God, however, is what Paul presents in Philippians 4:7 as the result of bringing everything to God in prayer. It is the peace that keeps the heart and mind through Christ Jesus, even while the answer may still be no or later.
Les uses the cancer example to show that a no answer is possible: God could have left the mother with her cancer and she could have become terminally ill. Even then, believers have the promise that God is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort who encourages us in all our tribulation (2 Corinthians 1:4). God allows trying times to show that He is sufficient.
Les says God may say, 'just be patient; down the road we'll make her better,' which can leave the person in limbo. In such a waiting period, Romans 8:25 says, "then do we with patience wait for it," and verse 26 reminds us that the Holy Spirit helps our infirmities when we don't know what to pray for. Les also teaches that if someone has been misused, God will square the matter in His time—believers are to leave vengeance to Him.
Les describes his own experience as open and closed doors. If a door closes, don't push against it; take it as God not wanting you in that direction. If another open door appears, take that one. He adds that God impresses a believer through the Word and prayer, and that an attitude of prayer and fellowship with other believers will reveal God's will.
Les says God is not going to hear the prayers of an unbeliever just to get them out of a tight spot. He will hear an unbeliever's prayer for salvation, but because the carnal mind is enmity against God, they are not subject to the law of God. Believers are enemies of God until salvation changes that relationship.
Praying Through Yes, No, or Later
Les shows that God may answer a prayer immediately yes, may say no, or may say later, and that Paul's answer is the peace of God.
Vengeance Belongs to God
When someone has been wronged, believers should not try to get even; God will take care of the matter in His time.
Waiting Patiently and Relying on the Holy Spirit
When the answer hasn't come yet, believers wait patiently and let the Holy Spirit help their weaknesses in prayer.
Unbelievers Have No Prayer Claims
God listens to an unbeliever's prayer for salvation, but He doesn't promise to answer the prayers of His enemies when they're in a tight spot.
Cain vs. Abel: Why God Accepted One Offering and Rejected the Other
I think I mentioned a few weeks ago, you can ask ten different people why they think God should let them into heaven, and you'll get ten different answers. Some will say, well, I'm doing this, or I've joined such and such, and I'm the best that I can. They're rationalizing, and they are refusing to just simply consider what has God said. And when we do what God says, that's what? Faith.
God of All Comfort
In bad circumstances, God encourages and comforts believers so they can encourage others; trials show that God is sufficient.
Finding God's Will Through Prayer
A prayerful attitude and fellowship with believers open the way for God to show His will through circumstances.
Open and Closed Doors
God leads through open and closed doors—if a door closes, don't push against it; let the Word impress you by prayer.
Philippians 4:6-7: Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
This is the promised result of bringing every request to God: His peace, not the answer itself.
Romans 8:25: But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Teaches patient waiting when the answer to hope is not yet seen.
Romans 8:26: Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Shows that the Holy Spirit helps when we don't know how to pray.
Romans 8:7: Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Explains why the unsaved person's mind is enmity against God.
Romans 12:18: If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Commands believers to make every effort to live peaceably with all men.
Romans 12:19: Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Forbids personal revenge and gives vengeance to God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4: Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
God comforts believers in tribulation so that they can comfort others.
Yes, you can make your request known to God; the peace of God is promised to guard your heart and mind. Les points out that the answer may be yes, no, or later, but the believer can have tranquility because the matter is in God's care.
Wait with patience, as Romans 8:25 says. Les says not to push God to do it faster and not to lose sight that what is promised will happen. Let the Holy Spirit help your weaknesses while you wait.
Les says God will hear an unbeliever's prayer for salvation, but He is not going to answer their prayers just to get them out of a tight spot. The carnal mind is at enmity with God.
Les teaches that God leads with open and closed doors. If a door closes, don't push against it; take another open door. The Word and prayer can impress God's will on you.
Watch the Teaching: Why God Says Pray About Everything — Philippians 4:6-7