Scripture Reading: Psalm 34:15-19
Why Pray?
Intro.
1. A Christian was heard to say, "I prayed for my wife to live and not die of cancer, but she died anyway. So, what's the use in praying?"
2. That is most likely his grief talking, but it reminds us we must not lose sight of why we pray.
a. Prayer is not an escape-hatch for the unfaithful. It is not a "wish list" that God must fill.
b. Prayer is our expression of our persistent trust and dependency upon our Father, Lk. 11:5-8; 18:1.
I. WHY PRAY?
A. Because Jesus Taught Us to Pray, Lk. 11:1-4.
B. Because We are Commanded to Pray without Ceasing, 1 Thess. 5:17; Rom. 12:12.
C. Because Prayer Expresses Our Faith in God, Psa. 34:15-19; Matt. 7:7-8; 21:20-22; 1 Tim. 5:5.
D. Because God Hears Our Prayers, 1 Pet. 3:12; 1 Jno. 5:14.
E. Because God Answers Our Prayers, 1 Jno. 3:22; 5:14-15.
F. Because Prayer Keeps Our Focus on God and On Others, Phil. 4:6-7; 1 Thess. 5:25; 1 Tim. 2:1; Jas. 5:16.
II. GOD'S ANSWERS TO OUR PRAYERS.
A. God Answers are Good, Matt. 7:9-11.
B. God's Answers are According to His Will, Matt. 26:39, 42; 1 Jno. 5:14-15.
1. His answers do not/will not violate His word.
2. We express agreement with His will when we pray, "thy will be done," "in the name of…," and "Amen."
3. What about the death of loved one? God's will is that we both live and die. How and when life and death occur are left to God's providence and the realities of life on earth, Eccl. 3:1-8.
a. Death's sorrow may be exactly what I need to secure my faith in Him (Jesus learning obedience through suffering, Heb. 5:7-8).
b. Pain that is not healed may be just what I need to rely more fully on Him, 2 Cor. 12:8-10.
4. Joyful blessing is a time of humble thanksgiving, not boastful self-congratulations, 1 Thess. 5:17-18.
C. Faith Leads Us to Accept His Answers, Even When they Differ from Our Pleadings, 2 Cor. 12:8.
Conclusion
1. Prayer is not bringing our demands to God and expecting that He must conform to our will and do what we say.
2. Prayer is a child's dependent appeal to the Father, a hopeful request and a thankful acknowledgement of blessings.
3. Prayer is faith in action, trusting that God hears us and answers us with love and mercy – always in a way that is best for us while accomplishing His purposes.
No Time To Pray
By K. J. Koshy
I knelt
to pray but not for long,
I had too much to do.
I had to hurry and get to work
For bills would soon be due.
So I
knelt and said a hurried prayer,
And jumped up off my knees.
My Christian duty was now done
My soul could rest at ease.
All day
long I had no time
To spread a word of cheer.
No time to speak of Christ to friends,
They’d laugh at me I’d fear.
No
time, no time, too much to do,
That was my constant cry,
No time to give to souls in need
But at last the time, the time to die.
I went
before the Lord,
I came, I stood with downcast eyes.
For in his hands God held a book;
It was the book of life.
God
looked into his book and said
“Your name I cannot find.
I once was going to write it down...
But never found the time.”
By: Joe R. Price
Posted March 14, 2019