It has been a few months since my last post regarding prayer. On my blog I placed a total of four lessons on this subject, yet Throughout November – January I got caught up on various activities and plans in which I did not continue my postings on prayer. Seeing that the main title for each study was “Lord, Teach Us to Pray”, each study was mainly focused on Christ's teachings and life testimony concerning prayer. Since there is still 3 more lessons which I did not post, I would like to do so now.
Have your petitions ever seemed like they were chained up? As if just as soon as your prayer got off the ground, it came reeling back down. Such petitions have been termed “roof requests” meaning that is only as far as they go. Sadly, for me, many of the times that I have felt as such is because of my own “feeble and flippant” attempts to pray. Still, there are times when some of the most heartfelt cries seem to be barricaded by the struggles of every day life. What I long for, as I believe every true Christian does as well, is a life of...
ABOUNDING PRAYER
(Preached) November 4th, 2012
"No heart can conceive that treasury of mercies which lies in this one privilege, in having liberty and ability to approach unto God at all times, according to his mind and will."
– John Owen
1. ASK AS A SON/DAUGHTER
Luke 11:9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
So many times when we pray, we can tend to view God as One who is sitting on His throne with His hands in His ears and a sign next to Him saying, “Better luck next time.” We must open the eyes of our hearts to the glorious fact that He is our Good, Loving, and Powerful Father and we are His children. He loves us and longs to hear our feeble pleas. We are called to come “boldly” to the throne of grace.
2. ASK IN FAITH
Mark 11:19 And when even was come, he went out of the city. 20 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. 22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
James wrote that one must “ask in faith, nothing wavering...a double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” Such wavering and double mindedness bears the picture of one coming to God with a critical and prejudged attitude. So many times I have gotten on my knees and before my words ever leave my mouth, in my heart, I think “God probably won't answer this prayer.” It's like someone coming to you and saying, “Hey, I am going to ask you a favor, BUT I already know you're going to say no.” They scorn your character and kindness before receiving any kind of answer. Go to God, and before you ask anything, praise Him for His goodness and the fact that He listens and will answer according to His will.
3. ASK IN HUMILITY
Luke 18:9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
*A HEART OF PRIDE CAN STIFLE TRUE FAITH
Probably the greatest hindrance to ABOUNDING PRAYER is ARROGANCE & PRIDE. Pride creates selfish clamor within, so that one's heart cannot sense the tender voice of the Spirit. Pride blurs the mind's focus for God's glory, but Brokenness bestows an openness to all that God is. It is true that we are to “come boldly to the throne of grace”, but that does not mean with a sense of arrogance, as if you can control God, which is what certain foolish preachers have subtly taught. Our boldness lies in Christ's righteousness. We can be “bold” because He is interceding for us and His Spirit lives within our hearts, bearing witness to the fact that we are redeemed, we are saints, and we are God's children. It is hard to explain but one who goes to God in spiritual boldness and sincere brokenness manifests power and blessings beyond measure.
Luke 9:37 And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him. 38 And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child. 39 And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him. 40 And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not. 41 And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither. 42 And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father. 43 And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples, 44 Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men. 45 But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying. 46 Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest. 47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him, 48 And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great. 49 And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. 50 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.
4. ASK WITH FASTING
Matthew 17:14 And they having come toward the crowd, a man came near to Him, kneeling down to Him, and saying, 15 Lord, pity my son. For he is moonstruck and suffers miserably. For he often falls into the fire, and often into the water. 16 And I brought him to Your disciples, and they were not able to heal him. 17 And answering, Jesus said, O faithless and perverted generation! Until when shall I be with you? Until when shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me. 18 And Jesus rebuked it, and the demon came out from him; and the boy was healed from that hour. 19 Then coming up to Jesus privately, the disciples said, Why were we not able to cast him out? 20 And Jesus said to them, Because of your unbelief. For truly I say to you, If you have faith as a grain of mustard, you will say to this mountain, Move from here to there! And it will move. And nothing shall be impossible to you. 21 But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.
*In the same fashion as Pride can hinder faith, so Fasting, done in the right motive can increase Humility and steadfast Faith
There have been many preachers that have taught that there is no specific way of fasting, that neglecting food is just a form of it. I do not believe this is the case. True, we are called to have temperance in many facets of life, but in order for us to truly fast, according to the scriptures, there must be time of food “abstinence”. We discipline our hunger to dedicate our hearts. Obviously this must be done within reason. For someone who has been diagnosed with diabetes, they may not be able to fully forsake eating. There have been some who, while fasting for a lengthy period of time, drink broth and even protein shakes. This may need to be the case for certain people. Here are very some important reasons why we need to fast.
*Fasting for Spiritual Growth
*You are denying the cravings of the flesh that you might experience the fulness of the Spirit
*Fasting for Specific Guidance
*You are forsaking the physical appetites that you can gain an eternal awareness
*Fasting for the Spread of the Gospel
*You are neglecting food that you might share the faith
Motives in Fasting - Matthew 6:16-18
*The Christian who can close his mouth, denying his physical appetites for God's hand of blessing will have no problem opening his mouth, declaring the gospel to others for God's glory.
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