TOPIC: WHEN YOU PRAY III
MEMORISE:
Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:24
READ: Luke 18:1-8
1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
MESSAGE
Today, I will conclude the teaching I began two days ago on how to pray effectively. Many people make the mistake of giving up on their prayers when it appears as if God is not responding. Such people are only cheating themselves when they do that. To really get the desired results from prayers, you have to be persistent. Isaiah 62:7 says:
And give Him no rest, till He establish, and till He make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
You are to give God no rest until He has answered your prayers. Jesus Christ said in John 16:24 that you should ask, then you will receive so that your joy may be full.
From our Bible reading for today, Jesus Christ assures you that if you keep knocking on God's door, asking Him for something, He will give it to you. According to Him, even the wicked judge gave the widow what she wanted, how much more the good shepherd. This tells you right away that if you keep praying about that issue, no matter how long it takes, God will answer you. There are prayer points I prayed for 15 years before l got answers. I did not stop after praying for a few weeks. I kept knocking on heaven's doors, telling God, "I will not let you rest until you have answered me," and He answered me eventually.
This is an attitude that you must also imbibe. Some people get angry that God has not answered their prayers after a while and so, they stop praying. God is not your servant that you can command as you please; He is the King of kings. If you want something from a king, you must learn to humble yourself and keep asking until He is ready to give it to you. If you ask for a little while and go away without receiving anything, who would have lost? You or him?
You may say, "What if God is not willing to answer my prayer at all?" You have to keep asking Him until He answers you. This is why you must pay attention to hear what He will say when you pray to Him. Don't just keep asking, seek to hear from Him. The Holy Spirit is always available to teach you what prayer points to pray, and He is the One teaching you how to pray, you can be sure that you are praying right.
KEY POINT
Be persistent in the place of prayers.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Chronicles 1-2
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE
HYMN 15: PASS ME NOT O GENTLE SAVIOUR
1 Pass me not, O gentle Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.
o Refrain:
Savior, Savior,
Hear my humble cry,
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.
2 Let me at Thy throne of mercy
Find a sweet relief;
Kneeling there in deep contrition,
Help my unbelief.
3 Trusting only in Thy merit,
Would I seek Thy face;
Heal my wounded, broken spirit,
Save me by Thy grace.
4 Thou the spring of all my comfort,
More than life to me,
Whom have I on earth beside Thee,
Whom in Heav’n but Thee.
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