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Source: https://www.sermonindex.net/speakers/roy-weber/exhortation-to-pray/
No, it's nice to be in V-Town once again. I haven't been here for quite some time. Trust that what's on my mind today will be a benefit to every one of us. This kind of reminded me of the night that I got married.
It was so hot that I could feel the sweat running down the back of my suit, on the front of my suit. I'll never forget that night, and I hope I don't anyway. So, I'd like to read today in Luke 18 and verse 1, and he spake this parable, spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray and not to faint.
So, we can see here that we're to be praying always, and I have a feeling in my own soul that I'm not praying like I should, and this is the reason I'm taking it up today, maybe for my own encouragement, and for someone's encouragement today that has lost their desire to pray.
How easy it is to lose that desire and that love for the Lord Jesus because of what we have already heard of all what he did for us there at the Cross of Calvary. Shouldn't we want to pray? You know, Brother Robert Orr and Jerry Jennings are going to start gospel meetings in Minnesota, and they're we should be praying for it, shouldn't we?
And that's something we should have on our minds. So, then it goes on to say, saying there was in a city a judge which feared not God, neither regarded man, and there was a widow in that city, and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of my adversary, and he would not for a taunt while.
But afterward he said within himself, though I fear not God, nor regard men, yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continually coming to me, she weary me. Now here was a dear soul.
She had an adversary. It don't tell us what her adversary was, but it could be that she didn't have her taxes paid, or she couldn't pay for him, or her payment was out for the house or that. We do not know for sure, but she continually came before him until he avenged her of her adversary.
He finally gave in. This judge who did not fear God, he had no respect for this widow woman, but dear ones tonight, this is what God, this is what God can do. He can bring these things about, and he can avenge us of our adversary.
So when we think of that today, this should touch our hearts that we can plainly see from the Word of God that there is a need for prayer. Pray always, and I don't pray always, and that doesn't mean that you have to pray night and day.
But somebody that prays night and day, it's a good thing. And now to Acts chapter 2, Acts chapter 2, and we'll read from verse 41. And they continued that God they received his Word, were baptized, and the same day there were added unto them about 3 ,000 souls, and they continued steadfastly in the Apostle doctrine, and in fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
And fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done by the Apostles, and all that believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions of good and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
And they continued, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people.
And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. Now we'll notice that last verse there, and the Lord added daily of those that were reached and saved. Now it isn't we that add to it, it's the Lord that adds to the church, and daily.
And they added daily, they called upon the Lord daily, and when you think of that, they searched the Scriptures daily, and all those things. And I sometimes wondered, dear brothers and sisters, if we really are searching the Scriptures daily, and whether we're seeing some of these things done daily.
And when we consider that today, then they that gladly received his word, they were added to that fellowship. They continued in the Apostle doctrine. How nice it is to see that these that were reached and saved, while Peter was preaching there on the day of Pentecost, about 3 ,000 souls were reached and saved, and then they were all baptized.
They saw the truth of being baptized by what Peter told them, and then they were added to the church. So, when you think of that today, they didn't only go under the waters of baptism just because Peter told them.
Mind your ones today. When you think of that, they went under the waters of baptism because God commanded it. That was a commandment that everyone should be baptized, and then added to the fellowship, and then to continue in the Apostles doctrine.
And I'm glad, dear ones, for that day, that I was reached and saved, and I couldn't wait the day till I was baptized, and then I couldn't wait the day that I was received into the fellowship. And dear ones today, I have just as much desire today for the house of God, and the people of God.
And that's a great thing, dear ones, for every one of us. And they continued steadfastly in the Apostles doctrine, and in fellowship, and in breaking of bread and prayers. My, they continued in all those things.
That's something that is very truthful. The evidence of a changed person, a changed individual, when they were added to that fellowship, they were willing to submit to the Word of God, and they were willing to be added to that fellowship.
As God commanded. And when we think of that today, that should touch every one of our hearts. And then, you know, it says, and they continued steadfastly in prayer daily. They prayed daily. If you would go to Acts chapter 6, you would see there that they continued because of the care for that church at that time.
There was a little problem there, and they continued to pray for that problem that was there, until they got an answer to that prayer. And when we think of that today, that should touch every one of our hearts.
Now, the great question is today, since you've been added to that fellowship, do you really have a desire to pray? That's something we should all have. We should have that desire to pray when we have been added to that fellowship.
And we should also have a desire to read God's Word. And we should have a desire to have a gospel spirit, and we should desire to have a ministry spirit, that we should want to open up the Word of Truth to those that are newly born again as believers.
So, you can ask yourself, do I pray enough? I don't pray enough. I'll have to admit it today. I don't pray enough. I wished I could pray more, and I could. But why? You know, Oliver Smith, who was in this area somewhat too, and he had a saying like this, you buy more land to raise more corn, to feed more hogs, to make more money, to buy more land, to raise more corn, to feed more hogs, to make more money, make more money to buy more land.
And I think that is a little bit of the problem with every one of us today. I don't care what business you're in or what job you have. I think we are too much dedicated to the things and the times of this world than we are dedicated to our blessed Savior, the one who redeemed us by His precious blood.
Now, I don't care who it is, whether you're a lumberjack, or whether you're a dentist, or whether you're a veterinarian, or who it is, or a farmer. Don't make one bit of difference. We would all have to say we should examine ourselves today and see if I am really taking the time out to pray and laying hold of God on some of these things.
Now, if we would go to Acts chapter 16, we can see there that the Apostle Paul, when the door was closed down into Asia Minor, and he was called to come down into Macedonia because there was a man there that needed to be saved, but it turned out to be a woman.
And there they went down to the riverside and read verse 14,. And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira, which worshiped God, heard us, whose heart the Lord had opened, and that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
Now, she was captivated by Paul's ministry, by Paul's gospel there that he preached at the riverside. Mind when you think of that. But they went down to the riverside to pray, to lay hold of God, that God was going to work in that city, and God began to work in that city of Philippi.
And you can go and read Philippians chapter 1, and here we see the results and the evidence of the working of the Spirit of God in this here little place, Philippi. And how that God caused that great earthquake to come, and all those different things, and all those that were reached and saved at that time, was enough to begin a gathering of the Lord's people in that touching today.
We would like to see some of them things happen today, and don't think that it couldn't happen yet. Don't get discouraged, no matter where you go. The Lord didn't tell us to go out and save the people, He just told us to go out and preach the gospel, and tell them the way of salvation, and the Lord will add the blessing to it, and the Holy Spirit.
And when, and they, it says there, and verse 25, and at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God, and the prisoners heard them. That was quite a thing. And the prisoners heard them. All the prisoners that were in there, they heard them.
And then it goes on to say, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, and the whole prison was shaken. And you know, that's really, I think, what we need to see in the day and age that we're living in.
We need to see the prison shaken. We need to see the foundation of people shaken. Sometimes we fear to tell a sinner really what he is. I was mentioning just lately about John Ox McEwan, when he was sitting in a gospel meeting, and as he was in that gospel meeting, it come to him, as he was sitting under the sound of the gospel for several nights, and it come to him that he had to get better before he could be saved.
And the preacher that was preaching, I don't know who it was, but he went to that verse in Ephesians chapter 2 and verse 8, For by grace are you saved through faith, that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.
And John Ox McEwan was sitting right over here, and he pointed right at him, not knowing that he was stirred up. And he thought he had to get better. He said, it's not of works, young man. You need to be awakened to see your need for salvation.
And John Ox McEwan thought, well, if I don't have to get any better, I'll just believe it on the Son, and I'll be saved for time and for eternity. So simple. Believing God's precious word, and they were awakened.
Here we see the whole prison shaken, and the prisoner, with the jailer, he came out, and he came trembling, and he said, sirs, what must I do to be saved? That must have been quite a thing for Paul and Silas, to say right there in unison, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.
Here was a man who was fully convicted that he needed the Savior, and he trembled at the thought of it. And when he said, sirs, what must I do to be saved? They said in unison, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.
So here we see the results of prayer. It didn't only see souls saved, but it's seen a church established, and souls were gathered to that little church. And it's just lovely to read that letter of Philippians, when you start reading it, how that Paul said they were the servants of the Most High God.
My, to think of it, as Paul, and they were in Christ Jesus. What a thing to tell people. Do we tell people that now you're saved, now you're in Christ, you're servants of the Most Holy God? Now back to chapter 12.
This will be my last touch here. Chapter 12, and read from verse 4. And when he had apprehended him, that is Peter, he put Peter in prison, and delivered Peter to the four quartinians of soldiers, to keep him in tending after Easter, to bring him forth to the people.
Therefore, and Peter therefore was kept in prison, but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. Notice that? Prayer was made without ceasing for Peter. They prayed for him. I've often wondered about, why didn't they pray for James?
Well, I don't really realize, I don't think that, that they really realized at that time that James was, his life was going to be taken. And that's why I don't think they really prayed for him. They didn't see the danger that he was in, that his life was going to be taken.
But then we come to Peter, and we see that they could figure out that Peter's life was going to be taken. So they prayed without ceasing the whole church, the church of God. Isn't that very touching? I wish we could get the whole church to pray like this, for a certain individual, for somebody that they would be delivered from the bondage of their sin.
And be saved for time and for eternity. And Herod would have brought him forth the same night Peter was sleeping in between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
And behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and the light shined in the prison, and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise, up quickly. And his chains fell off, and his hand, off his hands.
And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind all thy sandals. And so he did. And he said unto them, Him, cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. And he began to follow that one. And he followed him.
And they went to the gates, and the gate was opened, and Peter was out in the streets. And the angel left him, and there he began to walk. And he went to the house where they were praying. I don't know how he found out that they were praying for him that night.
But he went to the house where they were praying, and he tried to get in. He knocked at the door. Rhoda came to the door, and she said, Peter is here. No, you just heard, he was an angel. No, she says, Peter is here.
I heard him. You know, dear ones, when we think of that today, here's all these, the whole church praying for Peter, and yet they couldn't believe that he was delivered. They couldn't believe that. As they, they heard that he was there, and they found out he was there.
But they just kept right on praying for Peter, Peter, Peter, Peter. I wonder, dear ones, if we would really pray for some of our loved ones like that, whether we wouldn't see him delivered from the bondage of their sin.
You know, we as preachers, and those that are out and laboring in the gospel, you know, we have loved ones at home that we would long to see saved, too. And I have grandchildren that are not saved yet.
I have grandchildren that are saved. But I would love to see them saved. One of our grandsons the other night, the other day, had pressure on his heart, was taken into the hospital, had high blood pressure, way up, soaring, and, but he's doing fairly good now, but not saved.
I wonder sometime if we would just begin to pray for some individual like that, the whole church, whether we would see someone delivered from the bondage of their sin, and be saved for time and for eternity.
So maybe these few little words, here was dear Peter, and even though he was released, they just kept right on praying for him. Listen, even though somebody gets saved, let's continue to pray for them, that they will be preserved, and that they will carry out the truths of God's precious Word, and eventually added to the fellowship, and continue in the Apostles' doctrine.