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1 Samuel 12:19-25
So please turn with me to 1st Samuel chapter 12. We looked at Samuel's address At Saul's coronation and actually this is Samuel's farewell address that he gives. I'm not going to read the whole chapter.
But I would like to pick up at verse 19 to the end of the chapter verse 25 reading from the New King James translation. Hear the word of the Lord and all the people said to Samuel. Pray for your servants to the Lord your God that we may not die.
But we have added to all of our sins the evil of asking the king for ourselves. Then Samuel said to the people Do not fear you have done all this wickedness yet. Do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart and Do not turn aside.
For then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver. For they are nothing. For the Lord will not forsake his people For his great name's sake. Because it has pleased the Lord to make you his people moreover.
Moreover as for me very personal here Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord and ceasing to pray for you. But I will teach you the good in the right way. Only fear the Lord. Serve him in truth with all your heart.
For consider what great things he has done for you. But if you do if you still do wickedly You shall be swept away. Both you and your king may God Bless the reading of his word to our hearts this morning.
Let's pray. Father we look to you. We look unto Jesus the author and finish of our faith. May he alone be glorified you have glorified your son and he has glorified you father. So when we when we glorify and honor Jesus we honor and glorify you father.
Take these words this morning and drive them to our hearts. Lord Made this just not be another sermon from our heads to heads. But from heart to heart. From your heart to our hearts. Oh.
God.
Change our hearts change our lives. And father I pray. As I serve it let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Oh Lord my strength and my Redeemer. And we would ask this for the honor and glory in Jesus name.
Amen, we are most definitely in the last days brothers and sisters as you well know. And this is no time for us to be slack. Jesus is soon to come. Time is running out. These are perilous times. These are definitely in the last days.
The last days began when Jesus was born and this came in his first advent. And all the and all is looking forward to his consummation when he comes back as and all his power and glory. For such a time as this.
For such a time as this. God has raised you and me up and redeeming grace. Church up. Charles Dickens says it in his classic book a tale of two cities.
A.
Very famous quote. It was the best of times and it was the worst of times. It was the age of wisdom. It was the age of foolishness. It was the epoch of belief. It was the epoch of Incredulity, it was the season of darkness.
It was the season of hope. It was the winter of despair. And how true this is for us today. The best of times the worst of times and these are times that try our souls. So what is the church to do? What is the church to do and I want to in a very personal way?
Share a burden to you that I shared to pastors.
September 24th.
Not in 2024 at the fire conference, but I've revamped this for us here. So the outline is pretty much I've drawn up. I'm using that Labored long for this because this is the burden of my heart and I really believe as every child of God This should be your burden my burden.
But what.
Can we do. What are we to do? We are to pray. We are to pray. What are we without prayer? Nothing the righteous pray. You see this as a grave importance from Genesis to Revelation that every person that God ever used was a Women and men of prayer.
What are we to do as a church? Martin Lord Jones said this to begin herself To live in the Christian life. If she did that Men and women would be crowding into the buildings and they would say what is the secret of this?
He goes on to say the Christians and one of the greatest needs is the Spirit of God to cultivate biblical godliness in us in order to put the beauty of Christ on display through us and How is this to happen.
In-quote.
It comes by yes the preached Word of God the Word of the Living God and power and truth. But it also comes through prayer through prayer important way. That the beauty of Christ is to be displayed. It is through the power and I'm not going to say the power of prayer because even though there is power in prayer, but the power excuse me.
The power is of God the power of God through prayer and if we're not praying there would be no power. Any reason why the church is powerless? Because the church is prayerless. May this not be said of us.
There's ever a spiritual discipline that is lacking among the church and Believers today and even pastors it would surely be our personal devotional life time with God. How much personal time do you spend with God.
For a footnote here. Let me Say that this message Like I said will be an exhortation, but it will be admonitions For all of us and if I'm pointing one finger to you, I'm pointing four fingers to me. I Was an example for all of us, but the greatest example is our Lord Jesus Christ and I like to put it this way if Jesus as the Son of Man the Son of God saw it important to pray.
Study the prayer life of Jesus and you see he made it a priority every morning to pray. And he prayed constantly he was he was busy. His work ethics puts us all to shame. He was up before the Bible says way before daylight pray into his father and ministering and giving his self away.
Constantly as the servant of servants. But he prayed the first thing in the morning. He prayed. How much more important to us if Jesus saw it important how much more important for us? It's that important patriarchs prayed.
The Bible speaks about Enoch not much but it says he walked with God and he was not. Noah was a man of prayer a preacher of righteousness. Abraham was a man of prayer Father of our faith. God fearing Job prayed for all of his sons and daughters.
Every morning sacrificed and he even suffered much but yet he was a priest of his for his family and he prayed what our fathers are. You are a Priest, are you a priest? Yes, but are you living that example before your children?
Job prayed for his children and offering up sacrifices before the Lord every single morning read Job chapter 1. Samuel Prophet priest Was a man of prayer a man of integrity and we looked at that last Lord's Day and I'm not going to belabor going back over that but As you well know the story Israel demanded a king and Israel committed a great sin a great wickedness before God.
They chose their king whom they desired it was stiff-necked and rebellious. They outright refused God as their king. Psalm 106 15 says and Speaks about the Lord. He gave them their request. Be careful what you ask for it may not always be a good thing.
God could give it to you and that could be a judgment the Bible says but sent leanness into their soul leanness. Again verse 14 to 25 is a rebuke and a charge to the people of Israel. What's important in this chapter?
I really believe the most important part of this chapter and all of its important, of course. But is the application in the end in the conclusion of this chapter. Could it be verse 23? Could it be verse 23 that when Samuel says moreover as for me?
Far be it for me that I should sin against the Lord and ceasing to pray for you. But I will teach you the good and the right way. The good in the right way. God forbid that he would cease to pray for Israel even with all their failures and So forth specific Sin against the Lord that Samuel mentions is ceasing to pray for God's people.
Any wonder why Paul the Apostle says in 1st Thessalonians 5 17? Therefore we are to pray without ceasing. Spurgeon noted on that verse. He commented and says we are to pray without ceasing because we sin without ceasing.
Amen.
Here's a few quotes. John the Puritan John Owen said this. He that is more frequent in his pulpit is to his people then Then he is. Then he is in his closet for his people is but a sorry watchman.
Ouch.
That's powerful in other words. Any reason why God used these kind of men? They spent more time in prayer Before God than they did before men. That was a priority and that should be our priority. It's convicting convicts my soul.
Important statement shows that prayerlessness is sin and not carelessness. Greg Nichols Presbyterian points this out in a very specific simple way. This is what he said about prayerlessness. A prayerless Person is ungrateful Because he does not thank God.
He's self-righteous because he does not confess his sins to God. He's self-centered because he does not ask God to bless other people. He's presumptuous because he does not pray even for his daily needs.
He's irreverent because he does not praise God nor pray for his kingdom to come. And he's unfriendly to God and God's people because his prayerlessness. Evidence is that he does not enjoy being with God.
In-quote folks have strong words, but that's the truth. Matter of fact. Jonathan Edwards puts it even stronger. The great revivalist in his day. He said if you're prayerless if you live in a prayerlessness life.
You are without God. The first step in cultivating a prayer life is Step from death to life beloved. We must repent of our sins and trust in Jesus Christ alone. That is the first and foremost thing a matter of fact prayer is so vital it is as when Paul the Apostle when Saul was converted to Paul and when he when he was his name was Changed but he was so changed.
One of the first things he said and behold he prays as.
Newborn baby into this world. Breathing its first cry crying its first breath. So is a child of God? Praying as he's breathing to God. That's how it is. The question is how can we? Be more effective in our prayer life.
How can we be more effective? But this morning I'd like to give you Some points that would help all of us in this Area because I don't know about you. I struggle myself and at times We all do important things beloved.
But we must make this a priority because God is a priority and I'm going to promise you this it will be a fight. I was converted to Jesus Christ at 17 years old in the mid 80s. And I found this a fight the more I go to follow Jesus more a fight every day.
We must fight the good fight of faith. James 122 says be doers of the word doers and not hearers. Only deceiving ourselves. God help us if we deceive ourselves and say I. Go our way and we we as brother being mentioned the same make it a profane thing.
Just say things and Be careful what you say when someone has to pray with us for prayer. Make sure you pray for them. Ben's dad has a Notebook in his pocket everywhere. He goes anybody ask prayer and brother Keith's have picked up on that and that's a good thing.
Do one of two things pull out a notebook and Write jot down the person's name and make sure you pray for them because if they ask for prayer They're asking you to touch God for them. That's important or make it a point and just pray right there I've seen this from godly men.
Beloved.
Here's the first point the first point and The and having a life of prayer a prayer life Is one of a most priority. It's one of priority. So I got peas today for peas the first one priority. Party, can I tell you this that?
It is our most priority as children of the Living God to pray. This is critical and cannot can I add a word to that. It's a critical. Discipline. It is a discipline. It's a discipline of grace and it is a battle as I've said as with any other attainment in the Christian life prayerful praying effective praying is not Automatic.
It is manual labor. It is manual labor and we need the spirit of the Living God to help us. And by the way, there's no way that we would delight and in Prayer unless we have the Spirit of God abiding in us because it would be nothing but ritualism.
Because I say that because many of the cults pray, but they do it out of duty and not delight. But when we're born of the Spirit of God, we do it out of delight and duty. Delights first. Because we delight in God.
But it is a discipline and let me share with you some scriptures. Paul said this to Timothy exercise thyself rather unto godliness. How do you exercise? You just do it you discipline yourself and you know this as well as I do out of a busy schedule if you Lift weights you go to the gym.
You make time to it you make time to do it, right. You see it a priority. Paul said to Timothy Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold of eternal life according to God's Word. Thus praying is a discipline and Prayer is our most important work.
Here is a child of God. Here's a few more quotes. I like to ignite and fire up your heart this morning. John Owen says what you are in secret is what you truly are. Puritan Watson said that prayer is the most most likely.
To pierce heaven which first pierces one's own heart. I love John Bunyan. He puts it simple in prayer. It is better to have heart without words than to have words without heart. Samuel Chadwick says prayer is the acid test of devotion.
Oswald Chambers said prayer does not Fit us for the greater work. Prayer is the greater work in Ravenhill and by the way, I had the privilege of here in Ravenhill when I was 19 years old when I was in Bible College.
And you think hearing a sermon for one hours long. Think again. He took us through a Friday night service beloved two hours on prayer. Now I promise you I'm not going to take you through two hours this morning.
But I'm telling you Every single one of us Was on the edge of our seat and it was less people there out. Well, it's about the same amount in that little church assemblies of God Church on that Friday evening.
And it literally revolutionized my life. When I heard him preach on hide thyself and go show thyself. Ravenhill said this from while revival Terry's No, man is greater than his prayer life. The pastor who is not praying is playing the people who are not praying or straying.
We have many organizers, but few agonizers many players and payers few prayers many singers few clingers lots of pastors few wrestlers many fears few tears much fashion. Little passion many interferes few intercessors.
Many writers but few fighters. Failing here we fail everywhere.
You see Prayer is of utmost priority folks. Because God is our priority the pastor's task list and I say pastor Is not small. It's very large. Pastors are very busy believers. Here today you're busy, but we must make time to pray.
Comes down to priorities. What did Jesus say? Matthew 6 33. But seek ye first the kingdom of God. Is that a first priority to you? Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these other things that be added unto you.
Jesus said you make his righteousness and his kingdom a priority. Act 6 4. His brother Bob self preached on the Apostles. Wanted to devote themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word. Context to this text.
The early church was growing but and God was adding to his church and God. And the Apostles were feeling the heavy burden the weight of all of it. So they appointed seven deacons to serve and Help carry for the Apostles to carry the load.
And I thank God. Little redeeming grace church has two deacons that helps this pastor because I couldn't do it without. What a gift. Qualified godly deacons for laboring prayer and Bible study. Are two non-negotiables folks I'm telling you this has got to be top of the list and the reason why that's top of the list is because God is top of the list.
Psalm 27 7 8. David said this here. Oh Lord. When I cry with my voice have mercy also upon me when you said seek my face my heart. My heart said to you your face Lord. I will seek. We sung it this morning take time to be holy speak off with our Lord abide him.
Oh abiding him always feed on his word make friends with God's people. Help those who are weak. Forgetting and nothing his blessing to seek. What are your priorities? What are your priorities? So prayer must be a first priority in the life of the believer.
Especially Shepherds that flock that shepherd the flock of God. The Lord centers his attention on his word in prayer. These two priorities are the means of grace and true blessing without them. We cannot go on.
I'm telling you it must be through prayer. And if we're doing it, it's all it will be ritualism.
We.
Must know God.
What about priorities?
Turn with me to Luke. Luke chapter 10. You're familiar with the story of Mary and Martha. Here's a story of priorities. Now it happened. Verse 38. As they Went and he entered a village a certain village and a certain woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.
There's Martha right there. She welcomes him. She said she's hospitable. She's a servant. She's a friend of the Lord. Verse 39. And she had a sister called Mary. Notice about Mary. The commentary is enough for me.
I don't know about you. But it's a sweet sentence that says. And who also said at Jesus feet and Heard his word. But Martha Was distracted. Is that you and me? Absolutely. Now we got more distractions by this.
By this thing be careful.
Where your eyes go be careful on how much time you spend with this thing folks. It's a distraction and the enemy uses it. She was distracted. They didn't have cell phones and iPhones in those days, but she was distracted with what it was a good thing with much serving and she approached him and said Tell my approaching Jesus Lord.
Do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? She felt like she was being neglected and left alone to do all the work. Therefore tell her to help me. Listen to her. She's telling the Lord to Get up from worshipping him.
Huh.
You see the priority here and what did Jesus say. Jesus? Says Martha. Martha. You are worried and troubled about many things. This is a this is a loving rebuke folks, but this is a loving rebuke to my heart verse 42 but one thing is needed and Mary has chosen that good part.
She chose this Because Jesus meant everything to her Exclusively and she and he said which will not be taken away From her speaks about priorities. Martha was hospitable. She was a servant. Wasn't a bad thing.
But yet we see her in Tomar. She's distracted and the original language here is meaning she was dragging all this weight around. She was worried. She was I think the old King James puts it like.
Cumbered.
She had heavy weight on her. She was probably fussing about the details. That really didn't matter and Those things that were not necessary. On the other hand Mary or a sister was a worshipper. She said at the feet of Jesus and heard his word We know that this pleased the Lord and now Jesus did not rebuke her.
Rebuke Martha about being a servant. Actually his gracious rebuke to Martha Was for her fretfulness not servanthood. She was anxious and fretful.
She.
Was worried about things that didn't matter. How many times have we done this? Let's let's be honest. We've done it at me. We've worried about things that didn't matter. Charles Erdman commentator here says this while the master does Does appreciate all that we undertake for him.
He knows that our first need is to sit at his feet.
He desires you and me to sit at his feet.
What a privilege.
To gaze upon the Lord of Glory. And he goes on to say then our task Shall be calm and peaceful and kindly. And at last our service may attain to perfectionist to perfection to perfections of that of Mary when at at a later scene she poured upon the feet of Jesus the ointment and.
The perfume of which still fills the world. In quote, I love that Prayers to be a priority. Secondly, not only is prayer to be a priority. It is to be of public and private prayer. Public and private prayer.
Go right into the next chapter look at chapter 11. Now it came to pass as he was praying who was praying. Jesus was praying in a certain place. Now we look at the we have a Glance of the prayer life of Jesus.
He's praying in a certain place and when he ceased That one of his disciples that's not told of who which one. But one of his disciples said to him Lord Teach us to pray. As John also taught his disciples.
And he said to them when you pray say her father in heaven. Hallowed be your name your kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us day by day our daily bread forgive us our sins and And we all and for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us and do not lead us into temptation.
But delivers from the evil one goes on to talk about. And he said to them which of you shall have a friend and go to him at midnight and say to him friend lend me three loaves for a friend of mine has come to me on this journey and I have nothing to set before him and He will answer from within and say do not trouble me.
The door is now shut and my children are with me in bed. I cannot rise and give to you. I Say to you though, he will not rise and give to him because he is He is his friend yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.
Jesus takes up the application then after he gives The story of the friend that comes at midnight. So I say to you ask and it will be given to you seek and you will find knock and it will be open to you.
For everyone who asked receives and he who seeks finds and to him who knocks it will be open. If a son asked a bread for bread from any father Among you will he give him a stone? Well, that would be ridiculous with even a Earthly father when a child comes and asks for a little piece of morsel of bread.
Is it gonna give him a stone a rock?
No.
If he asked for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? No, if he asked of an egg, will he offer him a scorpion. You see the picture that Jesus is given here. And. Notice what he says. If you then be an evil know how to give good gifts to your children.
How much more? How much more. Will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask? See how good God is and that's what Jesus is pointing to is the goodness of God and prayer. Persistent prayer.
Luke tells us about the prayer life of our Lord Jesus Christ more than anyone else. Presenting Christ as the Son of Man. As a physician he gives the details. Ever depended upon God his Heavenly Father.
Jesus the Son of Man. And if Jesus was depended upon God the Father how much more should we. They heard him pray. It's powerful. One of the disciples heard him pray. And what was the request. Teach us to pray.
Teach us to pray. Teach us to pray. Not the same. Not to teach not to preach. Curtis Thompson says this about prayer. Prayer is an acknowledgment that we are needy individuals. It also demonstrates to us our personal relationship with our Lord and reflects our genuine love and Our concern for our flock as pastors as we labor.
And prayer for their spiritual good. There's a poem that James Montgomery an Old godly man. Man years ago said this in poem about prayer. It's titled. What is prayer? Prayer is the soul's sincere desire unuttered or expressed.
The motion of a hidden fire that trembles in the breast. Prayer is the burden of a side. The falling of a tear. The upward glancing of an eye when none, but God is near.
Prayer I love this.
Prayer is the simplest form of speech that infant lips can try. Prayer the sublimest strains that reach the majesty on high. Prayer is the Christians vital breath. The Christians native air his watchword at the gates of death.
He enters heaven by prayer. Prayer is the contrite sinners voice returning from his ways while angels and their songs rejoice and cry. Behold he prays. The Saints and prayer appear as one in word and deed in mind while the Father and the Son sweet fellowship they find.
No prayer is made by man alone. The Holy Spirit pleads and Jesus on that the eternal throne for sinners intercedes. O thou by whom we come to God the life the truth the way the path of prayer thyself hath trod.
Lord teach us how to pray. Amen. I'm telling you folks It's an exercise. We must exercise daily or we will become very weak and we'll wake already and frail and after stumble. Prayer is our dependence upon a holy God and when we're not praying we're basically saying God.
I don't need you ask. Keep on asking seek keep on seeking not keep on knocking. Don't give up. Don't lose heart. Do not faint. Let me give you some bullet points here under this heading. Number one. Jesus commands prayer.
Paul urges prayer and the early church practice prayer. Jesus commands it. Matthew 18 20 where two or three gathered in my name there. I am in the midst of them. Now I understand even though in context to that verse.
It is speaking a church discipline that Jesus when church disciplines going on Jesus is promising. I will be in the midst of you. Even if there's two or three the presence of Jesus is promised. I will never leave you nor forsake you.
He is with us in the midst he is present, but I really believe it can also mean in prayer when we asking. The Lord says I'll give to you seek and he shall find knock and it shall be open to you. So the text there is an encouragement to persevere and prayer.
Paul urges prayer. 1st Timothy 2 8. I desired therefore that men pray in every place lifting up holy hands. Ephesians 6 18 with all prayer and supplication strong crying out. That's what supplication means.
Crying out strong before God. Jesus commands it. Paul urges it. The early church practiced it. Acts 1 14 these all with one accord.
Continued.
Steadfastly in what in prayer Acts 4 31 when they prayed. The place was shaken where they were gathered together. Can't imagine that but God shook the place. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 12 12 He came to the house. Speaking of Peter where many were gathered together were and were praying there was still praying Period. And Thomas Watson said this angel the angel fetched Peter out of prison, but it was prayer that fetched the angel.
Hallelujah.
Power of God in prayer folks. Jesus spoke about it in Matthew 6. Matthew 6. You can go with me there, but notice what he says. But when you pray. You shall not be like the hypocrites to play actors. They love to pray.
Oh, yeah, they love to pray because their motive was wrong. Let's listen to what motive they had. They love praying because they love standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets that they may be seen by men.
Truly truly I say to you they had their reward. But you. Talk about to his disciples you that's us. When you pray go into your room. When you've shut your door pray to your father who is in seek in the secret place.
And your father who sees in secret will reward you openly. God sees you he cares. He loves you. Peter says cast all your care upon him for he cares for you. Jesus goes on to say verse 7. And when you pray do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do.
For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them for your father knows the things you have made up before you ask him. And then he goes through the model of prayer again.
Master teacher right there folks. So much more I could say. Times clicking on. I do want to say a little bit more here.
And.
Matthew 5 20 Is a key verse because it speaks. Jesus says for I say to you that unless your righteousness it seeds Exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees you by no means enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Pastor MacArthur has a great comment here. He says this on this text. On the one hand Jesus was calling his disciples to a deeper more radical holiness and that of the Pharisees. Pharisee ism had a tender tendency to soften the dolls demands by focusing on only.
External obedience.
In the verses that follow Jesus unpacks the full moral significance of the law and Shows that the righteousness the law calls for actually involves an internal conformity.
To.
The spirit of the law. Rather than mere external compliance to the letter. That's why Paul says it said the spirit not of the letter and then he says on the other hand to set up. This sets up an impossible barrier to work.
Salvation. Scripture teaches repeatedly that sinners are capable of nothing but a flawed and imperfect righteousness. Therefore the only righteousness by which sinners may be justified is the perfect righteousness of God that is imputed to those who believe in Jesus in quote.
So in shorthand.
Bunyan.
Bunyan put it this way run. John run the law commands, but gives neither feet nor hands. Better mean news. Better news the gospel brings it bids me fly and gives me wings. That's why it's critical to be born of the Spirit of God.
Because prayer not only is a duty it is a delight it is a privilege a Privilege to pray. Well, we had the priority of prayer the public and private. Use of prayer. About passionate prayer. Passionate prayer.
Turn with me to James chapter 5. James 5. This is interesting because this this little epistle Concludes with prayer. With a with the speaking of prayer 513. Is any one among you suffering. Let him pray in every circumstance of life.
We should go to the Lord in prayer pray. Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful. Let him sing songs Psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church and let it let them pray over him.
Anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord and the prayer of faith will save the sick and the Lord will raise him up. And if he's committed any sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another and pray for one another that You may be healed.
The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Gives an example here. Elijah was a man of with a nature like ours like passions. And he prayed earnestly. That it would not rain. He prayed earnestly and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.
Notice verse 18 and he prayed again. He persisted persevered in prayer and the heaven gave rain and the earth produced its fruit. Persevere persistent. Passionate praying when you're in trouble. We should approach God in earnest prayer.
In times of rejoicing we should Lift our hearts to God and praise. God desires to be brought into all the changing mood of the moods of our lives. By the way, if you haven't already found out. It's great truth.
God is self-sufficient. He really doesn't need you or me. So what I'm saying is prayer. Does it really. It's really not for God. It's for us. Prayer doesn't change God because God's immutable. But what does prayer.
Who does prayer change us us? It changes us more into the image of Jesus Christ. That's the purpose of prayer. The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. In other words the righteous man's prayers are effective.
It's passionate. It's fervent. It's energetic. It's like it's on fire. Numbers 11 to says. Then the people cried out to Moses and when Moses prayed to the Lord the fire was quenched. In other words. The fire was extinguished.
The power of God in prayer. Elijah had power with God in prayer. He prayed and he prayed again seven times seven times. In this section prayers mentioned first Kings First Kings chapter 7 speaking of Elijah all the way to chapter 19 verse 10.
Ahab being a wicked king of Israel at that time. And through his evil and through his evil wife that influenced him. Shows you what kind of? He was evil, but Jezebel was even more evil influence and King Ahab.
He became a worshipper of Baal and led the people into vile forms of idolatry. Man of God. God sent Elijah. First Kings 1633. Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger to anger than all the kings of Israel.
Who were before him?
He was wicked and in this situation It was a direct result of sin and wickedness that the drought came upon Israel and three and a half years God dried it up. Then Elijah. Elijah came on the scene and gave a contest of all the false priest of Baal.
The false priest. Yeah, you can say priest of Baal yeah. On Mount Carmel, you know the story. It's powerful. The fire of the Lord fell during the evening. These priests got on the altar cut themselves trying to call on their false.
God nothing happened all day long. Elijah mocked him. Yeah, we can mock false teachers. You bet your life we can. Elijah did. But during the evening the fire of the Lord fell. Consumed the burnt offering consumed the altar consumed the water and.
The people were convinced. They fell on their faces and they turned back to the Lord. Elijah prayed again and the drought ended. What an example. Elijah Was a fervent prayerful righteous.
Godly man.
The prayer of a man of God whose heart is right with God works wonders folks. Never underestimate that. Priority of prayer private and public prayer passionate prayer. What about the last final? Perseverance perseverance and prayer perseverance.
We see this in Acts. I'm sorry Luke 18 turn back with me to Luke. I think this is very important. Luke 18 Jesus gives a parable the persistent widow. When he spoke a parable to them that men ought men always ought to pray and not lose heart.
Now in other words We should always pray and not to give up not to faint not to lose heart not to give up. Excuse me Jesus says there was a certain city a Judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city and she came to him saying get justice for me from my adversary and He would not for a while.
And afterwards he said within himself Though I do not fear God nor regard man yet because this widow troubles me. I Will avenge her At least by her continued coming. She worries me. She wears me out in other words Then the Lord said hear what the unjust judge said and shall God Not avenge his own elect.
And notice what he says here who cry out day and night to him. It's assumed that the elect of God calls out to God day and night Though he bears long with them. And Jesus said I tell you That he will avenge them speedily.
Nevertheless.
When the Son of Man comes he's speaking about his second coming his glorious coming. Will he really find faith on the earth? You see how faith and prayers connected. Folks if we have real living faith our prayers will be real and Not artificial not repetitious.
It would be real to God Because we have a relationship with God. This persistent widow did not give up. The parable the praying widow teaches us that man ought to always to pray and not to lose heart.
Not to never give up. Folks do not give up and if your prayer life is in shambles don't give up. Persist with God Because God has a ready ear His his ear is always Ready to hear but if you regard iniquity in your heart the Lord will not hear but make sure we repent.
Confess and.
Forsake our sin. Parable pictures an unrighteous judge who was ordinarily quite unmoved by the Fear of God or regard for his fellow man. There was also this widow who was being oppressed by some unnamed adversary.
This widow came to the judge persistently wearing him out asking for justice So that she might be delivered from his human inhumane tree. The judge was unmoved by Her case and the fact that she was being Treated unjustly did not move him to action in her behalf.
However.
The regular intervals Which she came before him prompted him to act her persistence Brought a decision in her favor. Then the Lord explained to the disciples that if the unjust judge would act in behalf of this poor widow because of her persistence.
How much more? How much more with a judge of all the earth the judge of the entire universe?
Intervene in behalf of.
His own elect folks. I hope this is an encouragement to you. I know it's been a strong message. But it's a strong message to my heart now. We need we need strong messages. We need strong medicine. But I pray this is a strong exhortation to know that our God cares For his people and he loves them with the undying love.
He loves you. And the reason God has not intervened many times long ago is because God is long-suffering and patient. He's gracious and he's very patient. So sometimes we may think that God's not answering prayer, but Maybe his nose when he says no to something he knows what's best.
Our Lord in verse 18 drives home this encouraging truth to the heart of with a sobering and probing question. Nevertheless when the Son of Man comes when he wrote when it will he really find faith on the earth and that searching.
Will he find faith? Would he find this in you if he came back right now within this hour?
He's gonna come soon. And when he does come and all of his power and glory with all the holy angels the hammer of judgment is going to fall. God's Spirit will no longer strive with man. But then he asked will he really find faith on earth.
Will he find it. That questions for us folks Jesus knows the answer to. It's probably miss may mean that this kind of faith the poor widow had. It also may indicate that when the Lord returns There will be only a remnant who are really truly saved and thankful to him.
I Take the latter.
View.
In the meantime each of us should be encouraged to the kind of faith and prayer that cries out to God night and day. The kind of prayer that perseveres to the very end. Fight the good fight of faith. So we must value pray and however when we do not see the answers It could be that God's mercy is to deny us unanswered prayer in order to give us growth and submission to him.
Faith's roots often grow deepest in the soil. Unanswered prayer. Missionary William Carey listen this. I give you an example of what is known as the father of missions. I believe there's other missionaries before him.
I think David Brainerd was one of them, but Carey was definitely one of the father of missions. Labored as a missionary in India for eight years folks. Eight years before baptizing his very first convert from Hinduism to Christ.
Yet in those years Carey Learned to live for the glory of God alone. He wrote this quote. I feel that it is good to commit my soul my body and my all into the hands of God. Then the world appear little and promises great and God and all sufficient portion.
Joel Beakey says this about Carey quote. God's delay became marrow for Carey's soul. That still happens today. Carey I'm sorry Beakey says is that still happens today to believers when exercised in prayer by God by God's silences.
They find more of God himself. God is always greater and more valuable than his answers. That's wisdom folks. Listen to this. And he goes on to say the greatest mercy is to find God not his mercies. Then we discovered that when we ask for silver God may Wrap his silences in gold.
That does doesn't perish in quote.
May we have The kind of faith that William Carey had to encourage us all to pray. It was Carey that said that expect great things from God and attempt great things for God. May this be true of a redeeming grace Church.
Folks it's my burden here that each and every one of us be men and women of God children you can pray to. You're not excluded from this you included. God can use your prayers. Let me. I've got I got it in this plane.
JC Rouse says let us never forget that our chief danger is from within. The world and the devil combined cannot do us as much harm as our own hearts will. If we do not watch and pray let me close with Psalm 32.
I Had something from the valley of vision, but I don't have enough time. If you had the valley of vision just brother Keith sent a wonderful one out today on prayer. Thank you, brother Keith. That was encouraging.
Next to the Bible get the prayers of these Puritans folks. This is just a fire your heart up. Living by prayer living by prayer. Maybe I can squeeze it in if you bear with me. Amen. Can you bear with me?
Psalm 32 let me give you a little bit from Psalm 32 and I want to read this here quickly only 11 verses. Just psalm of David. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity and Whose spirit there is no deceit.
When I kept silent my bones grew old and though through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me. My vitality was turned into the drought of summer Sela. I Acknowledge my sin to you.
And my iniquity I have not hidden. I Said I will confess my transgressions to the Lord's notice how transparent he is. He knows God sees his heart folks. We might as well pray that too and you forgave the iniquity of my sins Sela.
That's something to see love about in it. God forgives our sin. Notice what he says in verse 6 for this calls everyone who is godly shall pray to you In a time when you may be found Surely in a flood of great waters.
They shall not come near him. You are my hiding place. You shall preserve me from trouble. You shall surround me with songs of deliverance Sela. And then God gives his instruction through through David.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I Will guide you with my eye. Do not be like the horse or like the mule Which have no understanding Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle.
Else, they will not come near you. In other words, don't be hard-headed and prideful humble yourself before the Lord of heaven humble yourself and God will exalt you. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked but he who trusts in the Lord mercy shall surround him.
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice you righteous and shout for joy all you upright in heart. Let me pray. Look let this be your prayer. Listen to this Living by prayer. Do you live by prayer? Oh God of the open ear.
Teach me to live by prayer as well as by Providence for myself soul body children family church. Give me a heart frame able to die will so I might live in prayer and honor thee. Being kept from evil known and unknown help me to see the sin that accompanies all I do and The good that I shall I can distill from everything.
Let me know that the work of prayer is to bring. Let me know that the work of prayer is to bring my will to dine and That without this it is folly to pray. When I try to bring thy will to mine it is to command Christ to be above him wiser than he.
This is my sin and my pride. I could only succeed when I pray According to that preset and promise And to be done with as it pleases thee According to the sovereign will when that command is me to pray for pardon peace and brokenness.
It is because I will give me the thing promised for thy glory as Well as for my good. Help me not only to desire small things but with holy boldness To desire great things for thy people for myself That they and I might live to show thy glory.
Teach me just like what David said God says through David teach me That it is wisdom for me to pray for all I have out of love.
Willingly.
Not out of this not of necessity. That I may come to thee at any time to lay open my needs acceptably to thee that my great sin lies in.
My.
Not keeping the Savior of thy ways. That the remembrance of this truth is one way to sense of thy presence. And there is no wrath Like the wrath of being governed by my own lust for my own ends.
Amen father. We thank you For this Lord's Day. Lord, may we honor you the most important Lord. May we sit at the feet of Jesus Like Mary chose Oh God save us save us from ourselves Save us from apathy Save us from everything false.
Lord, you know our hearts today encourage each and one of your God of your people. How much you truly love them? And may prayer Not only be a duty But be a delight and a joy.
And a privilege.
To bow at the feet of Jesus And hear his word.
Lord forgive us.
For our prayerlessness and Help us Oh God to go forward from this point. Every day pressing in the kingdom of God the kingdom of God suffers violence and The violent take it by force. Lord help us to press in to agonize To pray to fight this good fight To the very end of our last breath And we would do it for your glory and honor in Jesus name.
Amen, and amen.