GREAT BIBLE WORDS
PRAYER
Psalm 34:15-18
Introduction:
God’s Word contains much encouragement to pray. Yet, there are many Christians who do not pray regularly and effectively. Many pray and become discouraged, because they see no answers to their prayers. If prayer is not answered, you may be sure that there are reasons why this is so. Let dwell on what God says to encourage us to pray.
I. GOD STANDS READY TO HEAR AND ANSWER THE PRAYER OF HIS CHILDREN
A. God’s ears are open to us, Psalm 34:15-18, “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. 16- The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 17- The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. 18- The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”
B. He hears the poor man’s cry, Psalm 34:6, “This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.”
1. He will answer, Psalm 91:15, “He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.”
a. He will deliver him, Psalm 37:40, “And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.”
b. He will honor him, John 12:26, “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.”
2. The Lord is not far from His own, Psalm 145:18, “The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.”
C. The right spirit is necessary, Psalm 51:17, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”
II. DO WHAT YOU CAN AND ASK GOD TO DO WHAT YOU CANNOT
Nehemiah 4:7-9, “But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites [Philistines], heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth, 8- And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it. 9- Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.”
A. In the day of trouble, Psalm 50:15, “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.”
1. “I will deliver thee,” v. 17 (text), “The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.”
2. “Thou shalt glorify me,” Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
B. Put your burdens on Him, Psalm 55:22, “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”
III. SEEK THE LORD WHILE HE MAY BE FOUND
Isaiah 55:6, “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:”
A. Do you understand? Psalm 14:2, “The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.”
1. David said that he understood, Psalms 27:8, “When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.”
2. He understood the time to pray, Psalms 32:6, “For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.”
B. Ask, seek, knock, Matthew 7:7-8, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8- For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”
“The phrases signify to seek with earnestness, and diligence, and perseverance. The promise is, that what we seek shall be given us. It is of course implied that we seek with a proper spirit, with humility, sincerity, and perseverance.” —Barnes NT Notes.
CONCLUSION