Theme: Prayer
Each believing prayer helps to ripen the fruit and bring us nearer to it.
My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have a Counselor with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous.
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
That we should establish ourselves in a sense of GOD’s Presence, by continually conversing with Him.
The real sermon is made in the closet. The man—God’s man—is made in the closet. His life and his profoundest convictions were born in his secret communion with God.
Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down. It shall be, if he calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, Yahweh; for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Yahweh came, and stood, and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak; for your servant hears.”
Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
There are seasons in our lives when true prayer demands time, and place, and preparation, and solitude.
Prayer, to the preacher, is not simply the duty of his profession, a privilege, but it is a necessity. Air is not more necessary to the lungs than prayer is to the preacher. It is absolutely necessary for the preacher to pray.
We must often raise our hearts to God. He will purify, enlighten, and direct them.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. O God, you will not despise a broken and contrite heart.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
The men of mighty prayer are men of spiritual might. Prayers never die. Brainerd’s whole life was a life of prayer. By day and by night he prayed.
Prayer makes the man; prayer makes the preacher; prayer makes the pastor.
Prayer is the preacher’s mightiest weapon.
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Prayer, much prayer, is the price of preaching unction.
Until now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full.
Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
We must ask that we may receive.
But that we should receive what we ask in respect of our lower needs, is not God’s end in making us pray, for he could give us everything without that: to bring his child to his knee, God withholds that man may ask.
Talking to men for God is a great thing, but talking to God for men is greater still.
Importunity is a condition of prayer. We are to press the matter with vigorous energy.
“Or if he asks for a fish, who will give him a serpent?”
Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
MannaScroll