45. Well, it's certainly good to be
with you this evening, and I pray, of course, that the things
that I prepared will be beneficial to the body of
Christ. This after this evening, rather,
I've written on the board are topic of for consideration this
evening. We're going to talk a little bit
about the Great and the sweet power of prayer.
When you talk about this idea or the subject of prayer, there are
great. Many verses of scripture.
You can consider and a great many ideas that we can turn to
in studying how we as Christians are to pray.
And how we pray properly. And how what the things are that
we can pray for. But I've chosen these three
passages of scripture. We're going to take an
expository look at them today and hopefully glean something
from God's word. First, we're going to look at
what John talks about that spraying with confidence and
compassion. We're going to look at the
Hebrew writers can thoughts concerning, how we are to come
boldly to the throne of grace, how we're to do that, and why we
should do that. And then we're going to end up
in the book of James. Is where James gives us a call
to both prayer and praise. But first, we're going to look
at this passage here in 1st John, the 5th chapter and I'll
start by simply reading first John chapter 5 verses 14 through
17. The new King James translation
translates this way. Now this is the confidence that
we have in him that if we ask anything according to his, will
he hears us? And if we know that he hears us,
whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have
asked of him. If anyone sees a brother sending
a sin, which does not lead to death, he will ask and he will
give him Life For Those who commit sin, not leading to
death, there is sin leading to death.
I do not say that we should pray about.
That all unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin, not leading to
death. So as we rapidly approached, the
end of this epistle, written by John.
John gives us a few words on the subject of prayer.
This is not the first time that John has mentioned prayer.
In his writings, John talks about the value of confessing
our sins, which is done in prayer over in first, John 1:9,
John talks about our advocate in prayer.
Jesus Christ, the righteous over in Chapter 2 and verse 1.
And John also talks about one reason, why we receive what we
ask for in prayer in 3:22, but in his final words on this
subject, John does two things. I think really here, he expands
upon the theme and prayer that it's already introduced which is
praying with confidence but he also brings in another theme
that is really in harmony with much of John's writing in this
first epistle which is that of Brotherly Love when he talks
about praying with compassion as well.
So we're going to look at these two separate.
Ideas, starting first with praying with confidence,
firstly, praying with confidence requires asking according to
God's will. This is the point that is
emphasized in verses 14 and 15 confidence in our, in prayer is
not based on some assumption that whatever we ask for.
We're going to get no matter what some may improperly,
conclude the words of Jesus, over in John chapter 14 and
verses 13 and 14. And we're going to turn, and
we're going to read the words of Jesus there.
Over in John chapter 14 and we're going to read verses 13
through 14 as I said. Jesus says, That's chapter 13.
Jesus says here, and whatever you ask in my father's name that
I will do that, the Sun. That the father may be glorified
in the son. If you ask anything in my name,
I will do it. But even Jesus is own examples
of prayer illustrate, the answer to prayer, depends on whatever
the thing is. And if it is in harmony with
God's will looking at examples of Jesus prayer in Matthew, 26
and verse 39. And also in verse 42 of the The
same chapter Paul learned the same lesson when he prayed about
his Thorn In the Flesh over in 2nd.
Corinthians chapter 12 verses 7 through 9 there.
However, the more we learn about God's revealed will through the
word of God. The more likely we are to pray
according to his will and that's really the Crux of the position
here that John when he talks about praying with confidence
and praying in accordance to God's will we have to know God's
will before we can pray. In God's will we have to know
what it is by studying his word and that is the the main way
that we understand and we gain knowledge of the will of God
that's by studying his word and that's how we can pray in
harmony with God's will. Another reason we can pray our
another way to pray with confidence.
Another requirement is that of keeping God's Commandments, this
is stressed in first, John chapter 3 and verse 22 and I'll
read that very quickly. First John chapter 3 verse 22,
says, and whatever we ask, we receive from him because we keep
his Commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his
sight. So even if we're asking for
something that's necessarily or normally would be found within
the will of God, how can we, as Christians expect to receive
that thing that we're praying for?
If we're not living, right? If we're not living, right?
Even if we know the will of God, how is God going to give us
those things? Which were required to live our
daily lives here. On this Earth it would be a
contradiction to God for God to Grant those things to people who
are not living in accordance with his word.
So another stipulation to pray with confidence, it requires us
to keep God's Commandments as Peter quoted from Proverbs for
the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous.
And his ears are open to their prayers.
First Peter chapter 3, Verse 12. The righteousness of course, are
those who do things that are pleasing in his sight.
According to what we just read over and first, John chapter 3
and verse 22, especially in regard, to believing in Jesus
and loving the Brethren two Commandments given to us.
By John, in the following verse where he said, in chapter 3,
where he says, and this is the Commandment that we should
believe on the name of the son of Jesus Christ, the son, Jesus
Christ and love one another and he gave us commandment Another
requirement, I believe for praying with confidence, it
requires us to choirs requires abiding in Jesus and his words
abiding in us, which of course, go along with the things we've
already mentioned. This was taught by Jesus himself
recorded and by John in John chapter 15 and verse 7, this
should also help to clarify any misunderstanding in that
passage, we read over in John chapter 14, we can't isolate
that one separate quote by Jesus and Assume that anything we ask
for, we're going to get things must be done in a proper fashion
and one of those is abiding in Jesus, and his words must abide
in US confidence. In prayer.
Depends upon asking a court, according to God's will.
But if Jesus words don't abide in us, well, how will we know
God's will, of course, as we've already mentioned?
Praying with compassion the first idea and praying with
compassion is of course to pray for a brother.
The Epistle of John has been one which has stress Brotherly Love.
Is we've already mentioned. He told us that we ought to lay
down our lives for the Brethren and first John chapter 3 and
verse 16 he said that if one sees a brother in need and shuts
his heart from him, how does he love God, how does the love of
God abide in him? First John chapter 3 and verse
17 So certainly, then we should be willing and ready to pray for
our Brethren especially when we see them sinning, a sin, uh, not
unto death, okay? Now this is a really, a complex
statement here by John one that required great study on my part,
to make sure that I had full understanding.
But I'm pretty sure that I have a grasp on it.
The difference of sinning, a sin, not unto death and sending
a sin unto death. Let me read a few notes that I
jotted down. So I'll read them word for words
that don't mess them up. We have to consider the present
tense of the verb here, which is sinning does sending necessarily
imply that the brother is still engaged in the Sin.
Why don't believe that it does? What is sin unto death versus
excuse me? Okay, once again I got to read
it. Does the present tense of the
verb sinning necessarily imply that the brother is still
engaged in the Sin. When we are not to pray for him,
what is sin? Not unto death and sin unto
death? What is meant by?
He will give him life. What conclusions, whatever
conclusions we draw. Must be in harmony with other
passages of scripture. So, when you talk about the idea
of sinning unto death and sitting not unto death, I
believe there's really only one conclusion that you can come
too, we know that sin It is fully grown produce is death.
So what about Sin that hasn't quite come to that full growth
yet? Well, simply as Sin that does
not lead to death, is a sin that has been repented of a sin that
does not lead to death. Is a sin that has been confessed
by a brother or sister in Christ and has ribbon repented of but
perhaps has not yet been forgiven.
So when John tells us we are to pray for a brother who has
sinned or sinning or Them's not unto death.
That is to pray for one who has repented of that sin certainly
and John points out. How can we pray for a brother
who is sinning a sin unto death? How can we pray for a brother
who is still sinning? Well, that just wouldn't make
any sense. What it, how could we pray for
someone who is still engaged in that sinful act and expect them
to be forgiven? That's just impossible.
So, when you talk about the idea of in verse 17, when he says,
all unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to
death, I believe simply that it is a sin that has been repented
of sin, which is not produced or lead to death.
Would therefore be sin. Repented of sin, leading to
death producing spiritual death, and separation from God would be
a sin. Unrepented of, we cannot expect
God to forgive one who refuses to repent.
And as John writes with some understatement.
I believe, I do not say that we Should pray about that and
that's inversed verse number 16. God will give him life as quoted
in verse 16. If the Death In this passage is
obvious spiritual death. It is natural to assume the life
is spiritual life, the life, which God will grant our
penitent brother in answer to our prayers, could also be
described as forgiveness. When John says here, that that,
that, that the prayer that the sin that is not leading to
death, which is a sin that has been repented of is prayed about
the life that he is given, is that life of forgiveness that
Mercy from God, forgiveness of sins, that Christians have after
they've obeyed. The gospel.
This is the promise offered in first, John 1:9 to the child of
God, who penitently, confesses his own sin and prayer also
offered and John first John 5 verse 16.
As we read to The Penton brother, when prayer is made on
his behalf, by another member of the family of God.
So one might ask why bother to pray for a brother?
If his sins will be forgiven anyway as taught in chapter 1
and verse 9, well one answer might be found in James chapter
5 and verse 16 which we're going to get to in a little bit.
Where James says, the effective fervent prayer of a righteous
man avails much and more on that in just a little while.
So in conclusion to this idea of praying with confidence and
compassion, the privilege of prayer is a wonderful blessing.
We know that, especially, especially when we do with
confidence and with compassion, are we fulfilling the
requirements to be able to pray with confidence or we abiding in
Jesus? Are we letting his words abide
in us? Are we keeping his Commandments?
And doing the things pleasing in his sight asking according to
God's will? Are we praying with compassion?
Praying, not only for ourselves, but for our brothers and sisters
who are in need praying for Brethren overtaken by sin, but
who's who have demonstrated that their sin is one, that is not
leading to death. That is repented of, as we all
need the fullness of God's blessings in our lives.
ABS. Let's make sure we encourage
each other to do whatever we can to be able to pray with both
competence and compassion. We're going to turn over to the
book of Hebrews. Now, we're going to look at our
second idea. Hebrews chapter 4 as written on
the board and we're going to read their verses 14 through 16.
The Bible says in Hebrews beginning in verse 4:14 seeing
that seeing then that we have a great high priest, who has
passed through the heavens. Jesus, the son of God, let us
hold fast. Our confession for we do not
have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses,
but was it all points tempted? As we are yet without sin, Let
Us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may
obtain mercy and find Grace to help in time of need in our
study of the book. Of Hebrews that we recently went
through in our Wednesday night services, we saw many different
themes talked about here. One of the main points was that
the Jewish Christians remain steadfast and firm in their
faith, they were encouraged not to make that same mistake that
many of their ancestors made, which was departing from God and
his method of operation has been twofold.
I believe both to illustrate the superiority of Jesus which is a
reoccurring A theme in this book, i.e. his superiority to
the prophets, two angels to Moses, and the law of Moses, but
also to exhort them to be faithful in the light of these
comparisons. So when the Hebrew writer, told
them, how much better it was with Jesus.
He also told them. So let's be faithful to Jesus.
Some of these ideas can be looked at in Hebrews chapter 2
and verses 1 through 4 where he said, give the more Earnest heed
to the things we have heard he says to it.
Or one another daily in chapter 3 verse 12 through 14, and
really, to put it in another way.
We must remain faithful and diligent and in our study of the
word of God and an exhorting, one another daily other things
are necessary like prayer, which we're going to talk about in
chapter 4 here. The man thought of this passage,
as we're going to look at is to come boldly to the throne of
grace. So what does it mean?
When he says come boldly to the throne of grace?
Well what is the throne of grace?
Well this is simply. Another way of saying the Throne
of God, other passages emphasize that God's Throne is one of
righteousness, Justice, mercy, and Truth.
God is known for and is the source of these things, Hebrews
4:16 emphasizes God's mercy and benevolence to be found there.
This expression. Let us come which is also
translated as drawn near. This is a really one of a
Priestly. Priestley expression that was
used in the Book of Leviticus to describe to tell the those of
the Old Testament preaches, how they were two were approached
God and to approach his throne, it denotes approaching God, for
worship and prayer and it is used here and it suggests that
the Priestly privileges of access to God, which under the
Old Law, you the only access to God.
You had were through the priests.
This is something that is now available to everyone to
Christians everywhere. But now in Christ we can all
draw near to God in worship and prayer.
This is something that we must do as the Hebrew writer says
boldly. This word boldly means literally
translated with confidence from the Greek word Parisa which also
means full story in ancient Greece.
It was used to describe the right of a citizen to speak.
His mind on any subject in a town assembly.
According to Lightfoot only. All citizens had this right
slaves did not have the right to speak their mind as the citizens
and used here in the book of Hebrews, it stands for our
freedom to approach, god, without hesitation without
inhibition. And of course, this made
possible by the blood of Jesus. So this, this passage speaks of
the wonderful privilege, Christians have through prayer
to approach. God with full confidence again,
which is in correlation with what John wrote and of course it
is important to you. Eli's this privilege.
Let's talk about a few reasons why we ought to come boldly to
the throne of grace. Number one, we ought to come
boldly to the throne of grace because we have been given that
privilege to do. So just as we have been given
the privilege to worship. God, we have been given the
privilege privilege to talk to him in prayer.
Not everyone has this opportunity as we know during
the period of the old laws. We've already mentioned, only
the high priest, could enter the holiest of holies.
Now, that is something that has been made.
Possible to for all of us. And as Christians, we have our
high priest to whom we can direct our prayers through and
all those in his church have access through prayer.
According to Revelation, chapter 1, and verse 6, we ought to come
boldly to the throne of grace because we have yet to enter
quote, the rest that remains As seen earlier in this chapter,
there is still a promised rest for God's people.
We need to fear and respect less become short of it.
We need to be diligent. And this being true, we need as
much mercy and Grace as we can get along the way we ought to
come boldly to the throne of God, because we need that mercy
and Grace that is only available through God, because of the high
priest that we have is another reason we should come boldly to
To the throne of grace. In Jesus, we have a great high
priest as this passage points out.
We have a high priest who has passed through the heavens.
Hebrews chapter 9 verse 24, having ascended to the right
hand of God, he has become higher than the heavens in
Jesus. We have a sympathetic, high
priest, verse 15 and this word. Sympathy, I love this this word.
Sympathy literally means to suffer with.
We have a high priest who suffered just just as we do.
How can we not understand that there is a reason, he is our
high priest. There's a reason that Jesus is
our high priest today because he suffered just as we do today,
even greater, And we have the ability to pray to God through
him. The word, sympathy as I said
literally means to suffer with the Greek word here suggests a
real intensity which is kind of lost in our English word.
Sympathy it's much more intense than a sympathy to suffer with
Westcott, describes it as the feeling of one who enters into
the suffering and makes it his own who enters into our own
suffering and makes it. His own Jesus is sympathy is due
to being tempted. Today, as we are yet without
sin, and this qualifies him to be both both merciful and
faithful, a merciful and faithful high priest.
That is one, who is able to Aid, those who are tempted according
to Hebrews chapter 2 and verse 18.
And with such a high priest interceding for us, we
definitely need to take advantage of every opportunity,
we have in prayer for this mercy and Grace.
As I mentioned earlier, we ought to come boldly to the throne of
grace, because of the mercy and the grace and grace that away.
Us Christians continue to need two things, no matter what, you
know, no matter what state of your life, you're in, no matter
what your spiritual condition is, and no matter how you stand
with God, you always need mercy and Grace.
Always those are two things that every Christian needs every day
of our lives without Mercy, how can we have the Forgiveness that
we have for? We do sin and to deny to deny
that we do. Of course is calling God.
God, a liar, Grace, to help us in the time of need, but listen
God's favor to help us in time. Of need is one of a providential
protection, Divine strength. According to Romans chapter 8,
and verse 13, the Christian finds these things and prayer
and an answers to Prayer by confessing our sins To God In
Prayer. There is Mercy first John
chapter 1 and verse 9 again, and by praying for strength from
God's forgot, from God, there is Grace to help us in time of need
Ephesians chapter 3 verse 16 and verse 20.
Listen and conclusion to this portion of our study.
We need to make sure that we are diligent and coming boldly to
the throne of grace, a graceful, God and a sympathetic high
priest is what it was. What awaits us mercy and Grace
to help us in time of need. And that means, we must as one
translation puts it draw near to God diligent study.
Each of the word is also something that helps us to come
boldly. As we've already mentioned, we
must add diligent prayer for going to find that mercy and
Grace. Ice.
Which is necessary to hold the beginning of our confidence
steadfast to the end. We should be thankful for the
Avenue of prayer we have. And for the great high priest
who makes that possible, we need to make sure we're utilizing
again. The opportunities we have to
come boldly to the throne of grace.
For our last section tonight, we're going to flip over to the
Book of James. This book that we are studying
currently on our Wednesday night services.
I'm jumping ahead a couple of chapters from where we are.
We're going to look at James chapter 5 verses 13 through 18
and I'll read those. The Bible says, is anyone among
you suffering? Let him pray.
Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing songs.
Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the Elders of
the church and let them pray over him.
Anointing him 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 you have committed 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 Elijah was a man with a nature
like ours and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain
and it did not rain in the land for three years and six months
and he prayed again that the heavens gave rain and the Earth
produced its fruit As is common, I think with many New Testament
Epistles as the writers draw their letters to a close, it
seems like they try and get as many ideas and at the end as
possible and that, of course, is no different here in the Book of
James here, we find various commands and exhortation 's and
we find a call to both prayer and to praise with, with
guidance. As we do, what those things are
that we do in times of suffering.
He tells To pray. So what kind of suffering is
James referring to hear the word used refers to the suffering,
really of any kind of any type of suffering, sickness
bereavement disappointment, Perhaps persecutions, Perhaps
loss of health. And of course, James in a few
verses deals with sickness specifically.
What are those things that we should pray for?
Well, for the removal of the suffering, if we are suffering?
Let's pray that we are, the suffering is removed from our
lives. Lives.
If it's in the Lord's will of course as we've talked about for
the strength to endure the suffering, if it is, the Lord's
will for the strength that we are given.
Once we overcome those sufferings is perhaps something
that we can't see, but that God can see.
God may not always remove the source of the suffering and
that's important for us to understand but he will help us
to endure it. There's no promise that.
God says, if you pray for the removal of a suffering that The
suffering will be gone, but there is a promise that God will
help us through the suffering. And as we know from our study in
the first first chapter of the Book of James one thing that we
gain from enduring trials, and sufferings is patients.
And as we grow older and as we endure more things and we gain
more patients, well, that helps us to live our Christian life,
doesn't it? For whom should we pray will
certainly for ourselves but also for others, but also we can do,
we can also for those who may be a, the source of suffering,
maybe pray for those. If individuals are the source of
suffering, pray for our enemies. As Jesus taught doing this can
greatly help to endure any suffering and prayer is always a
way to help us get through it. And I think prayer is one of the
greatest tools. We Have is Christians,
especially, when in, during trials, because that means that
when we pray to God and he will help us do those things if it's
in his will. And, and that is a blessing that
no one in the world has and no one in the world has been
promised, save, God's people. He also says, in times of cheer
or cheerful, let us sing praises.
The word cheerful here, denotes a pleasantness or agreeableness,
it suggests, a state of mind, that is free from trouble.
It's the opposite of a Chin. It's really when we're happy
when we're happy in, such a state of Happiness.
One should sing for singing? Praises is becoming of God's
people. Consider the attitude of David.
Well, if you look at Psalms chapter 92, 96 10, 11, 11, 113,
146, 147 and 149. We find many examples of the
songs of David. David was a man after God's Own
Heart. So shouldn't we be as well?
Singing praises has the power to make a good situation, even
better. When we sing with our hearts to
the Lord and we are cheerful, it makes that situation that were
in our lives even better. So when were cheerful, we ought
to sing. And when we are suffering, we
ought to pray in times of sickness.
He says, let us pray this passage can really go in a
couple of ways. So I'm going to talk about both
of them questions abound concerning.
This passage is the sickness that of a physical or a
spiritual nature. Is the anointing with oil?
Is it really for medicinal purposes?
Or was it more of symbolic? Purposes is the healing through
providential means or miraculous is the healing spiritual or
physical? Well how do we know?
Well, let's look at all of them and hopefully we'll be able to
draw our own conclusion first. I believe that the, the sickness
and the healing In this passage is physical.
Those spiritual needs are taken into consideration.
I believe this is in view of the phrase and if he has committed
sins, he will be forgiven and that phrase implies that the
sickness is physical, though. It may be accompanied by a
spiritual sickness as well. And I think it can go either way
and I think it's applicable in our lives, either way.
But if the conditional, if as said there makes it makes it
clear that the illness may not be accompanied by sin, which is
true. Well, then that would mean that
the illness is probably not spiritual but most likely
physical. But again, I believe that it can
go either way when we make the application to our lives.
So with the assumption, that the physics that the physical
illness is being discussed, there are really two
Alternatives. I believe this passage refers to
miraculous healing and the elders were called because they
possess The gift of the Holy Spirit, that's one alternative.
The anointing with oil was symbolic.
If we go this route, which is representing of the influence of
the Holy Spirit or this passage refers to providential healing
in which the elders were called because they most likely were
the righteous. Most righteous of the content of
the congregation because he says, the effective fervent
prayer of the righteous man. Avails much the anointing with
oil was midi medicinal in this going.
On this Lane and was commonly practiced in know that those
days and that is true. And those times they didn't have
the hospitals and medical care that we have today.
So many times, the anointing of oil was perhaps to make those
who were sick, physically more comfortable in their situation
and was commonly used as a medicinal in medicinal ways.
So whichever way you want this passage to go.
As far as the healing is miraculous or the healing is, is
more providential. Its Applicable both ways I
believe. But so, common practices of the
day we're, as I said, medicinal anointing with oil and I lean
towards the latter. I believe that the healing is
that of providential nature. The first explanation, if you
assume that the elders were the ones that had the spiritual gift
of healing. Well then you assume that every
Elder in that time had that spiritual gift and that wasn't a
requirement of Elders. So perhaps that wasn't, that's
not The Sara Lee, the case because we have no example of it
in the New Testament and the qualifications that I said for
elders did not require the gift of healing.
So, in illustrating, the effectiveness of prayer, James
uses an example of God providentially answering prayers
and he uses the example of Elijah.
When Elijah prayed that there would be no ran, this is back in
First Kings, chapter 18, God used nature itself as a way to
answer Elijah's prayer. God stop train.
Or some over three years check, make sure that's accurate back
in my notes. But when there was no rain,
what's most interesting about that is that there was no rain.
And there was no do when God stopped the water, he stopped
the water and he use nature as his means of answering Elijah's
prayer. Then, when Elijah after that
confrontation, with the worshipers of Baal upon Mark,
Mount Carmel after that, went the way it went.
And God Oh, that he was the true God and the children of Israel
then believed Elijah once again prayed to God for rain, and he
gave that rain again, using nature.
So, I believe because of this example, is one of a
providential nature, so is the healing.
But as I said, by no means can be ruled out, the healing of a
miraculous nature in this, In this passage of scripture.
So with this understanding or more or less, let's go.
Make an application in times of physical sickness.
We have to call for the righteous or Elders.
If it's applicable, you want the prayers of the righteous working
on your behalf, you were to notice your to call for them and
not wait for them to call you. I find that interesting In this
passage that when you want someone to pray for you, when
you're seeking the prayers of the righteous, will you have to
do something? You have to ask for it, you
can't just expect those Elders, if it's applicable and the
congregation or those who are Are righteous in the in the
congregation. You can't just expect them to
know what your needs are. If you have need, you must ask
for it. Have those members of the
congregation, pray with you, praying in faith.
Praying with fervent, with a fervent prayer, and they should
not just pray, but see also, after the appropriate medical
needs. We now live in a time where the
medical field has advanced to such a state where we can go to
doctors and when we are sick, they can help us.
So I believe it is. Also the charge of the
congregation to look after those who are sick, not only by
praying for them, but by making sure they are getting the
medical attention, that is appropriate for their
situations. However, one interprets this
passage again, as I said, there's no dispute over the main
thrust of the passage, which is prayer and praise our special
privileges for the Christian. And there is not a time in our
life when we shouldn't be doing one or the other, we must be
careful not to underestimate the importance of prayer, the power
of prayer. But to truly benefit from either
of these two spiritual exercises, we, of course, have
to be in a role in the right relationship.
With God. How can we expect God to hear
our prayers or our songs? If we're not right with him?
If there's something that's standing between us, he that
turneth away his ear from the hearing of the law.
Even his prayer shall be Abomination.
That's Proverbs 28 and verse 9, and being a doer of God's will
Matthew 7 chapter 21, says not everyone that saith unto me.
Lord. Lord shall enter into the
kingdom of heaven but he that doeth, the will of the father.
Which is in heaven. So when in every application of
these three separate passages of scripture, we find evidence that
in order for our prayers, to be heard.
We must know. The will of God, we must pray
that the things in our lives happen.
In accordance to the will of God, we have to know the will of
God, and it has to be applied in our lives, and we have to follow
it. And I think that's one of the
most applications that I want us to understand this evening is
that prayer isn't something that's just happenstance.
It's not something that's so it's not something that should
be made into a novelty prayer, is a tool.
We have to endure trials and to help those who were in need and
to Avail ourselves to this privilege.
We have to make sure that we're living, right?
We thank you for listening to our podcast, put on by the
Church of Christ at 22:15 plans. Road in Bakersfield, if you
would like any additional information, or you would like
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Please make plans to join us. We would love for you to be our
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