Friday Night Message: Prayer - Part XVI

Jan. 5, 2024

Good evening brethren,

During the past few months we have addressed various questions regarding prayer:

· WHAT IS PRAYER?

· WHO SHOULD PRAY?

· WHY SHOULD WE PRAY?

· HOW SHOULD WE PRAY?

Tonight we are again considering the question WHAT should we pray about, matters that should be included in our prayers.

WHAT SHOULD WE PRAY ABOUT?

1. Praise

2. Thanksgiving

3. God’s Will

4. Others

. Your needs

· Physical

Our focus should be upon real needs, and not wants, …and the focus should also be upon upon today, and not forever. In chapter Ex. 16 – The manna (which was similar to bread)

came every SUN, MON, TUE, WED, THU, with a double portion FRI. Seeing that the manna was daily, makes for a close parallel to Jesus’ speaking the verse below:

Matt. 6:11 - “Give us this day our daily bread”.

R. Knox, in his 1946 work Retreat for Priests, wrote that “The real tragedy of our prayers is not that God so often refuses to grant them. The tragedy is that we so often ask for the wrong thing.”

Prov. 30:8 – …give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food allotted to me; lest I be full and deny You and say Who is the Lord: or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.

Jesus spoke to His disciples to beware of covetousness, by giving the Parable of the Rich Fool.

Luke 12:15 –Jesus said to the them, Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life dos not consist in the abundance of the things he posesses

I Tim. 6: 7-8 – For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out, and having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

· Spiritual

Forgiveness of sin

I John 1:8-9 – If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

God’s spirit

In Ps. 51 we see David’s sincere prayer after the matter of Uriah the Hittite. He admits his sin, and then pleads to God to restore His spirit within him:

Ps. 51:10-12 – Create in me a cleans heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

· Knowledge/Understanding/Wisdom

Wisdom and Discernment

I Ki. 33:9-11 – Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between go and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours? The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing? Then God said to him Because you have asked this thing, …behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after.

In the longest chapter in the entire Bible, Ps. 119, David gained wisdom by meditating upon God’s laws.

Luke 11:12 If your son asks you for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone?” Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?”

· Strength in trials

Ps. 138:3 – In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul.

God will make any trial bearable…

I Cor. 10:13 – No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the was of escape, so that you may be able to bear it.

In the literary work Perennials, dated 1898, Phillip Brooks stated “Do not pray for easy lives; pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers; pray for power equal to your tasks.”

Do we have the traits Jesus describes in the Beatitudes? If not, why not?

· Character development/spiritual growth

Do we manifest the practical aspects of daily Christianity described in James?

James 1:12– Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

In a 1941 Reader’s Digest, Alexis Carrel wrote “We derive the most power from prayer when we use it, not as a petition, but as a supplication that we may become more like Him.”

Have an inspiring Sabbath,

Fred