Prayer that Works
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We are getting formed to something weather we like it or not.
We are getting formed to this world. Or form into the imagine of Christ.
But somethings forming us social media the internet culture something is forming us.
From Judaism, to Atheism, to Christ and because of Prayer
Andrew Klavan was born Jewish. How he became a Christian is a simple testimony of the power of prayer. Having deserted Judaism for atheism as a young man, he was merrily sailing along in a world of nonbelief. He was reading an adventure novel when one of the main characters said a prayer before going to sleep. Andrew realized he had never tried to pray. In his words, “So I said a little prayer and it went off in me like a bomb. There are really no words to describe it. I have always thought it was a tribute to the generosity of God that even such a prideful, arrogant little prayer in some sense would be answered.”
That one simple prayer began a habit of praying, and eventually he accepted Christ.
You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
amiss- you ask with evil intentions.
Do we pray with a heart that is cleaving and longing after God or do we pray to receive what ever that request is?
Is my prayer me focused or God concentrated.
What spiritual benefit will this prayer request give me.
Some prayers are rejected because we pray from a place of envy and selfishness.
Imagine praying an evil prayer. Or a prayer that is in opposition to God.
Your prayers are just there to fuel your lust. Your pleasures.
God does not answer their prayers not only because they are evil but also because they would just spend his generosity on themselves.
We would “cash in” Gods generosity on our own lust. What we value and gain.
You ask so you may spend it on your pleasures its the same word used for the story of the prodigal son. When he had spent all. Or freely spent!
He took the inheritance from father and squandered it.
But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.
When we ask for something its in line with Gods name, Gods kingdom and God’s will.
Matthew 6:9–10 (NKJV)
In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
This is the proper motive, God’s name (His person) , God’s kingdom (His rule, His dominion, His authority) , and God’s will (His plan, His purpose) .
We don’t ask for things that are for our own indulgences and that is currently at war with our souls.
Hort comments: “God bestows not gifts only, but the enjoyment of them: but the enjoyment which contributes to nothing beyond itself is not what He gives in answer to prayer; and petitions to Him which have no better end in view are not prayers.”
These also could be called cold prayers.
Cold prayers are as arrows without heads, as swords without edges, as birds without wings. They pierce not, they cut not, they fly not up to heaven. Cold prayers always freeze before they reach heaven.
bio.thomasbrooks
Cold prayers shall never have any warm answers.
“Unbelieving prayers! Shall I call them prayers? Prayers without faith! They are birds without wings, ships without sails, beasts without legs. Prayers that have no faith in Christ are prayers without the blood on them. They are deeds without the signature, without the seal, without the stamp. They are impotent, illegal documents.”
Charles Spurgeon
This story is a good lesson from a bad example.
Luke 11:5–10 (NKJV)
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 his 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 his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
~ When it starts off “Which of you” Jesus wants us to put ourselves in the place of the fictional character in this parable.
So this is a parable that is speaking about us.
It the middle east it is common for people to travel at night to avoid the heat of the day.
Imagine its midnight you and your family are asleep on matts inside the same room. Then you get a knock on the door. Its your friend who wants to barrow 3 loafs of bread. But The bread isn’t for himself or his immediate family but for his friend who came to visit from a long journey.
The door is bolted shut so in order to open the door it would’ve awaken the whole family.
So you say “do not trouble me; the door is now shut …” Why are you causing trouble, why do you annoy me.
Its the same word used when the widow pleaded with the judge in luke 18, the widow troubled the judge to avenge her until he did. she troubled him.
How annoyed would you be?
Vs 8 Luke 11:8 “I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.”
Persistence- Recklessness or disregard of consideration by the one making the request.
AMP- his shameless persistence and insistence
So you have this disrespect/ dishonorable, only concerned about himself and being a good host.
asking rudely—even acting rudely
He had a shameless audacity
which throughout Greek literature has a thoroughly pejorative meaning: asking rudely—even acting rudely—to get a request at any cost, without thought of propriety or shame
This is the kind of persistence that it doesn’t matter the request.
It has no regards of how ridiculous the request is.
This revealing that there is no premium on “niceness” in prayers.
True prayer is not only expectant but also perseverant.
This isn’t speaking about mere persistence but fervency in ones prayer life. Like intentionality and passion in our prayer life.
This parable is bringing out the fact that one who approaches God shouldn’t be deterred. I should have a not to be deterred attitude!
Prayer isn’t a nice religious sentiment. But prayer is something we are willing to stake our lives.
We should have a determination not to give up until God has heard us.
God can be approached with persistence, perseverance, even “shameless audacity,” because God is not offended by honest and urgent prayer.
Gods not offended by your tough questions or your indictments against Him.
He just wants you to come to Him.
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
David had some difficult prayers
Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
He was telling God don’t throw me away like trash. Don’t cast me away as worthless.
Psalmist
Bow down Your ear, O Lord, hear me; For I am poor and needy.
Moses
So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Why is it You have sent me?
For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done evil to this people; neither have You delivered Your people at all.”
So Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me!”
Elijah Prays for the widow’s Son
Dig
Then he cried out to the Lord and said, “O Lord my God, have You also brought tragedy on the widow with whom I lodge, by killing her son?”
And he stretched himself out on the child three times, and cried out to the Lord and said, “O Lord my God, I pray, let this child’s soul come back to him.”
Jeremiah is his prayer
Cursed be the day in which I was born! Let the day not be blessed in which my mother bore me!
Why did I come forth from the womb to see labor and sorrow, That my days should be consumed with shame?
Her uncleanness is in her skirts; She did not consider her destiny; Therefore her collapse was awesome; She had no comforter. “O Lord, behold my affliction, For the enemy is exalted!”
Jesus prayer at the cross
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
8989 The prayer preceding all prayers is “May it be the real I who speaks.”
C. S. Lewis
AMP - 9 So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you.
10 For everyone who asks and keeps on asking receives; and he who seeks and keeps on seeking finds; and to him who knocks and keeps on knocking, the door shall be opened.
If a son asks 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?
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”