Rom 8-Prayers of the Mind
| Prayers of the Mind – Praying with Confidence – Part 1! Romans 8:22-32
March 25, 2007 22We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. 31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? PRAY Scripture Memory: We know that in God works for the of those who him, who have been according to his . – Romans 8:28 Intro: 3rd of five weeks on prayer – Mark 12:30 – Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ Prayers of the heart, soul, mind and strength This morning: Part 1 of Prayers of the Mind – Praying with confidenceThe primary question we are continuing to address: “Why don’t we pray more? Last week we looked at how powerful prayer is, both in terms of the supernatural impact on things, as well the reality of the spiritual warfare which surrounds us.Next week we will address the issue of our feelings of inadequacy in prayer. And then after Easter we will pursue further how we can be more confident in our prayers.This morning we want to understand how to pray in such a way that we can pray with greater confidence."In Jesus Christ and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom & confidence." (Eph. 3:12)3 Keys to confident praying:Right Relationship; Right Knowledge & after Easter: Right Motivation1st Key: Right RelationshipF Knowing GodThere is a BIG difference between knowing ABOUT God and KNOWING Him personally. It is not enough to believe in Him. Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror! (James 2:19 NLT) The gospel…Oswald Chambers:“Jacob wrestled, not so much with a promise, as with the Promiser. We must take hold of the Promiser, lest the promise prove nugatory. Prayer may well be defined as that force which vitalizes and energizes the Word of God, by taking hold of God, Himself. By taking hold of the Promiser, prayer reissues, and makes personal the promise. “There is no one that stirs himself up to take hold of Me,” is God’s sad lament. “Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me,” is God’s recipe for prayer.”Knowing God requires two keys, in particular:The Key of Grace and The Key of Faith (confidence)"Therefore, since we have a great high priest... who has been tempted in every way, just as we are ‑ yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence." (Heb. 4:14‑16)Ø The Key of GraceIt is a throne of GRACE that we approach…Grace: All the riches of heaven freely given to those who not only do NOT deserve them, but rather DESERVE the opposite. This is key because doubts in our prayer lives are integrally tied to our innate sense of unworthiness before God…Ø The Key of Faith (confidence)James 1:5-75If you need wisdom—if you want to know what God wants you to do—ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. 6But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. This is what faith is all about—trust.God wants His children to trust Him, and the result of that is expectant, fervent prayers because we are confident that they REALLY DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.Verses 31-32 – 31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Having a right relationship with God also means:F Abiding in ChristJohn 15:7-87If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.Knowing God in an ongoing, vital, personal way also requires two other keys:The key of Spiritual Disciplines and The Key of RepentanceØ The key of Spiritual DisciplinesThe purpose of Spiritual disciplines…The question: Do we show the kind of fruit which comes only through a lifestyle of prayer and which shows us to be His disciples? (more on that after Easter)Ø The Key of RepentanceTurning from sin – keeping short accounts with God and othersThe problem with sin and especially with unconfessed sin…Spiritual breathing: Breathe in God’s love, expel our sin. Breathe in God’s grace, expel unbelief.Confess sin, receive forgiveness.Repent of sin, believe the gospel. Within the context of prayer and one’s relationship with God, there areF (Oswald Chambers) Two types of Petitions (prayers)The prayer of faith and The prayer of submission“By Scriptural warrant, prayer may be divided into the petition of faith and that of submission. The prayer of faith is based on the written Word, for “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” It receives its answer, inevitably—the very thing for which it prays. | | The prayer of submission is without a definite word of promise, so to speak, but takes hold of God with a lowly and contrite spirit, and asks and pleads with Him, for that which the soul desires. Abraham had no definite promise that God would spare Sodom…. Moses had no definite promise that God would spare Israel; on the contrary, there was the declaration of His wrath, and of His purpose to destroy. But the devoted leader gained his plea with God, when he interceded for the Israelites with incessant prayers and many tears…. Daniel had no definite promise that God would reveal to him the meaning of the king’s dream, but he prayed specifically, and God answered definitely.The Word of God is made effectual and operative, by the process and practice of prayer. The Word of the Lord came to Elijah, “Go show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the earth.” Elijah showed himself to Ahab; but the answer to his prayer did not come, until he had pressed his fiery prayer upon the Lord seven times.Paul had the definite promise from Christ, that he ‘would be delivered from the people & the Gentiles,’ but we find him exhorting the Romans in an urgent and solemn manner concerning this very matter.”Once again we see two keys to confident prayer, in the context of a right relationship:Ø The Key of FaithTaking God at His Word, believing Him and then acting on it.Ø The Key of SubmissionSubmitting my will to His. Trusting Him enough to let HIM decide what is best. 2nd Key to confidence in prayer: Right KnowledgeF Praying Scripture“When people do not mind what God speaks to them in His word, God does as little mind what they say to Him in prayer.” William GurnallThis is something which does not come naturally to most of us. It take effort and training. It takes reflection and submission.There is MUCH more we could say about how to do this, but that is topic for another time…The Question: Do we WANT to learn how to pray confidently enough to learn how to pray Scripture?Another Question: Are we willing to WORK at prayer, or will we only pray in ways that are easy and without cost? Another aspect of right knowledge is:F Knowing God’s Word“The titles of God are virtually promises, when He is called a sun, a shield, a strong tower, a hiding place, a portion. The titles of Christ: light of the world, bread of life, the way, the truth, and life; the titles of the Spirit: the Spirit of truth, of holiness, of glory, of grace, of supplication, the sealing, witnessing Spirit—faith may conclude as much out of these as out of promises.” David ClarksonThe bottom line is the more thorough our knowledge God’s Word, the more confidently we will find our selves praying.Right knowledge also entails:F Knowing God’s promises“Furnish yourself with arguments from the promises to enforce your prayers, and make them prevalent with God. The promises are the ground of faith, and faith, when strengthened, will make you fervent. and such fervency ever speeds and returns with victory out of the field of prayer…. The mightier any is in the Word, the more mighty he will be in prayer.” – William GurnallThere is no prayer that we can pray with more confidence than the one which asks God for what He has already promised to give…. Finally, right knowledge means:F Knowing God’s will"And this is the confidence that we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him." (1 John 5:14,15)This, of course, is just another way of saying that we need to have an ever growing and thorough knowledge of God’s Word, especially those parts of His Word where He clearly tells us what His will is.NOTE: God does want us to bring ALL our desires and needs to Him. He does not want us to get all bent out of shape as to whether this request or that is His will. Remember what we said earlier about the “prayer of submission” as opposed to the “prayer of faith.” – REVIEW… Summary / Review:Several keys to confidence in prayer: Being in a right relationship with God – This means embracing the gospel on a daily basis. It means understanding and taking hold of the keys of grace and faith.It means living daily in His Presence, being in His Word and praying more and more all the time. Being quick to confess and to repent of the sin which besets us all and quick to believe the gospel.It means praying in confident faith when God has clearly stated something in His Word and praying in confident submission when it is not so clear, confidence in His love and in His wisdom and submission to HIS will over our own.This means an ever growing knowledge of God’s Word, particularly His promises, and thereby an ever growing understanding of His will. A Truth to Remember: He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? A Challenge to Consider:Are you willing to take Him at His Word and come boldly to His throne because you understand and rest in His grace to You in Jesus Christ? One thing I heard this morning was… |