None of us has reached permanent perfection—not even Paul 1 Cor. We are all still struggling in our many weaknesses. But we may be sure of one thing. Unless we are truly serious about living the Christian life; unless we are earnestly seeking to grow daily ; unless our minds are being renewed and our existence transformed Rom. So let us bow on our knees in prayer and present our lives in humble submission to his will. May our lives reflect the words we whisper in his ear.
He is the Lord, God Almighty Gen. We are but dust Gen. He is Creator. We, the created Psa. He is holy Psa. Two men went up to the temple to pray Lk. One was a Pharisee and the other was a publican. The Pharisees were the straitest sect of Judaism Acts To put it bluntly, they were religious show-offs Mt. The common people of Palestine revered them—which seems to be the purpose of their religion.
By way of contrast, the publicans tax collectors for the Roman government were despised. They were put in the same category as Gentiles, prostitutes and sinners Mt. When the Pharisee arrived at the temple, he struck a pose and eulogized himself. I thank thee, that I am not as the rest of men. He was justified rather than the other. This word may be added. The purpose of this parable was to encourage the faithful to keep on patiently praying. The man in the story had an unexpected midnight visitor.
The man asked his neighbor for three loaves of bread. The neighbor, however, would not be troubled. But the man continued to knock. Finally, because of such persistence, the neighbor arose and gave him what he needed Lk. But it is a study in contrasts. The thrust of the parable is this. Each of these imperatives is in the Greek present tense.
The story of the unjust judge teaches a similar lesson cf. Perhaps we sometimes rob ourselves of many good things simply because we lack the confident determination persevere in prayer! God may be testing our resolve by withholding from us for a season.
One of the most utterly devasting things that the Christian can do to hinder, indeed, to virtually cancel the effect of his prayers is to harbor a surly, unforgiving attitude toward others he feels have sinned against him whether is real or imagined. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses Mt. The Jewish rabbis felt that three times to forgive was quite sufficient cf. Barclay, Proverbs Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.
You are not having fellowship with the Lord. Your prayer life is non-existent and you never spend time in His Word. John If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. The Lord could be protecting you from danger that you do not see coming.
Psalm no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. James But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. Matthew You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it. Mark Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. James Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
James But he gives more grace. Hypocritical prayer for attention. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. Giving up: Just when you give up that is when God answers. You must persevere. Galatians Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Luke Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that t hey should always pray and not give up.
Lack of faith. Hebrews And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Mark And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. Matthew For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. Sometimes when God says no or not yet it is to bring greater glory to Himself. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
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