Jeremiah 33:1-3 - "A Single, Stand-Alone Scripture on Prayer"
3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
1. The Asking.... “Call unto me.”
What a Proposition! - Prayer is God’s idea.
What an Invitation! - He’s waiting for you to call .
What a Qualification! - Simplicity… “Call.”
2. The Accessing… “Call unto me.”
The God of the universe invites you to speak to Him Presently —at any time.
Matt 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
The God of the universe invites you to speak to Him Personally
We are invited to go to the top! Talk to the King of kings and Lord of lords.
-- Dr. E. Harold Henderson. “If you were as sinless as Adam and as sufficient as Christ, prayer would still be the highest privilege and happiest experience of your life,”
The God of the universe invites you to speak to Him Perpetually
Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
3. The Answering “...and I will answer thee....” God answers prayer.
This is Positive “I will…” This is Promised “...answer…” This is Personal “...thee…”
God answers prayer because:
He is listening. He is interested. He is able. He is willing.
Phillip Brooks “Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance, but laying hold on His willingness.”
How do we address the mystery of “unanswered prayers.”
If the request is wrong, God says, “No”... answer denied!
If the timing is wrong, God says, “Slow” ... answer delayed!
If you are wrong, God says, “Grow” ...answer is different.
If the request is right, the timing is right, and you are right, God says, “Go!”
...answer is delivered!
4. The Assuring --- “And shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”
(a) Godly things come in answer to prayer
John 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
We ask and God acts. That is the way prayer works.
(b) Great things come in answer to prayer. "I will show thee great and mighty things,"
"Great" things mean big things, abundant things, many things, precious things, vast things and things which know no bounds.
"Mighty" things indicate things requiring power, strength, force, ability and authority.
(c) Guarded things come in answer to prayer. I will "show thee great and might things, which thou knowest not,". Things that are hidden will be revealed when we pray.
I know not by what methods rare, But this I know—God answers prayer.
I know that He has given His Word, Which tells me prayer is always heard,
And will be answered, soon or late, And so I pray and calmly wait.
I know not if the blessing sought, Will come in just the way I thought.
But leave my prayers to Him alone, Whose will is wiser than my own,
Assured that He will grant my quest, Or send some answer far more blest. --- anonymous
