DESERVE: WILL I EVER BE GOOD ENOUGH? PRAYER...
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Jeremiah 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. Acts 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
BAD ATTITUDES, BAD WORDS, AND BAD WORKS…
I HAVE A RIGHT… I hear a phrase very often that I am not for sure it is valid. I DESERVE THIS… I merit this… To deserve means I have done something or will do something showing worthy of reward or punishment.
In 1970, 51 years ago Linda and I married. We did not have Early American furniture. We had Early Ancient furniture. Our couch was a gift that someone was throwing away. Our recliner sat like a potty chair. One old lady visited us, she sat in the chair and could not get up? Our bed was lumpy. We had an old Plymouth that if you hit a puddle it would die and not start again until it dried out for an hour. But we started our marriage DEBT-FREE.
PREACHER WE DESERVE IT… DON’T YOU KNOW, WE DESERVE THIS STUFF… NOW!
Today we have many resources available. Is renting furniture a resource or is it a RIP-OFF? It is cheaper up front to rent? They tell you the monthly payment? They do not tell you the interest rate, consumer protection plan, damage fees, insurance and hidden fees… You owe $2,170.32 after making minimum payments at the end of a year you owe $2,400. I HAVE TO HAVE IT NOW… Often the horrible debt load becomes an enemy to the young couple. LEASE VS FLEECE?
I had been counseling a couple that was rapidly heading toward divorce. They were borrowing money on the credit cards to make the minimum payments. They could not make the payments. Each month the debt grew at 18% or more. The late payment fees were destroying their budget. They spent out $300 a month more than they made. They borrowed from their family and their friends to make the payments. They had a fancy apartment that impressed all their friends. They were behind in their rent and faced eviction. They pulled up in a new car. The lady told me the payment was ONLY $15.00 A MONTH MORE THAN THE OTHER CAR. ONLY 15 BUCKS MORE? That got them current on the car payment. I said: HONEY, YOU CAN’T MAKE THE PAYMENTS ON WHAT YOU HAD… HOW WILL YOU MAKE THE PAYMENTS ON MORE? WE DESERVE IT NOW… I asked have you ever heard of living on what you make?
*EARN: to obtain in return for labor, you apply effort and work.
*DESERVE: It is my right, reward, assist…
*ENTITLEMENT: I HAVE THE RIGHT TO THIS. I deserve this privilege of special treatment. Pay people to go back to work?
WE HAVE NO DOUBT THAT GOD WILL HELP US … I AM VERY CERTAIN THAT MERCY AND GRACE CAN NEVER BE EARNED OR MERITED… GOD FORGIVES LET HIM… WE HEAR SO MUCH ABOUT CONFESSION BUT VERY LITTLE ABOUT REPENTANCE AND CHANGE. WHEN WE HAVE THE RIGHT ATTITUDE GOD IS ABLE TO HELP US FINISH HIS WORK.
Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
The question is about our words, works and attitudes. We can be certain that God is able to help us beginning with the responsibilities that belong to us. God help us accomplish the good work. God can and will help us continue his work until it is finally finished on the day. We must walk in faith, push aside our doubts and believe God to work in us and on us… IN HIM WE LIVE…
THE LAST DAYS COULD BRING A SENSE OF HOPELESSNESS IN GOD’S DIVINE PLAN. DANGER MIGHT WELL BE LOSING HEART? HOW DO PEOPLE LOSE HEART?
*OUGHT: Moral obligation, We have a duty. Something you should do. Good thing to perform.
Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
SPARE TIRE PRAYER LIFE… DO WE KNOW PRAYER SHOULD BE OUR FIRST OPTION? PRAYER IS OFTEN OUR LAST OPTION…
We know what a spare tire is… It rides everywhere we go but is seldom used. It is only used in a crisis or flat tire event. I had a car 10 years. I had never looked at the spare. Late one night I had a flat. I never thought about the spare. I let the spare tire down and be dog gone if the spare was flat too.
What’s the first thing you know --- First thing you know Jed’s a millionaire, kin folk said Jed move away from there.…
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you
FOR MANY YEARS I MISQUOTED THE BIBLE: I STATED THE BIBLE SAID: LORD TEACH US HOW TO PRAY. We know there are many obstacles to a devoted prayer life.
I was a young man and I heard the Preacher say the Bible says: TEACH US HOW TO PRAY. In my heart I could not wait to get home to prove that preacher wrong. He was right.
Prayer was very important to Jesus. Prayer had a high priority
Luke 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
WHEN YOU PRAY!
Luke 11:2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
CALL MY HOUSE A HOUSE OF PRAYER…
Matthew 21:13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
WHAT IS GOD’S DESIRE ABOUT HIS HOUSE? PUBLIC VS. PRIVATE PRAYER? HEAR ME? LISTEN? JESUS IS AS CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR MOTIVE IN PRAYER AS HE IS ABOUT THE WORDS AND LENGTH OF YOUR PRAYERS. WE CAN FIND THE SECRET PLACE OF PRAYER… YOU WILL NEVER ARISE ANY HIGHER IN PUBLIC THAN YOU ARE IN YOUR PRIVATE PRAYER LIFE.
Matthew 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
TWO KINDS OF ATTITUDES ABOUT PRAYER, THE PHARISEE AND THE TAX COLLECTOR. HEY, I AM SO GOOD… MANY THINK PRAYER IS ABOUT LOUD, MANY WORDS THAT IMPRESS PEOPLE… ARE WE PRAYING ABOUT SELF…
Luke 18:9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
ANY GOOD JEW KNEW YOU PRAY THREE TIMES A DAY. WE DO FIND TWO ATTITUDES IN PRAYER. THE ME PRAYER…
1. STANDS UP…
2. THE PHARISEE PRAYS ABOUT HIMSELF. EXALTED SELF OPINION.
3. THE PHARISEE PRAYS TO INFORM GOD HOW WONDERFUL HE WAS.
4. COMPARISON CHRISTIANITY? I AM NOT LIKE THE BAD PEOPLE.
4. HE THEN PUTS EVERYONE ELSE DOWN TO ELEVATE HOW GOOD HE WAS.
5. HE THROWS UP HOW HE FASTED…
6. THE PHARISEE BRAGS ABOUT HIS GIVING
THE TAX COLLECTOR KNEW HE WAS A SINNER. ALL TAX COLLECTORS WERE HATED 1. HE WAS A JEW WORKING FOR ROME. (TRAITOR) 2. TAX COLLECTORS WERE NOT PAYED BY ROME. THEY WERE PAID BY WHAT EXTRA THEY COULD COLLECT.
3. TAX COLLECTORS WERE NOTORIOUS FOR BEING DISHONEST AND OFTEN ABUSED THE SYSTEM.
4. THE TAX MAN WILL NOT RAISE HIS HEAD, HUMILITY.
5. HE HITS HIS CHEST… HE IS VERY SORRY.
6. HE ASKED FOR GOD’S MERCY AND GRACE.
7. HE KNEW HE WAS A SINNER.
CONCLUSION: LIFE AND PRAYER ARE ABOUT YOUR ATTITUDES. ONE PRAYER IMPRESSED GOD… NO NOT THE RELIGIOUS GOOD GUY? GOD WAS PLEASED BY THE HUMBLE MAN THAT SOUGHT FORGIVENESS.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
EVALUATE YOUR PRAYER LIFE. ARE YOU ACCOUNTABLE?
