Get Your Prayers Answered!
1 John 5:14–15
INTRODUCTION
Two men were walking through a field one day when they spotted an enraged bull. Immediately they ran toward the nearest fence. The storming bull ran after them in hot pursuit, and they realized that they were not going to make it. Terrified, one man shouted to his friend, “Say a prayer, John. We’re in trouble!” John said, “I’ve never prayed out loud before. I don’t know what to say.” “But you have to,” yelled his companion, “The bull is catching up to us.” “All right,” said John, as he ran with all his might, “I’ll say the only prayer I know. My father used to say it at the dinner table: Oh Lord, for what we are about to receive, let us truly be thankful.”
Illustration taken from Jonathan Busch at semoncentral.com
People talk about prayer and the power that is contained in prayer. The ability to approach a loving, caring, all–powerful God and lay out all your problems and present your requests is to often either ignored or underestimated by many people today.
Christians should and need to realize that we should pray to our Heavenly Father regularly, daily, and for everything. God hears us and He will answer when we come to Him in the proper way.
MAIN BODY
I. Approach with Confidence
A. Because, we have a merciful and faithful High Priest. Heb 4:14–16 “14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens,”
B. Jesus said to come with boldness. Luke 11:5–8
1. Won’t answer just because he is your friend.
2. Answers because of his boldness.
II. Approach in Compliance
A. According to God’s Will. Matt. 6:10 “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
B. In the name of Christ
1. John 14:13–14 “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.
2. Col. 3:17 “17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
III. Approach with Certainty
A. Because we know he hears our Prayers.
1. Revelation 5:8
2. Psalm 34:15–17
3. Psalm 86:5–7
B. Because we know he will answer.
1. Matt. 6:6 “6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
2. Luke 11:9–13
CONCLUSION
One day a woman was rushing home from a doctor’s appointment. Everything that could go wrong during this appointment did go wrong. The doctor had an emergency and was summoned to the hospital. The blood test he ordered took longer than usual, etc. So by the time she left the clinic she was running way behind schedule. She still had to go the pharmacy to pick up her prescription, the kids had to be retrieved from the baby sitter, she had to fix supper and get the family ready for church that night. As she began to circle the busy parking lot at Wal–Mart the proverbial windows of heaven were opened and down came the torrents of rain. While she wasn’t one who usually bothered God with small problems, she began to pray as she turned down the row closest to the front door. “Lord, you know what kind of day I’ve had, and there’s still an awful lot left to do. Could you please grant me a parking space right away, oh and close to the building so I don’t get soaked.” The words weren’t even out of her mouth when she saw the backup lights of a car come on at the end of the row. It was the best space in the whole parking lot, right up next to the handicap spots and directly in front of the door. She made straight for it and as she pulled in, she said, “never mind God, something just opened up.”
Illustration taken from David Swinney at sermoncentral.com
