Taking God At His Word Series

John 15:1-8

1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away : and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth (prunes) it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Introduction: Taking God At His Word

*Taking Someone at their word in business*

I believe there are people who simply nod at Gods Word

Simple acknowledgement that that is what it says

Nod yes, that is what the Bible says

They don’t allow their faith to extend from the page

Then I believe there are people who on some level believe

But this is not a firmly held believe in the sense of here and now

Could God heal you may ask this person, yes they believe so

In a land far, far away...

Their faith is only in theory...

This is one reason that we fail to pray --

We don’t believe in 1st place

Then there are people who take God at His Word

This person...

But the Bible is telling us in this text, verse 7,

“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you”

The reason prayer has such great potential for changing things is God.

God has all power over natural processes!

God has power to change the progression we see w/natural eyes!

Thats why there is hope in prayer!

Thats why my faith in prayer!

The 2 Traps of Our Faith in Prayer:

Two traps of faith...

1st Trap: Why Pray If God Controls All Things?

why pray anyway, because if God is sovereign and controls and plans all things, what's the point in praying?

The Lord is in control of all things, no doubt about it

This is rooted in repeated testimony of God in Scripture

From the establishing of Kings and Governments to the randomness of dice in a game or gambling table

Proverbs 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.

(NIV) Proverbs 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.

Daniel 2:21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:

So from the dominion of kings to the roll of the dice,

God governs the universe by his wisdom and power

Understand, he orchestrated everything to get us to this point, then-- He told us to pray!

Matthew 7:7-8

7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find ; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

8 For every one that asketh receiveth ; and he that seeketh findeth ; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened .

Jesus goes on to say in that passage, which parent among you when your child asks for bread, would you give him a stone?

Or when you child asks for a fish, would you give him a snake?

He says, well you being evil, being fallen, sinful, human flesh -- and you know how to give your children good gifts when they ask -- how much more does your Heavenly Father know how to give good gifts to His children who ask of Him???

Psalm 145:18-19

18 The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.

19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.

God planned to destroy Sodom but Abraham petitioned God to save Sodom if there were 50 righteous men and God agreed. Abraham then petitioned God to save if there were 40 and so on until God agreed to save the city if there were only 10 righteous men in the city! (Genesis 18)