“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;” Luke 18:1Luke 18:1

“The secret of all failure isPrayerlessness.”

I ought to prayI ought to prayI ought always to prayI ought always to prayI should not faint in prayingI should not faint in praying

1. In Faith

“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” Matt. 21:22

To have faith in

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”

James 1:5-6James 1:5-6

1. In Faith

“More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of”

2. In spirit of humility

An arrogant prayer ???

Luke 18:9-14Luke 18:9-14 – Pharisee & PublicanPharisee & Publican

“God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

James 4:6James 4:6

3. In harmony with God’s Will

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:”

1 John 5:141 John 5:14

Luke 22:42Luke 22:42 “...not my will, but Yours, be done.”

“You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.”

Jas.4:3 NKJVJas.4:3 NKJV

“You ask, and don't receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it for your pleasures.” Jas. 4:3 WEBJas. 4:3 WEB

4. By those Righteous before God

“For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” 1 Pet. 3:121 Pet. 3:12

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

James 5:16James 5:16

“He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.”

Prov. 28:9Prov. 28:9

5. With Persistence

Luke 18:1-8Luke 18:1-8 ~ persistent widow

Jesus ~ Matt. 26:44Matt. 26:44 - 3rd time

“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Acts 2:42Acts 2:42

Unconfessed SinUnconfessed Sin

“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:” Ps. 66:18Ps. 66:18

Prayers rest upon being in fellowship with God

Improper treatment of othersImproper treatment of others

“Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.” 1 Pet. 3:71 Pet. 3:7

Request GrantedRequest Granted

“And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” 1 Jn.3:221 Jn.3:22

Request GrantedRequest Granted““but not yet”but not yet”

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” Eccl. 3:1

We may think God is saying “NO”But He is really saying “WAIT”

Request GrantedRequest Granted““but not as you expect”but not as you expect”

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.” Isa.55:8Isa.55:8

GOD KNOWS WHAT IS BEST

Request DeniedRequest Denied

God will sometimes say “NO”.

We may not understand but we trust Him.

“I have lived to thank God that all my prayers have not been answered.”

AnswersAnswers

YesYes

WaitWait

DifferentDifferent

NoNo

BarriersBarriers

Unconfessed Sin

Improper treatment of others

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

Faith

Humility

Harmony

Righteous

Persistence

“Prayers should be the key of the day and the lock of the night.” – Old English Proverb

“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”

Luke 18:1Luke 18:1

Sermon by Arthur Pigman

Evans Church of Christ

515 Gibbs Road

Evans, Ga. 30809

706-855-1249

evanscoc@bellsouth.netevanscoc@bellsouth.net

www.evansgachurchofchrist.orgwww.evansgachurchofchrist.org

Sunday Morning Mar. 9, 2008