Bible Prayer

[0:00] Let's go to prayer. James chapter 5 from verse 16. It tells us there, Let us pray. Lord, we thank you tonight as we can pray together and we can open your word, open it to our understanding.

[0:41] We pray, Lord, that it might bring fruit, that it might penetrate our very heart and do a work within, Lord, that your Holy Spirit might convict and draw people unto yourself, Lord, that people might turn to you tonight and that we might find that strength that you can give for our day by day.

[1:00] We pray in Jesus' name. Amen. Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are. He was an everyday man, a human being, a man like we are.

[1:13] And he prayed earnestly. He prayed that it wouldn't rain and then he prayed that it would rain. Of course, it was a testimony to his nation, to the world around him.

[1:25] And prayer has got wonderful power. Prayer has got wonderful possibilities. Amen. And we're talking about the subject of prayer.

[1:36] Prayer is the communication line between you and God. Of course, we can't ring God on a phone line. But prayer is that connection.

[1:48] It's that connection line between us and God. That we can talk with him. That we can have intimacy with him. That we can have relationship with him. Why pray? Why pray?

[1:58] Someone would ask, why should I pray? What is prayer all about? Does it really matter? Does it make any difference? Prayer honors the Lord. When you pray, it means that you're saying that you need him.

[2:11] When you pray, it means that you're depending upon him. There's a preacher, S.D. Gordon said, The greatest thing that anyone can do for God and for man is to pray.

[2:21] It's the greatest thing that we can do. It's to connect with God. And to bring our needs, to bring others' needs before him. How should we pray? We're going to look at some Bible verses that tell us how we should pray.

[2:35] It says there that we should pray fervently. In that verse that we read, Elijah prayed earnestly. He prayed in earnest. He prevailed. He tarried until his faith prevailed.

[2:46] And then rain came. Some of the biblical hallmarks of prayer. Bible prayer is fervent prayer. We see that in Acts 12 verse 5. Peter was there in a prison.

[3:09] And then the Lord miraculously intervened. And Peter was released from prison. And he came knocking on the door of the prayer meeting. And they didn't believe that it was him. Even though they were praying for his release.

[3:20] They prayed without ceasing. And yet God answered their prayer. And they didn't realize that it was happening even then. Prayer can do wonders.

[3:32] In Luke 22 verse 44. It's got that same word of earnest. When our Lord Jesus was praying. In Luke 22 verse 44. In the garden of Gethsemane.

[3:43] And it says, And being in an agony. He prayed more earnestly. And his sweat was as it were great drops of blood. Falling down to the ground. His sweat was like blood.

[3:55] Falling to the ground. It was an earnest prayer. And that's the same word used of. Without ceasing. Of Elijah praying earnestly. It means stretched outedly.

[4:07] That's the kind of literal meaning of this word earnestly. That we're stretched out. That we're putting ourselves in a stretched out. Extreme fashion. Fashion. There's an earnestness.

[4:18] There's an extremity to it. That's the sense of it there. It's like when you can imagine of our Lord in Gethsemane. That there was an earnestness there. As he was facing the test of Calvary.

[4:31] As he was facing that awesome time of testing. That he was in earnest prayer. And Bible prayer is intense prayer. Prayer is something that we should take seriously.

[4:43] That we should take it as an intensity. And intensely prayerfulness. That we should have. In Jeremiah 29 verse 13. It says. The Lord tells the people.

[4:55] And he says. And you shall seek me. And find me. When you shall search for me. With all your heart. God wants you to seek him. To seek him.

[5:06] For every one of you. Whether you're saved or not tonight. God urges you. He says. You shall seek me. And you shall find me. When you shall search for me.

[5:17] With all your heart. Let it be your heart's cry tonight. Let it be from your very innermost man. The innermost being. That is within you. That you'll have that intensity. To seek him.

[5:28] To seek him. To call out on him. To cry out to him. God listens to our hearts. Rather than our lips. It's not so much what we say. It's the pouring out of our heart.

[5:39] It's the intensity of our heart. As we meet with God. Now when we come to church. It's a meeting. But I'd like to think. That more than just a meeting. With one another. That we're meeting with God.

[5:50] And you don't have to. Wait to church to pray. You can pray. As the Lord Jesus says. Go into a secret place. And spend time. Communing with your father. And your father.

[6:01] Who sees you in secret. He will reward you openly. Get in tune. With God's heart. And prayer doesn't have to be. Some kind of. Convoluted.

[6:12] Jargonistic kind of. Flowery kind of. Lengthy kind of prayer. Prayer can be something. That's very simple. Very short. Very to the point. Very.

[6:23] Very basic. We see an example of prayer. In Matthew 15. Verse 25. It says there. That there was a woman of Canaan. A woman of Canaan.

[6:34] And she used three words. In her prayer. Prayer. She said. Lord. Help me. It's not a very profound prayer. But it was a very real prayer.

[6:46] It was the prayer of her heart. As she prayed. As she cried out. As she worshipped him. Saying. Lord. Help me. And that's what. The Lord just wants you to cry out to him.

[6:57] Lord. Help me. It's like when. Peter was sinking. In the. Water. When he stepped out. To meet our Lord. In the water. And he cried out.

[7:08] Lord. Save me. Lord. Help me. That can be. Just that simple kind of prayer. That simple. Expression. Of how you feel. Of what you're. Wanting from him tonight.

[7:19] Bible prayer has a burden. It's a praying through. A specific prayer. It's an intercession. Where God puts people on your heart. People. That you care about.

[7:30] You want to pray for them. Pray that they get saved. Pray that people. Find. Christ. That they find his guidance. That they find. New life.

[7:40] That they find. His grace. To help. In time of need. God can put people. Upon your heart. And give you a burden. For prayer. Bible prayer.

[7:51] Is believing prayer. Prayer that is. In faith. Prayer that is. Praying. Holding on to God. Trusting him. We see that in Acts 1. Verse 14.

[8:02] Where the church of God. Was gathered together. And it says there. That these all. Continued. With one accord. In prayer. And supplication. Now supplication. Is really. We get our words.

[8:13] Supply from. It means that we are. Asking God to supply. Our needs. We are asking God. To supply. What we need. In our lives. That is really. Supplication.

[8:23] It is a big word. But really simple. Meaning. Asking God to supply. And with the women. And Mary. The mother of Jesus. And with his brethren. These all continue. With one accord.

[8:33] In prayer. And supplication. God wants us to have. That one accord. In believing prayer. Continuing. With one accord. In James 1. Verses 5. It tells you.

[8:44] There is a promise there. For you tonight. For each one of you. Here tonight. If any of you lack wisdom. I know that is me. A lot of the time. If any of you lack wisdom. Let him ask of God.

[8:55] That give it to all men liberally. And it prayeth not. And it shall be given him. It says there. That God. Gives all men liberally. If you want wisdom. If you lack wisdom.

[9:06] Ask him for it. And he will give it to you. But let him ask in faith. It says. Nothing wavering. For he that wavereth. Is like a wave of the sea. Driven with the wind.

[9:16] And tossed. It's like a ship. Being tossed to and fro. In the waves. In the storms. God doesn't want us to be wavering. And double minded.

[9:27] He wants you to ask in faith. If you've got something. You want God to. To grant you. If you've got something. You want to. Speak to God. Speak it in faith. Speak it. With believing.

[9:39] With trusting in your heart. And depending on the Holy Spirit. You know. It's wonderful really. I mean. Of course we know. That God can give us everything. Without us even asking for it. But he wants to hear you.

[9:50] It's like. I was encouraged. With what Ian said earlier. That our Father. Wants you to cry out to him. He wants you to thank him. For what. What the good gifts. That he's given to you.

[10:02] Our Heavenly Father. Wants you to thank him. For the good things that you have. That you take for granted. And also. To depend upon him. And to ask him for his blessings. For the future.

[10:12] To depend upon the Holy Spirit. And. What a great example. Our very Lord was himself. The Lord Jesus. It says. That he was in the habit of prayer. He was in the habit of praying.

[10:24] He lived a life of prayer. He did nothing. Except. Without the Father. Without the leading of the Father. He rose early to pray. He made a habit of prayer.

[10:35] He spent time in prayer. In a regular fashion. And it's been said that. The Church of God. Right through the book of Acts. The Acts of the Apostles. Or the Acts of the Holy Spirit.

[10:45] As it's been termed. Right through the book of Acts. The saints were either on their feet. Or on their knees. They were either out there. Active and activated.

[10:57] Or they were prayerful. And praying. Seeking God. Bible prayer is prevailing prayer. It's awaiting on God. It's awaiting upon him. As we're waiting expectantly.

[11:09] For God to intervene. To God on act. To act on our behalf. And. We can prevail in prayer. We can wait upon him. It may not happen immediately.

[11:19] It may not happen straight away. When you pray. It might take time. For something to happen. But keep on praying. Make it consistent.

[11:30] Make it regular. And. Look out for the things. That can block your prayers. That can hinder your prayer. It tells us in. Psalm 66 verse 18. That sin.

[11:41] Can block prayer. Sin can be a barrier. That hinders your prayer. From. From being successful. From being effective. In Psalm 66 verse 18. The psalmist cried.

[11:52] He said. If I regard iniquity. Or sin. In my heart. The Lord will not hear me. If you've got sin there. That you're regarding in your heart. The Lord will not hear you.

[12:03] So deal with the sin. Deal with the sin. And we know. That many prayers. God will not hear. It's a fact. If there's sin. In your life. If there's unconfessed sin.

[12:13] Then your prayers. Don't get any further than the ceiling. Your prayer doesn't reach. Into heaven. Your prayer. Doesn't reach the. Ear of God. If you've got sin there.

[12:26] It's very important. Each one of us need to. Lay our hearts bare. Before him. If there's something sinful. If there's a. If there's something not resolved.

[12:37] Where you've got something against your brother. Your sister. If there's. If there's something that is wrong. Then God will not hear your prayer. So. Brother. Sister. Get it right. Tonight.

[12:48] Don't regard iniquity in your heart. Deal with the sin. Ask God. To take that sin. To take that which is wrong. That you know that is wrong in your life. And ask God to deal with it tonight.

[12:59] And each day. Deal with the sin. Persevere in prayer. It says in Acts 2. 42. Another. Example of the church of God. Praying. In Acts 2.

[13:09] Verse 42. It says. And they continued steadfastly. They steadfastly continued. It says. In the apostles doctrine. In the teaching. And in the fellowship. And in the breaking of prayer.

[13:21] And in the prayers. Prayers. It was something that they continued steadfastly in. They were persistent in it. And it's likewise in Romans 12. Verse 12. Paul says.

[13:32] Rejoicing in hope. Patient in tribulation. Continuing instant. In prayer. And that word instant. It means steadfast. Continue steadfast. Continue steadfastly.

[13:43] In prayer. Keep on praying. Persistently praying. Prayer that is not wearing. Prayer that is persevering. Colossians 4.2 says. Likewise. Continue in prayer.

[13:55] And watch in the same with thanksgiving. Sometimes I think. We just go only so far. And God wants you to continue. In prayer. I know. There's a sister here tonight.

[14:05] Who loves prayer. She's given me a book. With lots of lovely prayers in. That were uttered. Through history. By great men and women of God. People of faith. And we can take heart.

[14:17] There's prayers in the Bible. The Psalms are full of examples. Of really prayers. And Psalms. Of songs of faith. Of examples. Of the kind of things.

[14:27] That we can pray. Of very prayerful songs. In the hymn book of the church. In the Psalms. There that we can take to heart. And see how Christ prayed. How the people prayed.

[14:39] When they cried. As the Canaanite woman. Lord help me. As the man in the temple. As I talked about recently. How he just said. Lord be merciful to me the sinner.

[14:51] Have mercy on me a sinner. Simple prayers. And yet. They're the prayers that Christ commended. That he. Gave as examples for us. To learn how to pray.

[15:02] And of course. Of our Lord's example. To pray. How he told us. When the disciples cried out. Lord teach us how to pray. And he gave us. As some call it. The Lord's prayer.

[15:13] And there's many examples there. The things to put in your prayer. I know. I've heard it said. There's a fourfold. Way of prayer.

[15:23] Like a guide for prayer. That you can use to think about. What to include. In your praying. And it's. A-C-T-S.

[15:35] Acts. A-C-T-S. Adoration. A is adoration. Adoring him. It's praising him. It's worshipping him. It's like.

[15:45] Not just. As Ian was saying. It's not just. Asking him all the time. But it's thanking him. It's praising him. It's worshipping him. A is adoration. C is confession. Confession.

[15:57] Bring your needs before him. Confess your sin. Confess your lack. Confess your faults to him. Ask him to forgive you. Repent. Confession. T is thanksgiving.

[16:08] Giving him thanks. Thanking him for all the blessings in your life. And S is supplication. It's the thing we put last. It's asking him to supply. Asking him to supply our needs.

[16:20] Now sometimes we come to prayer. And it's like a big shopping list. Isn't it? We bring a big shopping list. And oh God. Do this. And do that. As if God's running on errands for us.

[16:31] Instead of thinking to adore him. To love him. To praise him. To thank him. Firstly. And to confess our need. Of his grace and forgiveness to us. And so. Continue in prayer.

[16:42] Devote yourself to it. Have that prayerful attitude. That constant attitude. To maintain it. Of prayer. Luke 18 verse 1. The Lord Jesus says. That he speak a parable unto them.

[16:54] To this end. That man ought always to pray. And not to faint. And he told a story of a widow woman. A widow woman who kept coming to a judge. Seeking justice for her case.

[17:05] And she kept coming continually to him. Day after day. Moment by moment. Pestering him really. Hounding this judge.

[17:15] To plead her case. To give her justice. And the Lord Jesus said. He says. That's an example. Of how men ought always to pray. And not to faint.

[17:26] Not to give up. To keep coming continually. And the Lord Jesus commended this woman. For her continual coming to the judge. And he says that like that too. Continue to come to the father.

[17:37] Continue to come to him. And plead your need. Plead your case. Seek his help. And he will hear and help. And act on your behalf. Bible prayer.

[17:49] Bible prayer is agonizing prayer. In Romans 15 verse 30. It says. Paul says. Now I beseech you brethren. For the Lord Jesus Christ's sake.

[17:59] He says. Brethren. I urge you. I beseech you. I implore you. And for the love of the spirit. That you strive together with me. In your prayers to God. For me.

[18:10] Paul asked them to pray for him. He says. Pray together. Strive together with me. In your prayers to God. For me. And like that too. I thank the Lord for you.

[18:22] That are praying for me. That are praying for the church. And that we can pray for one another. I know I need a lot of prayer. I need prayer. It encourages my heart. When I hear that people are praying for me.

[18:33] I know there's a man. Who writes to me. Regularly. And he says that he's always praying. He regularly prays for me. And that. That means a lot to me. And I know that. We can all pray for one another.

[18:45] Be prayerful. For each other. Agonizing prayer. It says. Strive together with me. That's got the sense of the word agony. In the Greek. Original word that we get.

[18:57] The word agonizing. Is the word striving there. God wants us to take it so seriously. That we have a striving. That we have an intensity. That we have a fervor.

[19:08] And a wrestling. And an ardor about our prayer. That's prayer with feeling. It's prayer with concern. It's prayer with a zeal. With an urgency to it.

[19:21] An intensity to it. That's the kind of prayer that we need to have. Not just to take prayer as something. That we can flippantly choose to do. Or not to do. And we can take it or leave it.

[19:33] That it's something that. When we find time for. But it's something that we want to take. In a very serious fashion. In a very pressing manner.

[19:44] That prayer is something that we have got zeal. And fervor about. What does prayer accomplish? What does prayer accomplish? It says in Luke 3 verse 21.

[19:56] While he prayed the heaven opened. And that was the Lord Jesus. While he prayed the heaven opened. And there's a sense where God intervenes. There's divine power.

[20:08] That we can tap into. There's a wonderful reservoir. Of God's spiritual power. The spiritual power that comes through prayer. And it's been said that prayer is stronger than handcuffs.

[20:19] Than iron gates. Than military guards. As we know. When the church was praying for Peter. They couldn't stop Peter from being released. By God's intervening power. And there's a divine channel of power.

[20:31] That comes through prayer. Not that we can twist God's arm. Or make God do our bidding. That he's some kind of servant. At our bidding. At our disposal.

[20:43] But as we depend upon him. As we have that true relationship. Of servant and master. Of lord and servant. Then we will want to be obedient to his way.

[20:55] And we'll be willing. To tread some difficult paths. If need be. Because he is the one. Who has the ultimate power. He is the one. That we want to be.

[21:07] Living according to his will. And it's been said here. There's a quote here. About prayer. Prayer. Prayer has softened the hard hearts. Of wicked kings.

[21:19] Changed their plans. And directed their pens. While they gave decrees. Contrary to the natural desire. Prayer has torn mighty kingdoms. From their foundations.

[21:31] Wrought mighty deeds. Of righteousness. Obtained the benefits. From divine promises. Closed the mouths. Of hungry lions. And made them as tame. As playful kittens.

[21:42] Taken the sting. And burn out of fire. And given it the comfort. So it could not even singe a hair. Out of the cold winter of death. Has brought life.

[21:54] Prayer has changed the destiny. Of peoples and nations. It stayed the sun. In its mighty course. While God was marching forward. In his plans. Prayer has turned the rivers of.

[22:06] History. Out of their courses. Prayer has blotted out nations. From the face of the earth. And the places which once knew them. In the glory of their splendor.

[22:17] Now know them no more. While on the other hand. Prayer has raised a nation. From the dung hill. Prayer has got wonderful power. It's tremendous power. Amazing power. And effective praying.

[22:30] Has obedience. In 1 John 3 verse 22. It says. And whatsoever we ask. We receive of him. Because we keep his commandments. And do those things.

[22:40] That are pleasing in his sight. So. Prayer. Is linked to obedience. It says there. That we. We receive of him. Because we keep.

[22:51] His commandments. So. If you expect to receive. Something from him. Keep his commandments. Obedience. Is linked to. Receiving from prayer.

[23:02] And we're doing those things. That are pleasing. In his sight. 1 John 3.22. So. That's a serious verse. Isn't it? We receive of him.

[23:12] Because we keep his commandments. And do those things. That are pleasing in his sight. If you're being disobedient. Then your prayer. Is not going to be effective. Submission is needed.

[23:25] We need to have. Obedience. To. To him. To our Lord. Submission is the true spirit of prayer. It's like our Lord Jesus. When he prayed.

[23:36] In Matthew 6. In the Lord's Prayer. As it's called. One of the phrases there. Is. Thy will be done. When we pray. We want to acknowledge. That God's will.

[23:46] Will be done. His sovereignty. We want to submit to his will. Now maybe. There's things. That will go on in your life. That you won't always. You won't always feel.

[23:57] It's a comfortable thing. It's a pleasant thing. God's will might mean. That you'll go through some discomfort. Some displeasure. Because he's doing something beyond.

[24:08] What you can see in the present day. So effective praying has obedience. Effective praying has authority. There's an authority. There's an authority about your praying. There's an authority about your prayer.

[24:21] We know that. We pray in Jesus name. We ask in his name. We ask in his name. Now it's not a kind of mantra that we tack on at the end.

[24:32] That that phrase has got any magical power of its own. But we're praying in his name. In his will. We're praying according to his will.

[24:43] We're praying as he would have us pray. Okay. And his name is like an authority on a check. You know if you get a check that someone's written.

[24:56] You've just got a check here in your hand. And it says to Ian Keatley. One million dollars. Okay. Someone's written a check here for Ian Keatley.

[25:08] For one million dollars. But they haven't signed it. So it's not much use at all. Just as well tear it up Ian. Sorry about that. You know.

[25:20] It's like prayer. It's got Jesus name on it. That's the authority on the check. And so to speak. That's the authority that God puts in the prayer that we pray.

[25:32] There's an authority behind it. As we pray in Jesus name. Because Christ's headship is there. It says in Ephesians 1 verse 22. That he is head over all things.

[25:42] So here's the supreme ruling authority. Here's the head. Here's the overarching authority over all things. And when you pray in Jesus name and according to his will.

[25:54] It's meaning that there's an authority there. About what you're praying. Of course we know that our praying must be in accordance with his will. You know you can pray all kinds of selfish and carnal things.

[26:08] You know for your own selfish vain ends. And for your own fleshly selfish wishes. And they will not be answered. Because you're just praying a vain prayer.

[26:20] But if you're praying according to his will. If it's something that would be in alignment with what God's will would be for your life. Then that's going to be a different story. Christ. Christ. The word signifies one who is anointed to reign.

[26:36] His name is the Lord Jesus Christ. And the word Christ it means the anointed one. And when people were anointed. They were anointed in the Bible for various reasons.

[26:47] But amongst them as prophet, priest and king. And Christ was the anointed one. He is anointed as king. He is anointed to reign. He is the high and lofty one.

[26:57] Of whom it says in Isaiah 57 verse 15. For thus saith the high and lofty one. That inhabits earth eternity. Whose name is holy. It says.

[27:08] That this one. He says. I will dwell in the high and holy place. With him also. That is of a contrite and humble spirit. To revive the spirit of the humble.

[27:20] And to revive the heart of the contrite ones. Isn't that wonderful. That scripture. It's one to write down. And underline in your Bible. If you can. Isaiah 57 verse 15.

[27:30] Thus saith the high and lofty one. That inhabited eternity. Whose name is holy. I dwell. In the high and holy place. With him also. That is of a contrite and humble spirit.

[27:42] To revive the spirit of the humble. And to revive the heart of the contrite ones. If you're contrite. If you're broken. If you're repentant. If you realize. Your great need of him.

[27:53] Of his saving love. Of his forgiveness. God says that he will dwell with you. He will dwell with the contrite. With those that have a humble spirit.

[28:04] The one who inhabits eternity. The one who inhabits eternity. He created life. He has been since eternity.

[28:14] And will be forever. Forever. He is the one. The high and holy and lofty one. He deigns to come. And visit with you. With me. That's wonderful isn't it.

[28:27] To have that. That wonderful promise. That he will do that. He will visit with you. He will live with you. And praying. Praying is more than just saying our prayers. Of course we know. Some will just.

[28:40] Repeat. Some kind of prayer. I'll just. As you know. Well-meaning people at times. They recite prayers. Out of a book. Out of.

[28:51] Out of some kind of order of service. It's more than just saying words. It needs to be from your heart. It needs to be like the Canaanite woman. Lord help me.

[29:03] Help me just something so simple. It's your heartfelt. Crying. That is what God wants to hear from you. Not some kind of. Not some flowery kind of prayer.

[29:15] That doesn't really mean. What you're meaning. It's got to come from your heart. And prayer is something. It's a prayerful frame of mind. That he wants you to have.

[29:26] So that. You don't just wait until. You come together at church. When it's a corporate. A group praying time. Or you know. In a study time. Where you pray together.

[29:37] It's not. That you have to wait. To gather with other believers. To pray. You can pray. Silently. You can pray. In your room.

[29:49] In your car. In your day by day life. That you live. And God wants you to pray. He wants you to pray. Young people. Older people here tonight.

[30:00] The Lord wants to hear you pray. It's like Ian was saying before. The Father. Our Heavenly Father. The Father wants to hear you. Cry out to Him. Is He your Heavenly Father? That's a question.

[30:11] For a start. Do you know Him. As Savior. I urge you. Each one. I know I had to come to that place. As a young man. Of 15. To come to that place.

[30:22] To realize that I had. A great need. Of His saving grace. To realize that. Whilst I was attending church. For a long time. I wasn't saved. And the greatest thing.

[30:34] That you can know. Is His forgiveness. For your sin. That's the starting point. For you to realize. That you're lost. And you need to be saved.

[30:44] You need to do a U-turn. To turn around. And to cry out. For His mercy. And He just longs to hear you cry out. He longs to hear you. To cry out to Him.

[30:55] For that saving grace. That salvation. And that's just the greatest prayer. That you can pray. Is that first prayer. Really. The first prayer that He hears.

[31:06] It's the first prayer that He hears. Because He's not going to hear you. If you hold iniquity in your heart. If you've got sin in your heart. Then all you're praying. Is not going through. But that prayer of repentance.

[31:18] Is the first prayer that He hears. In effect. And so. In 1 Thessalonians 5 verse 17. It says. Pray without ceasing. Let your prayer be unceasing prayer. Prayer that is continuing.

[31:30] So that. Now of course you're not walking around. Praying while. You know. Praying out loud. While you're at work. While you're supposed to be doing your job. But. But there's a prayer that. That is within you.

[31:40] That's. That might not be uttered. It's a prayerfulness. That is about your frame of mind. Your frame of reference. It's about. Who you are. As a. As a Christian man. A Christian woman.

[31:51] That you live in a spirit of prayer. So that. There's a prayerfulness. As you consider others around about you. As you consider your day by day needs. And life. That you're trusting in him.

[32:03] You're depending upon him. Step by step. Moment by moment. And it means a being faithful in prayer. A keeping on praying. And prayer. Really. It's a great privilege. It's such a wonderful privilege.

[32:15] That you have. If you're a Christian here tonight. You've got a wonderful privilege. And it's an untapped power at times. Sometimes we don't stop to pray.

[32:26] It's like. What a friend we have in Jesus. All our sins and grief to bear. What a privilege to carry. Everything to God in prayer.

[32:36] And yet we don't do it. Do we? We just go about. Day by day. You know. I'm guilty. Of this. That. You know. You get up and you don't pray. You don't stop to pray.

[32:48] You know. It's good. If you can. Just. Spend a moment. Just spend a moment. Of prayer. And commit your day to him. When you go to bed. At night. Thank him for his grace and help.

[33:00] Thank him for. For sustaining you. For protecting you. For his mercies. His mercies are new every morning. And brothers and sisters.

[33:10] We can't pray enough. It says. There's a man called Torrey. An old time preacher. He says. Prayer can do. Everything that God. Can do. That's the extent of prayer.

[33:22] Prayer has got wonderful. A wonderful reach. A wonderful. Extent. And. Perhaps you're hindering God. From working in your life.

[33:32] By not praying. By not seeking his face. Perhaps you're missing out. On that great privilege of prayer. On that great privilege of depending upon him. Of trusting your life to him.

[33:45] So hang on. And keep praying through. And friends. Just one. Closing scripture. With a promise again. In Daniel 10. Verse 12. It says. That Daniel. Was.

[33:57] Spoken to. And. I believe it was an angel. That spoke to him. In Daniel 10. Verse 12. And it says. Then said he unto me. Fear not Daniel.

[34:09] For from the first day. That thou did set thine heart to understand. And to chasten thyself before thy God. Thy words were heard. And I am come for thy words. Daniel was there.

[34:20] He was praying. He was praying for quite a length of time. Daniel was a. Certainly a man of prayer. In the word of God. His life was a life of prayer. He had regular prayer. Sustained prayer.

[34:34] Systematic prayer. And. Perhaps Daniel might have thought. Wow. All my praying. I am not sure that it is getting through. I am not sure that God is hearing. What I am praying. And.

[34:44] There was a promise there. There was a. A response there. From the Lord. Thy words were heard. God's. God will hear those words of prayer. That you utter. You know.

[34:54] You might have prayed prayers. And you. You really don't know. Did God hear what I prayed? Did God hear those things that I asked him for? Those needs. Those. Those feelings. Those. Those.

[35:06] Intercedings for others. Those. Pleadings. Those. Crying out to him. That I prayed. When only he heard. You know. No one else was around to hear.

[35:17] The Bible says that he hears your prayer. He hears your prayer. I know there's other scriptures that talk about. How. How. He hears from his. From his holy heaven.

[35:27] That God will hear. That prayer that we utter. If it's prayed. Of course. If it's prayed scripturally. Then God will hear that prayer. Friends. Just to recap. Just to. Refresh what we've covered.

[35:38] Just briefly. Bible prayer. It's fervent. It's intense. It's believing. It's prevailing. It's agonizing. There's power through prayer. There's obedience in prayer.

[35:49] There's authority. In your prayer. And God wants you to have a prayerfulness. About your life. So. It's not just waiting till you get to church. Have some kind of prayerfulness.

[36:00] About you. It's a prayerfulness. That lives with you. 24 by 7. As you keep on praying. Praying without ceasing. And it's a great privilege. That you have. Don't miss out. On tapping into.

[36:12] That privilege of prayer. Let's pray. Let's pray. Let's pray.