The Privilege Of Prayer

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                                "PRAYER"

                        The Privilege Of Prayer

INTRODUCTION

1. In "The Power Of Prayer" we saw where prayer can provide...
   a. Forgiveness from God    e. Boldness from God
   b. Peace from God          f. Opportunity from God
   c. Strength from God       g. Healing from God
   d. Wisdom from God         h. Tranquility from God

2. Yet "The Privilege Of Prayer" is not available to all who pray; for
   some...
   a. Their prayers will be an abomination to God
   b. Their prayers will fall on deaf ears
   c. Their prayers will be hindered
   d. Their prayers will not be answered favorably

[We might be praying people, even pray fervently; but do we have the
right to pray, to expect God to heed us when we pray?  Take note...]

I. FOR WHOM PRAYER IS NOT A PRIVILEGE

   A. THOSE WHO WILL NOT HEED GOD'S WORD...
      1. Those who turn their ears from the law, their prayers are anf
         abomination - Pro 28:9
      2  Such is the case of those who will not endure sound doctrine
         - cf. 2 Ti 4:3-4
      -- If we will not listen to God, why should He listen to us?

   B. THOSE WHOSE SINS SEPARATE THEM FROM GOD...
      1. Sins can separate one from God so He will not hear - Isa 59:1-2
      2. Such is the condition of those who will not seek God's
         forgiveness - Ro 6:23
      -- If we reject God's forgiveness of sins, can we expect Him to
         listen to us?

   C. THOSE WHO FAIL TO TREAT OTHERS JUSTLY...
      1. Who fail to consider the poor - Psa 41:1-3
      2. Who fail to treat their wives as they should - Mal 2:13-14;
         1 Pe 3:7
      3. Who fail to make things right with those they have offended
         - Mt 5:23-24
      3. Who fail to forgive those who sinned against them - Mt 18:21-35
      -- If we will not treat others justly, how can we hope to receive
         God's mercy?

   D. THOSE WHO PRAY WITHOUT FAITH...
      1. Without faith it is impossible to please God - He 11:6
      2. Asking with doubt in our hearts ensures failure - Ja 1:5-8
      -- If we doubt God's existence and ability to provide, why should
         God answer us?

[Thus "The Privilege Of Prayer" is not extended to everyone.  It is a
blessing graciously bestowed on those whose hearts are in a proper
condition.  Consider, then...]

II. FOR WHOM PRAYER IS A PRIVILEGE

   A. THE SINNER SEEKING TRUTH AND RIGHTEOUSNESS...
      1. This we learn from the example of Cornelius
         a. He was a good man, but still in need of salvation - Ac 10:
            1-2; cf. 11:14
         b. His prayers and alms had been noticed by God - Ac 10:4,31
         c. Thus God saw to it that he had an opportunity to hear the
            words whereby he could be saved (i.e., the gospel of Christ)
            - Ac 11:14
      2. Note well:  he was not saved by praying per se!
         a. He needed to hear "words" by which he would saved - Ac 11:14
         b. I.e. the gospel of Christ, which is God's power to salvation
            - Ro 1:16
         c. Just as Saul of Tarsus was still in his sins, despite
            praying - cf. Ac 9:11; 22:16
      3. Yet God heard the prayer of a sinner like Cornelius
         a. Who was hungering and thirsting for righteousness - cf. Mt
            5:6
         b. Who was asking, seeking, knocking - cf. Mt 7:7-8
         c. Providing an opportunity to one day hear and obey the gospel
            of Christ
      -- For a sinner seeking truth and righteousness, such prayers will
         be heard!

   B. THE CHRISTIAN WITH JESUS AS THEIR HIGH PRIEST...
      1. Jesus has become our High Priest
         a. He is now a merciful and faithful high priest, able to aid
            His brethren - He 2:17-18
         b. Making it possible to approach God's throne boldly - He 4:
            14-16
         c. Able to save to the uttermost, since He ever lives to
            intercede - He 7:25
      2. Jesus has now become our Advocate and Mediator
         a. Our advocate with the Father - 1 Jn 2:1
         b. The one mediator between God and man - 1 Ti 2:5
         c. Who makes intercession for us at the right hand of God - Ro
            8:34
      -- Such is the blessing of those who have put on Christ in baptism
         and become children of God through faith (cf. Ga 3:26-27)

CONCLUSION

1. The ears of the Lord are open to the prayer of the righteous...
   - 1 Pe 3:12
   a. We must submit to the righteousness of God offering in Christ
      - cf. Ro 10:1-4
   b. I.e., we must respond to the gospel of Christ - cf. Ro 1:16-17

2. If we desire "The Privilege Of Prayer", then we must be either...
   a. A faithful child of God through obedience to Jesus Christ
   b. An sinner with a good and noble heart, seeking after truth and
      righteousness

The sinner hungering and thirsting for righteousness will be filled; how
much more the child of God when he or she experiences "The Privilege Of
Prayer" in all its fulness...!
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