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TIME TO QUIT PRAYING
A. The Bible teaches that we should "pray
without ceasing" (1 Thess.5:17), but it also teaches that
there are some situations in which people should quit praying.
And today we will discuss five times the Bible
teaches that one should quit praying.
1.
The Alien Sinner Should quit Praying
For Salvation.
A. The Bible does not
teach that alien sinners cannot pray, but that they arenot saved by
prayer, (Acts 9:10,11; And there was a
certain disciple atDamascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in
a vision, Ananias And hesaid Behold, I am here Lord And the Lord said
unto him Arise and go into thestreet which is called Straight and
inquire in the house of Judas for onecalled Saul of Tarsus: for behold
he prayeth,
Saul of Tarsus was
praying and the Lord heard his prayer he had been praying for three days
but he was not saved by his prayers because what did Ananias say
to him.
Acts 22:16 says
And why tarriest thou? Arise and be baptized
and wash away thy sins calling on the name of the Lord.
But we also have
another example of this:
Acts 10:1-4
There was a certain man in Cesarea called
Cornelius a centurion of the band called the Italian band. A devout man,
and one thatfeared God with all his house which gave much alms to the
people and prayed to God always. He saw in a vision evidently about the
ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him and saying
Cornelius. And when he looked on him he was afraid, and said, What is it
Lord? And he said unto him Thy prayers and
thine alms are come up for a memorial before
God.
And on down in verse
30 it says And Cornelius said, Four days
ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my
house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, And said
Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in
the sight of God.
So was he saved? No
We can read what Cornelius had to do
Acts 11:13
Who
shall tell thee words whereby thou and all thy house shall be
saved.
Peter was sent to tell
Cornelius how he could be saved not by prayer, but blood
The
death burial and resurrection of Christ.
A. Our old man is
crucified when we are buried in the water just like Christ was buried in
the earth and just as Christ rose from the grave the third day we are
raised a new creature in life the like figure whereunto even baptism
doth also save us. 1Peter 3:21
1. Saul fasted and
prayed for three days but was saved by obeying what the Lord commanded
him. baptism
2.Cornelius was a
praying man, but was saved acting on the obedience of God's word
by being baptized.
B. Not the sinners
prayer not a "Mourners bench" but believing Jesus is the son of God
1.
repenting of your sins confessing that Jesus is the son of God
2.
being buried in the watery grave of baptism.
3.
people who are not Christians cannot pray away their sins.
4.
Saul didn't Cornelius didn't we can't
C. "Calling on the
name of the Lord" is not just asking for forgiveness.
(Rom.1O:13-17)
For whosever shall call on the name of the
Lord shall be saved.How shall they call on him whom they have not
believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not
heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they
preach except they be sent? as it is written, how beautiful are the
feet that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good
things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah
saith Lord who hath believed our report?
Many don't believe that report today but.
1.
Calling on the name of the Lord is not just believing on Christ.
a.
because a person believes before he "calls."
b.
because you have to believe the things you hear
c.
our faith is based on believing because
d.
faith cometh by hearing and
hearing by the word of God
e.
faith is the substance of things
hoped for by the evidence of things not seen.
2.
Calling on the name of the Lord is not just praying to God.
a.
because Saul and Cornelius prayed but were not saved by prayer,
D. A person is saved
when he obeys the words of the Lord,Matt.7:21;Not
every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdom of
heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Rom.6:3-5, tells us
his will Know ye not, that so many of us
as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as
Christ was raised up from the dead by the Glory of the Father, even so
we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted
together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness
of his resurrection.
and verses 17,18 of
that same chapter says
But God be thanked that you were the Servants
of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that doctrine which was
delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of
righteousness.
2. People
Should quit Praying For Is The Kingdom To Come.
In Dan 2:44
And in the days of these kings shall the God
of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the
kingdom shall not be left to other people but it shall break in pieces
and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
(future)
A.When Jesus gave the
model prayer, the kingdom had not yet come because in.
1. Matt 6:9
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our
Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come.
Christ was teaching them to pray for the kingdom to come.
Matt 3:1&2
In those days came John the baptist, preaching in the wilderness of
Judea, And Saying Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
We know that if something is at hand it is close.
Mk.9:1).And
he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there are some of them
that stand here,which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the
kingdom of God come with power.
Matt 16:18
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall
not prevail against it.
Luke 22:18
For I say unto you, I will not drink of the
fruit of the vine,until the kingdom of God shall come.
Jehovah’s witness setting the table every
week but won’t partake of it
John said he was in
the kingdom.
Rev.1:9
I John who also am your brother, and companion
in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ,
It is impossible to be
in something that does not exist so the kingdom was in existence in the
days of John.
3. The
Persistent Sinner Should quit Praying.
A.
The statement "God heareth not
sinners" (Jn. 9:31 refers to persistent sinners.
B.
For we no that
God heareth not sinners but if any man be a worshipper
of him, him he heareth.
1. Some of the
Pharisees accused Jesus of sin and that he was a violator of God" law,
because Jesus healed a blind man on the Sabbath day
Jn.9:16-24
Therefore said some of Pharisees, This man is
not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can
a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among
them. They say unto the blind man again What sayest thou of him, that
hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.
But these Jews didn't
believe the blind man was even blind so they called his parents and ask
if this was their son and if indeed he had been born blind and they said
yes.
2.
The man born blind knew that this was inconsistent with God's word
Prov.28:9
He that turneth away his ear from hearing the
law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
Psa.66:18,19).
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord
will not hear me.But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the
voice of my prayer.
3. Jesus, could not
have performed miracles by the power of God if he had been the kind of
Jew that the Pharisees accused him of being.
C.
God today will not hear the unrepentant child,
(Heb 10:26;
For if we sin willfully after we have received
the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.
1. It is sad to go
into a hospital room and find unfaithful Christians present who could
not pray to God for their sick mother or father sister or brother or
spouse.
2. If a child of God
is living in willful disobedience to God, he may as well quit praying.
God will not listen to the person who will not listen to Him!
IV. The
Unforgiving Should Stop Praying.
A. Jesus taught that
the one who offends and the one who is offended has responsibilities,
(Matt. 5:23,24;
Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the
alter, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee;
Leave there thy gift before the alter, and go thy way; first be
reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Matt 6:12 And
forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And If we forgive men
their trespasses, your heavenly father will also forgive you. But if we
forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your
trespasses.
B. A member whose
heart is filled with hatred and who will not forgive his brother, may as
well quit praying for God's forgiveness.
V. The
Hypocritical member Should quit Praying.
A. Matt.6:5-8;
And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as
the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and
in corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say
unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter
into thy closet, and when thou hast shut the door, pray to thy Father
which seeth in secreet shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use
not vain repetitions, as the heathern do: for they think that they shall
be heard for their much speaking Be not ye therefore like unto them: for
your Father knoweth what things ye have in need of before ye ask him.
It is hypocritical to
pray as though you are going to do something that you have no intention
of doing.
1. The statement
"Help us to be together at the next appointed time" is hypocritical for
the one who has no intention of doing it.
2. "Help us to
worship in spirit and truth" is hypocritical for the one who does not
participate.
3. Forgive us our
sins as we forgive those who sin against us, is hypocritical for the one
filled with malice.
To
have an acceptable Prayer We must ask in faith or believing
James 1:6,7
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.
For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and
tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of
the Lord.
B.
We must pray that God’s will be done
1 Jn 5:14-15
And this is the confidence that we have in
him, that if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us. And
if we know that he us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the
petitions that we desired of him.
Our
prayer is a petition or request
2 Cor 12:7 Paul said
he had a thorn in the flesh and had ask the Lord 3 times to remove it
but the Lord did not remove it.
1.
We can pray in faith and at the same time realize that God knows
best. The Apostles prayed that Jesus would stay with them.
2. A child may ask
their parents for something and they may ask in faith, yet the parent
may know that it would not be good for them to do the things they asked
to do and so with the Lord.
C.
We pray through Jesus
John 14:13
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that
will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
1Tim 2:5
For there is one God, and one mediator between
God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
D.
We are to pray for the
1. Rulers 1Tim 2:1,2
I exhort therefore, that, first of all,
supplications,prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for
all men. For kings,and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a
quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
2.
We Should Pray for Our brethren
James 5:16
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.
Phil 1 9-11
And this I pray, that your love may abound yet
more and more in knowledge and in all judgement. That ye may approve
things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence
till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness,
which are by Jesus Christ, unto glory and praise of God.
Acts 12:5-16 Peter
therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the
church unto God for him. And their prayers were answered. Peter was
sleeping between two soldiers bound with chains. And an angel came to
Peter and his chains fell off and he escaped.
We
should pray for the spread of the kingdom
II Thess. 3:1
Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word
of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with
you.
Matt 9:37:38
Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest
truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord
of harvest, that he will send forth laborers into the harvest.
3.
We Should Pray For The lost Paul Did
Rom 10:1
Brethren my hearts desire and prayer to God
for Israel is, that they might be saved.
4. We Should Pray For The sick and material necessities
3 Jn 2
Beloved I wish above all things that thou
mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
Matt 6:11 Give us this day our daily
bread.
5.
We Should Pray For Forgiveness
Acts 8:22 Repent therefore of this thy
wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart
may be forgiven thee.
CONCLUSION
A. The alien sinner
cannot pray for forgiveness. This is a blessing that belongs to those
who are in Christ
B. God has not
promised to listen to a child who refuses to listen to him. Are you on
speaking terms with your father God.
C.
Can you address God as your spiritual Father?
Gal 3:26,27 For
ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of
you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ._
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