THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
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A little boy came to the preacher and asked him to have the folks in prayer meeting pray that the Lord might cause his sister to read the Bible. The preacher made the request known, but as soon as someone began to pray about it, little Johnny got up and left. Everyone thought him very rude, and the next day the preacher scolded him for it. But Johnny said, "Sir, I wanted to go and see my sister read the Bible for the first time."
Now that's FAITH!
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Luke 18:1
1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
KJV
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The parable which you have just read has a specific purpose: to teach mankind that they should always pray and not faint in that labor.
Prayer is directed to GOD, Who is the "Judge" of all the earth and all men's souls.
Prayer should be CONSTANT, diligent and with fervency of spirit.
Prayer should SEEK ONLY that which God deems equitable for our needs.
Prayer should have the UNDERLYING TRUST that only God can make things right.
It is not how many they are; nor how eloquent they may be; nor how long they are; nor how logical they may be; nor how orderly they may be: it is fervency of spirit which availeth much! The most important part of prayer is how much we desire to be in holy communion with our Father, and how much we desire to do His will in our lives.
Prayer is a golden key, which should open the morning and lock up the evening.
—Bishop Hopkins
Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will entice a man to cease from prayer.
—John Bunyan
"I prayed God this day to make me an extraordinary Christian." So reads an entry in the diary of the legendary George Whitefield.
Should we not adapt these attitudes toward prayer? One of the great secrets of effective prayer is that the attitude of the heart is right toward God. Our hearts should recognize the divine wisdom and love of God. And we should trust Him as simply as a child asking help from his father.
And to what end shall we pray? The greatest NEED in America's churches today is REVIVAL!
Revival of our attitude toward God as Master of who we are.
Revival of our desire to see lost souls won to Christ.
Revival of our compassion to the education of those souls for more evangelism.
"Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest , that he will send forth labourers into his harvest." (Matt 9:38)
On this anniversary of 9-11, let us remember to PRAY!
Love ya,
Bruce