BENEFITS OF SALVATION | PRAYER (2)

1. Benefits of Salvation

a) We are reconciled by the blood of Jesus. All fear is taken away. We are now free to come into God's presence. We also have a High Priest, our Lord Jesus Christ. So we can "draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith", Hebrews 10:19-22.

2. What is Prayer?

a) The great problem about prayer is: If I pray for something I want, will God give it? The answer is: Yes, unless it is not according to His will. These two laws show why this is so.

b) God answered prayer for many people in Bible times. He still does. He also sometimes refused. He still does. For example:

i) Moses prayed that he might lead the people of Israel into the promised land, but God refused, Deuteronomy 3:23-26.

ii) David prayed that his child might live, but God refused, 2 Samuel 12:16, 19.

iii) Paul prayed that his thorn in the flesh might be taken away, but God refused, 2 Corinthians 12:8-9.

c) Sometimes God answered a prayer later on and so received more glory than He would have if He had answered it right away.

i) The ruler of the synagogue prayed that his daughter might be healed. She died, but Christ raised her again from the dead, Mark 5:23, 35-42.

ii) Mary and Martha told Jesus that their brother was sick. Jesus arrived after Lazarus had died - and raised him to life, John 11:3, 14, 44.

d) There is great power in prayer. Even when the Lord Jesus prayed, He added, "Not my will but thine be done", Luke 22:42. Sometimes God does answer prayer that is not according to His will. For example:

i) The people of Israel grumbled about the food God had given them and asked for meat to eat. God gave it to them but punished them too, Psalms 106:15.

ii) The men of Gadara asked Jesus to go away - and He did! Mark 5:17.

e) Prayer is a wonderful benefit, but we must be careful what we pray for. Whenever we bow in prayer, Christ asks, as it were,

i) What do you want me to do for you? Matthew 20:32.

ii) And, Do you believe that I am able to do this? Matthew 9:28.

f) The two laws of prayer may be summed up in the words of James:

i) You do not have because you do not ask, James 4:2.

ii) You ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly, James 4:3.