Prayer isn't for (Spiritual) Wimps

Sterling Franklin


 
 

The notion that prayer is for the weak or incomplete person is a 
very true one, but not in the derogatory sense. We all are wimps, and 
God knows our frame is dust (Psalm 103:14). We are weak without Him, 
but He is our 'backbone' in a sense, spiritually. We can do all things 
through Christ, which strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). Prayer is a 
statement that we can only go so far, and God can do the rest as He 
Wills and as we allow. It's a representation of surrender to God, 
saying that we are inadequate without Him, which is as true as true 
gets!

     As Saint Augustine used to say, 'everyone has a God-shaped hole in 
their heart' before Salvation, and even after Salvation, we still have 
room for growth in Him. In Him we live and move and have our being 
(Acts 17:28), so why should we fight the Holy Spirit's work in our 
lives, when He will eventually produce the Fruit of the Spirit with our 
obedience (Galatians 5:22-23)?!

     (Paul recalling Jesus telling him...)
     2 Corinthians 12:9-10
     And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my 
strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I 
rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon 
me.
     Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in 
necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when 
I am weak, then am I strong.

     Prayer can do many things that we cannot...

1 - To Heal the sick

     Matthew 8:1-3
     When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed 
him. And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, 
if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, 
and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his 
leprosy was cleansed.

     Remember that in the Old Testament, God is described as the LORD 
our Healer, Jehovah Shalom.

     <signs that follow those who believe, Mark 16:18b> "...they shall 
lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."

     James 5:15a - "And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the 
Lord shall raise him up..."

     Acts 3:6-7
     Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have 
give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
     And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and 
immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

    2 - To be baptized w/ the Holy Ghost

     Acts 8:14-17
     Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria 
had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
     Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might 
receive the Holy Ghost:
     (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were 
baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
     Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy 
Ghost. 

     Luke 11:11-13
     If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he 
give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a 
serpent?
     Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
     If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your 
children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit 
to them that ask him?

     3 - To have sins forgiven

     1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he {Jesus} is faithful and 
just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

     1 John 2:1-2
     My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. 
And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ 
the righteous:
     And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but 
also for the sins of the whole world.

     Thank the Lord that Jesus was given to live a perfect life, that 
our sin can be cleansed through Him!

     Hebrews 9:28 - So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; 
and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without 
sin unto salvation.

     The Lord is Good, and His mercy is everlasting, and truth endures 
to all generations (Psalm 100:5). May we come boldly before the throne 
of Grace, knowing that Jesus is our Great High Priest, who makes 
intercession to the Father for us. He doesn't have to sacrifice bulls 
and lambs and goats over and over and over again, but He was our 
Sacrificial Lamb, and even "our Passover," that believing on Him, we 
will have life everlasting (Hebrews 4:14-16, 1 Corinthians 5:7, Hebrews 
9:13-14, 1 Peter 1:18-19, John 3:16, Romans 10:9)

     1 Corinthians 5:7b - "For even Christ our passover is sacrificed 
for us:"

     Hebrews 7:25 - "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the 
uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make 
intercession for them."

     As humans, we are flimsy as wet noodles. Without Jesus helping us, 
where is our hope? He is the Captain of our Salvation, and we'll 
continue more later this week, Lord Willing...

     May the Lord Jesus' healing hand be with you and your loved ones 
and His blessings be with you.


 
 
 

Study Date: Jul 09, 2002 15:40 PDT 

Category: Bible Study

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