Ask in Faith, Believing

"Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war yet ye have not, because ye ask not." 
[James 4:2]

I. A heart of Prayer

   A. Pray without ceasing.

        - "Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give 
          thanks." [1 Thess. 5:16-18]

        - Nehemiah uttered ejaculatory prayers when he went before 
          the king that the Lord would go with him.

        - "On Thy law do I meditate both day and night." [Psalm 1:2]

   B. Evangelical prayer

        a. As a weeper: "I am weary with my groaning; all the night 
           make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears." 
           [Psalm 6:6]

        b. As a believer: "But let him ask in faith, nothing 
            wavering...For let not that man think that he shall receive 
            anything of the Lord." [James 1:6a and 7] 

   C. Watching while praying to keep oneself from temptation:

        - "Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation: for the 
          spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." 
          [Matthew 26:41] 

   D. A broken and contrite heart:

        - "A broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." 
          [Psalm 51:17]

        - "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity,
          whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with 
          him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the 
          spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite 
          ones." [Isaiah 57:15]

II. What ought we to ask for:

   A. Wisdom 

        - "If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God." [James 1:5]

        - Solomon asked for wisdom, and God gave it to him as well 
          as riches and honor. 

   B. For Forgiveness 

        - The Lord's prayer: "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our 
          debtors." [Matthew 6:12]

   C. For strength and blessing for ones self and for others. 

        - The High Priestly prayer in John 17: Christ prayed for his 
          people. 

   D. For Everything

        - "Be careful for nothing, but in everything with prayer and 
          supplication with thanksgiving let your request be make 
          known unto God." [Philippians 4:6]

III. Objection: I do not feel adequate to pray. I am such a sinner. 
      Not to mention, when I try to pray, I feel cold and dead.  

   A. Wrestle with God: Labor all night in prayer. 

        - "And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with 
          him until the breaking of the day. And he said, Let me go, for
          the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except 
          thou bless me. " [Genesis 32: 24 and 26]

   B. Even though you feel cold, pray until an angel flies from 
       Heaven taking a coal from off the alter to ignite your heart. 
       Pray until you feel the warmth of prayer. God will not quench
       the smoking flax. 

   C. You don't know what to say: God would rather the groanings 
        of your heart more that your abundant words. God teaches us 
        how to pray. If you want to learn, learn at Christ's school.

        - The Spirit groans for you with groanings too deep for words.
          Do not fret about what to say. Go to God in humility, and 
          God will put into your heart and into your mind what to pray.

IV. Give God the first fruits: 

   - Remember the incense on God's alter are the prayers of the 
     saints. So, pour out your prayers in the morning just as they 
     poured out the new wine upon the alter in the morning. Do not
     wait to pray. Pray in the morning. 

Notes: God in Christ knows your weaknesses and intercedes on your behalf. Christ is praying for you. Cannot you pray to Christ and God? Christ lives to intercede. Will you not get down on your knees even for just one hour? Our prayers are made sweet through Christ. 

We must pray: God demands it of His children. Christ delights in the prayers of his saints and he delighteth to give good gifts to His children. Ask in faith, believing. 

Your prayers will not land on deaf ears. As long as you are obedient to God's law, God will hear and will give you the desires of your heart. 

By way of warning: "Behold the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." [Isaiah 59:1-2]

"He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination."

[Proverbs 28:9] 

But to those that keep God's law or have a heart of obedience, pray, ask, trust. The Father will hear you. Your hungering and thirsting will be rewarded.

Soli Deo Gloria