Post by Char on Oct 24, 2008 17:19:51 GMT -6
FAITH IN PRAYER
JAMES 1:6
What is it to ask in faith? To this requisite as necessary conditions, thought more remotely; some things as essential ingredients.
I. THE NECESSARY CONDITIONS RESPECTING THE PETITIONER, THE THINGS ASKED, THE MANNER OF ASKING.
The one who ask must be in the faith, he or she must also be a believer. How can he ask in faith who has no faith. (John 14:23). There is no answer for him that is not a believer, (John 9:31)." Now we know that God hears not sinners; but if any man be a worshiper of God, him he hears.".
THE MANNER OF ASKING must be faithful. With fervency. He does not ask in faith, asks not fervently. (James 5:16). He must be faithful in submission and with the right intentions. W e must pray to glorify God, make us serviceable to Him, capable of communion with Him.
II. THE ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS OF THIS DUTY ARE THE ACTING OF FAITH IN PRAYER, WHICH ARE ONE OR OTHER OF THESE FOUR; HE WHOSE FAITH PUTS FORTH ANY ONE OF THESE ACTS PRAYS IN FAITH.
PARTICULAR APPLICATION. Believing the promises whereby God has engaged Himself to give what he ask; so to ask in faith is to pray with confidence the Lord will grant the petition, because He has promised.
Faith can read an answer of prayer in the name of God, and stay itself there, when a promise appears not, or, through faith’s weakness cannot support it (Isa. 1:10-17)
A GENERAL PERSUASION THAT THE PRAYER SHALL BE HEARD. The prayer may be heard, though the things desired by not presently bestowed, or not bestowed at all. And so man may pray in faith, though he be not confident that what he prays for shall be given him, much more that it shall not be presently given.
A SPECIAL CONFIDENCE THAT THE VERY SAME THING WHICH IS ASKED SHALL BE GIVEN. They that cannot pray in faith must not expect to have their prayers heard. For without faith there is neither advantage by it, not comfort in it. The apostle in Verse 7, "let not that man think he shall receive anything of the Lord."
III. NOW TO PREVENT THIS WAVERING, THIS DOUBTING, SO DISHONORABLE AND OFFENSIVE TO GOD.
So prejudicial, dangerous, uncomfortable to you; let me prescribe some directions, the observance of which will establish the heart, and encourage faith, in our approach to God.
GET ASSURANCE OF YOUR INTEREST IN THE COVENANT; that Christ has loved you, and washed you form your sins in His Blood; that He has given you His spirit; that you are reconciled and in favor with the Lord.
CONSIDER, THE LORD IS ENGAGE TO HEAR PRAYER when you pray consider, He is able to hear and give what you ask, consider He can do abundantly (Eph. 3:20). He can do more than we ask,
CONSIDER THE NATURE AND DIGNITY OF PRAYER WHICH AFFORDS DIVERS ARGUMENTS TO CONFIRM FAITH. It is God ordinance, instituted and enjoined for this end.
He in Scripture adorns it with, and ascribes to it, many transcendent privileges, such as, considered, may fortify the most languishing faith. Prayer is the Lord’s delight, the most pleasing service we can ordinarily tender; therefore He does not only most frequently command it, but importunately sue of it. The Lord has promised He will hear, He is faithful.
CONSIDER YOUR RELATION TO GOD. He is your Father; Christ teaches us to begin with this.
CONSIDER He gets glory by hearing prayer.
CONSIDER THE SUCCESS OF OTHER, how effectual the prayers of God’s ancient people have been; this affords great encouragement.
CONSIDER YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, how many times God has answered your prayers formerly; that will be a great encouragement to trust Him for time to come.
CONSIDER LABOR to remove those discouragements which hinder the exercise of faith in our prayer, or weaken it in its acting. Try whether we pray in faith. backwardness to pray is a sign that you pray not in faith. Carelessness in praying. Perplexity and solicitousness after prayer. This was a sign Hannah prayed in Faith. (I Sam. 1). How can they believe their prayers will be accepted who see no ground to believe that their persons are accepted?. There is a confidence to be found in unregenerate men in their addresses to God.
CONSIDER THE CONFIDENCE OF FAITH IN PRAYER differs from this presumptuous confidence. In its rise. The carnal man arrives at this confidence he knows not how. He attained it with ease, it cost him nothing; it sprang up in him as a mushroom, on a sudden, without his care of industry. .
We know that we must pray believeing that God is going to honor His word and answer our prayer. We must have the faith and believe in God and His promises.
Blessings to all
James.
JAMES 1:6
What is it to ask in faith? To this requisite as necessary conditions, thought more remotely; some things as essential ingredients.
I. THE NECESSARY CONDITIONS RESPECTING THE PETITIONER, THE THINGS ASKED, THE MANNER OF ASKING.
The one who ask must be in the faith, he or she must also be a believer. How can he ask in faith who has no faith. (John 14:23). There is no answer for him that is not a believer, (John 9:31)." Now we know that God hears not sinners; but if any man be a worshiper of God, him he hears.".
THE MANNER OF ASKING must be faithful. With fervency. He does not ask in faith, asks not fervently. (James 5:16). He must be faithful in submission and with the right intentions. W e must pray to glorify God, make us serviceable to Him, capable of communion with Him.
II. THE ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS OF THIS DUTY ARE THE ACTING OF FAITH IN PRAYER, WHICH ARE ONE OR OTHER OF THESE FOUR; HE WHOSE FAITH PUTS FORTH ANY ONE OF THESE ACTS PRAYS IN FAITH.
PARTICULAR APPLICATION. Believing the promises whereby God has engaged Himself to give what he ask; so to ask in faith is to pray with confidence the Lord will grant the petition, because He has promised.
Faith can read an answer of prayer in the name of God, and stay itself there, when a promise appears not, or, through faith’s weakness cannot support it (Isa. 1:10-17)
A GENERAL PERSUASION THAT THE PRAYER SHALL BE HEARD. The prayer may be heard, though the things desired by not presently bestowed, or not bestowed at all. And so man may pray in faith, though he be not confident that what he prays for shall be given him, much more that it shall not be presently given.
A SPECIAL CONFIDENCE THAT THE VERY SAME THING WHICH IS ASKED SHALL BE GIVEN. They that cannot pray in faith must not expect to have their prayers heard. For without faith there is neither advantage by it, not comfort in it. The apostle in Verse 7, "let not that man think he shall receive anything of the Lord."
III. NOW TO PREVENT THIS WAVERING, THIS DOUBTING, SO DISHONORABLE AND OFFENSIVE TO GOD.
So prejudicial, dangerous, uncomfortable to you; let me prescribe some directions, the observance of which will establish the heart, and encourage faith, in our approach to God.
GET ASSURANCE OF YOUR INTEREST IN THE COVENANT; that Christ has loved you, and washed you form your sins in His Blood; that He has given you His spirit; that you are reconciled and in favor with the Lord.
CONSIDER, THE LORD IS ENGAGE TO HEAR PRAYER when you pray consider, He is able to hear and give what you ask, consider He can do abundantly (Eph. 3:20). He can do more than we ask,
CONSIDER THE NATURE AND DIGNITY OF PRAYER WHICH AFFORDS DIVERS ARGUMENTS TO CONFIRM FAITH. It is God ordinance, instituted and enjoined for this end.
He in Scripture adorns it with, and ascribes to it, many transcendent privileges, such as, considered, may fortify the most languishing faith. Prayer is the Lord’s delight, the most pleasing service we can ordinarily tender; therefore He does not only most frequently command it, but importunately sue of it. The Lord has promised He will hear, He is faithful.
CONSIDER YOUR RELATION TO GOD. He is your Father; Christ teaches us to begin with this.
CONSIDER He gets glory by hearing prayer.
CONSIDER THE SUCCESS OF OTHER, how effectual the prayers of God’s ancient people have been; this affords great encouragement.
CONSIDER YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, how many times God has answered your prayers formerly; that will be a great encouragement to trust Him for time to come.
CONSIDER LABOR to remove those discouragements which hinder the exercise of faith in our prayer, or weaken it in its acting. Try whether we pray in faith. backwardness to pray is a sign that you pray not in faith. Carelessness in praying. Perplexity and solicitousness after prayer. This was a sign Hannah prayed in Faith. (I Sam. 1). How can they believe their prayers will be accepted who see no ground to believe that their persons are accepted?. There is a confidence to be found in unregenerate men in their addresses to God.
CONSIDER THE CONFIDENCE OF FAITH IN PRAYER differs from this presumptuous confidence. In its rise. The carnal man arrives at this confidence he knows not how. He attained it with ease, it cost him nothing; it sprang up in him as a mushroom, on a sudden, without his care of industry. .
We know that we must pray believeing that God is going to honor His word and answer our prayer. We must have the faith and believe in God and His promises.
Blessings to all
James.
