GOD’S WORD FOR  SEPTEMBER 24

We are using Charles Spurgeon book, “The Risen King.”  It’s a collection of well chosen excerpts from Spurgeon’s  “Easter” sermons in devotional form, put together by Jeff Medders.   Pastor Spurgeon lived from 1834 to 1892  in London, England, and had a unique gift of understanding and showing the depth of our faith.  Thus, his reverential title as the Prince of Preachers.   Even though we’re not in or near that season, every day is a good day to focus on Christ’s sacrifice and victory for us!

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Matthew 6:9-13

In this manner, therefore, pray:

“Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come.

Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

As we forgive our debtors.

And do not lead us into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

This prayer of Christ is a great map, but I cannot cross the sea on a map.  No one is a traveler because they place their fingers across the map.  So, someone may use this for map of prayer and yet be a total stranger to the great design of Christ in teaching it to His disciples.  By frequent repetitions of this blessed model, the Lord’s Prayer, some seem to think that there is a magical charm in that sacred arrangement of words. But I tell you solemnly, you might as well repeat this perfect prayer backwards if your heart is not in it.  Do not make praying a piece of witchcraft and your supplications an imitation of the abracadabra of the wizard, or else it is vain superstition and not acceptable supplication.

Do you my dear readers, pray so as to speak with God?  Think how you would like your own child every morning to come to you and repeat a certain set of words without meaning anything.  You would say, “There, child, there, I have heard that often enough.  Come to me no more with your empty noise.”  You would not care for vain repetitions.  But when your boy or girl says, “Father, Mother, I need such a thing; please give it to me,” you listen to the child’s words.  “That is right, dear child.  Is there anything else you want?  Tell me what it is.  I will gladly give you all things that you need.”  If your prayer does not come from your heart, it will not go to God’s heart.   If it does not bring you near to God, so that you are speaking to Him, you have simply wasted your breath.

There should be a holy hunger and thirst to pray, and the soul never prays so well as when it is reminded by its real needs.  If there be any difficulty in our minds, let us ask, for the Holy Spirit can solve it.  If there be any need in our homes, let us ask, for our heavenly father can supply it.  If there be any weakness in our spiritual nature, let us ask, for God can strengthen us.  If there be any longing desire of our soul which leads to great heaviness of spirit, let us ask, for our desire can be granted if it is a right one, and our heaviness can be removed.

The Lord has not only taught us to pray, but He has also given us the Holy Spirit to help our infirmities, and to make intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  Do not hesitate using the “Lord’s Prayer.”  It is matchless.   

If we must have forms of prayer, let us have this first, foremost, and the chief.  But let no one think that Christ would tie His disciples to the constant and only use of this.  Let us tell our wants and our sorrows in the language which the Holy Spirit teaches us.  I reckon that the Lord’s Prayer is never out of date.

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1 Thessalonians 5:17-18

pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Luke 18:1

Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,

Luke 21:36

Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.

Ephesians 6:18

praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

Philippians 4:6

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

1 Samuel 2:1

And Hannah prayed and said: “My heart rejoices in the Lord; My horn is exalted in the Lord. I smile at my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation.”

Jonah 2:1-2

Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the fish’s belly.  And he said:

“I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction,

And He answered me…….”

Job 22:27

You will make your prayer to Him, He will hear you, and you will pay your vows.

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