July 6, 2022
Author: Pastor Mark Bauer
July 06, 2022
As we come to pray let’s consider three encouragements for us to pray.
First
God’s knowledge. As we think of God’s knowledge, in Psalm 139 we are
reminded of God who knows us, each of us. He knows us perfectly, he
knows us personally. We read, “Oh Lord, you have searched me and known
me. You know when I sit down, you know when I rise up; you discern my
thoughts from afar; you search out my paths and my lying down. And you
are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, Oh Lord, you know it altogether.”
Our God knows us, he
knows us altogether; he knows us completely; he knows our hearts desires
and he knows our thoughts; he knows every one of our plans. Although we
may be planning our way, it is God who is the one who is directing our
paths. Thankfully it is God who is bringing to pass what he has
determined to be best to accomplish his plan and his purpose and his
design for our lives. Thankfully it is not according to our will but
it’s according to His will. For we know that our will and our desires at
times can be foolish and even sinful. But God’s will God’s way, it’s
always perfect and what he does is always best for us. God is always
wisely working; not only on the macro level with all the things that
take place in this world, but God is also working all things on the
micro level in each of our individual lives. He is working to accomplish
his will in each of our lives. He knows what each of us need. Not only
does he know what we need but he knows what is best for us so we can
grow in our sanctification; so that we may be more conformed to the
image of Christ. So therefore, we can trust in him when we come to pray
and we know that whether our prayers are answered in the way that we
think is best or even when our prayers are not answered according to our
desires, even when the answers are no. No matter what takes place in
our lives, we can trust God and know that he is working all things out
for our good and for his glory. When we come to pray we can be
encouraged to pray because of God’s knowledge, he knows what is best for
us.
Secondly there is God’s power. God not only knows what is
best for us but God is able to accomplish what is needed in our lives.
God has power, great power. He has greater power than anything in heaven
or on earth. In Daniel 4:35 we read, “God does according to his will
among the hosts of heaven, among the inhabitants of the earth and none
can stay his hand.” There is no heavenly being, there is no earthly
creature, there is no force of nature on this earth; nothing can stop
the power of God. There is nothing greater than God’s power; nothing can
keep God from accomplishing his will and his purposes in our lives.
Furthermore
there is no limit. There is no limit to God’s power. In Ephesians 3:20
we read, “Now to him who is able to do far abundantly more than all that
we can ask or think according to the power at work within us.”
Commenting on this verse, Matthew Henry says, “Take notice, how he
describes God, how he ascribes glory to him. He describes him as a God
that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or
think. There is an inexhaustible fullness of grace and mercy in God
which the prayers of all the saints can never draw dry. Whatever we may
ask or think to ask still God is able to do more, abundantly more,
exceedingly abundantly more. So open thy mouth ever so wide, still he
has the wherewithal to fill it.” What an encouragement this verse is;
what an encouragement it should be for us to pray. God is able,
he has power to meet every one of our needs and it is never going to run
out. It is an inexhaustible power. It is a power that is so great that
it can do even more than we could ever even ask or think. Sometimes when
we come to pray, we think, “Oh is this too great a prayer, should I
even pray this?” But no, God is able to do and answer our prayers. There
is no request beyond God’s power. So therefore we can be encouraged to
pray; to pray because of God’s power to answer prayer.
Thirdly,
an encouragement to pray. Do we need anything further to encourage us?
Look to God’s love. Look to the cross, see the love of God. Romans 8:32,
“He who did not spare his own son but gave him up for us all how will
he not also with him graciously give us all things?” God sent his son.
He died in our place, he absorbed the wrath of God, he took on our
punishment. Christ’s death on the cross demonstrates the love of God.
God, who so loved the world that he gave his only son. Think of it. God
did not spare his only son but gave him up for us; sinful, undeserving
man.
So arguing from the greater to the lesser, if God did not
spare his own son, the greatest gift of all, how will he then not also
give us all things? All things that we need; all things that are for our
good; all things that are for his glory. See the love of God graciously
giving his son to save sinners. So the love of God should encourage us
to pray.
These three brief encouragements: God’s knowledge, God’s power, God’s love, may it even help us as we come to pray.
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