THE PRAYER OF THE CHRISTIAN IS NOT IN VAIN
IN THE LORD
(1 CORINTHIANS 15:58) “Therefore,
my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of
the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
Introduction:
The prayer of the
Christian who works or labors for the Lord is remembered by Him.
(1 THESSALONIANS 1:3) “Remembering
without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in
our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;”
I. PRAYER
IS A LABOR OF FAITH UNTO GOD
(HEBREWS 11:6) “But without
faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe
that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
a. A Christian
who consistently comes to God in prayer provides clear evidence of
faith—believing that God hears and answers.
(MARK 11:23-24) “...believe
that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever
he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray,
believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”
b. Great men of
God who combined faith with their prayers were always victorious in their
Christian walk.
(HEBREWS 11:32-34) “...Who
through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises,
stopped the mouths of lions...”
II. PRAYER
IS A LABOR OF LOVE FOR GOD
(2 CORINTHIANS 5:14) “For the
love of Christ constraineth us...”
a. We
consistently come to God in prayer because we love Him.
(1 PETER 1:8) “Whom having
not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye
rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:”
b. Even though we
cannot see God, we never stop expressing our love to Him through prayer,
rejoicing in His presence and glorifying His name.
III.
PRAYER IS A LABOR OF PATIENCE
(ROMANS 12:12) “Rejoicing
in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;”
a. The fruit of
the Holy Spirit brings joy, peace, hope, and patience to the Christian life,
enabling us to persevere.
(GALATIANS 5:22-23) “But the
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering...”
b. We are
encouraged not to grow weary in our prayer life, for we will reap the harvest
if we do not give up. (GALATIANS 6:9) “And let us
not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
IV. PRAYER
IS A LABOR OF HOPE
(ROMANS 8:25-26) “But if we
hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Likewise the
Spirit also helpeth our infirmities...”
(ROMANS 5:4) “And
patience, experience; and experience, hope:”
a. Prayer
produces a deep hope in God, because Christ living within us is our "hope
of glory."
(COLOSSIANS 1:27) “...which is
Christ in you, the hope of glory:”
God bless you
always!
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