Since God Is Sovereign, Why Pray? - Part 1 of 2

Will the fire, and this is she ready Junior welcoming you to another broadcast of the Baptist Bible subject today since gone in shopping. Why pray with emphasis on the truth of God's sovereignty. So some conclude that if God is working his will according to his own pleasure. None can stand in the way of him executing that which is his everlasting counsel. What's the purpose of prayer is there any need to pray.

So were going to look at that subject in detail. Beginning today. I hope that you will write and let us know that you listen to the program depend on a listers for support. If you want us to remain on this station shortly would appreciate hearing from our address is the Baptist Bible. Our 1737, Cincinnati, OH 45217 brought a message a couple weeks ago based on the text where the apostle John says I have no greater joy than that my children walk in the truth is indeed a blessing to any gospel minister to say those to whom he ministers embracing the truth walking in the truth we pointed out how people can easily be led astray when they interject human into their thought processes rather than to rely totally on the word of God, something that may appear to be logical may not be truthful because it's founded on the wrong premise. The logic is flawed.

So we want to know what God's word says and receiving thinking along those lines want to deal with the question that often is raised since gone is sovereign. Why pray. Luke chapter 11 we read the first four verses and it came to pass that as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased one of his disciples said to him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples and he said unto them, when you pray, say, our father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done as in heaven so earth give us day by day our daily bread and forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone that is indebted to us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the disciples make a request of Jesus teach us to pray is that not often been the burden of your heart. Do not frequently feel that your prayers are extremely weak that you don't play enough or when you do pray you may not be praying a right Lord, teach us to pray that Jesus gives them this instruction. Now some would argue that since the purposes of God are settled that it seems useless to pray it's argued that since God is omniscient. He knows all things. Then things cannot possibly different than what he already knows.

So why pray and indeed that can be a struggle. It's approaching the subject of God's sovereignty and human responsibility. And this is a controversial issue that's been argued by theologians for centuries, but obviously prayer is a vital part of the Christian's life. It was important enough that when the disciples expressed the desire to be taught how to pray. Jesus responded and gave them the instruction. So as we ponder the question since God is sovereign, why pray I would first emphasize the point, God is sovereign because we don't believe that and that everything in it a different perspective without question the Bible teaches. God is sovereign. Psalm 103 verse 19 the Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens and his kingdom room over all is nothing outside his sovereign control. He rule over all the book of Daniel chapter 4, so many rich expressions in the book of Daniel about the sovereignty of God. Verse 35 sums it up so well and all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing and he do with according to his will in the Army of heaven among the inhabitants of the earth, and none can stay at hand are sending him what it was that King Nebuchadnezzar was proud. This is my kingdom that I've gotten by my might, for my glory, by the word forget in his mouth the Lord to the kingdom is taken from the uniform live and put him down on his own force to eat grass like beast of the field, but what is reasonable is restored came up with a whole different attitude and outlook is now declaring God is sovereign and all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as considered as nothing, and God does according to his will, both among the armies of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth and never come to a New Testament passage Ephesians chapter 1 informing us that he works all things to his glory and will look at another that says he works them not only for his glory. But for the good of his people.

Ephesians chapter 1 verse 11 in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated, according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will, that we should be to the praise of his glory who first trusted in Christ, I read that text and come to some other conclusion that God is trying to put some things together that he might desire seems prosperous, but that point of view has actually been set forth in some writings that there are times God would like to give you a better situation, but he just can't do it, how frightening it would be to think that the God of heaven is limited, that there are things he would like to accomplish in your life but his hands are tied. He's obstructed either by fierce enemies by opposition from Satan or by that obstacle of free will that some like to espouse. But when you take just exactly what the Bible says just what the apostle Paul wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit says that he works all things after the counsel of his own will and what's the purpose of it that we should be to the praise of his glory first trusted in Christ and then Romans 828 confirms that not only is he working things together for his glory. But for the good of his people and we know that all things work together for good to them that love God and are the called according to his purpose, so often somebody will object point to a given situation is that you just tell me what good can come out. Of that terrible adversity that dark scene I can't seem to good in it. There's not a promise made that you're going to see the good that you're going to understand the good, the promise is that God is working all things together for good for those that love him. Those who are the called according to his purpose. The evidence that your called according to his purposes that you lacking that establishing them. The fact that God is sovereign. The next thing we consider we are to pray the question about that we ought to pray first of all because were commanded to Luke chapter 18 verse one and he spake a parable unto them to this, in that men always to pray and not to faint. Then he talks about the widow that comes to the unjust judge and said Sir avenge me. My adversary and his Mama doesn't fear God or regard human beings cares nothing about this woman or her situation, but she continues to come. And finally, he grants the request, not because he cared about her, but the other because every opportunity she just wouldn't give up now is strange is that lesson may seem. Jesus is teaching us that we are to be persistent in prayer. Not only are we to pray with you. Keep on praying he spoke this parable for this and this is the purpose of it that men ought always to pray, not defined, not to give up and then Paul tells us in first Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 17 pray without ceasing. Nothing was no other reason to pray that one reason would be enough. Why should we pray because were commanded to pray because Jesus taught us to pray because the Scriptures are explicit throughout. We are pray. Secondly, we are to pray because it expresses our dependence on the Lord see if you're failing to pray.

You may say I believe in prayer, but if you're not praying you indicate major action. I think I can handle things alone give me enough time give me enough time. I can deal with my challenges I can figure out the solution but when you pray your coming before God, saying, Lord, I can't do it. I need the help I need that direction I need that wisdom money.grace you are revealing your dependence on him.

Psalm 141 verse eight but mine eyes are upon the old on the Lord in the years my trust.

Leave me not destitute trusting in you Lord. I swear I look looking anywhere else.

Mine eyes are open to the in the is my trust and then the book of acts chapter 4 we read about the apostles having to call upon the Lord, certainly indicating their complete dependence upon him in a time of persecution.

Acts chapter 424 verse as they had been threatened on told the principal more in Jesus name.

And when they heard that they lifted up their voice to God with poor and said, Lord, thou art God, which has made heaven and earth see and all that in the me one thing that you will notice repeatedly in the Scripture as you read the prayers and recorded their that there were not just request being made. There was worship. They recognize God's greatness, their faith was strengthened because they reviewed what God had done in the past and who God is so that acknowledging thou hast made heaven and earth and the sea. Verse 25 who the mouth of thy servant David has said, why did the heathen rage of the people. Imagine being thing kings of the earth stood up and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ for the truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel were gathered together a notice. Notice what it says, for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

Here's a place that God's absolute sovereignty and man's total responsibility is brought together and there's none of us that can fully grasp that or explain it in the terms of human reasoning, but it's what the word of God teaches, and we must embrace it by faith. Jesus Christ was delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, he was considered the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. God had determined the very place where he would die. The method by which you would die being crucifixion.

Though there are foods.

Jesus said several times when they try to take them on hours, not yet, but is our big it was by the determinate counsel of God, but he said concerning those individuals that hated the crowd crucified that mailing to the cross you by wicked hands have crucified and slain the Lord of glory.

You are fully accountable for your actions. This is what God's words teaches, and now Lord will hold their threatenings and granted to thy servants that with all boldness they may speak word.

Here's an acknowledgment part we need. They were dependent upon the we can't successfully stand against these who oppose us hardware calling on my name and God heard their prayer when you're praying that your revealing your dependence upon the Lord your acknowledging that the good gifts that you desire the things that you know you do need have to come for me. James chapter 1 verse 17 says every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning to when you need good gifts. You need spiritual blessings you need material things where you your dependence upon the Lord.

So you go to him in prayer for the more were to pray not only because were commanded to pray not only because we express their by our dependence upon God. But we are to pray because the examples of Scripture confirmed the book of second Chronicles chapter 20. Here the enemies of God's people are approaching King Jehoshaphat is concerned, and so he does the right thing. It turns to God. Second Chronicles chapter 20 reading in the fifth verse I Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem in the house of the Lord before the new court and said the Lord God of our fathers are not found God in heaven, and rulers knocked out over all the kingdoms of the heathen to.

Here's another example of what were talking about that the prayers recorded in Scripture revealed that there was an acknowledgment of God's greatness. A review of his sovereignty worshiping him, praising him because of who he is an in-line hand, is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand the words of our enemies great, but your greater nobody can withstand you were turning to you are not without our God who gets drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel and gave us it to the seed of Abraham by friend forever verse 10 now behold the children of Ammon and Moab amounts year that was not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turn from them and destroyed them not verse 12 all our God will not judge them for we have no might against this great company afraid too many times we fail in our prayers because we just say Lord and come up a little bit short of the moment I've been doing the best he cannot keep doing the best you can. But if you just kind of supply little extra boost year, though they didn't comes in for. We just need a little bit help, Lord. We're in trouble. We gotta big enemy. We have no might Lord fills up empty vessels need to come before him with this acknowledgment we have no might no ability to stand against the phone. How wonderful to realize that the God that we worship is able to supply exactly what we need. We have no might against this great company that cometh against is neither know what to do when we don't have a plan would not send Lord we been working on this for a long time in representing this planet.

Will you blessed Lord will have any money we don't have any plan we know what to do, but our eyes are upon the trust in God not looked at his 21st verse when it consulted with the people and singers on the Lord, that they should praise the beauty of holiness as they went out before the Army and to say, praise the Lord for his mercy endures forever and started but there praising God already. They have confidence of the God that they're trusting you see them through and when they began to sing and to praise the Lord, the Lord sent ambush much against the children of Ammon. Moab amounts ear, which were come against Judah, and they were smitten. I love that passage reading this over again. Think about including this in the sermon just preach that subject that I Lord empty Lord. We have no plan we have no might and only had to do was show up to draw so I didn't have to fight and the Lord calls anybody here great noise and flee for you see just the Scripture, God, and always use the same method. Sometimes the requires people to mark landmarks around the walls of Jericho some time he required in the fight sometimes just show up and see what but in every case there was dependence upon him so there's so many marvelous examples in Scripture of events like this, where there was trust in the living God.

Prayer to him and God answered and then we see numerous examples of prayer and the songs David prayed so often so beautifully expressing some of the deep emotions of our own heart. Some of the struggles and conflicts that give us difficult. Along the way and how refreshing it is to find out that those words are already 10 giving vent to some of our own struggles and feelings that we could never so explicitly express. Think about a sense prayer Psalm 77 verse one part of verse two.

I cried under God with my voice even unto God with my voice, and he gave ear unto me in the day of my trouble. I saw the Lord what you do sit out of despair began to complain and monitor about how tough life was no salt Lord that we think about Elijah find reference to his experience even in the New Testament so it was obviously a significant event.

James chapter 5 verse six describes the prayer of this prophet. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that he may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man of a with much more than anything else in the Bible about prayer that would be enough to convince us, would not the will to pray. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elias or Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. That was enough to bring about a significant famine. This prophet of God plays Lord the heavens may not rain and it did not rain for three years and six months and he prayed again of the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her. We see by example were to pray. So we not only view it as we read the Old Testament we have a confirmation in the New Testament that these are examples for us and just as Elijah prayed we are to pray and then the greatest of all examples. When it comes to prayer is Jesus himself. Matthew chapter 14 of the 23rd verse, and when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray. Jesus said the multitudes away, but he withdrawals into the mountain to pray as you read through the gospel account of his life. You can see over and over again that Jesus was a man of prayer. He prayed consistently to the father prayed throughout his ministry. And then you come to John 17 that special prayer for the father and you see that Jesus pray the apostle Paul is an example of it as well. Marvelous prayers recorded in his epistles as he prayed for those churches. As he prayed for the people to whom he ministered. As we sometimes struggle sing when I wish I could pray more effectively. I wish I could be sure I was praying for the right things go to Scripture, see what the prayers are like playing Scripture. Mother always taken the very words of the language of the text and send Lord as Paul express this on the believing the Holy Spirit lumber was my burden and I pray that now Colossians chapter 1 verse nine is is this clause also since the day we heard a do not cease to pray for you and to desire that you might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. Paul had a concern about people's physical problems with weekly fund expressions to that and the Scriptures confirm we ought to pray for one another and if you happen to be the one that sick you're glad to know that if you send a request to church about it and be praying for, but you know that's all we have. Pray about where not praying like we should support our prayer life. But look at the constant focus of the apostle Paul. What's what's he praying about how desire that you be filled with the knowledge of his will. The will of God in all wisdom and spiritual understanding that you might what were the Lord of the all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. How can you pray that prayer for yourself how would you pray that prayer for your family and a lot of things to pray about your praying Lord bless my children help me to give them the right guidance. The right education protect them from danger, keep them from evil.

Are you praying Lord bless them to be fruitful in every good work. Bless them to be increasing in the knowledge of God. Examples of the Scripture that we are to pray great comfort to know that God is absolutely sovereign. We can trust him depend on human every situation in life and on that basis we are encouraged to pray with praying to one who can resolve what ever the challenge that we are face again encourage you to write a love the snow that you have listened to address is the Baptist Bible out Box 1737, Cincinnati, OH 452-1732 next time is Sarah Bradley Junior bid you goodbye and make an AA. She is all of all