Sermon Outlines

By Frederick F. Schwindt, Evangelist

AND NOT FAINT

1. "And not faint" is a most notable inclusion in our Lord's admonition on prayer:
   1. That points out some of our natural tendencies when we pray
   2. Numerous temptation plague us and with them we become faint
2. Can that be one of the contributing reasons why our prayers are sluggish and infrequent:
   1. Is it the element of time that causes us to faint when we pray
   2. Perhaps it is the vision of our unworthy selves
   3. Or it may be the pressure of mounting difficulties that makes us faint

1. Meaning of the word "faint"
   1. To faint is to lack courage and spirit - Duet. 20:8; Is. 7:4
   2. It is to be cowardly and spiritless - I Sam. 17:24-25; Judges 7:3-7
   3. To faint is to lose heart, to become discouraged - Num. 21:4; I Kings 19:4
   4. Finally, to faint is to give up - to despair - what is the use of praying - has been heard on many occasions
2. Our Lord and the apostle Paul stress the danger of fainting:
   1. "I have compassion on the multitude. . . and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way" - Matt. 15:32
   2. Writes Paul, "We have received mercy, we faint not" - 2 Cor. 4:1; "And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap and not faint" - Gal. 6:9; "I desire that ye faint not at my tribulation" - Eph. 3:13; "For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds" - Heb. 12:3

1. We meet the vision of unworthy self by the calling of grace:
   1. Writes Paul, "As we have received mercy, we faint not" - 2 Cor. 4:1
   2. We received mercy when we were dead in trespasses and sin - Eph. 2:1
2. We meet the pressure of difficulties by falling back upon God:
   1. Writes Peter, "Casting all your cares upon him; for he careth for you" - I Peter 5:7
   2. Says Jesus, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" - Matt. 11:28
3. We meet the flight of time by looking away unto Jesus:
   1. He is our hope
   2. In Him we live and move and have our being - Acts 17:28
   3. Said He, through the prophet Isaiah, "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else - Is. 45:22
4. Coming to God our heavenly Father by Jesus Christ:
   1. Will give us boldness to say, "Abba Father" - Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6
   2. The writer to the Hebrews assures us that we have such an High Priest, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens" - Heb. 7:26
   3. "Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" - Heb. 4:16
5. This prayer-life will bring three specific blessings to us:
   1. It will make us ashamed of our fear and doubts, that made us faint-hearted
   2. It will enlarge our vision of the great privileges and blessings of the prayer- life - Jer. 33:3
   3. It will become a divine fortress against the assaults of Satan - they will be a mighty shield against the darts of the enemy Dear reader - let us heed the admonition of our opening text: "men ought always to pray, and not faint"