HOW PROFITABLE IS PRAYER?
Part 2


A. "WHAT IS THE ALMIGHTY, THAT WE SHOULD SERVE HIM AND WHAT PROFIT SHOULD WE HAVE, IF WE PRAY UNTO HIM?" - JOB 21:15
  1. The attitude of the agnostic, the infidel and the indifferent:
    1. One of utter selfishness - and selfishness has its roots in a fallen angel - Lucifer - read prayerfully - Is. 14:12-17; Ez. 28:12-18; Examples of human selfishness Nabal - I Sam. 25:10; Lot - Gen. 13:10-11; Simon the sorcerer - Acts. 8:18-19
    2. They are void of the sense of appreciation and gratitude - Rom. 1:21
  2. In questioning the merit of praying to God:
    1. They reveal the spirit of infidelity as Pharaoh did - Ez. 5:2; Prov. 30:9
    2. They, further, manifest the spirit of rebellion and sedition - Is. 63:10
B. HOW PROFITABLE IS PRAYER
  1. It meant the difference between life and death:
    1. Peter - Acts 12:1-19; Matt. 14:30-31
    2. Daniel - Dan. 6:10-22
    3. Ancient Israel - Ex. 17:11-12
  2. It meant the difference between:
    1. The forgiveness of sin or perishing in sin - I John 1:9 as in the case of King David - 2 Sam. 12:1-13; as in the case of the publican - Luke 18:13; in the case of the penitent thief on the cross - Luke 23:38-43
    2. It meant the gift of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost - Acts 1:8-14; 2:1-17
    3. Humble prayer for the gift of the Holy Spirit is a must if we are to have it - Luke 11:13
    4. To neglect prayer is to perish in spiritual poverty - James 4:1-3; Rev. 3:14-17
  3. Prayer, humble prayer is very profitable:
    1. Because God wants us to pray to Him
    2. Said Jesus, "Whatsoever ye ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified" John 14:13-14
    3. It was through earnest prayer that Dorcas was brought back from the dead Acts 9:40-41
C. NO ONE KNOWS HOW PROFITABLE PRAYER IS
  1. Unless one experiences the answers to prayer:
    1. Prayer and its benefits must be experienced to appreciate - as Daniel did - Dan. 9; as Elijah did - James 5:17-18; as blind Bartimaeus did - Mark 10:46-51
    2. Prayer is the foundation of Divine healing; note the instructions to the sick as recorded in James 5:14-17
  2. Earnest and prevailing prayer:
    1. Closed and opened Heaven to a sinful and penitent nation - I Kings 18
    2. It spared the life of a nation in the time of Queen Esther - Esther 4:13-17; it saved the lives of the wise men in Babylon - Dan. 2
    3. The prayer of the Son of man was the means that brought back to life Lazarus the friend of Jesus - John 11:41-42
  3. If all the answers to earnest prayer were to be recorded, I fear the world could not hold them:
    1. This is so true in the experience of God's children in all ages - that time will not permit to begin to enumerate them
    2. My own life is what it is in answer to prayer; that is true, also, of my family
    3. Forty-four years of public evangelism have given me repeated evidence that God does answer prayer
  4. To those, who question the profitableness of prayer, I would say:
    1. Give it a sincere try - seek the Lord in humbleness of heart and wait upon Him - and you will experience the blessings of the prayer life
    2. Said the Psalmist, "O taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man that trusteth in Him" - Ps. 34:8
    3. We could multiply experience of the profitableness of prayer, but let this suffice to convince all who are willing to be convinced with the eternal truth of prayer


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