SUCCESSFUL PRAYER
Part 2


A. "IN THE DAY WHEN I CRIED THOU ANSWEREDST ME, AND STRENGTHENEDST ME."
  1. By reading the context of our opening text, we note that this prayer is an expression of thanksgiving:
    1. Offered in humble gratitude for deliverance from his enemies.
    2. In fact, most of the Psalms were an acknowledgement by the Psalmist of the Lord's care for him against his deadly enemies, who were many.
  2. Our text is, therefore, a joyful retrospect in which he writes of successful prayer:
B. THERE ARE THREE HIGH POINTS IN OUR SUBJECT
  1. The Psalmist's prayer:
    1. Earnest prayer is heard in heaven -
      1. "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" - Jas. 5:16
      2. "And I set my face unto the Lord my God, to seek by prayer and supplication, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes." - Dan. 9:3
    2. It was a prayer offered in childlike simplicity and faith. This is the key to successful prayer -- offered in faith -
      1. The woman that touched the Lord's garment and was healed instantly - Matt. 9:20-22
      2. The centurion and his servant - Matt. 8:1-6
  2. God's willingness to hear the prayers of His children:
    1. A study of the word of God shows that our heavenly Father wants us to pray; He loves it -
      1. "Call unto me, and I will answer thee" - Jer. 33:3
      2. "All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." - Matt. 21:22
      3. "Men ought always to pray, and not to faint." - Luke 18:1
  3. Answers to prayer is, as all other blessings, conditional:
    1. We must pray in accordance with God's holy will - 1 John 5:14
    2. Our Saviour set us the example - Matt. 26:42; Luke 22:42
C. NOTE THE SUCCESSFUL ISSUE OF PRAYER
  1. "Thou answeredst me."
    1. God does hear and answer prayer, when it is for our own good and to the glory of His wonderful name - Ps. 6:8; 18:6; 22:4
    2. He may not answer our prayers in the form we expect - EXAMPLES -
      1. God healed Naaman the leper, but not as he wanted to be healed - 2 Ki. 5:9-14
      2. He told the ten lepers to go and show themselves to the priest; and it was when they went that they were cleansed - Luke 17:12-14
  2. If our prayers are not answered:
    1. There may be things in our lives that prevent the Lord to hear us - EXAMPLES -
      1. Note what the Lord says to us through the prophet Isaiah - Isa. 59:2 - "Your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear."
      2. "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." - Ps. 66:18
    2. Satan may have put road blocks between God and us. Since men are free moral agents, and often determine the outcome of their lives, Satan can influence their lives to such an extent that God cannot reach them.
    3. But when the channels of our lives are open to the Lord, there will be instant answers.
    4. It is obvious that our own attitude has a large part in answers to our prayers.
  3. Lesson for us:
    1. Learn the saints' remedy to their difficulties - "cry unto the Lord".
    2. Soul strength comes through earnest prayer - EXAMPLES -
      1. Elijah - Jas. 5:17, 18
      2. Daniel - Dan. 9:10
      3. Peter - Acts 9:40
      4. Blind Bartimaeus - Mark 10:46-52


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