Sermon Outlines

By Frederick F. Schwindt, Evangelist

TWO PRAYERS

1. A paradox:
   1. "Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me"
   2. "Make me as one of thy hired servants"
2. There is the story of many a life told in these two prayers:
   1. One prayer to begin with
   2. And a different prayer afterward

1. "Father give the portion of goods that falleth to me"
   1. When we were children two thoughts motivated our lives - to ask our parents to give and for the parents to grant our requests
   2. It never occurred to us that the parents had a higher motive for us - to train us and make us conscious of the high purpose - in life
2. The first prayer is based upon:
   1. The gratification of self - irrespective of what is best for us and all concerned
   2. Selfishness was the root of the rebellion in Heaven - Is. 14:12-17
   3. Selfishness is one of the most difficult sins to overcome - If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me" - Matt. 16:24
   4. It frightens us to realize that many of our prayers are motivated by selfishness, regardless of the implications involved
   5. Such a prayer is a clear indication that we are uninformed as to what may result to us and others if and when God gives us our request; Examples: The children of Israel requested for the Lord to give them flesh food - they were tired of the manna - food that the angels eat - and God granted their request - but sent leanness into their soul - Ps. 106:14-15; Num. 11:31; Balaam prayed that the Lord allow him to go and curse Israel - and the Lord finally told him to go but what followed - Num. 22:20-31

1. Life to begin with:
   1. Is very much limited by inexperience by most of us; we are limited to a very narrow horizon of vision and outlook
   2. Our prayers reveal that, if not to us, to God and our fellowmen - Examples: A mother and her two sons come to the Lord with the petition, "Then came to him the mother of Zebedees' children with her sons, worshipping Him and desiring a certain thing of Him. Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left in thy kingdom" - Matt. 20:20-23
2. The second prayer is the result of experience:
   1. A life of sin and depredation had taught the prodigal that his first petition to his father was very unwise and based upon ignorance of life
   2. It was the effect of an awakening to the hopelessness of a life separated from God
   3. It was based upon the memory of the better things at home - in the Father's house
3. Look back, dear friends, to the time when we felt that our parents were old- fashioned, ignorant of current life:
   1. Unabashedly we let them know that their ideas and ways are outmoded - they are behind the times
   2. But it was not too long afterward that we discovered that our own children looked at us as being old fashioned; we were out of step with the times
4. Experience is a great teacher even in the signs of prayer:
   1. "Make me as one of the hired servants" - Humility has come to us at last; that when we pray we are anxious to reveal our unworthiness and not make demands on God
   2. We are very desirous to be back in the Father's house - under His guidance - enjoy the blessing the Father has for us
   3. And note, dear friends, the Father never reminds the prodigal of the errors he had made in leaving the Father's house - no, no, it is enough that the wayfarer has returned home - the Father's prayer had been answered; His hopes realized