prayer: luke 18:1-14, wednesday, march 30, 2016

PrayerLuke 18: 1 – 14

Wednesday ~ March 30, 2016

“Touch of the Master’s Hand” byMyra ‘Brooks’ Welch

Twas battered and scared,and the auctioneer thought is scarcely worth his while to waste much time on the old violin, but held it up with a smile;

“What am I bidden, good folks,” he cried, “Who'll start the bidding for me?”

“A dollar, a dollar; then two!”“Only two? Two dollars, and who'll make it three? Three dollars, once; three dollars twice; going for three …”

But no, from the room, far back, a gray-haired man came forward and picked up the bow; Then, wiping the dust from the old violin, and tightening the loose strings, he played a melody pure and sweet as caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer, with a voice that was quiet and low, said; “What am I bid for the old violin?” And he held it up with the bow.

“A thousand dollars, who'll make it two? Two thousand! And who'll make it three? Three thousand, once, three thousand, twice, and going and gone,” said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried, “We do not quite understand what changed its worth.” Swift came the reply; “The touch of a Master's hand.”

And many a man with his life out of tune, and battered and scared with sin. Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd, much like the old violin.

A “mess of pottage,” a glass of wine; a game - and he travels on. “He is going once,” and “going twice, He's going and almost gone.”

But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd never can quite understand the worth of a soul and the change that's wrought by the touch of The Master's hand.

Questions for Me

Am I truly appreciative of the “touch” of God’s hand on my life since the time I gave my life to Him through baptism?

Do I truly spend time in communicating with my Lord?

– Meditating & studying His Word– Spending time in Prayer

Jesus’s Prayer Life

The words "prayer" & "pray" are used at least 25 times in connection with Jesus, & there are many instances in which the fact of His praying is mentioned where the words do not occur.

Jesus’s Prayer Life

His praying is mentioned by each of the four evangelists. The life of Christ had many marked characteristics, but nothing is more marked than His prayerfulness.

10 Characteristics of Jesus’s Prayer Life

1. Jesus believed that prayer works ~ Mark 7:7-11

2. Jesus’s prayer life did not make Him passive ~ Matthew 25:31-46

3. Jesus got alone to pray ~ Matthew 14:234. Jesus balanced private & shared praying ~

Luke 9:285. Jesus prayed before meals ~ Mark 6:41

10 Characteristics of Jesus’s Prayer Life

6. Jesus gave thanks ~ Luke 10:217. Jesus’s sang some prayers ~ Mark 14:268. Jesus prayed before making important

decisions ~ Luke 6:12-139. Jesus’s prayed for His Disciples ~ John

17:11,15,17,2410.Jesus’s prayed for US ~ John 17:20-23

Thoughts about Jesus PrayingJesus …

• prayed daily• prayed early• prayed at mealtime• prayed long prayers• prayed painful prayers• saw there was purpose in

pain

• prayed publicly• prayed with others• prayed alone• prayed “God’s Word”• prayed with His dying

breath• prayed thankful prayers

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

Luke 18:1

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

The Pharisee & the Tax Collector

Luke 18:9

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:

Stephen Morris will now lead us in “Sweet Hour of Prayer”

1.Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer,That calls me from a world of care,And bids me at my Father's throneMake all my wants and wishes known;In seasons of distress and grief My soul has often found relief,And oft escaped the tempter's snare,By thy return, sweet hour of prayer.

1 – Sweet Hour Of Prayer

Words: William W. WalfordMusic: William B. Bradbury

© 2003 The Paperless Hymnal™

2.Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer,The joy I feel, the bliss I shareOf those whose anxious spirits burnWith strong desires for thy return!With such I hasten to the placeWhere God, my Savior, shows His face,And gladly take my station there,And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer.




3.Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer,Thy wings shall my petition bearTo Him whose truth and faithfulnessEngage the waiting soul to bless;And since He bids me seek His face,Believe His word, and trust His grace,I'll cast on Him my every care,And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer.




Prayer ~ Jason Shelton

Thoughts on Prayer ~ Praying …

• to our Father• by the Spirit• through the Son• in Faith• Succinctly• in God’s Will• Humbly• Fervently

• for Enemies• for our Needs• against Temptation• for Non-Christians• for Friends• for Children• for our Family• for the Church• for the Nation &

Government

Luke 18:1

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

Luke 18:2-8

He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’”

Luke 18:2-8

And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Is there FAITH in MY prayers?

James 5: 13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

Is there FAITH in MY prayers?

James 5: 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.

Do I Pray Constantly?

I Thessalonians 1:2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Do I Pray without Ceasing?

I Thessalonians 5:17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Luke 18:9

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:

Luke 18:10-14“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’

Luke 18:10-14

But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

Luke 18:10-14

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

The Promise of Forgiveness

Streets of gold ~ how beautiful they will be;And that mansion You have gone to prepare for me.Your Word You have given me to light my way;Your Spirit to dwell with me each & every day.

It is a beautiful message. I thank You for Your love and care,But there is something else that is beautiful and rare.I know that when I sin, and sin I do,With a humble heart, I can turn to You.

“I am sorry Father,” I cry as I bow my head to pray.“You are forgiven. I’ll remember it no more,” I hear you say.That beautiful promise to let me start anew,Holding nothing against me, as I walk with You;

To be willing to forgive others, as I would have You do for me,To receive the promise of Your Forgiveness, my forgiveness is the key.

Veletia Tatom ~ January 3, 1989

Are we truly appreciative of the “touch” of God’s hand on our life since the time we gave our life to Him through baptism?

Do we truly spend enough time in communicating with our Lord?

– Meditating & studying His Word– Spending time in Prayer

If we might help you in any way, please come as we stand and sing “Seek Ye First”.

1. Seek ye first the kingdom of God And His righteousness,And all these things shall be added unto you.Singing allelu, alleluia!

Words and Music by: Karen LaffertyCopyright © 1976 Maranatha Praise, Inc. (Administered by The Copyright Company Nashville, TN)All Rights Reserved. International Copyright Secured. Used By Permission.

1 - Seek Ye First


1 - Seek Ye First


2.Ask and it shall be given unto you,Seek and ye shall find.Knock and the door shall be opened unto you.Singing allelu, alleluia!

2 - Seek Ye First

Words and Music by: Karen LaffertyCopyright © 1976 Maranatha Praise, Inc. (Administered by The Copyright Company Nashville, TN)All Rights Reserved. International Copyright Secured. Used By Permission.


2 - Seek Ye First


prayer: luke 18:1-14, wednesday, march 30, 2016

Spiritual