Men Ought always to Pray

 

August 29, 2024 Bible Reading and Meditation for Devotional Bible Study Luke 18 KJ Mithcah Bible Baptist Church -Bahrain
[1]And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;   Topic: Men Ought Always to Pray   These words of the LORD teach us that we ought always to pray in the manner according as He taught them from these examples:    1. Persistent Prayer – the parable of the widow who persistently come to judge to beg the judge to avenge here from her adversary, v.2-5 Implying that we should also be persistently praying to GOD for all of our affliction, endeavors and aspiration. V.6-8  2. Passionate Prayer- with humility and sorrowful from sinning, like the publican; not like the Pharisee whose prayer is full of pride; commending himself to GOD that he is good than the publican. V.9-14 Our prayer too should be passionate; ardent with contrite spirit; acknowledging our depravity in the sight of GOD; asking mercy and forgiveness from our unrighteous deeds. 3. Pure- hearted Prayer- Like those children who were carried to the LORD, but were rebuked by His disciples to come closer to TheLORD; which The LORD Himself called them that they should suffer them to come to Him. We too should be like those little children in submission, that we will not apprehension of anything or anyone to come to The LORD in prayer. For if the LORD sees the purity of our heart in prayers, that we have the earnest desire to come to Him, He Himself will call us that we should come closer to Him through prayers. For the LORD is merciful and softhearted to the prayers of pure-hearted people. V.15-17 The LORD tried also the heart of the rich man who come to Him asking from him how to inherit eternal life; a man who obeyed the law, thinking that he did right to get to heaven. But there is one thing that he was not ready to do: to sell all his possession and to follow The LORD. Surely some of us will not be willing to give up all just like him; for in riches, we can live comfortably and luxuriously. Particularly, if they knew and understand what He is saying that He “The Son of man will be delivered to the Gentiles, scourge and put to death, they will thensurely stop following Him. V. 18-34. Indeed, it is such a great challenge for us to forsake riches and follow The LORD, even now that we have His words. For in following The LORD, there is no assurance of comfortable life that riches can give. But if we will just fully know who isthis JESUS who said: “sell all you have, then come and follow me.”,and what He can do, though we will have second thought, we will forsake all and follow Him. For if He has risen from the dead, and is sitting now in the right hand of the throne of GOD, and that we understood that all things that we have even our lives comes from Him and `He only has the power to give and to take, we can be assured that He is able to deliver us from all our weaknesses, from our enemies,provide for our needs, and give us more than what we needed. Therefore, we ought to pray for:  4. Providential grace- that He will provide for us what we need: wholehearted faith, courage and understanding that will enable us to do His blessed will.  5. Peace that passes all understanding- we will be at peace in whatever things will come along our way in following Him; whether it be relational failure, financial shortage or physical degradation.  We should take note of how the blind man obtained His complete healing, received his sight when he persistently called upon JESUS in verse 38. That even if he was being rebuked by them who follow the LORD, that instead of keeping silence or just holding his peace, he cried the more: “JESUS, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.” And that upon hearing him, The LORD stood and commanded somebody that he be brought unto Him, asking him, “what wilt thou that `I should do unto thee?” that he specifically answered The LORD: LORD, that I may receive my sight.”, from that answer, The LORD said to him: “receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.” And he received what he asked for, that he glorified God, and that also, even those people who saw it, give their praises unto GOD. In our persistence praying, we should also pray that we should not forgetful about:  6. Praise giving for our Prayers that has been answered.  7. Privilege of being among God’s beloved child who freely come to The LORD in prayers. 8. Proclaiming to others the greatness, graciousness and goodness of our GOD and our Loving LORD and Savior JESUS CHRIST.  Let our consistency in prayers produces testimonies in our lives that will continually proclaim GOD’s Amazing Grace.  To Him be all glory and honor and praise both now and forever. AMEN!   GOOD MORNING!

Luke 18:1-43 KJV
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

[2] Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

[3] And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. [4] And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 

[5] Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. [6] And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. [7] And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? [8] I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? [9] And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: [10] Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. [11] The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. [12] I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. [13] And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. [14] I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. [15] And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. [16] But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. [17] Verily I say unto you, Whosoevershall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein. [18] And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? [19] And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. [20] Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. [21] And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. [22] Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. [23] And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. [24] And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! [25] For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. [26] And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? [27] And he said, Thethings which are impossible with men are possible with God. [28] Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. [29] And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, [30] Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting. [31] Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. [32] For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: [33] And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. [34] And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken. [35] And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: [36] And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. [37] And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. [38] And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. [39] And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. [40] And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, [41] Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. [42] And Jesus said unto him, Receivethy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. [43] And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.