Prayer - Part 23

Last time: Prayer shows our total dependence on God - why? Because we are to go to Him ASKING for our needs to be supplied daily. To whom are we coming? "Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father…" James 1:17

Major prayer principle is ASKING. Some people try to do it own their own.

Philippians 4:19 And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Trying to have your needs met apart from seeking Him lands you in a state of "internal war" (James 4:1-2)

• Lust
• Envy
• Pleasures waging war with your members

External war

• Quarrels (James 4:1)
• Denying need of Him and denying His promises (Philippians 4:19)
• Live life of woe and be cursed (Isaiah 31:1; Jeremiah 17:5,6)

However:

Jeremiah 17:7 (NASB) "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord And whose trust is the Lord.

8 "For he will be like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream And will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought Nor cease to yield fruit.

Why will we not humbles ourselves? Why will we no get rid of our pride?

But - those who don't even know Jesus supply their own needs, just fine. Yes, they survive.

Is there:

• Concern about material possessions
• Concern about keeping "things"
• Struggling "against the world" all the time
• No where to turn

It is ONLY because of God that they have WHATEVER they do have.

Matthew 5:45 …in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on [the] evil and [the] good, and sends rain on [the] righteous and [the] unrighteous.

John 12:9 The great multitude therefore of the Jews learned that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He raised from the dead.

Can you not see why we need to pray "Give us this day our daily bread"?

How dependent are YOU on God?

Do you trust in God or in man?