Don't Ever Stop Doing This ! (With Videos) & Andrew Murray's Sermons

 

Let us begin with the following 10 minute Christian video which explains the title of this article:

In the above video, we are encouraged to "come to God's throne."  In other words, go to Him in prayer about everything, and never stop praying, whatever you do !

"Pray without ceasing."  -  1 Thessalonians 5:17

There are other things we should do and not stop doing, when it comes to spiritual things.  We also should not lose faith.  However, let us focus for the most part on prayer right now; how we should persevere in prayer, which is a form of faith itself.  The act of prayer shows faith in the good Lord, and that He does hear us and He does answer heartfelt prayers that are in agreement with His will.

This blog has stressed over and over again that God wants to fellowship with us.  We do that by much prayer to Him and by many hours pouring over His Holy Word.  You cannot come to truly know a person if you never communicate with him.  Obviously, the same applies to the good Lord.  He loves us deeply, and we should feel the same towards Him and express it with much time spent with Him.  What the wonderful and precious result of that will be is a strong, enduring, loving, intimate and personal relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ.  That relationship will continue to grow and blossom into something beautiful that will last for all eternity!

E. M. Bounds has been quoted previously on this blog.  He wrote many fantastic articles concerning prayer, which have been compiled into a rather large book titled "The Complete Works of E.M. Bounds on Prayer", which I am happy to have in my possession.   Following is a partial quote on his article titled "Prayer incidents in the life of our Lord." =

"The spirit of prayer with Christ was to do God's will.  So he who follows Christian prayer must have God's will as his law, his rule, and his inspiration.  He is not the best pray-er  who has the greatest fluency, the most brilliant imagination, the richest gifts, and the most fiery ardor, but he who has imbibed most the Spirit of Christ.  It is he whose character is the nearest to a facsimile of Christ upon whom God's power is bestowed and to whom God's person and will are revealed.   ...[..]...  The condition of receiving God's revelation and of holding God's truth is one of the heart, not of the head.  The ability to receive and search out is like that of the child, the babe, the synonym of docility, innocence and simplicity.  These are the conditions on which God reveals Himself to men.   ....[...].. It is not by hard, strong, stern, great reasoning that the world gets God or gets hold of God, but by big, soft, pure hearts.   To become babes again, on our mother's bosom, quieted, weaned, without clamor or protest, is the only position in which to know God.  A calmness on the surface, and in the depths of the soul, in which God can mirror His will, His Word, and Himself -   this is the attitude towards Him through which He can reveal Himself, and this is the right attitude of prayer.   .... Prayer to Jesus, just as it is to us, was a necessity, an absolute, invariable condition of securing God's fullest, consecrating and qualifying power.  And so the Holy Spirit comes upon us in fulness of measure and power only in answer to ardent and intense praying......"  (End of E.M. Bounds' quote.)

Following is a link to an article on this blog written 3-3-18, which includes two short audio sermons from the works of Andrew Murray:  one on the subject of  prayer, and the other about faith.  They are excellent 16 minute sermon clips with many gems within them which will bless you spiritually!

https://inspiringnaturephotography.blogspot.com/2018/03/faith-and-prayer-work-together-videos.html

Not to be overlooked is Jesus' parable of  the widow in Luke 18 who, with her insistence and constant pleas to an unjust judge, secured the request of her petitions from him, though he cared nothing about her or her problems.  

"And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;  (verse 1) and then Jesus continues in verses 6 and 7: " Hear what the unjust judge saith.   And shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them?"

Please read all of the above account at Luke 18:1-8.  Very faith building!

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. "     Jesus at Matthew 7:7-8

"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."   -  Matthew 21:22

"Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."    -   Matthew 26:41

"But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which is in secret shall reward thee openly."               -  Matthew 6:6

"Those persons who know the deep peace of God, the unfathomable peace that passeth all understanding, are always men and women of much prayer."  -  R.A. Torrey

"Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will entice a man to cease from prayer."  -  John Bunyan

"We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties."  -  Oswald Chambers

"Don't pray when you feel like it.  Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it.  A man is powerful on his knees."  -  Corrie ten Boom

Please realize how urgent it is to pray "without ceasing."   We all know that the times we are living in now are unstable - chaotic -  and that we cannot completely depend on anyone or anything except the good Lord.  He will be our comfort, our guide, our protector, and our hope!  And so much more!

Much has been written on this blog concerning the end times and Bible prophecy being fulfilled right now like never before - and at warp speed.  That is another reason to be in prayer constantly and also to witness to others about the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

(For more information on the end times, go to the search box at the top right hand side of this page and enter topics such as " 7 year tribulation, the Mark of the Beast, signs of last days"  etc.    Also are many encouraging articles about endurance and faith and salvation and many other topics.  Many articles also have videos.)

Following is a wonderful old hymn concerning the "Sweet Hour of Prayer":

"And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."  -   1 John 2:17

"Pray Always And Pray Effectual Prayers - Do Not Be Lukewarm" (Video On Prayer By Pastor Adrian Rogers) - Inspirational Weekend

[Waterfall At Descanso Gardens Outside Los Angeles, California]

Monday of this week, the good Lord admonished me and corrected me in the matter of prayer.  I pray everyday and talk to Him throughout the day, but lately they have been short prayers.  It was as if He was telling me to spend even more time with Him on my knees.  It also occurred to me that the Lord wanted me to share more about prayer with you friends here.  Actually, last year I did write an article titled "Faith and Prayer Work Together".  There were two short sermon clips included in that post which were by Andrew Murray; one clip on prayer, and the other clip on faith.  Here is the link to that article:
https://inspiringnaturephotography.blogspot.com/search?q=faith+and+prayer+work+together

Prayer is commanded.  If we are not praying and do not have the desire to pray, then we need to ask ourselves if we sincerely desire time with God, or are we self-absorbed and think only about our fleshly desires and what this world offers.

"Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation:  the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."  -  Jesus at Matthew 26:41

We do not want to fall into the category mentioned by Jesus at John 8:47, which follows:

"He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God."

Keep in mind in the above Scripture, that Jesus was talking to the hypocritical Pharisees and religious leaders.  So if you are a true believer that verse does not apply to you.   However, there are many who profess to be Christians who are not; they claim to be Christians, but it is in name only.  Granted, some may believe they actually are Christians, when in reality they are lost. We need to help them to come to truly know Jesus as their Savior and for them to love Him with all of their being: heart, mind, soul and spirit.  When you learn to put God and Jesus first, and to love Him deeply, you will want to spend much time with Him in prayer and in reading His Holy Word.

E.M. Bounds, who has written many insightful articles on prayer (I have a large book which includes most, if not all, of his thoughts on prayer), has a lot to say about the necessity of prayer.

He tells us to pray for the desire to pray, for such a desire is God-given and heavenly-born. "Spiritual desire, carried to a high degree, is the evidence of the new birth.  It is born in the renewed soul. As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow."  So says Bounds.

"Two things are intolerable to Him (God) - insincerity and lukewarmness," says Bounds, and he goes on to say: "To the Laodiceans He said, in terms of unmistakeable severity  and condemnation:  "I would thou wert cold or hot.  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue  thee out of my mouth."     This quoted verse is found at Revelation 3:16.   When the Lord says in this verse, "I will spue thee out of my mouth," He literally means to vomit.  What a vivid way of depicting His condemnation where lukewarmness is concerned!

Bounds goes on to comment, "This was God's expressed judgment on the lack of fire in one of the churches , and it is His indictment against individual Christians for the fatal want of sacred zeal."

Following is a 44 minute video sermon by Pastor Adrian Rogers on the secret of effectual prayer:

This sermon is the best I have ever heard on the subject of prayer!  Pastor Rogers tells us, among many things, that prayer bonds us with God; and that God wants to work within us through prayer.  Pastor Rogers says that our prayers are not answered because we are not rooted in the purpose of God.

Below is a song  by Tauren Wells titled "When We Pray" :

If you follow this blog, you know there is much information given here on the fact that we are living in the last moments of the last days; and much mention of how ancient Bible prophecies are now coming true.  So much is coming true now that the Bible predicted that many prophecy preachers and scholars say there is no way to keep up with it all; with the convergence of so much prophecy happening at warp speed and all at once now.  Guess what this means?!

Jesus will return any day, any moment now, to take His Bride, the Church, to heaven when He appears in the Rapture!!

Maranatha!  We look forward to that blessed hope!   (Titus 2:13)

Are you Rapture ready?

If you have been saved, born again from above, then you are assured to be taken to heaven when Jesus returns very soon.

If you are carnal, and love the world, and have no desire to know God and His Son, Jesus Christ the Savior, then you are bound for the other alternative.....hell.

But it is not too late!

You do not have to be doomed to eternity in hell!

Jesus loves you and is waiting for you to turn to Him in faith!

Admit you are a sinner and in need of a Savior.  (Romans 3:23)

Believe in Jesus as the Savior and surrender to Him (Romans 6:23 and John 3:16)

Call on the name of the Savior and commit to His will and confess your need of Him   (Romans 10:13)

Romans 10:9,10,13 tells us, (9)  "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."   -  John 3:16


Have a blessed and Christ centered weekend..... and life!

"Thoughts On Prayer and Living For God" - Inspirational Weekend

Forget yourself!  If you truly want to live for God, you must put Him and Jesus first in your life; put God's will first above anything and everyone else.  Forget about your self-centered desires, and ask the good Lord what His will is for your life.  Our chief purpose is to glorify God !   This reminds me of Ecclesiastes 12:13 :  ":Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man."  When you have a reverent fear of God and want to do His will above all else; and when you endeavor to keep His commandments, then you are leading a life that pleases the Lord and that glorifies Him.  

The commandment spoken by Jesus at Matthew 22:37-40 says,  "(37) Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (38) This is the first and great commandment.  (39)  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. (40) On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."  

"God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him."  -    1 John 4:16 

With hearts full of love for God and Jesus and also love for our neighbor, we are truly living for God.

Not to forget 1 John 4:7, which tells us , "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God."

We get to know God by much prayer and by reading and studying His Holy Word.  His Word is full of His glorious attributes, and the more we read, the more we learn about Him and Jesus; which in turn teaches us to love the Lord more and more as time goes on.  As we draw closer and closer to God, we begin to think of His desires more than we do of our own.  Also, this love for the Lord will incline us to always be obedient to Him, which is another way to glorify Him.   If you are not obedient to God, then perhaps you are not truly born again.  There are many other ways that we may glorify God, but for now let us concentrate on prayer. 

I would like to quote E.M. Bounds from his book on prayer:  " Desire is not merely a simple wish; it is a deep seated craving; an intense longing, for attainment.  In the realm of spiritual affairs, it is an important adjunct to prayer.  Desire precedes prayer, accompanies it, is followed by it.  Desire goes before prayer, and by it, created and intensified.  Prayer is the oral expression of desire.  .....If prayer is asking God for something, then prayer must be expressed.  Prayer comes out into the open.  Desire is silent.  ......The deeper the desire, the stronger the prayer.  Without desire, prayer is a meaningless mumble of words.  Such perfunctory, formal praying, with no heart, no feeling, no real desire accompanying it, is to be shunned like a pestilence.  Its exercise is a waste of precious time, and from it, no real  blessing accrues."

Desire, as expressed by Mr. Bounds, is normal and necessary when it comes to prayer.  But it is selfish desires and putting our will first that is displeasing to the Lord.

E.M. Bounds continues:  "Spiritual desire, carried to a higher degree, is the evidence of the new birth. It is born in the renewed soul.  'As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.'  (I Peter 2:2).  The absence of this holy desire in the heart is presumptive proof, either of a decline in spiritual ecstasy, or that the new birth has never taken place.  ' Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.'  (Matthew 5:6).  These heaven-given appetites are the proof of a renewed heart, the evidence of a stirring spiritual life.    ...........This, then, is the basis of prayer which compels an answer -  that strong inward desire has entered into the spiritual appetite, and clamors to be satisfied.    ..........  God draws mightily near to the praying soul.  To see God, to know God, and to live for God - these form the objective of all true praying.  Thus, praying is, after all, inspired to seek after God."

One time, a few months back, I was in deep, earnest prayer and weeping as I prayed and pleading with God. A still small voice spoke to my heart and soul, saying, "Is anything too hard for Me?"   I knew it was the Lord encouraging me.   Later, I looked up Scriptures on that subject and found in Genesis 18:14 "Is anything too hard for the LORD?"  and Jeremiah 32:27 which says, "Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for Me?"    Other verses were found at Jeremiah 32:17, Matthew 19:26, and Isaiah 59:1.   I know God will answer that prayer (I am still waiting) because to me it was like a promise from Him that He would.  So I know that sincere, heartfelt prayer reaches the heart of God and that He does answer that type of prayer.  Think about it, all of our prayers should be deep, heartfelt, and prayed with faith that He hears us and will answer us in His due time.   The Lord has answered my prayers in the past and I believe He will continue to do so.

Never give up and continue to approach God with faith and hope and perseverance.  Be like the widow who sought justice from an unjust judge.  She continually confronted the judge until he grew weary of her pestering him, and he finally answered her petition.  (Luke 18:1-8)   

Let's enjoy a refreshing and soothing video showing scenes from Maui, Hawaii, with quiet music in the background.  I have visited Maui a few times so it was a delight for me to "revisit" there by viewing this video.  

It is my sincere wish that your weekend is a happy and enjoyable one, and that you remember to put Christ first in everything you do.   

"Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."  -  Jesus at Mark 11:24

"Pray without ceasing."  -  I Thessalonians 5:17

"Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  -  Philippians 4:6-7