James 4:3

So far we’ve considered adoration and confession in prayer.

Today we will examine SUPPLICATION. Christian Definition: To humbly ask of God

the things we need for ourselves. Will differentiate for our purposes between

supplication and petition – asking in behalf of others.

James 4:3 -- When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

Matthew 7:7-8 -- "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

We have a tendency to ask mostly in times of crisis:

Medical Traveling Finances Relationships Jobs

Matthew 6:8 -- Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Matthew 6:32 -- For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

For God’s Mercy and Grace

Hebrews 4:16 -- Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Psalm 25:5 -- …guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long

Ephesians 6:13 -- Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

James 4:7 -- Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

2 Corinthians 10:5 -- We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Romans 12:2 -- Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

James 1:5 -- If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Colossians 1:10-11 -- And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully

Luke 18:13 -- But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

Psalm 51:10-12 -- Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

One of the reasons we don't confess our sins completely to God, is

because a tremendous amount of pain is involved in true confession.

It's painful to confess when we recognize our responsibility to change that which we have told

God we're doing

-- Bob Stone