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Practical Religion 4b Prayer

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Practical Religion Prayer ( Part 2) J.C. Ryle
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Page 1: Practical Religion 4b Prayer

Practical ReligionPrayer (Part 2)

J.C. Ryle

Page 2: Practical Religion 4b Prayer

Prayer

Prayer is the most important subject in practical religion. All other subjects are second to it.

Page 3: Practical Religion 4b Prayer

Prayer - Review

1. Prayer is absolutely needful to salvation

2. A habit of prayer is a sure mark of a true Christian

3. Private prayer is the most neglected duty in religion

4. Prayer is the most greatly encouraged act in religion

Page 4: Practical Religion 4b Prayer

Prayer - Review

5. Diligent prayer is the secret of eminent holiness

6. Neglect of praying is a great cause of backsliding

7. Prayer is one of the best recipes for happiness and contentment

Page 5: Practical Religion 4b Prayer

Prayer - Application

For those who do not pray

Be warned that your eternal state is in question

It is useless to say you do not know how to pray

It is useless to say you have no time to pray

It is useless to say you must wait until you are converted

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Prayer - Application

For those who desire salvation

In every journey there must be a first step

The Spirit begins to work in your heart when you first pray with your heart

Go in private and entreat Jesus to save you

Just as you would tell a doctor where you feel pain in your body, tell Christ where you feel pain in your soul

Page 7: Practical Religion 4b Prayer

Prayer - Application

The Spirit begins to work in your heart when you first pray with your heart

Do not doubt his willingness to save sinners – it is the reason he came

Do not wait because you feel unworthy – none are worthy, yet he calls you to himself

Do not fear because your prayer is uncertain or uncomfortable

Do not despair if the answer doesn't come quickly

Page 8: Practical Religion 4b Prayer

Prayer - Application

For those who pray

There are wrong ways to pray

There are challenges and interference with prayer

Page 9: Practical Religion 4b Prayer

For Those Who Pray

Maintain reverence and humility in prayer

You are on holy ground

Labor to have the help of the Spirit in your prayer

Although you may pray over the same areas, strive to make the content different

Do not use a crutch (such as a prepared prayer) if you can walk

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For Those Who Pray

Make prayer a regular business of life

There is value in having regular prayer times

At the very least, speak with God in the morning

Persevere in prayer

Do not allow excuses to keep you from prayer

Never think time is wasted in prayer

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For Those Who Pray

Be earnest in prayer

Let us knock loudly at the door of grace, like Mercy in ‘Pilgrim’s Progress,’ as if we must perish unless heard.

Cold prayers are a sacrifice without fire.

It is not necessary that a man should shout, or scream, or be very loud, in order to prove he is in earnest. But it is desirable that we should be hearty, and fervent, and warm, and

ask as if we were really interested in what we are doing.

Page 12: Practical Religion 4b Prayer

For Those Who Pray

Pray with faith

We should endeavor to believe that our prayers are always heard, and that if we ask things according to God’s will, we shall always be answered.

We should cultivate the habit of pleading promises in our prayers.

Above all, we should cultivate the habit of expecting answers to our prayers. We should do like the merchant who sends his ships to sea. We should not be satisfied unless we see some return.

We should cultivate the habit of pleading promises in our prayers. We should take with us some promise,

and say, ‘Lord, here is thine own word pledged. Do for us as thou hast said’

Page 13: Practical Religion 4b Prayer

For Those Who Pray

Cultivate boldness in prayer

Boldness is not familiarity

Ask God to fulfill his promises

We do not plead as often as we might, ‘Lord, are we not thine own people? Is it not for thy glory that we should be

sanctified? Is it not for thine honour that thy gospel should increase?’

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For Those Who Pray

Consider the importance of fulness in prayer

Few believers pray too much

The Lord says, ‘Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.’ (Ps. 81:10) But we are like the king of Israel who smote on the ground thrice and stayed, when he ought to have smitten five or six times (2 Kings 13:18-19)

Nothing is more common that to hear believers complaining that they do not grow in grace, as they could desire.

Is it not rather to be suspected that many have quite as much grace as they ask for? Is it not the true account of many that they have little because they ask little?

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For Those Who Pray

Ask with particularity in prayer

We ought not to be content with great general petitions. We ought to specify our wants before the throne of grace.

It should not be enough to confess we are sinners. We should name the sins of which our conscience tells us we are most guilty.

What should we think of the patient who told his doctor he was ill, but never went into particulars? What should we think of the wife who told

her husband she was unhappy, but did not specify the cause?

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For Those Who Pray

Intercede for others in your prayers

We often think only of our own souls, our own progress in faith, and to forget others.

We should stir ourselves up to name other names beside our own before the throne of grace.

Page 17: Practical Religion 4b Prayer

For Those Who Pray

Be thankful in prayer

I know well that asking God is one thing, and praising God is another. But I see so close a connection between prayer and praise in the Bible, that I dare not call that true prayer in which thankfulness has no part.

Surely, we should never open our lips in prayer without blessing God for that free grace by which we live, and for that loving kindness which endures for ever.

Page 18: Practical Religion 4b Prayer

For Those Who Pray

Be watchful over your prayers

Prayer is the spiritual weather glass: by this we may always know whether it is fair or foul with our hearts.

Notice the people and activities that keep your mind from God and make your prayers heavy. Be on guard against them.

Notice the friends and activities that leave you in a spiritual frame, and most ready to speak with God. Cleave and stick fast to them.

Page 19: Practical Religion 4b Prayer

For next week:

Chapter 5: Bible Reading (Part 1)

Please read:

The first portion of Chapter 5, up to the paragraph beginning, “I have now given the reasons why I press on every reader the duty and importance of reading the Bible.”

Prov 2:1-5

Psalm 119: 9; John 17: 17


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