1/7/2024 0 Comments Charles spurgeon prayer![]() ![]() "Save, Lord." Is it not praise? Yes for it is tantamount to "God save the king," and is used to extol the Son of David. I refer to that joyous Hebrew word which has been imported into all Christian languages, "Hosanna." Is it a prayer? Yes. Our very language seems to indicate this, for there is small difference between the words "to pray," and "to praise." A psalm may be either a prayer or praise, or both and there is yet another form of utterance which is certainly prayer, but is used as praise, and is really both. Supplication and thanksgiving so naturally run into each other that it would be difficult to keep them separate: like kindred colours, they shade off into each other. These two holy streams flow from one common source, the Spirit of life which dwells within us and they are utterances of the same holy fellowship with God and therefore it is right that they should mingle as they flow, and find expression in the same holy exercise. "One thing at a time" is said to be a wise proverb, but for once I must venture to contradict it, and say two things at a time are better, when the two are prayer and thanksgiving. The law saith: "With all thy sacrifices thou shalt offer salt " and the gospel says with all thy prayers thou shalt offer praise. Though the prayer were offered upon the verge of death, yet in the last few words which the trembling lips can utter there should be notes of gratitude as well as words of petition. No matter though the prayer should struggle upward out of the depths, yet must its wings be silvered o'er with thanksgiving. Always must we offer prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. This blending of thanks with devotion is always to be maintained. We must say with the Psalmist, "Thus will I bless thee while I live I will lift up my hands in thy name." The constant tenor and spirit of our lives should be adoring gratitude, love, reverence, and thanksgiving to the Most High. Hence it follows that we ought always to be in a thankful condition of heart: since we are to pray without ceasing, and are not to pray without thanksgiving, it is clear that we ought to be always ready to give thanks unto the Lord. The point to which I would draw your attention is this: that whether it be the general prayer or the specific supplication we are to offer either or both "with thanksgiving." We are to pray about everything, and with every prayer we must blend our thanksgivings. So, my beloved friends, we have many wants which are so pressing as to be very distinct and definite, and we ought to have just so many clearly defined petitions which we offer unto God by way of supplication, and for the divine answers to these we are bound to watch with eager expectancy, so that when we receive them we may magnify the Lord. He knew what he was driving at, kept to his point, and prevailed. Elijah, when on the top of Carmel, did not pray for all the blessings of providence in general, but for rain, for rain there and then. See how Abraham, when he went to worship the Lord, did not merely adore him, and in general pray for his glory, but on a special occasion he pleaded concerning the promised heir, at another time he cried, "O that Ishmael might live before thee," and on one special occasion he interceded for Sodom. You will hear prayers at prayer-meetings, in which everything is asked in general but nothing in particular, and yet the reality and heartiness of prayer will often be best manifested by the putting up of requests for distinct blessings. ![]() ![]() There is a good deal of generalizing in prayer, and God forbid that we should say a word against it, so far as it is sincere worship, but we want to have more of specific, definite pleading with God, asking him for such-and-such things, with a clear knowledge of what we ask. Do not forget this second form of worship. We are to worship in prayer, for God is to be adored by all his saints, and then we are to beseech his favours for ourselves, according to the words of the text, letting our requests be made known unto God. We are to offer the general prayer common to all the saints, and we are to add thereto the special and definite petitions which are peculiar to ourselves. If any distinction be intended here, I suppose that by prayer is meant the general act of devotion and the mention of our usual needs and by supplication I think would be intended our distinct entreaties and special petitions. "In every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."-Philippians 4:6.Īccording to the text, we are both by prayer and supplication to make known our requests unto God. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |