Pray, Always Pray!

​Christ said, “in that day,” Father would give whatever we asked (John 16:23-27). And now is “that day.”
 
Now we have the Holy Spirit guiding us how and what to pray according to the Father’s will. We are enlightened even more than the disciples.
 
Now Christ, our advocate, intercedes for us. “In that day” we can ask in His name (John 16:23). This is like the king allowing us to use his signature to write checks and endorsing them. If Father refuses us, He is refusing Christ! But Christ’s name must be used properly. Ask God not to grant our prayer if we ask for things Christ won’t ask. Our requests will be granted if they are right and if we believe.
 
Now we can ask because the Father loves us and listens to us. Christ told us we don’t need Him to ask because the Father loves us (John 16:26-27). In His love, the Father sacrificed His Son to cover our sins.
 
There are two categories of love. We can love the undeserving and we can love those who are good to us. Similarly, Father loves us, the undeserving, when we were sinners; and the Father loves us more if we love Christ (John 16:27). Like husband and wife brought together by loving their child, the Father and we are held together by loving Christ.
 
But don’t be mistaken that the Father loves us because we love Christ. We love God because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).
 
Christ tells us to ask (Matthew 7:7-8). It’s never in vain to wait upon the Lord, who delights to give great things to those who ask.
 
So, ask continually. Satan wants you to stop praying. Don’t listen. Don’t give up. Ask simply and sincerely.
 
Also, pray for others. When God wanted to destroy the Israelites, He listened to Moses pleading for them.
 
“In that day” is also the day of persecution. Again, we must pray.
 
Imitate David in declaring how God answered prayers (Psalm 118:5-7). Tell your children so. Declare to your neighbors trusting God far better than trusting man (Isaiah 26:4).
 
Don’t reject God “in that day” because one day the door of mercy will close. “In that day” is the day of mercy. Ask earnestly now and receive from Him abundantly.
 
Summary of a sermon by Charles Spurgeon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcHlM6uTTA4
 


祈祷，不断地祈祷！
 
基督说天父上帝会在“那日”赐给我们所求的（约翰福音 16：23-27）。如今就是“那日”了。
 
现在信徒有圣灵带领按神的旨意怎样祷告和祷告什么， 所以我们甚至比当时的门徒更蒙光照。
 
现在信徒的中保基督在为我们代求。 “在那日”可以奉祂的名祈求（约翰福音 16:23），好像国王允许用他的签名来开支票。 如果天父拒绝我们，祂就是在拒绝基督！然而要正确地使用基督的名。如果我们祈求基督不会祈求的，求上帝不要应允。如果我们的要求是正当的，并且凭着信心求，祷告就会蒙应允。
 
更好的是，现在我们祈祷是因为天父的爱和聆听。 基督说我们不需要祂祈求天父，因为天父爱我们（约翰福音 16：26-27）。 天父在爱里赐下基督为我们牺牲，遮盖了我们的罪。
 
爱有两种类型： 爱不值得爱的人和爱对我们好的人。同样地，当我们还是罪人时，天父就爱我们这些不配的人; 不仅如此，如果我们爱基督，天父会更爱我们（约翰福音 16:27）。 就像丈夫和妻子因爱自己的孩子而团结在一起，天父和我们因爱基督而团结在一起。
 
谨记不要误以为天父爱我们是因为我们爱基督。 我们爱神，因为祂先爱我们 (约翰一书 4:19)。
 
基督告诉我们要祈求（马太福音 7:7-8）。 等候主永远不徒然，祂乐意将美好宝贵的东西赐给祈求的人。
 
所以，当不断地祈祷。 撒但要你停止祷告，不要听从， 不要放弃。 简单而真诚地祈求。
 
也当为他人代求。 当上帝要毁灭以色列人时，摩西为他们恳求，上帝就应允了他的祷告。
 
“在那日” 也是受逼迫的日子， 所以我们一定要祷告。
 
当效法大卫的榜样，宣告上帝将如何回应祷告（诗篇 118:5-7）。 教导你的儿女如此行. 向你的邻居宣告，信靠上帝远胜过倚赖人（以赛亚书 26:4）。
 
不要“在那日”拒绝上帝，因为有一天怜悯之门会关闭。 “在那日” 是怜悯的日子。现在恳切地祈求吧，从祂那里得到丰盛的领受。