 Our God is truly mighty. Unlike impotent idols, He knows we are weak and needy, and He hears and answers our prayer requests (Psalms 65:2, 1 Corinthians 8:4). For example, God granted Jacob safety from Esau (Genesis 32:7-12) and Moses safety from Egypt; He gave Samson water and later strength after he was blinded (Judges 16:25-30); He empowered Joshua to stop the sun (Joshua 10:12-14); and He enabled Elijah to stop the rain (1 King 17-18).
Because of His infinite grace and mercy, we—the worthless—can boldly and confidently go to Him for everything we need. God likes to hear from us, particularly if we are righteous (Hebrew 4:16, Song of Solomon 2:14, James 5:16). Prayer acknowledges our dependance on His power and prepares us to give Him glory. God commands us to pray. He requires prayers to bestow mercy. Though He knows our needs, He wants to appear to be swayed by our prayers, acting in response to them (Proverbs 2:1-5, James 1:5, Acts 8:22). We are instructed to ask the Father through Christ, our mediator at His right hand. Christ’s obedience to Him has atoned for our sins and earned us His ears (Revelation 8:3-4, Luke 1:10). But God doesn’t answer requests with wrong motives, such as those born from pride or selfishness. These requests, if granted, can become our idols, later used to oppose Him. Insincere requests also are ineffective, such as asking God to purge our sins while indulging in them, or or asking humbly while being arrogant inside (James 4:3). And He won’t listen to requests not good for us. He knows what is best and will give much more than our requests (Isaiah 65:24, Habakkuk 2:3, James 1:5-6, Psalm 86:5, Romans 10:12, 1 King 3:10-13, Ephesians 3:20). Ask and it will be given to you. Don’t be anxious about anything. Give God no rest till He answers your requests, like Jacob not letting God go till getting His blessing, or the blind man shouting for Christ till Christ responded (Matthew 7:7; Luke 18:1-8, 35-43; Luke 11:5-8; Philippians 4:6-7). So, alertly, persistently, and earnestly pray at all times, without ceasing. Don’t give up. God answers prayers. Summary of a Jonathan Edwards’ sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzoKCj6r4Ig 听祷告并应允祷告的神！ 我们的上帝是全能的。 与无能的偶像不同, 祂会聆听并回应请求 (诗篇 65:2, 哥林多前书 8:4)。上帝视我们为软弱和有需要的。 祂接受我们的请求, 作为献给他的奉献和荣耀。 例如祂聆听雅各, 保护他免受以扫的伤害（创世记 32:7-12）；摩西, 对抗埃及；参孙, 给他水和失明后给他力量（士师记 16:25-30）；约书亚, 停止太阳（约书亚记 10:12-14）；和以利亚, 停止下雨（列王纪上17-18）。 由于祂无限的恩典和怜悯，我们这些毫无价值的人可以持续地要求。即使是最坏的罪人，也可以大胆自信地向祂祈求一切需要。我们的大胆要求不会冒犯祂。因上帝喜欢听到我们的声音，特别如果我们是公义的 (希伯来书 4:16, 雅歌 2:14, 雅各书 5:16)。 所以真正的祈祷依赖上帝并相信祂的充足和怜悯。祷告承认我们依赖祂的能力，预备我们将荣耀归给祂。 上帝也需求我们祷告。我们必须听从祂的命令。 上帝需要祈祷来赐予怜悯。虽然祂知道我们的需要，但祂希望看起来被我们的祈祷所影响，因我们的祈祷而行动 (箴言 2:1-5, 雅各书 1:5, 使徒行传 8:22)。 此外，借着基督来祈求我们的父。 基督在上帝的右边是我们的中保。祂顺从天父为我们赎了罪，绝对赢得了天父的心 (启示录 8:3-4, 路加福音 1:10)。 但上帝不会回答怀着错误动机的要求，例如仅仅为了我们的骄傲和我们自己。 此类请求如果获得批准，可以成为我们的偶像，以后用来反对祂。 上帝也不会回答不真诚的要求，例如在沉迷于罪中的同时祈求上帝清除我们的罪; 说我们依靠祂同时其实仅是相信自己; 乞求同时认为我们是应得的; 或者请求的言语谦虚其实内心狂妄 (雅各书 4:3)。 并且如果我们的要求是对我们不利，祂也不会应允。所以，顺服祂神圣的智慧。等待祂的时机。祂知道什么是最好的。祂会给比我们要求的多得多 (以赛亚书 65:24, 哈巴谷书 2:3, 雅各书 1:5-6, 诗篇 86:5, 罗马书 10:12, 列王纪上 3:10-13, 以弗所书 3:20)。 祈求就给你们。不要对任何事情感到焦虑。不让神休息，直到祂回应我们的请求，就像雅各不让神离开，直至得到祂的祝福；或好像那盲人不断呼喊基督，直到基督听到他 (马太福音 7:7; 路加福音 18:1-8,35-43; 路加福音 11:5-8, 腓立比书 4:6-7)。 所以要时常保持警惕, 坚持不懈, 并认真恳切地不住祷告。 不要放弃。 上帝是应允祷告的。 Comments are closed.
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