Message Notes

(I) THE NECESSITY OF PRAYER

1. Have you felt a great sense of burden laid upon your heart?

2. Have you ever felt a great sense of necessity to pray?

(II) THE PRIVILEGE OF PRAYER

1. It is in necessity that we appreciate afresh the privilege of prayer

2. It is in the trials of life that the strength of our prayer life is truly tested

(III) THE BASIS OF PRAYER

1. What is the basis of our prayer?

2. What assurance do we have that God will even hear our prayers?

(IV) THE PLEA FOR MERCY

1. Conviction of sins

“Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions…”  Psalm 25:7a

a) Past sins

b) Present sins

2. Confession of sins

“For Your Name’s sake, O LORD,
Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.”    Psalm 25:11

a) Candidly

b) Completely

3. Crushing circumstances of life

“The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
Bring me out of my distresses.
Look on my afflictions and pain,
And forgive all my sins.”  Psalm 25:17-18

a) Many enemies

b) Many afflictions

(V) PRAYERS THAT GOD WILL HEAR AND ANSWER

“Good and upright is the LORD;
Therefore he teaches sinners in the way.
The humble He guides in justice,
And the humble He teaches His way.
All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth,
To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies”   Psalm 25:8-10

1. Prayers offered by repentant sinners

2. Prayers offered in deep humility

3. Prayers offered by the grateful redeemed ones who now walk in God’s ways

POEM

PRAYER FOR HUMILITY

Humble, Lord, my haughty spirit,

Bid my swelling thoughts subside;

Strip me of my fancied merit;

What have I do with pride?

Was my Saviour meek and lowly?

And shall such a worm as I,

Weak, and earthly, and unholy,

Dare to lift my head on high?

Teach me, Lord, my true condition;

Bring me childlike to Thy knee;

Stripped of every low ambition,

Willing to be led by Thee.

Guide me by Thy Holy Spirit;

Feed me from Thy blessed word;

All my wisdom, all my merit,

Borrowed from Thyself, O Lord!

Like a humble babe, confiding,

Simple, docile, let me be;

Trusting still to Thy providing

Willing to be led by Thee.

Thus my all to Thee submitting;

I am Thine and not my own;

And when earthly hops are flitting,

Rest secure on God alone.

– Henry Francis Lyte –