The Struggle of Supplications to God

The Struggle of Supplications to God

Selected Verse

Establish the need: Do you regularly God to God with prayer requests, asking Him for things?

Purpose: Today we shall see three points concerning prayers of supplication towards God so that we be daily bringing our requests to God.

• We are commanded to bring requests to God
• Struggles of bringing requests to God
• Helps for bringing requests to God

 

 

We are commanded to bring requests to God

Proof

1. Definition: “Masking specific requests”[1]= In other words, asking God for things.
2. Taught in the Old Testament: “To You, O Lord, I called, And to the Lord I made supplication” (Psalm 30:8)
   1. This is a Psalm written by David.
   2. The verb “I made supplication” in the Hitpael Hebrew form has the idea of asking for favor.[2]
   3. In the context of the Psalm it seems to refer to request being made that has to do with life and death ( 3, v.9).
3. Taught by Jesus: “And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”” (Matthew 21:22)
   1. Note Jesus here is talking about asking things in prayer which is supplication.
   2. Specifically Jesus said we can ask God for “all things”
   3. However the condition for receiving is “believing”
4. Taught in the New Testament: “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,” (Ephesians 6:18)
   1. Note the type of prayers we pray include “petition” which is mentioned twice.
   2. “petition” is prayer asking God for things, thus it is supplication.
   3. When do we make petitions? Note it says “at all times”
5. What do you we make supplication about? Others’ needs: “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,” (1 Timothy 2:1)
   1. Notice here the kinds of prayers include prayers of supplication when Paul uses the language of “entreaties…petitions”
   2. These supplications are to “be made on behalf of all men”
6. What do you we make supplication about? Our needs: “‘Give us each day our daily bread.” (Luke 11:3)
   1. Notice there is a focus here on what we need and not just wants.
   2. Notice there’s also a focus of daily rather than other time duration.

Practice

1. Do you ask God for things in your prayers?
2. I have heard some people say that they don’t pray to God for what they need only prayer they pray is for others; while it sounds honorable in one sense (thinking of others) it is not biblical; do you have that view?

 

 

Struggles of bringing requests to God

Proof

1. Pride: “Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;” (Jeremiah 9:23)
   1. We see the danger of boasting.
   2. Of course boasting is driven by pride.
   3. What are negatives things to boast about? Three things mentioned:
      1. Wisdom: “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom”
      2. Strength: “and let not the mighty man boast of his might”
      3. Riches: “let not a rich man boast of his riches”
   4. If one thinks they are really wise, they won’t think about asking God for wisdom for help.
   5. If one thinks they are strong, they won’t think about asking God for help.
   6. If one thinks they are rich they won’t think about asking God for resource.
2. Our sin: “We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him.” (John 9:31)
   1. This is a truth in the first part that God does not hear sinners.
   2. This is spoken by the once blind man; but the truth is also taught elsewhere in Proverbs 28:9, Psalm 66:18, Isaiah 59:2.
3. We complain
   1. Yet complaining is prohibited: “Do all things without grumbling or disputing;.” (Philippians 2:14)
   2. When we are too busy complaining we are too busy being negative, the opposite of being thankful to God.
4. Unbelief/Doubt: “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.” (James 1:5-6).
   1. Notice that we can request things from God including wisdom.
   2. Notice verse 5 states that God will give wisdom!
   3. Yet we must have faith and not doubt according to verse 6.

Practice

1. Which one of these roadblocks do you struggle with presently with thanking God in your prayer?
2. Ask someone close to you which are your potential obstacles or a pattern of being an obstacle in your life.

 

Helps for bringing requests to God

1. If you are not sure you should about whether or not you should pray to God to request something we should tell that to God that we are not sure and ask for His will to be done.[3] This is better to do than to not pray.
2. Be more specific in your prayers so you can see God answer it.[4] If it is too vague we don’t see how awesome God answers our prayers which can motivate us to continue to bring our requests to Him!
3. Sometimes when it is hard to bring your requests to God, ask others to pray for you. Call them and  have them pray for you right then and there!  Don’t know anyone to call?  Call your pastor!
4. Believe that God is good and loves believers and He wants to give you things: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:7-11)
   1. Jesus is teaching here.
   2. Note Jesus draw a human analogy of a father will give good things to his Son; likewise God will give to His children who asks!
5. Know that anxiety is meant by God for us to pray to Him: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6)
6. Remember His benefits: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits.” (Psalm 103:2)
   1. Sit down regularly and intentionally to write down at least a list of ten things you are thankful for. Pray to God about it right now!
   2. Be on the alert to hear what people say to you that God has bless you with. Then let that motivate you to pray more.
7. Realize we can be confident to pray to God because of the grace found in Christ: “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

 

[1] Fundamentals of the Faith (Chicago: Moody Publishers), 62.

[2] Source: https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2603.htm

[3] RC Sproul, Does Prayer Changes Things (Orlando, Reformation Trust Publishing), Kindle Locations 466.

[4] RC Sproul, Does Prayer Changes Things (Orlando, Reformation Trust Publishing), Kindle Locations 474-75.