A. Empathy and love
B. The privilege of intercession (1 Timothy 2:1-4)
C. Jesus’ ultimate intercession for us (Isaiah 53:12; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25)
II. A specific petition (Matthew 15:22b)
A. Whether suffering, sick, or ensnared in sin—be specific! (James 5:13-16)
B. He cares! (1 Peter 5:6-7)
III. A persistent petition (Matthew 15:23-24)
A. Despite the silence of the Savior
B. Despite the annoyance of the apostles
C. Despite the apparent hesitance to help
IV. A reverential petition (Matthew 15:25)
A. She worshiped Him as Lord
B. Still today, He is worthy of worship and He is involved in our prayers (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 4:14-16)
V. A humble petition (Matthew 15:26-28)
A. She recognized His authority and power
B. “Great is your faith!”
A. Solomon’s shortcomings (3:3-4)
B. Yet, God offered to provide for His people (3:5)
II. Solomon’s prayer (3:6-9)
A. A high view of God’s power (3:6)
B. Humility (3:7)
C. An awareness of obligation (3:8)
D. The request: “an understanding heart” (3:9)
III. God’s response (3:10-14)
A. God granted Solomon’s petition (3:10-12)
B. God gave more than Solomon asked (3:13-14)
IV. Solomon’s praise (3:15)
A. Burnt offerings
B. Peace offerings
C. Sharing in a feast for his servants
V. Lessons for today
A. God still offers to take care of His servants (Matthew 7:7-8)
B. A proper view of God and self (Hebrews 4:16)
C. God still answers prayers (James 1:5) and still does more than we can imagine! (Ephesians 3:20)
D. Gratitude and praise for His blessings (Ephesians 3:21)
A. “David blessed the LORD” (29:10; cf. 29:20)
B. Why worship God? Because there is none greater! (29:11; Matthew 6:13c; 1 Timothy 1:17; Revelation 4:11)
II. Gratitude for God’s provision (1 Chronicles 29:12-13)
A. Every good thing comes from God (29:12; James 1:17)
B. Gratitude for His blessings (29:13; Romans 11:36)
C. Stewardship (Matthew 25:14-30)
III. David’s prayer for the people and Solomon (1 Chronicles 29:14-19)
A. David’s humility (29:14; Ephesians 2:10)
B. The temporary nature of our earthly existence (29:15; Hebrews 11:13-16)
C. Uprightness of heart (29:16-18; Proverbs 11:20; James 5:16)
D. David’s prayer for Solomon (29:19; Romans 12:1)
IV. An exhortation to worship (1 Chronicles 29:20)
A. Our desire to worship Him always (29:20; Acts 17:24-28)
B. The worship of the people was not limited to one day (29:21)
A. “More honorable than his brothers” (4:9)
B. “Called on the God of Israel” (4:10; Matthew 6:9)
C. Earnest in his petition
D. Humble in tone (cf. Luke 18:11-12)
II. The requests he made
A. An acknowledgement of his need for God (Philippians 4:6)
B. Material blessing (cf. 3 John 2)
C. Providential power (Psalm 145:15-16)
D. Divine preservation (Matthew 6:13)
III. The answer from God
A. “So God granted him what he requested” (James 4:3)
B. We can have confidence that God cares for us and listens to our petitions (Psalm 145:18; 1 John 5:14-15)
A. A warning against self-righteousness (Romans 10:2-3; Revelation 3:17)
B. An improper view of self leads to animosity toward others (Philippians 2:3-4)
C. Two people in the parable: a Pharisee and a tax collector (18:10)
II. The Pharisee
A. Compared himself to other people (18:11; cf. Luke 7:39; Matthew 5:48)
B. Bragged about his accomplishments (18:12; cf. 2 Corinthians 12:10; 1 Timothy 1:15-16; 1 Peter 1:13-17)
III. The publican
A. Measured himself against the greatness of God (18:13; cf. Job 40:4; 42:5-6; Isaiah 6:5; Luke 5:8; Revelation 1:17)
B. His humility led to justification (18:14; 1 Peter 5:5)
A. Men always ought to pray (1 Thessalonians 5:17; Romans 12:12; Colossians 4:2)
B. Men always ought not lose heart (Philippians 4:6-7; Galatians 6:9)
II. The people (18:2-6)
A. The unjust judge—the very opposite of what God expected (cf. 2 Samuel 23:3; Deuteronomy 16:18-20; 2 Chronicles 19:5-7)
B. The oppressed widow (cf. Exodus 22:22; Deuteronomy 27:19)
III. The prayer (18:3)
A. A request for justice (cf. Revelation 6:9-11)
B. Persistence (cf. Genesis 25:21)
IV. God’s personality (18:7-8)
A. A God of action (Luke 11:11-13)
B. A God who hears (1 Peter 3:12; James 5:16)
C. A God who bears long (1 Peter 5:6; 2 Peter 3:9)
V. Our profession of faith (18:1, 8)
A. Will He find us praying as we patiently wait for His return?
B. Will He find us persistently seeking His will in our prayers?
A. “Our Father in heaven” (Galatians 4:6; Romans 8:15)
B. “Hallowed be Your name” (Psalm 9:10)
C. “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:33; Romans 8:32)
II. Our needs—physical and spiritual (6:11-13)
A. A need related to the present: provision of food (Exodus 16:11-21)
B. A need related to the past: pardon for sins (1 John 1:7-10)
C. A need related to the future: protection from temptation (1 Peter 5:8)
A. Ask – shows dependence upon the Father
B. Seek – involves effort, pursuit
C. Knock – suggests perseverance
II. The efficacy of prayer (Matthew 7:8)
A. Requests made by the righteous must align with God’s will (James 5:16; 1 John 5:14)
B. We can have confidence—boldness—that God hears us and grants mercy and grace to those who ask (Hebrews 4:16)
III. Confidence in prayer based on God’s nature (Matt 7:9-11)
A. God is good (James 1:17)
B. God is wise (Romans 8:28)
C. God is powerful (Ephesians 3:20)
A. Encouraged among His disciples (Luke 22:40; 11:4; 22:33-34; 1 Corinthians 10:1-13)
B. Demonstrated in His own prayer (Luke 22:41; Mark 14:35; Matthew 26:39; Luke 18:9-14)
II. Submission to the Father’s will
A. “The cup” (Luke 22:42, 44; John 12:27)
B. Total submission (Hebrews 5:7-9; Philippians 2:5-8)
III. Strength
A. Ministering angels (Luke 22:43; Matthew 4:11; Psalm 69:20; Luke 2:8-14)
B. We must help our Christian family (Luke 22:44; Galatians 6:2; James 2:15-16)
But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. (Acts 8:12)
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