AN INVITATION TO PRAYER

JEREMIAH 33:1-3

Moreover the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying, Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name; Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

I.                   THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE INVITATION

A.   IT WAS TO JEREMIAH; TO A GOOD MAN (ALL MEN MAY PRAY, BUT IT IS “THE SUPPLICATION OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN THAT AVAILETH MUCH.”

B.   THE INVITATION CAME TO A GOOD MAN IN PRISON

1.     STONE WALLS CANNOT SHUT OUT GOD FROM US, NOT PREVENT OUR SOULS FROM RISING IN PRAYER TO HIM

2.     GOD OFTEN VISITS THE SOUL AT THE TIME OF DISTRESS

C.   THE INVITATION CAME A SECOND TIME

1.     GOD REPEATEDLY VISITS HIS TROUBLED CHILDREN

2.     THE PRAYER OF YESTERDAY WILL NOT MAKE THAT OF TO-DAY NEEDLESS

D.   THE INVITATION TO PRAYER DID NOT BRING DELIVERANCE FROM TROUBLE

1.     THOUGH GOD VISITED JEREMIAH IN PRISON ONCE AND AGAIN THE PROPHET STILL REMAINED THERE

2.     THERE IS NO REASON FOR US TO BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE GOD HAS SAW FIT NOT TO DELIVER US FROM OUT CIRCUMSTANCES THAT HE HAS ABANDONED US.

II.                THE REASON FOR THE INVITATION. God gives to Jeremiah good reason for assurance in prayer before inviting him to pray. We cannot pray with intelligence and earnest without confidence.

A.   THE MANIFESTATION OF GOD IN HIS WORKS

1.     HE IS THE MAKER OF ALL THINGS; THEREFORE HE HAS POWER TO MAKE ALL RIGHT AGAIN

2.     HE ESTABLISHED THE WORLD; THEREFORE, THERE IS PERMANENCE IN THE LAW, AND WILL. AND PROCEDURE OF GOD

B.   THE REVELATION OF HIS HIGHER NAME, JEHOVAH, “THE LORD IS HIS NAME.”

1.     THIS REVELATION NOT ONLY SUGGEST THE SELF EXISTENT AND ETERNAL SUPREMACY OF GOD, SO INFINITELY SUPERIOR TO ALL EVIL POWERS; IT IS ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH THE WILLINGNESS OF GOD TO SAVE, SINCE IT WAS REVEALED IN CONNECTION WITH THE DELIVERANCE FROM EGYPT.

III.             THE CHARACTER OF THE INVITATION

A.   GOD GIVES THE INVITATION TO PRAYER. . THEREFORE:

1.     WE MAY HAVE GOOD ASSURANCE THAT HE WILL HEAR OUR PRAYER

2.     WE MUST REMEMBER TAT ALTHOUGH WE ARE HIS CHILDREN AND HE LOVES TO WORK ON BEHALF OF HIS CHILDREN, HE WAITS TO HEAR FROM US.

B.   GOD PROMISES A REVELATION IN RESPONSE TO PRAYER

1.     HERE IS AN ENCOURAGEMENT THAT THE PRAYER WILL NOT BE FRUITLESS (THE BIBLE TREATS PRAYER AS A POWER PREVAILING WITH GOD, SECURING FROM HIM BLESSINGS ASKED).

2.     WE HAVE HERE A SPECIAL ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE PERPLEXED TO PRAY FOR LIGHT IN A DARKENED WORLD

a.     Mysteries are not necessarily eternally hidden

b.     Some once hidden have been revealed; others may yet be clearer.

c.      The seeker after truth should be an individual of prayer

The deepest spiritual truth is not discoverable by speculation; it is revealed in communion. It is seen through spiritual thought and identity with God, aided by His Sprit’s inspiration.