Prayer

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Colossians 4:2

Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

I. CONTINUE. Let not your intercessions be as the morning cloud. How prevalent we are in adversity; but what about prosperity?

1. The duty on the part of(1) convinced sinners. Pray on till the blessing comes.

(2) Saints — not only for temporal blessings, but for more faith, holiness, usefulness. The more we pray the riper will be our graces.

(3) Churches. Pentecost, as every great revival, was preceded by persevering prayer.

2. This duty need not interfere with others — our business, e.g. Prayer to the neglect of business was sternly condemned by Paul in the case of the Thessalonians. You may not always be in the exercise, but you may always be in the spirit of prayer. If not always shooting your arrows up to heaven, keep your bow well stringed.

3. Reasons for this duty.

(1) God will answer. "Ask, and ye shall receive" — not always at once, but in God's time; pray till that comes.

(2) The world will be blessed. Continue, then, to pray till Christ become the universal King.

(3) Souls shall be saved.

(4) Satan's castle shall be destroyed — not with one blow of the battering-ram, however. But batter away till it falls.

II. WATCH.

1. For you will be drowsy if you watch not. How many men and Churches are asleep in prayer because they do not watch.

2. For as soon as you begin to pray enemies will commence to attack. No one was ever in earnest without finding that the devil was in earnest too.

3. Watch while you pray for propitious events which may help you in the answer to your prayer. We cannot make the wind blow, but we can spread the sails; and when the Spirit comes we may be ready.

4. Watch for fresh arguments for prayer. Heaven's gate is not to be stormed by one weapon, but by many.

5. Watch for the answers. When you post a letter to your friend you watch for the answer.

III. GIVE THANKS. We should not go to God as mournful beings who plead piteously with a hard master who loves not to give. When you give a penny to a beggar you like to see him smile, and you give at the next application because of previous gratitude. So go to God with a thankful mind.

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