Luke 23.
MOST of you children have been taught to pray but I wonder how many of you really are in earnest, and mean what you say when you speak of God, or do you just repeat words because it is your duty to utter them? I want you to notice five prayers in the 23rd chapter of Luke and see if they were answered.
Prayer means asking, or entreating someone for something we want. If we read from the 18th verse down to the 23rd verse we will find the first prayer, which we will call the Prayer of Hatred, because people are there praying to the judge and crying out “Away with this man, crucify Him.” They were in earnest, and though no fault was found in the One they hated, yet the prayer was answered by Pilate, who gave up the Lord Jesus to them to do with Him what they would.
2. The Prayer of Despair is the next (verses 29 and 30) and here we read of people calling on the mountains and hills to fall on them and cover them. This will be uttered by those who reject Christ, and at last find out their mistake, and have no hope; they dare not cry to God for mercy because it is too late. This prayer will not be answered, and no mountain, or hill, can hide the sinner from God.
3. The Prayer of Love in the 34th verse is the most beautiful one ever uttered: “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” These loving words were spoken by the Lord in the midst of His agony and rejection, on behalf of those who were His murderers, and for all sinners. It is wonderful to think of His praying for His enemies at such, a moment. This prayer was partly answered on the day of Pentecost, when many scoffers and rejectors heard the gospel, and were pricked to the heart and saved. Still to day God is answering the Saviour’s loving prayer in forgiving those who are sinners and have been enemies towards Himself but now come confessing their sin.
4. Prayer of Unbelief (verse 39), “If Thou be the Christ save Thyself and us.” This was the prayer of the dying thief who refused to believe that Jesus was the Son of God, and the Saviour of sinners. Although death was near, instead of pleading for mercy he spent his last moments in scoffing at the Laid. God, who reads all hearts, never answers the prayer which comes from the lips of those who have no faith in the heart; therefore that thief did not receive an answer.
5. Prayer of Faith. The other thief, knowing what a vile sinner he was, and believing in his heart that Jesus was the Undefiled One who had done nothing amiss and. the only One who could save him, said this prayer: “Lord remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom.” At once came the answer, “Today shalt thou be with Me in Paradise.” (Verses 42 and 43).
O! girls and boys come to God in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, with faith in your hearts, and pray unto Him to save you from your sins and from the judgment; but don’t come doubting lest you should miss the blessing. Those of you who have trusted the Lord, do not be afraid to ask God as your Father for the things which you need; but ask in faith and be in earnest, and if it is for your good, He will give you your heart’s desire.
Little child, the Saviour loved you,
So He left His home on high;
Came on earth a lowly stranger
For your sins to bleed and die.
Sin had set its stamp upon you,
And must shut you Out froth God,
Jesus came to make atonement,
Though it cost His precious blood.
“It is finished!” said the Saviour;
Well He knew His work was done,
He for sin had made atonement,
He, God’s holy, spotless Son.
ML 02/18/1912