October Surprise, October thirteenth, 2023 - Pray with Fire.

We are on the lucky October thirteenth and looking at praying with fiery passion. Realistic conversation with Almighty.

J.C. Ryle tells us:

"I commend to you the importance of earnestness in prayer. It is not necessary that a man should shout, or scream, or be very loud, in order to prove that he is in earnest."

"It is the "effectual fervent" prayer that "availeth much."

"This is the lesson that is taught us by the expressions used in Scripture about prayer. It is called, "crying, knocking, wrestling, laboring, striving."

Examples from Ryle:

"Jacob is one. He said to the angel at Penuel, "I will not let thee "o, except thou bless me" (Gen. 32:26). Daniel is another. Hear how he pleaded with God: "O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, 0 my God" (Dan. 9:19).

"Our Lord Jesus Christ is another. It is written of him, "In the days of his flesh, he offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears" (Heb. 5:7)."

"Alas, how unlike is this to many of our supplications! How tame and lukewarm they seem by comparison. How truly might God say to many of us, "You do not really want what you pray for.""

Ryle goes on:

"Let us try to amend this fault. Let us knock loudly at the door of grace, like Mercy in Pilgrim's Progress, as if we must perish unless heard. Let us settle it in our minds, that cold prayers are a sacrifice without fire."

Hannah's zeal is seen in her humble gratitude:

Then Hannah prayed and said, "My heart exults in the LORD; My horn is exalted in the LORD, My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies, Because I rejoice in Thy salvation. 2 "There is no one holy like the LORD, Indeed, there is no one besides Thee, Nor is there any rock like our God. 3 "Boast no more so very proudly, Do not let arrogance come out of your mouth; For the LORD is a God of knowledge, And with Him actions are weighed. 4 "The bows of the mighty are shattered, But the feeble gird on strength…

5 Even the barren gives birth to seven, But she who has many children languishes…

10 "Those who contend with the LORD will be shattered; Against them He will thunder in the heavens, The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; And He will give strength to His king, And will exalt the horn of His anointed."

Ryle's Reminder:

Let us settle it in our minds that cold prayers are a sacrifice without fire."

"What a man is on his knees before God, that he is and nothing more."

Robert Murray M'Cheyne

Assistant Editor: Seven Jefferson Gossard

www.frponprayer.com

freerangeprayer@gmail.com

Facebook - Free Range Preacher Ministries

Instagram: freerangeministries

All our Scripture quotes are drawn from the NASB 1977 edition.

For access to the Voice Over services of Richard Durrington, please visit RichardDurrington.com or email him at Durringtonr@gmail.com

Our podcast art was designed by @sammmmmmmmm23 Instagram

Season 005

Episode 108