243. JOH 16:24. ENCOURAGEMENT TO PRAYER
Joh_16:24. Encouragement to Prayer
"Hitherto ye have asked nothing in my name ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full."’97Joh_16:24.
The superaboundings of Divine grace towards us. God desirous of our complete happiness and salvation. Fulness of his love and mercy. How he invites, beseeches, and expostulates. More ready to give than we are to receive.
Notice,
I. The Expostulation.
II. The Direction.
And,
III. The Promise
Notice,
I. The Expostulation.
"Hitherto ye have asked nothing," &c 1. We have asked for little instead of much of the Divine goodness.
He wants to bestow all good things, &c. He says, "Prove me," &c.
2. We have asked seldom instead of often.
He says, continue in prayer; pray without ceasing.
3. We have asked in doubt instead of strong faith.
He says, Be not faithless, but believing. "Whatsoever ye ask in faith, nothing doubting," &c. Jam_1:6; Heb_10:22.
Observe,
II. The Direction.
"Ask," &c.
1. Our desires must be expressed.
We must not only wish, but ask, &c. He will be inquired of, &c. He loves to hear prayer. He is near to them that call upon him. Our desires must be embodied in words.
2. Our prayers must be in Christ’s name. He is the only Mediator between God and us His death our plea. His intercession our hope. We must do all in Christ’s name. See Rev_8:3; Co), Rev_3:17.
3. We must ask enlargedly for abundance of blessings.
Hitherto ye have asked nothing &c.
Now we must ask,
(1) At all times. Morning, noon, and evening. Yea, be instant in prayer.
(2) For all sorts of blessings. Temporal, spiritual, and eternal.
(3) For an abundance of each blessing. "Open thy mouth wide," &c.
(4) With all sorts of prayer; ejaculatory, closet, family, and public, &c.
Then observe,
III. The Promise.
"And ye shall receive," &c.
Now consider, in reference to this promise,
1. The Divine ability.
He is able to do more than we can either ask or think. Nothing too hard, &c.
2. The Divine benevolence and grace. God is love. As a father pitieth, &c.
He delighteth in mercy. If he spared not his own Son, &c. Rom_8:32.
3. The Divine truth and immutability. His word has gone forth, and cannot be withdrawn. Not a man that he should lie, &c. He is the changeless Jehovah. Word of the Lord abideth forever, &c.
4. The Divine dealings with his people in every age.
When were his praying people turned empty away? When left to pine away and die? When did he forget to be gracious? &c. Abraham, Moses, Elijah, importunate widow, &c.
5. Refer to your own experience.
If ye had not, it was because, &c. Then ask and receive, that your joy may be full. If we ask largely, we shall have joys arising from abundance’97acceptance’97assurance; yea, joy unspeakable and full of glory.
Autor: JABEZ BURNS