Victory, is it enough, because he desired to give you more, Himself!

I am glad for the victories in my life. I am glad that God is good and set me free from my sins but is it enough? Is it enough that I am Saved on my way to heaven, is it enough that he has worked on m y heart and changed me?

Let me introduce you to some men that it wasn’t enough.

Enoch

And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

Genesis 5:24

Do we understand that the God of heaven desires to walk with us?  I remember when I was dating my wife. We would go out and enjoy time together and as the love grew in our hearts for each other so did the time spent together. One day I could no longer bear it, I could not from the love I had for her stand to be apart any longer. I put a ring in her finger and we were married. I see that same thing here in this verse. Enoch walked with God to the point where they could no longer stand to be apart any longer. Do we settle for some cheap imitation of this? God desires to walk with us in the same manner.

Moses

And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.

Exodus 33:11

Oh I hope we don’t settle for less in our Christian life, God wants to talk with us like a friend. The same God that spoke the Worlds in existence that same lovely, awesome, gracious, mighty God wants to be my friend. He said he would be that friend that sticks closer than a brother. Thank God I have a friend when the fiercest storm arises I have a friend that the winds and waves obey. When I am in the darkest night I have a friend who is the morning star. When I am lost and can’t find my way I have a friend who is the light of the world and he walks with me and talks with me.

Elijah

And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

1 Kings 19:11-12

I wasn’t enough that Elijah had seen victories, it wasn’t enough that he had been used as the mouth piece of God. Here he was feeling all alone like that the world was against him, all he longed for was a word from heaven a still small voice of the savior. Does it not humble us to think that that very same God want to talk to us? He desires to have deep communion with us and yet we neglect him. We start our day and rush out to face our world and never pause to hear, never stop to consider that there was a voice, the voice of the loving Father that wanted to speak to us. Is it enough for us that we have victory and salvation, is it enough! I hope we will understand this, it can’t be enough. The victory was just a piece he desired to give us more, don’t settle don’t let it be enough.

Daniel

but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.

Daniel 11:32

Daniel was a gifted leader and brilliant to the point he was desired by the king, placed in prominent position because of his knowledge but that was not the knowledge he treasured that was not the knowledge he longed for. Daniel longed to know God in a real and intimate way, he didn’t settle for knowing cold theology even the scriptures he longed to know God. We can perfect exegete the scriptures and miss the knowledge of God, miss knowing him. If we miss him we have missed it all, he is the supreme reward, he is the loftiest idea man can think, he is the great treasure to be had, he is the greatest love to experience. Don’t let it be enough to know about God, Go all the way and strive to know him.

David

From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes. As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

Psalms 17:14-15

The treasures of this world were not enough they didn’t satisfy the longing of his heart. The only thing that could satisfy was to be in his likeness. He desired to be like his father. I wish we would desire to be like our father. We are so allured by the weak shallow attractions of this world. How cheap we make God out to be. David goes on to describe his longing in the following Psalms

One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

Psalms 27:4

O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

Psalms 63:1

I wish that was our craving, a craving for the presence of God to not depart from him. If we could get to the point where he was the only thing we desired.

Job

Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him:

Job 13:15

Do we only trust God because of the good things he does for us? Would we say our love for him is to the point that though he stripped us of everything we own including our health, would God be enough? I hope it is not enough for us to not feel like this

Christ

And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.

Mark 1:35-37

Christ is busy everyone is looking for him and there he is spending large amounts of time praying. Why? Did he need direction? Was it Wisdom he needed? No! He had the very mind of God. Could I offer another solution, could it be he just longed to spend time in the very presence of his Father, He longed for the presence of God to be restored, to experience him like he had before the flesh of his humanity had caused a fracture of his intimacy with the Father. We can know him in great intimacy like he desires for us to have with him but I am afraid we just satisfied with Salvation and a little victory here and there.

Paul

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Philippians 3:10

Paul was a man who did great things in the ministry but it wasn’t enough. He looked around and saw the people God had used to touch but it wasn’t enough. He saw the churches God had planted through him but again it wasn’t enough. Paul still longed for more he longed to know him. He longed to know him more intimately then he knew him. I hope we understand this, we are settling for so much less than what was intended for us to have. God does want to just be satisfied with just salvation or with just victory or this or that, he wants us to only be satisfied in him. He should be all we need and all we desire.

How do we do this?

We must recognize that it takes an all-consuming desire, to only be satisfied with Christ, to long for him like nothing else in your life.

Present

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Romans 12:1-2

He is calling us to present ourselves to him fully detached from the world. To come with him with no strings attached, to put us at his disposal to do with us as he sees fit. Until come to him like this he will not use us! He is a jealous God and he will not compete with anything in our life, he will have it all or nothing at all.

Seek

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:13

He promises that if we will whole heartedly seek for him and him alone he will be found. What could be a greater treasure then that? He is the greatest thing to be desires, his presence is the greatest thing to be sought after, He is the greatest reward in life

Obey

And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

Acts 5:32

If are to know him in a great way then we must be ready to obey him at any cost. He will bring his presence to those who obey. Obedience is the greatest key to being intimate with the Father.

D.L Moody on Prayer

 I suppose there has been no word on Christians' lips so frequently at this time as the word "prayer," and there is not one in this hall who has not thought often, during the last forty-eight hours, of the importance of prayer.
During this week of prayer, they are a great many not only thinking about it, but talking about it. When there is a special interest and awakening in the community on the subject of religion, then it is that a great many skeptics and infidels, and a great many mere nominal professors of Christianity - we will not judge them - begin talking against "prayer."
They say, "The author of the world doesn't change His plans because of these prayers. The world goes right on. You cannot move God to change His mind or His doings." You hear this on every side. These young converts hear it. I have no doubt that many are staggered by it, and when you kneel down you say, `Is it a fact that God answers prayer? Is there anything in it?'
I think it would do us good in the week of prayer to take the word "prayer," and run through the Bible tracing it out. Read about nothing else. I think you would be perfectly amazed if you took up the word "prayer," and counted the cases in the Bible where people are recorded as praying, and God answering their prayers.
A great many think it is only the perfectly righteous and pure that pray. But you remember who it was who prayed in this fashion, "Lord remember me when Thou comest into Thy Kingdom." You remember that Christ answered the dying thief's prayer.
We cannot but notice that every man of God spoken of in the Bible was a man of prayer. You have therefore very good authority and encouragement for asking God to hear your prayers, and for praying on behalf of others, as we are daily requested to do. Many are surprised at these requests. But many mothers and fathers are rejoicing that they sent them in. The prayers offered up here have been answered, and their children have been saved.
Last night I was more confirmed in my views regarding the power of prayer than ever. "This is all excitement," some say; "it is got up by earnest appeals that work on the feelings of people, and move their impulses, making them uneasy and anxious." Now, for example, there was nothing said last night to speak of, and I never was more disgusted with myself than I was on Sunday -night. It seemed as if I could not preach the Gospel, as if my tongue would not speak. But still the number of inquirers was extraordinary.
Last night, when there was no speaking at all, and when I just came in and asked that any inquirers might follow me into the moderator's room, taking a few with me, and
D.L Moody On Prayer Prayer
10th Grade Boys
expecting to come in and ask out a few more when I had seen these, the number was so great that came out without solicitation that I did not need to return. I saw over a hundred inquirers last night, and there were from fifty to seventy that I had to close the door on, being unable to see them.
A great many who have not been at the meetings at all, have been converted in their own homes. God is working, not we. Oh! that we would keep ourselves down in the dust, and every one of us get out of the way, and let God work. It would be so easy for Him to go into every dwelling in Edinburgh, and convict and convert ten thousand souls.
Look at the 6th verse of the 4th chapter of Philippians. "Be careful for nothing, but in everything" - mark that - "by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God." He doesn't say He will answer all, but He says, "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ."
He tells us to make our wants known; to make our requests known to Him by prayer and supplication. It is right to come and make our requests known. He has told us to come and pray for the conversion of souls.
It is said by many people that God does not do anything supernatural in answer to prayer; that the God of nature moves right on and never changes His decrees. Read the first six verses of the 20th chapter of 2nd Kings, and see - "In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death: and the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz, came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the Lord, saying, I beseech Thee, O Lord, remember now how I have walked before Thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in Thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the Lord came to him, saying, Turn again, and tell Hezekiah, the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David, thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears, behold I will heal thee; on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the Lord, and I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the King of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake."
Was not that a direct answer to prayer? Hezekiah was only praying for his own life; we are come together to pray for the life of others, and not their temporal but their eternal welfare. He was not praying for Christ's sake as we now do, but we can come to-day and ask God to save the souls of men for Christ's sake, not only for our sake, but for the sake of the beloved Son. He loves to honor that Son, and to see Christ honored. We can come now and ask Him to save souls, that it might bring glory and honor to the Son of His bosom, and glory and honor to the Son He delights to honor. "I will," He says to Hezekiah, "defend the city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake." That is only one instance.
Look also at Daniel praying. It was his prayers that took the Jews back to Jerusalem. It was his prayers that turned Nebuchadnezzar to the God of Israel, and brought Gabriel down from heaven to tell him he was greatly beloved. He had power with God.
See also how God answered Jacob's prayers and Isaac's prayers. All through the Bible we have records of the answers to prayers. It would be terrible to think that God did not delight to answer prayer.
Turn to the 20th chapter of 2nd Chronicles. There we read that the Moabites, the Ammonites, and others coming against Jehoshaphat, he was afraid, "and set himself to seek the Lord," and that afterwards Judah "gathered themselves together to ask help of the Lord." That is what we want - to seek the Lord not only here in the public assembly, but alone. If you have got an unconverted friend, and are anxious that he should be saved, go and tell it privately to Jesus, and if a blessing does not come, like Jehoshaphat, spend a few days in fasting, and prayer, and humiliation.
"If when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in Thy presence (for Thy name is in this house), and cry unto Thee in our affliction, then Thou wilt hear and help."
When I go into the streets, and see the terrible wickedness, and blasphemy, and drunkenness that is in them, it seems dark, but I look up and think that God can repel those dark waves of sin and iniquity. Let us pray that God will bless this land of Scotland, bless and save all the people in it. It would be a great thing for us, but very little for God. May God give us faith!

Message delivered by Dwight L. Moody at the noon prayer-meeting, Edinburgh, Scotland, Jan. 6, 1874.
...
Dwight L. Moody (d. 1899) said "I don't find any place where God says that the world is to grow better and better...I look upon this world as a wrecked vessel, God has given me a lifeboat and said to me, `Moody, save all you can.' "

Thoughts on Prayer

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Ephesians 6:18

When you read this verse what is your response? Why should we pray always, why is there is emphasis placed so high on this action?

We can notice two things about prayer in this verse.

·         We should always pray

·         The great importance of prayer

Our response to this verse should be to pray, pray, pray and give ourselves completely to it. Prayer is the most wonderful, spiritual, powerful and yet the most sacred thing we can do it. Why is this kind of prayer so needful?

1.      Because of the war around us.

Ephesians 6:10-18

Verse 12 speaks of our very real and dangerous enemy, Satan.

It is our weapon, our defense; it is our only life line in the war

2.      It is God’s method in which He works.

James 4:2 ye have not because ye ask not

The reason for all spiritual lack in a Christian’s life is a lack of prayer.

"Why is it," many a Christian is asking, "I make so little progress in my Christian life?"

"Neglect of prayer," God answers. "You have not because you ask not."

"Why is it," many a minister is asking, "I see so little fruit from my labors?"

Again God answers, "Neglect of prayer. You have not because you ask not."

"Why is it," many a Sunday-School teacher is asking, "that I see so few converted in my Sunday-School class?"

Still God answers, "Neglect of prayer. You have not because you ask not."

"Why is it," both ministers and churches are asking, "that the church of Christ makes so little headway against unbelief and error and sin and worldliness?"

Once more we hear God answering, "Neglect of prayer. You have not because you ask not."

Look at the importance placed on prayer by key figures in the Scripture

To the prophets it was their source of Power

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

James 5:16-17

To the Psalmist it was their way to a deep knowledge of God

A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.

O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Because thy loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

Psalms 63:1-3

To Christ it was a way of life and ministry

While on earth he prayed

And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

Mark 1:35

And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

Luke 6:12

Even Christ felt it necessary to pray all night. Prayer is mention 25 in connection with our Lord in brief ministry he had on this earth.

While in Heaven He prays

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Hebrews 7:25

Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Romans 8:34

If we are to have fellowship with our Master we must be about the ministry He is about and that is PRAYER!

To the Apostles it was their only priority

Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

Acts 6:3-4

Rom1:9, Eph 1:15-16, Col. 1:9, I Thes. 3:10, 2 Tim 3:10

To Great men of God throughout history it was a common bond.

These men may have differed in many things but in their devotion to Prayer they were the same.

“Our praying, however, needs to be pressed and pursued with an energy that never tires, a persistency which will not be denied, and a courage which never fails.” — E. M. Bounds

“God does nothing but by prayer, and everything with it.” — John Wesley

“Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work.” — Oswald Chambers

“O brother, pray; in spite of Satan, pray; spend hours in prayer; rather neglect friends than not pray; rather fast, and lose breakfast, dinner, tea, and supper—and sleep too—than not pray. And we must not talk about prayer, we must pray in right earnest. The Lord is near. He comes softly while the virgin slumbers.”  — Andrew A. Bonar

“Next to the wonder of seeing my Savior will be, I think, the wonder that I made so little use of the power of prayer.” — D. L. Moody

“Quit playing, start praying. Quit feasting, start fasting. Talk less with men, talk more with God. Listen less to men, listen to the words of God. Skip travel, start travail.” — Leonard Ravenhill

“It is a tremendously hard thing to pray aright, yea, it is verily the science of all sciences.” — Martin Luther

“Prayer—secret, fervent, believing prayer—lies at the root of all personal godliness.”  — Carey’s Brotherhood, Serampore

“None can believe how powerful prayer is, and what it is able to effect, but those who have learned it by experience. It is a great matter when in extreme need to take hold on prayer. I know, whenever I have prayed earnestly, that I have been amply heard, and have obtained more than I prayed for. God indeed sometimes delayed, but at last He came.”  — Martin Luther

“You know the value of prayer: it is precious beyond all price. Never, never neglect it.”  — Sir Thomas Buxton

“Prayer is the first thing, the second thing, the third thing necessary to a minister. Pray, then my dear brother; pray, pray, pray.”  — Edward Payson

“It is not enough to begin to pray, nor to pray aright; nor is it enough to continue for a time to pray; but we must patiently, believingly, continue in prayer until we obtain an answer; and further we have not only to continue in prayer unto the end, but we have also to believe that God does hear us, and will answer our prayers. Most frequently we fail in not continuing in prayer until the blessing is obtained, and in not expecting the blessing.”  — George Müller

“Each time, before you intercede, be quiet first, and worship God in His glory. Think of what He can do, and how He delights to hear the prayers of His redeemed people. Think of your place and privilege in Christ, and expect great things!” — Andrew Murray

“If we would pray aright, the first thing we should do is to see to it that we really get an audience with God, that we really get into His very presence. Before a word of petition is offered, we should have the definite consciousness that we are talking to God, and should believe that He is listening and is going to grant the thing that we ask of Him.”  — Dr. R. A. Torrey

“There is no power like that of prevailing prayer—of Abraham pleading for Sodom, Jacob wrestling in the stillness of the night, Moses standing in the breach, Hannah intoxicated with sorrow, David heart-broken with remorse and grief, Jesus in sweat and blood. Add to this list from the records of the church your personal observation and experience, and always there is cost of passion unto blood. Such prayer prevails. It turns ordinary mortals into men of power. It brings power. It brings fire. It brings rain. It brings life. It brings God.”   —Samuel Chadwick

If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me." - Robert Murray M’Cheyne

It is God’s Divine method for a Christian to obtains things from Him

1.      We can obtain Mercy and Grace through prayer

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:16

2.      We can obtain the fullness of Joy through prayer

Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

John 16:24

3.      We can obtain the Peace of God

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

4.      We can obtain the fullness of the Holy Spirit

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Luke 11:9-13

If we are to make any progress in our work for God then we must have the fullness of the Spirit, the fullness can only come from the fellowship with God and the fellowship can only come from PRAYER

The accomplishments of Prayer

1.      It keeps us from being distracted by the allurements of this world or surprise attacks from Satan.

And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Luke 21:34-36

2.      It promotes growth and spiritual cleansing in the life of a believer.

In Psalms 139:23-24 we see the pattern for God bringing our sin into the light. Psalms51:2 is our response to that conviction. Now that I am clean I can Psalms 119:18 Wich leads to wisdom James 1:5 which brings us to spiritual maturity a reflection of Christ 2 Cor3:18

3.      It brings real power into the work we do.

We have no power outside of the Holy Spirit working through us, and that relationship can only be developed through prayer.

4.      It conceives anguish for others.

Nehemiah 1-2

5.      It brings blessing into the church.

The history of the church has always been a history of grave difficulties to overcome. The devil hates the church and seeks in every way to block its progress; now by false doctrine, again by division, again by inward corruption of life. But by prayer, a clear way can be made through everything. Prayer will root out heresy, allay misunderstanding, sweep away jealousies and animosities, obliterate immoralities, and bring in the full tide of God's reviving grace. History abundantly proves this. In the hour of darkest portent, when the case of the church, local or universal, has seemed beyond hope, believing men and believing women have met together and cried to God and the answer has come.

It was so in the days of Knox, it was so in the days of Wesley and Whitfield, it was so in the days of Edwards and Brainerd, it was so in the days of Finney, it was so in the days of the great revival of 1857 in this country and of 1859 in Ireland, and it will be so again in your day and mine. Satan has marshalled his forces. Christian science with its false Christ-- a woman--lifts high its head. Others making great pretensions of apostolic methods, but covering the rankest dishonesty and hypocrisy with these pretensions, speak with loud assurance. Christians equally loyal to the great fundamental truths of the Gospel are glowering at one another with a devil-sent suspicion. The world, the flesh and the devil are holding high carnival. It is now a dark day, BUT--now "it is time for Thee, Lord, to work; for they have made void Thy law." (Ps. 199:126). And He is getting ready to work, and now He is listening for the voice of prayer. Will He hear it? Will He hear it from you? Will He hear it from the church as a body? I believe He will.