Lutherna View of Church and State

SANCTIFICATION

2007-2008

LESSON SIX

I. Prayer: battleground of the cross. (p. 144)

A. Ro 8:25,26.

B. We long for contact with the living God.

1. Want Him to speak to us.

2. Want some sign He is on our side.

3. But we get no sign except sign of Jonah.

C. We forget God hides to make Himself known.

1. We forget God’s silence is His most eloquent way of communicating with us.

2. We forget that God has spoken most clearly in the cross of His Son.

D. There we see that nothing will separate us from His love.

E. Ro 8:31,32.

II. Prayer put in a different light. (p. 145)

A. When we pray expecting Him to speak to us.

1. We will be disappointed.

2. Heb 1:2.

3. If ask for something more, we’re actually rejecting His Word and promise.

4. Seeking additional evidence from God is doubt.

B. 2Co 4:18.

C. Prayer is the very place where we do battle against Satan, the world and our sinful nature.

D. God supplies the real equipment we need (Eph 6:13-18).

E. Over the battleground flies a victorious banner: the sign of the cross of Christ.

III. Life under the cross. (p. 145)

A. A joyous life.

1. In our weakness we can see the grace of Christ most clearly.

2. Is why the most effective prayers are offered with empty hands.

3. Lk 18:13: Humiliation, trials and faith come together in prayer.

B. We don't expect to hear God speak to us when we pray.

C. He has spoken in the cross.

D. Prayer is where the Christian lives most intensively under the cross.