why

Job 21:15

What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

2 Chron. 20:1-15

[1] It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.

[2] Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be Hazazon-tamar, which is En-gedi.

[3] And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

[4] And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the Lord: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.

[5] And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court,

[6] And said, O Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? And in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?

[7] Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?

[8] And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying,

[9] If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or 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.

[10] And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not;

[11] Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.

[12] O our God, wilt thou not judge them? For we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.

[13] And all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.

[14] Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the Lord in the midst of the congregation;

[15] And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.

WHY SHOULD WE PRAY?

INTRO -- SOME PRAY BECAUSE THEY WERE TAUGHT TO PRAY AS A CHILD!

BECAUSE WE ARE BAPTIST!

MOST PRAY BECAUSE IT IS A RITUAL WE DO AND SOON WEARY WITH IT AS OUR SATURDAY EVENING TIME AND IT IS NOT WORTH THE TIME OR EFFORT TO GET READY AND COME TO PRAY!

THE COMMON ANSWER WOULD BE IT IS US TALKING TO GOD AND THAT IS CORRECT!

I HAVE LOVED THOSE TIMES— BEFORE I EVER PASTORED GOING TO A LITTLE SHACK ON A MOUNTAIN SIDE AND MANY TIMES I LOVED HEARING MEN AS THEY TALKED WITH GOD AND TRULY BELIEVED THEY WERE TALKING TO A PERSON AND NEVER WAS THERE A HURRY UP AND GET DONE— TRUTH WAS MANY TIMES WHEN WE WASN’T LOOKING GOD WOULD FILL THE PLACE AND A HOLY PRESENCE— NOT EVERYTIME, BUT MANY TIMES AND I HAVE FOUND THAT TO BE TRUE WHERE THERE IS A GROUP OR BY MYSELF!

ONE THING FOR SURE JEHOSAPAHT WAS COMFORTABLE TALKING TO GOD!

WHY SHOULD WE PRAY?

1 - ACKNOWLEDGE GOD

ACKNOWLEDGE MEANS:

To admit to be true, by a declaration of assent; as to acknowledge the being of a God.

To own or notice with particular regard.

Proverbs 3:5-6

[5] Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

[6] In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

To own or confess, as implying a consciousness of guilt.

I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Psalms 51 and 32

To own with gratitude; to own as a benefit; as to acknowledge a favor, or the receipt of a gift. His gifts acknowledged not.

To own or admit to belong to; as, to acknowledge a son.

To receive with respect.

To own, avow or assent to an act in a legal form, to give it validity; as, to acknowledge a deed before competent authority.

[6] And said, O Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven?

[7] Art not thou our God,

2 - ABILITY OF GOD

[6] And said, O Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven?

and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen?

and in thine hand is there not power and might,

so that none is able to withstand thee?

[7] Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?

3- ANSWER OF GOD

11] Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.

[12] O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.

[13] And all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.