Agonize in Prayer PDF
Agonize in Prayer PDF
Agonize in Prayer PDF
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III. SO, WHEN SHOULD WE BE EXERCISED IN SUCH PRAYERS?
A. As Paul requested -- Rom. 15:30
Paul desired there would be those who would strive in prayer for him, wrestle as it were in
prayer. Paul wanted to be delivered from Satanic oppression. As a servant for the Lord, against
the powers of darkness, he sought the prayers of others. Paul faced all kinds of pressures,
afflictions, persecution, etc. Often at the hands of men, but especially because of Satanʼs work
in otherʼs lives.
God desires that we would stand, and having done all to stand, to stand therefore as we are
aught in Ephesians 6:10-18. We must learn to stand against the wiles and darts of Satan. One
of the weapons in this need is the “all prayer” of Ephesians 6:18. We canʼt truly put on the armor
without also praying as Godʼs Word teaches us.
Note: We donʼt struggle with God to get answers, but our battle is with
Satan, the world, and the flesh. Often the problem is our own selfishness,
slothfulness, lethargy, and worldliness. What about YOU?
- Lesson Two -
Introduction:
In these five texts we have one similarity, each Scripture portion speaks of travail. “When Zion
travails, then children will be born unto her...” Often when we read about prayer or speak about prayer
we hear such words as asking, seeking, knocking, but not often do we talk about wrestling, strong
crying, importunate praying, or travailing in prayer.
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B. There must be travail before birth -- Consider Isa. 66:7,8
There must be travail prior to the birth of a child. the mother will be consumed in the task at
hand, the birth of the child. That mother wonʼt go on a trip to town, or take a vacation, or go
shopping, or visiting with a friend. When it is time for the birth she will be totally consumed in the
demand of the hours. She is consumed totally -- physically, mentally and emotionally she will be
spent for the birth of the child. Dare we think that spiritual birth can come any other way? The
order will be: travail -- then birth -- then joy. There will never be any other order.
III. BEHOLD CHRISTʼS TRAVAIL: Isa. 53:10, 11; Heb. 5:5-10; Luke 23:34
“He shall see the travail of his soul and be satisfied.” The Lord Jesus knew what travail of soul
meant. He give himself to prayer in a way that none other has ever done. It is obvious the Lord
spent time... crying, with tears, supplication, and the Word says He learned obedience by the
things he suffered. (Heb. 5:5-10) I donʼt understand these things fully -- but they are true.
B. Consider the Cross: “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34
The original Greek means praying continually, over and over again. Maybe this was the cry of
His heart as He was flogged with the cat of nine tails, when they beat him in the face, etc. Yes,
Christ exercised importunate, travailing prayer. He shall see the travail of His soul and be
satisfied. At Pentecost when 3,000 were saved, later another 4,000 and then the Word says
souls were multiplied... great numbers were coming to Christ -- He indeed saw the results of the
travail of His soul. In Hebrews 12: 2 (consider 12:2-4) we read: ”for the joy set before Him, He
endured the cross...” What joy? Ah, the joy of seeing many come to Himself. (John 12:32,33)