Month: July 2026

“Ye also helping together by prayer for us … “ (2 Corinthians 1:11)

The prayer to which the apostle here refers was concerning a collection which had been taken, doubtless for the apostle’s support. It is called “… the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons …” and for that Paul desired that ” … thanks may be given by many on our behalf (2 Corinthians 1: 11 ).

There are some of us who count the great prayer fraternity, who hold us constantly before God’s throne, as our fortune. We believe that intercessory prayer is a power; and while we do not attempt to explain it, we bear witness to this fact of experience, namely, that when our burdens have been heaviest, our danger most imminent, when the adversary seemed most determined against us, we have discovered that somehow the Spirit of God, anticipating all of that, had stirred many people to pray; and more than once we have been compelled to assign victory to intercessory prayers.

Some years ago, I was passing through a great trial, and I believed at that time that it was the greatest of my life. In the very midst of it, when I was utterly unfitted for any duty, I had to keep an engagement of long standing in Chicago.

On reaching that city, I found an old-time friend eager for me to come out to Morgan Park and dine at his home. In answer to his urgent invitation, I went.

His wife and mother were marvelously godly women – women who walked in the Spirit. At the dinner table, imagine my amazement to have the wife say to me, “Dr. Riley, two nights ago Mother and I were led to spend the whole night in prayer for you. We did not know why, but we found it impossible to do else.”

The speech astonished me immeasurably, but it also lent me hope in an hour that was otherwise dark, for I knew prayers so prompted by the Spirit would prevail.

It was like a sunburst from behind the blackest cloud; but better yet is another thought, namely, that the Brother of all brothers, even our Elder Brother Christ, does not forget us.

You remember how that night when He was about to leave the upper room and go to the garden for His agony and betrayal, Jesus first prayed for His disciples, committing them to the keeping power of God, and pleading that they might be sanctified in the truth, made one in the faith, effective in service, and received at last into glory. To be sure, in their weakness they slept when He needed them; but even that failure did not keep them from the Father’s blessing, for Christ had prayed for them.

We sometimes forget that Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The Christ of Peter is your Christ and my Christ; and that even as He said to Peter, “… Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not …” (Luke 22:31-32), so He speaks to us and pleads on our behalf, that we, when we recover, might strengthen our brethren. Yea, that we in response might, like Peter, be ready to say, “… Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death” (Luke 22:33).

Ps. 103:15 

• Intro:
  • The Bible says, As for man, his days are as grass. 
  • When you think about the way grass grows and how we must maintain grass to keep it alive and well groomed, we find some interesting parallels between men and grass. 
  • By studying a few obvious things about grass perhaps we will “see” spiritual connections to things in our own lives. 
  • Sometimes it is easier to see a spiritual truth in a type or in a parable than it is to see it spiritually.
  • Now, for this comparison, I am thinking about St. Augustine grass or what we used to call “carpet” grass.  
  • Notice these things that are true about carpet grass that are also true about men.
• Grass needs to be watered –
  • Grass must maintain an adequate amount of moisture for the time of year and the weather conditions [i.e., it needs more water in the hot summer] –
  • Can you see some applications here –
  • The Holy Spirit is likened to water in the Bible [Jn 7:37-39] –
  • Therefore, when you are filled with the Spirit you are adequately watered –
  • When you are not, you are dry –
  • And no one knows better than the Spirit himself just how much you need – furthermore, grass responds much better to rain water than it does to treated “city” water –
  • The word of God is likened to water in the Bible [Eph 5:26] –
  • Men’s use of “treated” water [modern Bibles] will not sustain you nearly like the “rain” of the true words of God [King James Bible, Is 55:10-11].
• Grass needs to be fed –
  • Generally there are two good time to fertilize carpet grass –
  • There is the spring feeding and there is the winter feeding –
  • These are different fertilizer combinations to feed the root system during the dormant winter months and to feed the blade during the spring and summer growing seasons –
  • Can you see an application here –
  • This seasonal fertilizing is like having a special revival meeting –
  • When you get a big dose of spiritual food to carry you through a season.
• Grass goes through seasons of growth –
  • During the winter, grass is generally dormant and in the spring it starts to grow and grows well until the late fall, at which time it becomes dormant again –
  • Can you see the application here –
  • You are going to go through seasons of spiritual growth at certain times and at other times you are going to be dormant –
  • These times of dormancy are important for your spiritual health –
  • They make you stronger for your next season of growth –
  • So don’t get upset when you “plateau” from time to time.
• Grass grows by spreading out –
  • Carpet grass sends runners out and spreads by covering soil and by covering itself to make a thicker lawn –
  • Can you see an application here –
  • We grow by spreading out to our neighbors and friends and by growing thicker in our families and relatives.
• Grass needs to be mowed –
  • In order to keep the grass healthy and well groomed it needs to be mowed regularly –
  • Can you see an application here –
  • Mowing is like coming to church each week –
  • You get mowed and groomed!!
• Grass needs to be weeded out –
  • There are weeds that show up in the late winter and early spring and then there are some weeds that you have to deal with all year long –
  • Interestingly those winter weeds show up at a time when the grass is really getting ready to grow –
  • Can you see an application here –
  • Weeds are like sins in your life –
  • And so we understand that during seasons of growth in our lives we also generally have to deal with more sin in our lives –
  • You wouldn’t think that would be so –
  • But after a few growing seasons you’ll see the trend in your life and you’ll have to be on guard against those sins –
  • To get rid of these weeds you have to pull them up by the roots and, like sin, you have to deal with them consistently –
  • If not they will overtake sections of your lawn like sin will overtake parts of your life.
• Grass needs to be treated –
  • That is when grass gets attacked by bugs or by fungi you have to treat it to kill off what’s attacking it –
  • Can you see an application here –
  • The devil attacks us just like bugs and fungi attack grass and so you need to fight him with your spiritual armor –
  • You can tell when grass needs to be treated because it starts showing signs of unusual stress –
  • Likewise you will show signs of spiritual stress –
  • You may need to take a sample of your grass to the local nursery to determine the cause of the stress and you may need some help from a spiritual counselor to determine the cause of your spiritual stress –
  • Oftentimes, the stress can’t be found until you get down to the “roots” where the problem starts.
• Grass needs good soil –
  • The better the soil the better the grass grows –
  • Can you see the application –
  • A good heart is likened to good soil [Lk 8:15] –
  • The better your heart the better your spiritual growth.
• Conclusion:
  • If you don’t want to hassle with all of this then you can just have artificial turf – and that is the case with many so-called Christians –
  • They have an artificial Christian life!

“Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” (Genesis 3:1)

We see in our verse Satan questioning the words of God in the Garden of Eden. Nothing has changed. Satan continues to this very day to question and cast doubt upon the words of God. Like Eve many today are falling into Satan’s trap. Sad to say even those who claim to be Christians are also following for Satan’s trap.

When one questions and casts doubt on the Words of God, then it no longer is your finally authority. Whatever you want becomes your final authority for the way you live your life and interact with other people. Just take your pick and ask yourself what your final authority is.

Here is an example how Satan today is still questioning the words of God and many are falling into is trap.

The words of God say, “But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.” For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” (Mark 10:6-9)

Many in our society today believing Satan’s lie that God did not really say that. As a result, we no longer have just two genders, male and female but as I found on a google search 72 genders. Talk about confusion. The words of God tell us God is not the author of confusion. If God is not the author of confusion, then the devil must be.

In addition, to people believing Satan’s lie and questioning what it says in Mark 10:6-9, we have same sex marriages legalized in the United States of America. I have heard that some perverts want to marry animals. The month of June has officially become pride month.

As our civilization continues to destroy itself by believing Satan when he says, Yea, hath God said, the only thing that brings the true disciples of Christ hope and comfort is the soon return of Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Text:  Prov. 20:29 

• Intro:
  Strength comes pretty naturally to young men [Prov 20:29 the glory of young men is their strength] –Sometimes you see this youthful strength even in an old man [Caleb – Jos 14:10-11] –But the strength we need in our lives is far more than physical strength –Physical strength can do very little for us in the work of the Lord –Here are some verses that show us how we obtain strength –
  • We obtain strength from:
• The Lord – God, Ps 18:1-2 “strengthen me” –
  • You do not need a greater defense than he –
  • He is right there to step in at any time –
  • Jesus, Phil 4:13 –
  • Anything he wants you to do you can do through his strength –
  • We are in his body –
  • So we can be abased or abound and still be content –
  • A missionary on a hard field, under-supported, can be strengthened to continue –
  •  Holy Spirit, Eph 3:16 –
  • Strengthened with might in the inner man –
  • Mainly in our fight with the flesh and in the supernatural calling of God [spiritual gifts].
• The way of the Lord – Prov 10:29 –
  • We are reinforced by walking in the way of the Lord –
  • When you step out of the way of the Lord is when you are weak –
  • You end up walking through thorns and hedges, the way of transgressors hard, and evil pursueth sinners.
• Wisdom – Prov 24:5; Ecc 7:19 –
  • Greatest source of wisdom is the Bible –
  • Ps 119:28 –
  • 1 Pet 2:2 –
  • So apply yourself diligently to the study of the word –
  • Live by the word [be doers].
• Preachers – Lk 22:32; Acts 18:23 –
  • Preachers impart godly, spiritual, biblical truth through preaching –
  • And just at the right time.
• Grace – 2 Cor 12:9 –
  • Grace is an element of supernatural provision that more than compensates for our physical insufficiency.
• Joy – Neh 8:10 –
  • Joy is one manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit –
  • Rejoice evermore –
  • Paul wanted to finish his course with joy [Acts 20:24] –
  • Jesus, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross [Heb 12:2].
• Courage – Jos 1:9 –
  • Moral courage strengthens a man to stand and fight when every instinct in him tells him to run [Prov 28:1] –
  • Joshua knew that he was in the right to be strong against the enemies that he would face in Canaan.
• Conclusion:
  • These seven things are better than a workout at the gym [though a good workout at the gym is not a bad thing] –
  • Concentrate your time and effort on these and you will grow stronger in the Lord through your entire life.

“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you … ” (James 4:8)

“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not” (Jeremiah 33:3).

“Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice” (Psalm 55:17).

If we are to grow in our prayer life, there are five things that are necessary: The first of these is TIME. Like everything else, prayer requires time; daily time, like the other essentials of eating and sleeping. It needs to be time enough to forget how much time it is, even though duties call you away. So it must be planned for, sometimes well ahead, so no duty is slighted. One must take time. No one worth while has time for all that comes crowding to his door. Something must be left out, so time must be taken from something else, yet less important. Prayer does need time.

The second thing prayer needs is a PLACE. You can pray anywhere – on a train, walking down the street, working in the kitchen, or doing the shopping; but you are less likely to, unless you have been shut off in some quiet place with the door closed. Jesus said, ” … when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret … “ (Matthew 6:6) -the world is shut out, but you are shut in with your heavenly Father. It does not matter where the place is. The comer of a kitchen is as good as the cloistered comer of a cathedral. It is the recognized presence of our blessed Saviour that makes holy ground, whether kitchen or cathedral. The real rare blessing of the daily quiet place is not only that you actually pray, though you will; not only that you read the Book, though you will; it is this, there is someone else there. When sitting quietly in His presence, thank Him that He is there, and that He died for you in the love of His heart, maybe sing Him a soft hymn of praise; this is the real blessedness of that bit of quiet time in the shutaway comer. Prayer needs a place, and prayer hallows the place- any place.

Third – prayer needs a book, THE BOOK. The Bible is the basis of prayer. Bible reading is the listening side of prayer. In the Bible, God speaks to us. In prayer, we speak to God. What He says to us radically affects what we say to Him. Prayer needs three organs of the head- an ear, a tongue, and an eye. The ear to hear what God says, the tongue to repeat His promises as our petitions, and the eye to look out expectantly until the result comes. Thoughtful Bible reading is giving God our ears. What goes in at the ear, warmed up as it goes through the heart, comes out at the tongue in simple, expectant, warm prayer, communion and petition and intercession.

Yes, give this Book a place in your prayers. What God says here will change what you say, and so wholly change the results. The Bible will shape and mold your praying. Let it!

The fourth is particularly important- LET THE TEACHER TEACH YOU. There is One who in particular is the prayer teacher- the Holy Spirit. It is He who puts the desire to pray in our hearts. He will direct all our praying, as a wise father directs his son. Where is the Holy Spirit? He is in every one whose heart has opened to the Lord Jesus- not because we are good or deserving or saintly, but because He is faithful to His promise.

Yes, let the Holy Spirit teach you, as He is eager to. When you go into the quiet school room, with the school book open, ask this Teacher to teach you, and He will. You may be a bit slow and stupid most of us are, but He is very gentle and patient.

You will likely find your praying change some. It will become simpler – more confident, and personal, and practical. Some things you will stop asking for – they will slip out of your thoughts in that Presence. Other things will come in- certain things you will pray for more boldly and confidently and expectantly.

The fifth need is to cultivate an OPENNESS OF SPIRIT – I mean that habitual openness of mind that opens up more and more as clearer light breaks in. It begins with that first surrender to Christ as Master, but must continue to be an habitual surrender in the actual practice of daily life. As clearer light comes in on this habit, that line of conduct, that problem, you yield and actually live the surrender you made in the initial act.

Stubbornness, sifted down, is simply refusing to yield to the new bit of light that comes. Openness to light is the one doorway to growth. We will welcome the light by obedience, we will pore thoughtfully over the Bible to get its meaning clear, we will cultivate thoughtful meditation to get things clearer and clearer.

So these are the needs of praying – prayer TIME, a prayer PLACE, a prayer BOOK thee Bible, the prayer TEACHER- the Holy Spirit, and the habitual OPENESS OF SPIRIT to more light. Let us all start into school afresh.