I. Introduction.
A. Jeremiah lived in tough times.
1. His people had been taken captive.
2. His message was totally rejected.
3. He was imprisoned.
B. Encouragement for God 's Servant.
1. A good word for the weeping prophet.
2. God invites him to a life of miracles.
C. It is Prayer that Brings Miracles into Our Lives.
II. Body.
A. The Privilege of Prayer.
1. "Call unto me"
2. What an invitation!
3. Prayer begins with God' s invitation.
a. Not with our troubled condition.
b. Consider Jeremiah's difficulty. (v. 1)
c. God invites the prophet to call upon Him.
4. We find many invitations to pray in the Bible.
a. "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:" (Mt. 7:7)
b. "Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not". (James 4.2)
c. Call boldly in times of need.
Heb 4:15, "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."
B. The Promise of Prayer.
1. "I will answer thee".
2. Not just theological therapy.
a. Not like turning a prayer wheel.
b. Not like bowing to an idol.
c. God hears when we pray.
3. Answers to prayer in the Bible.
a. Abraham's son in his old age.
"For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him." (Ge. 21:2)
b. Elijah's prayer for fire.
"Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench." (l Ki. 18:37-38)
c. David's prayer for freedom from fear.
"I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears." (Ps. 34:4)
d. Solomon's prayer for wisdom.
2Chr 1:10-12," Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great? And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king: Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like."
4. God still answers prayer!
C. The Power of Prayer.
1. "Great and mighty things"
2. Above all we ask or think.
Eph. 3:20, "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,"
3. Prayer moves mountains.
Mt. 17:20, "And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you."
4. No limits on our asking.
5. All things are possible with God. Mk 9:23, "Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth."
III. Conclusion.
A. Let Us Accept God 's Invitation.
1. Pray for our homes.
2. Pray for our church.
3. Pray for our nation.
4. Pray for our personal needs.
B. Let Us Expect God to Answer Our Prayers.
C. What about salvation? It is a matter of prayer!
Ro 10:9-13, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
What is your need today? Do you need to be saved? Come and call upon His name! Do you need strength and wisdom? Why not ask Him? Are you carrying a burden this morning? Come and leave it with the Lord. Do you need to draw closer to Him today? Whatever your need the invitation is for you to come.