Desert Church of Christ
Pahrump, NV
We welcome you to our assembly!
Our assemblies:
Sunday morning Bible study: 10:00 AM
Sunday morning worship: 11:00 AM
Sunday evening Bible study: 5:00 PM
Wednesday Bible Study: 6:00 PM
Evangelist: David F. Sims
God’s
Abundant
Grace
“abundant grace was upon them all” Acts 4:33
God’s Abundant Grace
Acts 4:33
Grace and Prayer
Please open your Bible & follow along
in Hebrews 4:16!
God’s Abundant Grace
Acts 4:33
• Outline: Grace and Prayer
– The Privilege of Prayer
– Essential Attitudes in Prayer
– Approaching the Throne of Grace
God’s Abundant Grace
Acts 4:33
• The privilege of prayer
– God does not give heed to all prayers
• “He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, even his prayer
is an abomination” (Prov. 28:9)
• “So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes
from you; yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen.
Your hands are covered with blood.” (Is. 1:15)
• “your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear”
(Is. 59:1-2)
• “The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank
You that I am not like other people…” (Lk. 18:11)
• “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites” (Matt. 6:5-7)
• Hindered prayers of husbands who dishonor their wives (1 Pet. 3:7)
• He who asks with wrong motives (Jms. 4:3)
God’s Abundant Grace
Acts 4:33
• The privilege of prayer
– Prayer is the privilege of communication from man to God,
from child to Father, from servant to Master. Prayer is
essential for us to sustain our relationship with God.
– God heeds the prayers of those who seek & submit to Him
• “ I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and
supplications” (Dan. 9:3)
• Cornelius (Acts 10:1-4,31), a sinner who sought God
• God hears the prayers of the righteous
– Prov. 15:29; Jms. 5:16; 1 Pet. 3:12; 1 John 3:22
– “If one expects the Lord to hear and respond to his prayer, he must
live in harmony with God’s will, living a just life in righteousness and
keeping His commandments. Otherwise, we are rejecting His will and
asking Him to be subject to ours.” (H. Hailey, Prayer and Providence)
God’s Abundant Grace
Acts 4:33
• Essential Attitudes in Prayer (Luke 18:10-14)
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Faith (Jms. 1:6)
Humility (Jms. 4:6,10)
Gratitude (Col. 4:2)
Confidence (Eph. 3:11-12)
Submission: “Your will be done” (Matt. 6:10; 26:42)
Piety (Heb. 5:7) (reverence)
If we approach God with these attitudes, we can be
confident that He hears and will answer!
God’s Abundant Grace
Acts 4:33
• Approaching the Throne of Grace (Jms. 4:8)
– Approaching God in the O.T.
•
•
At Mt. Sinai, the people were afraid to approach the mountain (Ex.
20:18-21)…they stood at a distance while Moses approached God.
Once a year, the high priest made atonement for sins, and was
allowed to draw near to God in the Most Holy Place, to approach
the Mercy Seat of the Ark.
– Confidence in approaching God today (Heb. 12:18-24)
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Remember that God claims us as His children (1 John 3:1)
Remember that God promised to hear us (1 Pet. 3:12)
Remember that God wants to bless us (Matt. 7:9-11)
Remember that God gives generously (Jms. 1:5)
Therefore let us approach the throne of grace (Heb. 4:16)
God’s Abundant Grace
Acts 4:33
• Summary
– Prayer is the privilege of communication from man to
God, and God answers the prayers of those who seek
and submit to Him.
– Our attitude in prayer must be right with God, not in
selfish intentions or ignoring God’s will.
– We can approach God’s throne in prayer, not in fear,
but in confidence, because we enjoy God’s favor.
– Pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17), because grace is
unceasing!
God’s Abundant Grace
Acts 4:33
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing
salvation to all men, instructing us to deny
ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly,
righteously and godly in the present age…
(Titus 2:11-12)
God’s Abundant Grace
Acts 4:33
• Sinners can seek the Lord today while He may be found!
• Believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who died for
our sins and was raised up.
• Repent of your sins…commit yourself to holiness.
• Confess your faith in Christ to save you.
• Be baptized into Jesus for forgiveness of your sins…this
marks the moment when grace saves the sinner.
• Continue in the blessed relationship of His favor by
remaining faithful in godliness, and nourish that
relationship by constant prayer.
God’s
Abundant
Grace
“abundant grace was upon them all” Acts 4:33