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GENESIS 32: 9-l2

"GETTING WHAT YOU DON'T DESERVE."

Intro: Troubling news.

I. TO WHOM ADDRESSED "O GOD OF MY FATHER ABRAHAM, AND GOD OF MY FATHER ISAAC, THE LORD WHICH
   SAIDEST UNTO ME."
        A. First element in prayer - who are you talking to?
                1. "He that cometh to God must believe that He is."
                        a. What is your concept of God?
                                1. Some unintelligent force in the universe?
                                2. Mystic creative powers within me?
                2. "Our Father" with all that the name implies.
                3. "Lord, thou art God, which have made heaven and earth, and all that in
                   them is."
        B. Never enough to be God of my father-wife.
                1. Must have established own personal relationship.

II. THE BASIS OF PRAYER "WHICH SAIDEST UNTO ME..."

(1. A. The promises of God in His Word.
                1. "Your the one who got me into this jam."
                        a. "I wish I could say that about my problems."
                        b. Mine usually result from not listening.
        B. The Word of God inspires faith in prayer.
                1. "And we know that if we ask anything according..."
                2. He has revealed His will in His Word.

(2. The grace of God "I am not worthy the least."
        A. Satan keeps more people away from God through this guise than any other.
                1. How dare you come to God now?
                        a. You have failed Him so.
                        b. Many times you haven't been faithful in devotions.
                        c. You've allowed a certain sin to master you.
                        d. You're not worthy, deserving to come.
                2. Thank God we don't get what we deserve.
        B. The grace of God is always the basis of my petition.
                1. I have unswerving faith in this grace.

(3. The past blessings of grace "With my staff I passed over this Jordan, and now..."
        A. It is good to recount what God has already done.
                1. If God spared not His own Son but freely delivered Him up for us all, how
                   much more?
                2. The past answers to prayer are always excellent to feed the flames of
                   faith.

III. THE PETITION "DELIVER ME."
        A. I've said all that to say this, "deliver me."
                1. Was it necessary to say all that?
                2. Short cut prayers.
                3. I am sure He wasn't telling God anything new.
                4. Perhaps not necessary for God, but it sure helps my faith.
        B. We many times over balance with petition.
                1. Very little praise or acknowledgment.

IV. THE MOTIVE BEHIND THE PRAYER "FOR I FEAR HIM."
        A. Fear- isn't that a rather base motive?
                1. Better to pray motivated by fear than not to pray.
                2. God loves to hear from you so much that He many times allows trouble to
                   befall - you just so you will call upon Him.
        B. Need.

V. HIS PS. "AND THOU SAIDST, I WILL SURELY DO THEE GOOD."