"And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge, and in all judgment." Phil. i. 9. "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always, in every prayer of mine for you all, making request with joy for your fellowship in the Gospel." Phil. i. 3, 4, 5. "We give thanks to God, and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, |
since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus." Col. i. 3, 4. "For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding." Col. i. 9. "Epaphras—saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers." Col. iv. 12. |
Observe how the Holy Spirit encourages to the duty of prayer, assuring us that Prayer ascends to God.
"The four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints." Rev. v. 8. "And another Angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given |
unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the Angen's hand." Rev. viii. 3, 4. |
And observe the great encouragement held out by our Lord Jesus Christ, to persevering Prayer in Faith.
"Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, friend |
lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing |