Lesson 23: What Others said about Prayer (Part 2)

Lesson 23: What Others Said about Prayer (Part 2) Bible Texts: 1 Peter 3:1 through 12; 1 John 5:14- 16; Hebrews 6:4- 6; Hebrews 10:26- 29; 3 John 2. Central Truth: God's eyes and ears are ever open to the cries of the righteous. In Peter's epistle to the Church, he, too, gave believers instructions in the matter of prayer. RELATIONSHIP TO SPOUSE CAN HINDER PRAYER: "Likewise, you husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together are the grace of life; That Your Prayers Be Not Hindered"(1 Peter 3:7). Peter is talking about marriage in which both husband and wife are believers, because he said, ". . . Being heirs together of the grace of life. . ." Men, if some of your prayers are not being answered, perhaps you should examine your relationship with your wife. And vice versa women if your prayers are not being answered you should examine your relationship with your husband. Do you show her or him tenderness and respect, "giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel" ! If not? Peter says that your prayers are hindered. He gives a similar admonition to wives. Let us look at them. (1 Peter 3:1- 6). "Likewise you wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also made without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Who's adorning let it not be that outward adorning of platting of the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this matter in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters you are, as long as you do well, and are not afraid with any amazement." Here Peter suggests is that there is a way of winning an unsaved husband without the Word: ". . . If any obey not the Word, they also made without the Word be won by the conversation of the wives." The word "conversation" here means one's manner of life; her conduct. GOD HEARS PRAYERS OF THE RIGHTEOUS: Further on in this chapter, Peter has more to say about prayer (1 Peter 3:12) "For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil." Who are the righteous that this verse refers to ? In Lesson 22 we saw that we, as born-again believers, are the righteous in Christ Jesus: "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). Righteousness is not based on how good or bad we are, but on our standing in Christ. Jesus is our righteousness. Peter said that God's eyes are over us, and ". . . His ears are open unto [our] prayers. . ." I'm glad God has eyes and ears, aren't you ? He sees us and He his us. His ears are open to our prayers; but as we saw in verse seven, we can hinder our prayers. God doesn't hinder them--- He doesn't refuse to hear--- but we can hinder them. By our this obedience let us take care that we don't hinder them; then we can know His ears are open unto our prayers.