1. In our text we find those who questioned the profit of prayer.

2. We read in verse 15 that they said, "…and what profit should we have, if we pray unto Him?"

They not only questioned the profit of serving God but also the profit of seeking God.

 They questioned the value and worth of prayer.

3. So, let's consider their what they have to say and hopefully we'll use it to help us in the area of prayer.

We See First Of All:

1. Notice their words, "If we pray."

Now consider their words in light of what Jesus said in Matthew 6:5, "And when thou prayest."
When Jesus spoke of prayer it wasn't "if" but "when."
Jesus didn't look at prayer as something we might do but something we would do.
 Jesus was speaking of the practice of prayer.
He was describing prayer as something that was to be a part of our life.
Not "if" but "when."

2. The people Job spoke of looked at prayer as something they might consider doing.

They didn't look at prayer as an important practice and habit in
their life, but rather as something they might give thought to.
They had a false approach to the practice of prayer.

3. Think with me how the Bible describes prayer in our life.

A. WE SEE PRAYER AS A REQUIRED PRACTICE.

1. The Bible doesn't speak of prayer as a supplemental part of our Christian life but a fundamental part.

 Prayer is more than some kind of heavenly "STP" to make our Christian life run better, but it's something that God commands us to do as believers.

2. Listen to Luke 18:1, "And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray and not to faint."

The word "ought" is more than a suggestion or recommendation.
The word speaks of something that's necessary.
It describes something that's binding.

3. For example, in Matthew 24:6 we read, "And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet."

The word "must" is the same word translated "ought" in Luke 18:1.
In other words, prayer is something we must do.
Prayer is something required of us.

4. Samuel said in 1 Samuel 12:23, "Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you."
Samuel viewed prayerlessness as sin.
To not pray would be disobeying God's command to pray.
When you look at prayer in the Bible we see that isn't a recommendation but a requirement.

5. Charles Spurgeon said of prayer, "As artists give themselves to their models, and poets to their classical pursuits, so must we addict ourselves to prayer."

6. Martin Luther said, "As it is the business of tailors to make clothes and of cobblers to mend shoes, so it is the business of Christians to pray."

B. WE SEE PRAYER AS A REGULAR PRACTICE.

1.  The words of those in our text seem to suggest that they might consider praying if it was necessary.
If some occasion came along that called for prayer they might take a shot at it.
In many ways we aren't much different.
For many, the only time they pray is when some problem arises.
If things are bad we pray but when things are good we don't.

2. Abraham Lincoln once said, "I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom, and that of all about me, seemed insufficient for the day."

3. Problems, trials, and hard times have a way to driving us to our knees.
Thank God when troubles come we can take our cares and concerns to God.
But problems shouldn't be the only reason and time we pray.

4. Corrie ten Boom said, "Don't pray when you feel like it. Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it."

5. That's what Jesus was describing in Matthew 6 when he spoke of prayer not as an "if" matter but "when."
We read in Matthew 6:6, "But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret…"

6. With the word "closet"  Jesus was talking about a place where we get alone with God and pray.
The "when" and not "if" indicates that a practice like that is a regular matter not an occasional one.

7.  The weakness and powerlessness of our Christian lives can be traced to a lack of entering into our closets and praying.
We are no stronger than when on our knees.

8. It's been well said, "If your day is hemmed with prayer, it's less likely to unravel."
As another has said, "Prayer is the key of the morning and the bolt of the night."
May we approach the practice of prayer that way.

Secondly, We See:

1. They said, "what profit should we have, if we pray unto Him."
The word "profit" speaks of something that's valuable, useful, and beneficial.
They were saying, "What is the value or benefit of prayer?"
They were questioning the power of prayer.
They wondered if prayer worked or if it was worth their time to pray.

2. What a foolish attitude to have concerning prayer.
 Does prayer work?
 Is there any benefit in praying?
 The answer is very simple. Yes, there is power in prayer.

3. Mary Queen of Scots once remarked, "I fear the prayers of John Knox more than the marching armies of Europe."

4. Why?   There is power in prayer!

Think with me:
A. THE MANY DECLARATIONS OF THE POWER OF PRAYER.

1. Over and over the Bible declares the power of prayer. For example:

Matthew 7:7
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Jeremiah 33:3
Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

James 5:16
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

2. The Bible abounds in promises of the power of prayer.

3.  Prayer can do anything that God can do.

4. The Bible declares that the force of prayer is man's greatest means of tapping the infinite resources of God.

B. THE MIGHTY DEMONSTRATIONS OF THE POWER OF PRAYER.

1. The Bible not only declares the power of prayer it also demonstrates the power of prayer.
Time after time in God's Word we see examples of what prayer can do.

2. I think of Elijah on Mount Carmel. He prayed, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God"   (I Kings 18:36)   and then the fire of the Lord fell consuming the water soaked sacrifice, wood, and even the stones and dust.

3. I think of Joshua. He prayed, "Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon" (Joshua 10:12) ........and the sun stood still and the moon stayed until the children of Israel avenged themselves.

4. I think of Peter. He was in prison but there was a group that gathered at the house of Mary the mother of John praying.
  While they were on their knees praying a angel stepped into the jail cell, woke Peter up, and his chains fell off, and the
  prison doors swung open.

5. I think of Acts 4:31, "And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together…"

Is there power in prayer?     YOU BETTER BELIEVE THERE IS!
 

6.  As John Newton said:
                    Thou art coming to a King
                    Large petitions with thee bring;
                    For his grace and power are such
                    None can ever ask too much.

7. What profit should we have if we pray unto Him?
    There is power in prayer!

Then we see:

1. The root and cause of their feelings about prayer lay in the fact that they failed to understand that prayer is a matter of coming to God. They said, "What profit should we have, if we pray unto HIM."

Prayer is coming to God.
That's the privilege of prayer.
Prayer is more than just a means to get things or get things done, it is coming to "Him."

2. What is prayer?

A. A PERSONAL CONTACT WITH GOD.

1. One of the privileges of prayer is that through prayer I can actually enter into His presence.
He isn't some force out in space somewhere that can't be approached.
Through prayer we can actually come into His presence and make contact with Him.

2. We may not be able to look upon Him or touch Him as the disciples did Jesus, but our experience of Him can be just as real.

3. Through prayer we make contact with God.

What is prayer?
B. A PERSONAL CONVERSATION WITH GOD.

1. There've been times in my life when I've been fortunate enough to meet people that I have admired.
I've met people that to me was an honor to meet
Yet, the greatest of the greatest is the Lord God of heaven and I have the privilege of meeting with Him and talking with Him every day.

2. Through prayer I can actually have a conversation with God. I can actually talk to God. What a privilege and honor.

3. Do you see prayer merely as a means of getting some kind of answer or as an opportunity to walk and talk with God?
The heart and soul of prayer is that we come to God.
The people of Job's day failed to see this privilege.
They didn't have an awareness of the privilege of prayer. Do you?

4. How do you feel about prayer?
Do you say with those who said,  "What profit should we have if we pray unto Him?"