Sermon Illustration

A man caught in a terrible flood climbed on top of his house to avoid the rushing water and prayed to God that he’d be saved. A few minutes later a boat came by and offered him a ride. “No, thank you,” he said, “I trust God to rescue me.” A few minutes later a helicopter flew overhead and dropped down a rope ladder. His response was the same. Finally, another boat came by and offered to help him, but no, he was waiting on God. He was eventually lost in the flood, and in heaven asked God why he didn’t save him. God’s response was simple: “I tried three times, but you wouldn’t accept my help!”

A blonde finds herself in serious trouble. Her business has gone bust and she's in dire financial straits. She's so desperate that she decides to ask God for help. She begins to pray ... 'God, please help me. I've lost my business and if I don't get some money, I'm going to lose my house as well. Please let me win the lottery .' Lottery night comes, and somebody else wins. She again prays ... 'God, please let me win the lottery! I've lost my business, my house and I'm going to lose my car as well.' Lottery night comes and she still has no luck. Once again, she prays ... 'My God, why have you forsaken me? I've lost my business, my house and my car. My children are starving. I don't often ask You for help, and I've always been a good servant to you. PLEASE let me win the lottery just this one time so I can get my life back in order.' Suddenly there is a blinding flash of light as the heavens open. Th...

1. Your thumb is nearest you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C. S. Lewis once said, a "sweet duty." 2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers. 3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance. 4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger, as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them. 5. And lastly come...

It sometimes helps to see things from another perspective. Lord, thank thee for this sink of dirty dishes...We have plenty of food to eat. Thank thee for this pile of dirty, stinky laundry... We have plenty of nice clothes to wear. And I would like to thank thee, Lord, for those unmade beds in there... They were so warm and so comfortable last night... I know that many have no bed. My thanks to thee, Lord, for this bathroom complete with all the splattered mirrors, soggy, grimy towels and dirty lavatory... They are so convenient. Thank thee for this finger smudged refrigerator that needs defrosting so badly... It has served us faithfully for many years... It is full of cold drinks and enough leftovers for two or three meals. Thank thee Lord, for this oven that absolutely must be cleaned today... It has baked so many things over the years. The whole family is grateful for that tall grass that needs mowing....The lawn that needs raking... We all enjoy the yard. Thank thee...

Colossians 4:2 It is interesting to remark how large a portion of Sacred Writ is occupied with the subject of prayer, either in furnishing examples, enforcing precepts, or pronouncing promises. We scarcely open the Bible before we read, “Then began men to call upon the name of the Lord;” and just as we are about to close the volume, the “Amen” of an earnest supplication meets our ear. Instances are plentiful. Here we find a wrestling Jacob-there a Daniel who prayed three times a day-and a David who with all his heart called upon his God. On the mountain we see Elias; in the dungeon Paul and Silas. We have multitudes of commands, and myriads of promises. What does this teach us, but the sacred importance and necessity of prayer? We may be certain that whatever God has made prominent in his Word, he intended to be conspicuous in our lives. If he has said much about prayer, it is because he knows we have much need of it. So deep are our necessities, that until we are in heaven we must not...