Attitude of Trust
The sermon emphasizes the importance of having the attitude of trust in our relationship with God, believing for a blessing, and acting as if it has already been given.
Charles E. Cowman emphasizes the power of prayer by highlighting that every right prayer is answered before it is even finished, as God has promised to grant our requests made in oneness with Christ and in faith. He encourages believers to close every prayer with praise for the answer already granted by God, who never forsakes His loving-kindness and truth. Cowman stresses the importance of taking an attitude of faith when praying for blessings, acting and praying as if the blessing has already been received, and trusting God to fulfill what has been claimed.
Text
"And it came to pass, before he had done speaking...and he said, Blessed be Jehovah...who hath not forsaken his lovingkindness and his truth" (Gen. 24:15, 27).
Every right prayer is answered before the prayer itself is finished--before we have "done speaking." This is because God has pledged His Word to us that whatsoever we ask in Christ's name (that is, in oneness with Christ and His will) and in faith, shall be done.
As God's Word cannot fail, whenever we meet those simple conditions in prayer, the answer to our prayer has been granted and completed in Heaven as we pray, even though its showing forth on earth may not occur until long afterward.
So it is well to close every prayer with praise to God for the answer that He has already granted; He who never forsakes His loving-kindness and His truth. (See Daniel 9:20-27 and 10:12.) --Messages for the Morning Watch
When we believe for a blessing, we must take the attitude of faith, and begin to act and pray as if we had the blessing. We must treat God as if He had given us our request. We must lean our weight over upon Him for the thing that we have claimed, and just take it for granted that He gives it, and is going to continue to give it. This is the attitude of trust.
When the wife is married, she at once falls into a new attitude, and acts in accordance with the fact; and so when we take Christ as our Savior, as our Sanctifier, as our Healer, or as our Deliverer, He expects us to fall into the attitude of recognizing Him in the capacity that we have claimed, and expect Him to be to us all that we have trusted Him for. --Selected
"The thing I ask when God doth bid me pray,
Begins in that same act to come my way."
Sermon Outline
- The Attitude of Trust points: - Understanding God's Faithfulness - Praying with Faith and Confidence - Expecting God's Answer
- The Importance of Faith points: - Believing for a Blessing - Taking the Attitude of Faith - Acting as if the Blessing is Already Given
- Recognizing God's Presence points: - Taking Christ as Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, or Deliverer - Falling into the Attitude of Recognition - Expecting God to be All That We Have Trusted Him For
Key Quotes
“The thing I ask when God doth bid me pray, Begins in that same act to come my way.” — Charles E. Cowman
“Blessed be Jehovah...who hath not forsaken his lovingkindness and his truth” — Charles E. Cowman
“Whenever we meet those simple conditions in prayer, the answer to our prayer has been granted and completed in Heaven as we pray” — Charles E. Cowman
Application Points
- We must take the attitude of faith and begin to act and pray as if we had the blessing we are asking for.
- We must recognize God's presence in our lives and expect Him to fulfill His promises.
- We must close every prayer with praise to God for the answer that He has already granted.