Thy Prayers . . . Are Come Up for a Memorial Before God
God treasures our prayers, keeps them in remembrance, and pours them out upon the earth to fulfill His purposes.
A.B. Simpson emphasizes the significance of persistent prayer, illustrating how the prayers of Cornelius were treasured by God and eventually led to a powerful response. He likens the accumulation of prayers to rain that nourishes the dry ground, suggesting that God remembers and honors the supplications of His people. Simpson encourages believers to be 'the Lord's remembrancers,' urging them to continually present their requests before God, as no prayer is ever wasted. The sermon reassures that even delayed answers to prayer can result in greater blessings. Ultimately, the message is one of hope and encouragement to keep praying fervently.
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What a beautiful expression the angel used to Cornelius, Thy prayers are come up for a memorial. It would almost seem as if supplications of years had accumulated before the Throne, and at last the answer broke in blessings on the head of Cornelius, even as the accumulated evaporation of months bursts in floods of rain upon the parched ground. God is represented as treasuring the prayers of His saints in vials; they are described as sweet odors. They are placed like fragrant flowers in the chambers of the king and kept in constant remembrance before Him.
Later they are said to be poured out upon the earth; and lo, there are voices, and thunderings and great providential movements fulfilling God's purposes for His kingdom.
We are called "the Lord's remembrancers," and are commanded to give Him no rest, day or night, but to crowd the heavens with our petitions. And in due time the answer will come with its accumulated blessings. Not a whisper of true prayer is ever lost. The longer it waits, the larger it becomes.
Sermon Outline
- God Treasures Our Prayers
- Prayers are Kept in Remembrance
- Prayers are Poured Out Upon the Earth
- Prayers result in voices, thunderings, and great providential movements
- Prayers fulfill God's purposes for His kingdom
Key Quotes
“Not a whisper of true prayer is ever lost.” — A.B. Simpson
“The longer it waits, the larger it becomes.” — A.B. Simpson
“Thy prayers are come up for a memorial.” — A.B. Simpson
Application Points
- We should continue to pray without ceasing, knowing that our prayers are not lost but treasured by God.
- Our prayers have the power to fulfill God's purposes for His kingdom.
- We should trust that God's answer will come in due time with its accumulated blessings.