John R. Rice Quotes of the Week

There is only one Bible case, as far as we know, where anybody is supposed to be praying who didn't ask anything. That is the story of the old Pharisee who stood in the Temple and prayed, "God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess" (Luke 18:10-12). He went down to his house, died and went to Hell. That kind of so-called prayer didn't please God. - John R. Rice

You, too, might have to change your prayer around to get it answered, but prayer ought to have a yes answer if you are praying right, and in the will of God. Prayer is asking, and the answer to prayer is having. - John R. Rice 

All this pretense, this playing church and little sermonettes, not asking for anything, is dishonoring to God. Why do you do that? You do it to please people. You think about the people who are listening.
Somebody says, "I just can't pray in public," by which you mean, "I wish I could tickle the feet of the angels and use wonderful language and everybody would think I was so spiritual." That is why most o us ought not to pray in public. One ought to pray a hundred times more in private than in public, because you are tempted in public to pray to people instead of to God. - John R. Rice

Do you know why it is wrong to play the piano or organ during prayer? The organist should be praying instead of putting on a show. You may say, "But playing the organ makes it seem reverent."
You are still talking about aesthetic matters instead of spiritual. You are still talking about that carnal mind instead of burdened about reaching God. You are still thinking about people instead of God. And so, that is why it is wrong to have the organ play during prayer. You are putting on a show. You are creating an atmosphere and that is wrong. When you pray, you ought to talk to God. I want the organist to pray, too, instead of putting on a concert and distracting attention. - John R. Rice

When you put on palaver instead of praying it is dishonest.
Palaver and putting on a talk and playing church when you pretend to pray is hypocrisy, and it is wicked.
So prayer is asking and you are not to pray unless you really come to make an issue with God and get something from God. - John R. Rice 

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth. . . ."
Do you really believe that everybody who asks receives? Now there is a little trick to it. In the Greek language the word "ask" is spelled in a way that means the present tense, not just one time, but again and again and again. So what He is really saying is, "Everyone that keeps on asking receives, and everyone that keeps seeking finds." It may be that one time you casually mentioned the thing to the Lord. You asked for it and didn't get it. God isn't saying that if you casually ask one time He will answer. He is saying if you set your heart on a matter and bring it before God - "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find. . . ." Everyone that asks like that and keeps on asking, receives. - John R. Rice

I am glad every preacher who preaches the Gospel in the power of God is going to be the best preacher somebody ever hears. There are no little preachers, if a preacher preaches the truth, and preaches in the power of God so he can get people saved. - John R. Rice