Part 4 of our series on the power and necessity of faithful prayer looks deeply at Christ’s instructions on prayer in Matthew 6. The focus of the message is on making prayer real.

This third installment of our series on the necessity and the power of prayers of faith looks at James 5:13-18. The theme of the message is God answering prayers of desperation.

A follow-up message on the importance and power of prayer looks at Christ’s words in Matthew 7, and how a good Father promises to give good things in response to prayer.

Learn anew the amazing power and absolute necessity of prayer for success in serving Christ. From Mark 9:14-29. There are things in ministry God wants us to do, that will remain impossible for us until we are properly devoted to prayer.

Every Friday in Cluj-Napoca, public transportation is free. Sometimes, though, someone either doesn’t know, or doesn’t remember, “It’s Friday, and the bus is free.” So they get on the bus and buy a ticket electronically or use one they already had, and waste their money paying for a free ride. When my family sees someone about to do that, we immediately tell them, “Don’t use that ticket. It’s Friday. The bus is free.” Most people are thankful for the just-in-time reminder.

Occasionally, though, we see someone who isn’t. They either don’t believe or don’t care about their opportunity. And even after it’s explained to them, they go ahead and pay for their free ride. “What a waste,” I always think to myself, when I see that.

It could be worse, though. At least they still get where they’re going. The only thing they lose is the money they spent on something that was meant to cost them nothing.

A far more damaging waste is the efforts made by people trying to make it to heaven. And the worst part is, those who buy their own ticket to heaven, don’t get to go there at all. Their tickets are invalid. That’s how God’s system works, according to His word in the Bible. Try to pay for heaven, and you can’t afford it. Receive it as a gift for free, and it’s yours.

Yes, you can have it for free, but your trip there is expensive—completely unaffordable to you, in fact. So you can’t go, unless the price is paid by the One who can afford it. That One is Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God. He came and lived a perfect life on this earth, in our place. He earned the trip to life in the eternal joys of heaven for us. On the cross, He paid the price in full. He suffered for all of our sins, and He died in our place. He absorbed all of the punishment we deserve from God instead of us. And He rose again to life, promising forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life to everyone who believes. No such offer was made to anyone who tries to pay the price themselves–with their good works, or their religiousness, or their baptism, sacrifices, and prayers.

Still, most people are trying to pay their own way. Many of them because they do not know it’s free. And many because they do not care—they want to pay for it themselves, and they hope they can. That’s tragic. Because Jesus made it clear that eternal punishment is the fate of everyone on earth who tries to pay for heaven himself. “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’” He said. “Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:22-23)

So even those with a more impressive spiritual record than yours will have no chance of erasing their sins and getting into heaven, if they go to God to be judged on what they’ve done. And hell awaits.

Your ticket to heaven is free, if you believe and let Him give it to you. Trust in Him now. He died on the cross for you, in your place, and rose again. By faith, you claim your ticket to heaven; and it will never be taken away from you. Of those who believe in Him as Savior, Jesus promised, “I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish; No one will snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:28)