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Volume. XXXVII, No. 39 The Scriptures and Prayer (Part 1) Introduction The Scriptures bring us to realise the profound importance and necessity of prayer. It is really to be feared that many present-day readers of the Bible have no deep convictions that a definite prayer-life is absolutely essential to our daily walk and communion with God, as it is for deliverance from the power of indwelling sin, the seductions of the world and the assaults of Satan. If such a conviction gripped our hearts, would we spend more time before God? A multitude of secular duties in our busy lives crowd out fervent prayer. But each of us takes time for anything we deem to be imperative. Whoever lived a busier life than our Saviour? Yet He set aside quality time for prayer with God the Father (Luke 6:12, Mark 1:35). Yearn to be intercessors before God and use the available time we have to be a fervent prayer warrior.
Consider Christ’s example in prayer in Mark 1:35, ‘And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.’ Positive conviction of the necessity of prayer is important in the corporate life of many professing Christians. God has plainly said in Matthew 21:13, ‘My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.’ Note, not ‘the house of talking or singing’ but of prayer. Yet, in the great majority of churches, the ministry of prayer has become negligible. Do you have family prayer time and do you come for the church Wednesday prayer meeting? It is generally an average of 10% of the Church members who come for corporate prayer. When the Spirit of God fills us, ‘Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving’ (Colossians 4:2). Prayer makes a difference, for 2 Corinthians 1:11 says, ‘Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf’ and Psalm 34:19 says, ‘Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.’
The Scriptures teach us that we need to learn how to pray (Luke 18) But such a conception is at direct variance with this inspired declaration, as Romans 8:26, ‘we know not what we should pray for as we ought’. How many professing Christians believe this? Christian people generally think they know what they should pray for but often we are ignorant and caught up with the world. It is needful to have a realisation of our depravity and our grave need for God for the renewed heart when God cleanses and sanctifies us from the corruption of the world.
The Holy Spirit and Prayer The Christian prays by the direct enabling of the Holy Spirit. Real prayer is a spiritual need awakened within us by the Spirit, so that we ask God, in the name of Christ, for that which is in accordance with His holy will. 1 John 5:14 says, ‘And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:’ But to do or ask something rashly which is not according to God's will is not praying, but presuming. God's revealed will is made known in His Word as we meditate on them. The Scriptures frequently enumerate principles, which call for continuous exercise of heart and divine help to show us their application in various situation. Thus we benefit from the Scriptures when we are about to cry, ‘Lord, teach us to pray’ in our need (Luke 11:1) and are constrained to beseech Him to hear us in persevering prayer.
The Scriptures made us conscious of our need of the Spirit’s help. First, that He may make known to us our spiritual or temporal needs. We pray to be delivered from testings, trials and temptations but God may require submission unto His goal and pleasure, as He may send trials and afflictions to humble, sanctify and refine us. Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, ‘And he said unto me. My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.’
God hears and receives the petitions of those who seek for divine help. Ecclesiastes 6:12 says. ‘For who knoweth what is good for man in this life…?’
Temporal things like friends, jobs, health and protection may be spiritually prayed for (Matthew 6:11 etc.) but they are not the things which Christians are principally concerned with (Matthew 6:33). It is heavenly and eternal things (Colossians 3:1) which are to be sought first and foremost, as being of far greater importance and value than temporal things. In seeking material things (ie. sickness and health) and guidance from God, it should not be that we may be gratified, but as an aid to pleasing Him better. Submit to the will of God and not with anger or presumption (Psalm 19:13). Moreover, God knows when mercy would contribute to our good (Psalm 106:18) and therefore we must leave it with God to decide. We must pray according to God's will (1 John 5:14, 15).
Our goal and purposes must be in accordance to God's will. The things about which believers do and ought to treat primarily with God in their supplications are the spiritual disposition of their souls and be at peace with God. David asked God to undertake the inward searching of his heart to find out what was amiss in him (Psalm 139:23, 24), knowing that God principally requires a broken and contrite spirit (Psalm 51:17). We should seek the Spirit's aid, so that we may pray acceptably to God and God will answer our cries according to His sovereign good purpose (Hebrews 4:16)
To be continued... Rev Jack Sin |
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