02.08. Prayer

PRAYER.

INTRODUCTION. No subject has greater prominence in the Bible than prayer, and yet many Bible students are growing more indifferent to its blessings and privileges. The tendency of the times seems to be away from prayer. Perhaps no one can be entirely free from his environments; but to keep this prayerless spirit of the present age from overwhelming us, let us diligently read the -Bible, and thus associate with God and Christ and the praying men of God—and pray. Prayer is the very breath of the Christian.

There are two essential elements in the Christian character— namely, a sense of obligation and a feeling of dependence. The neglect of either is hurtful. Obligation binds us to the discharge of certain duties; but a faithful discharge of duties has a tendency to create a feeling of self-satisfaction, and to eliminate the feeling of dependence. On the other hand, the feeling of dependence has a tendency to destroy the sense of obligation. A child that is petted and waited on by all the other members of the family soon reaches the point where it does not feel under any obligation to the rest of the family. There have been Christians, real and professed, who spent so much time in prayer, praise, and holy meditation that they lost sight of the practical duties of life. They spent their time gazing into heaven, and had no time to look about them on the fields white unto harvest. The well-rounded, forceful Christian life is made up of a proper blending of a sense of obligation and a feeling of dependence.

SOME HURTFUL THEORIES.

Many theories, even amongst professed Christians, have contributed greatly to the present neglect of prayer. Rationalism has crept into the church, and the teaching of the Bible on prayer is either ignored or explained away. With some theorists the plain statements of the Bible cease to be convincing, but everything must be subjected to the test of human reason. Strange as it seems, some of the most dogmatic of this class of rationalists are to be found amongst those who claim to take the Bible as their only guide. Their theories on prayer are not found in the Bible. On the subject of prayer, they do not ask, What does the Bible say? but, Is it possible for God to answer prayer.

• God is unchangeable. It is argued that since God is unchangeable our prayers can have no effect. Such a conclusion is not found in the Bible. No inspired writer ever so argued. There are numerous examples of answered prayers. It does not meet the issue to say that all these occurred in the days of miracle?; for, if the unchangeableness of God prevents his answering prayer now, it would have prevented it then, for he was unchangeable then as now. He answered prayer then. That is certain. Being unchangeable, he will answer prayer now. Thus the argument on the unchangeable-ness of God, instead of militating against prayer, is positive proof that God will now answer prayer.

• God is omniscient. It is contended that God possesses infinite wisdom and knows what we need before we ask him; that his nature being perfect, and his purposes always good, he will withhold no good thing from his children; hence, there can be no reason for praying. This view is the ground for many neglected prayers. Is it not true that all the foregoing was as true in Bible times as now? Prayers were answered then! It is foolish to argue against a demonstration. Do not allow your zeal for argumentative ability to discredit the Bible.

• miracles have ceased. It is insisted that God cannot answer prayer without violating the law of nature, and that would be a miracle. Suppose that be true; if God says he will answer, are we going to subscribe to a theory that will make him a liar? Many who advocate this theory cannot define a natural law nor tell what a miracle is. How can one know that God cannot answer prayer without working a miracle? Do you know everything? If not, why make a statement which implies universal knowledge? If there is in all the universe one thing you do not know, that one thing may be how God can answer a prayer and not work a miracle. Do not make a fool of yourself trying to be smart.

A friend asks a favor, and you grant it. Did you work a miracle? The birds and beasts hear the cry of their young and bring them food— do they work miracles? We use the laws of nature every day to answer the requests, or prayers, of our friends, and children. Cannot God do as much? Jesus said: "With God all things are possible." But the advocates of this God-dishonoring theory make it possible for man and beast to do what they claim it is impossible for God to do. That God cannot answer prayer without working a miracle is a mere assumption supported by no Bible teaching. So far as we understand the laws of nature, it is as much a miracle for God to hear us pray as it is for him to answer a prayer. reflex influence. By some we are told that reflex influence is the only benefit we derive from prayer. This makes prayer a sort of spiritual gymnasium in which we take spiritual exercise—and spiritual exercise is good, we are told! It is true that the reflex influence of a sincere prayer is good; but if prayer is only a form of spiritual exercise and reflex influence is the only good derived therefrom, then the heathen is as much benefitted by prayer as the Christian. Under what conditions are the reflex influences good? Would there be a good reflex influence if you pray to a post or stone? Your own heart answers: "No, the reflex influence would be bad." Why? Because you know the tree or stone cannot hear or answer? Such prayer would be foolish mockery. But is it any less so to pray to God believing he cannot hear and answer? In the very nature of the case the reflex influence of prayer is good only when we sincerely pray to One whom we believe hears us and is willing and able to grant us the desires of our hearts.

GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS. The foregoing theories are not supported by the Bible, and no advocate of such theories ever tries to prove them by the Scriptures. Such theorists depend on a process of reasoning, and not on what God says. Not one of them points to a passage of Scripture and says: "This teaches my doctrine." They forgot that every Bible doctrine must be settled by what that Book says, and not by our reason. We should use our reason to learn what God says, and not to set aside what he teaches. Leave that to infidels. The proof that God answers prayer is too abundant to include all in this lesson, but we will briefly call attention to such. THE BIBLE TEACHING ON PRAYER.

Jesus taught his disciples to pray (Matthew 6:5-15), and said: "Thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee." "The eyes of Jehovah are toward the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry" (Psalms 34:15).

"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; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, who, if his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone; or if he shall ask for a fish, will give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" (Matthew 7:7-11).

"The supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working" (James 5:16). As an encouragement to prayer, James immediately adds: "Elijah was a man of like passions with us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain; and it rained not on the earth for three years and six months. And he prayed again; and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit"

(James 5:17-18). This was a remarkable prayer and answer, and the answer seems to have come in a natural way. To the people it did not appear as a miracle. (See 1 Kings 17:1-24 and 1 Kings 18:1-46). praying for wisdom. "But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him" (James 1:5). God giveth to all liberally. How can one doubt what God says, if he believes in God? God does not promise in this text to give you knowledge—knowledge is information stored up in the mind, and is acquired by study, experience, and observation. Wisdom is tact, or skill, in the use of knowledge or any means to accomplish an end. Christians need Bible knowledge, and they need wisdom, or tact, that they may be able to properly use that knowledge. It is our duty as well as privilege to pray for wisdom.

PRAYING FOR OTHERS.

Paul prayed that his Jewish brethren might be saved. (Romans 10:1). Certainly he did not pray for them to be saved in disobedience; and it would have been unnecessary for him to pray for God to save them when they obeyed God, for God would have done that without Paul’s praying for their salvation. In his great desire for the salvation of his brethren he prayed that conditions and circumstances might be such as to lead them to accept the Lord Jesus as their Savior. Paul did not theorize; he worked and prayed. In fact, the theories now hindering some do not seem to have entered into the thinking of the early Christians. Their prayers pretty well covered the grounds of all Christian activities and material needs. Study closely the things Paul prayed for as indicated in Colossians 1:9-12 : "For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray and make request for you, that ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will and all spiritual wisdom and understanding, to walk worthily of the Lord unto all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, unto all patience and long suffering with joy; giving thanks unto the Father, who made us meet to be partakers of inheritance of the saints in light." "I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men; for kings and all that are in high place; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity" (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

Recognizing God’s willingness to bless and his knowledge of what is best for us, let the Christian earnestly pray for whatever he longs for. When you have prayed for all you think you need, remember that God is "able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us" (Ephesians 3:20). "Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).

PRAY ALWAYS. On one occasion Jesus spoke "a parable unto them to the end that men ought always to pray, and not to faint" (see Luke 18:1-8). This parable teaches us to be persistent, importunate, in prayer, and not to grow weary, though the answer is long deferred. The parable:

"There was in a city a judge, who feared not God, and regarded not man: and there was a widow in that city; and she came oft unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while; but afterwards he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest she wear me out by her continual coming. And the Lord said, Hear what the unrighteous judge saith, And shall not God avenge his elect, that cry to him day and night, and yet he is long-suffering over them? I say unto you, that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" The closing sentence is significant. Here was a widow making her plea to a selfish judge who had no regard for God or man, yet she believed in the righteousness of her cause and her heart was set on obtaining a favorable hearing, and she would not give up. She finally prevailed. Jesus assures us that God will avenge us, though he is longsuffering over us, and adds: "Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" That is, will he find people who have as much faith in God as this widow had in that perverse judge?

ACCEPTABLE PRAYER.

"Saying our prayers" is not necessarily praying. Are your prayers mere forms of words, cold and lifeless? Those who confine themselves to a set form of words when they pray are in danger of losing the spirit of prayer, and become no more than formalists. Prayer does not consist in beautiful expressions, devoutly uttered. Neither does prayer consist of solemn looks, pious tones, and humble attitude of the body. One can draw nigh unto God with his mouth and honor him with his lips, while his heart is far from him. Acceptable prayer is the blending of certain essential elements. These elements are sometimes referred to as conditions of acceptable prayer; but they are rather component parts, the essential elements, of acceptable prayer. Here are some of the elements of prayer:

THE PRAYER OF AN ALIEN SINNER.

Whether God will hear the prayer of an alien sinner has been a subject of much controversy. Certainly God will not hear the prayers of those who rebel at his commands, whether they be in the church or out. "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination" (Proverbs 28:8). This was evidently spoken of disobedient Hebrews, for it did not occur to them that God would hear the prayers of any one else. "We know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshiper of God, and do his will, him he heareth" (John 9:31). This was said by an uninspired man whose eyes the Lord had opened. The leaders of the Jews said Jesus was a sinner, and the once-blind man defended him. Both knew that Jesus was a Hebrew, in covenant relationship with God; neither thought of him as an alien. The prayer of an alien was not under discussion. It is wrong, therefore, to apply this text to aliens. who is a sinner? If a sinner is a rebel against God, one who disregards the law of the Lord, and is in the active service of the devil, will God hear such in prayer even if they should pray? No. who is an alien? Aliens are those who are not in covenant relationship with the Lord, those who have not entered into the kingdom or become citizens of the kingdom (see Ephesians 2:12-22). That God hears the prayers of aliens under certain conditions is proved by the fact that he heard the prayers of Cornelius and Saul of Tarsus. Cornelius prayed regularly to God. He must have prayed often to God to lead him to fully know his duty, for he was directed by an angel sent from God to send for Peter, who would tell him what to do (see Acts 10:1-48). Saul prayed, and God approved his prayers (see Acts 9:1-19; Acts 22:3-16).

PUBLIC OR CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER.

You may wish to pray alone to God touching any desire of your heart. Do so. You should pray in secret for things that concern your personal or private affairs. Secret prayers should be in secret places (Matthew 6:5-8).

There are numerous examples of public prayers. In congregational prayer one leads as spokesman for the entire congregation, and the congregation follows and says "Amen." The congregation must understand what the leader says, else how can they say "Amen" to his prayer? (see 1 Corinthians 14:16). This makes it binding on the leader in prayer or in giving thanks—

• To use language that all can understand.

• To speak loud enough for the entire congregation to hear him distinctly.

Many who are called on to lead the congregation in prayer fail miserably to do their duty. Some use language that many cannot understand, and some have the lazy habit of mumbling their words so low that only those very near them understand what they say. If the audience does not hear and understand the leader, he is not leading them in prayer. He is praying a private prayer in a public place Do not attempt to teach the congregation while praying. Do not pray all day.

If you are called on to express thanks at the Lord’s table, do not engage in a long prayer. Express thanks and quit.

TOPICS FOR INVESTIGATION AND DISCUSSION.

QUESTIONS.