40 The Prayer of Faith
The Prayer of Faith "All things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing — you shall receive." Matthew 21:22
Some have supposed that this promise is to be confined to miracles — but this is a mistake. It is as much intended for us as it was for the first disciples. Look at the parallel passage in Mark 11:22-26. Jesus directs his disciples to exercise "faith in God," assures them that the prayer of faith shall be answered; and requires them to exercise a forgiving spirit, as they would hope to be forgiven; which is as much binding on us as on them. He says, "Whatever things you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them."
Look also at Luke 11:5-18. He delivers a parable to show the power of importunate prayer, and then says, "Ask — and it shall be given you; seek — and you shall find; knock — and it shall be opened," etc. Here he positively promises that every one that heartily asks, honestly seeks, and importunately knocks — shall be attended to; but faith is supposed, and is necessary to such asking, seeking, and knocking.
Once more, look at James 1:5-7. "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does." Here you see that faith is required, and without faith we are told not to expect an answer to our prayer. What the Lord may please to do in his sovereignty over and above what he has promised, is one thing; and what his word warrants us to expect, is another and very different thing. God will never be worse than his word; but he may do more than he has promised. The prayer of faith supposes that the person praying is a believer, that he believes that God is, and is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. That he is united to Christ, and abides in fellowship with Christ, as it is written, "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you — you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you" (John 15:7). Also, that his heart is set against all sin; for if one sin is indulged, if one idol is spared — God is dishonored and provoked to jealousy; and it is not to be expected that he will indulge those who violate his commands and encourage his foes. Hence the Psalmist, in so many words, says, "If I regard iniquity in my heart — the Lord will not hear me" (Psalms 66:18). But if we believe in God as revealed in Jesus — if we are united to Christ and abide in communion with him — if our hearts are weaned from, and set against all sin — we are prepared to pray in faith. In order to exercise faith in prayer, we must only pray for what we really need. God has promised to supply our necessities — but not to gratify our fancies. If we sincerely need what we ask of God, we shall not talk before him, or offer compliments to him — but we shall heartily plead with him. Or we must heartily desire the blessings which we seek, for desire is the soul of prayer, and to the desire — the promise is made, as you read (Psalms 145:19), "He will fulfill the desire of those who fear him; he also will hear their cry, and will save them." Much is said in prayer to God, which is anything but pleading with God, or the utterance of heartfelt desire to God. "The desire of the righteous shall be granted."
We must only pray for what God has promised. I cannot consistently believe that God will give me anything, except what he has promised in his word to give. If, therefore, I desire anything for myself, my family, the church, my country, or the world, I must first ask — Is there any particular promise in which God has said that he will give it? If there is not, then — Is the blessing I desire included in any of the more general promises? Again — Does the promise refer to any particular circumstance? If so, are the circumstances present? Or is it made to the exercise of any particular grace, or peculiar state of mind? If so, have I that grace in exercise, or is my mind in the state required? Attention to these particulars will prevent many mistakes, and painful disappointments. For instance, I pray for some blessing — but I have enmity in my heart against someone; or there is a disagreement between me and a fellow-Christian, and I refuse to go and seek to be reconciled to my brother; now, God will not hear me. I thought that if I prayed loud and long he would; he does not; I am grieved, irritated, and disappointed. But I ought not to be, for God has said, "First be reconciled to your brother — and then come" (Matthew 5:24); this I have neglected; in so doing, I have regarded "iniquity in my heart," and under such circumstances God could not hear my prayer.
If we would have faith in prayer, we must, when praying — realize God as present with us, and listening to us. It is often the case that we seem to be praying in an empty room, or to a being at a great distance from us. This is wrong. We address a present God. One who stands before us in all his glorious perfections, and who is waiting to receive our petitions and bless our souls. The heart is never right in prayer, except we realize that we are alone with God, or, that God is attending to us — as if he had nothing else to attend to. We must solemnly prostrate ourselves before God — not so much the body as the soul. Thus did Abraham, though he was emphatically God’s friend — though God stood before him in a human form — yet he prostrated all his powers before God, and was filled with solemn awe; hence he says, "Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak." "Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord — I who am but dust and ashes," etc. (Genesis 18:27.) When faith is strongest, our solemnity before God will be deepest; and when indulged most, we shall lie lowest.
We must also steadily rely, for the acceptance of our persons and prayers, on the sacrifice of Christ. There is no coming before God acceptably — but in the name of Jesus; nor will true faith ever venture into God’s presence — but with the blood of atonement in its hand. If we . . .
realize God’s presence,
prostrate our souls before God’s throne,
and rest heartily on Christ’s finished work
— then we may pray in faith. The believing intended by our Lord, is confidence in God. We go to him confident that he is "good, ready to forgive, and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon him" (Psalms 86:5). We feel certain that his word is true, that he means what he has said in his promises, that he is in the same mind now, as he was when he made them. That having promised to give good things to those who ask him out of pure love, to glorify his own rich grace, and to bring honor to his own name and character — he will not now forfeit his word, or refuse our petitions. We are, therefore, inwardly and powerfully persuaded that he will give us what we ask, because he is so good, and has promised to do so in his word. Thus we give credit to his word, rely on his veracity, and place confidence in his faithfulness.
We ask in faith. We believe God will give. We have the witness in ourselves, that God will hear and answer us: for our "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen;" or "the confident expectation of things hoped for, the perfect persuasion of things not seen." This faith always keeps God’s glory in view, attending to the apostolic admonition, "Whether, therefore, you eat, or drink, or whatever you do — do all to the glory of God." The first inquiry, therefore, of a person under the influence of this principle is, when prompted to ask anything in prayer, "Will this honor God? Will it bring glory to his holy name? Will it further his blessed cause? Will it deepen my sanctification?" And if it is clearly seen that it will do so — then the man goes and confidently asks for it.
True faith always consents that the flesh should be mortified. It will not spare the old man — but will put him off with his deeds. It will have the flesh dragged to the cross, to which it nailed the Savior, and have it put to shame and pain. It will bring down our pride, self-importance, worldliness, and love of ease; thus purifying the heart, and making us vessels "of honor, sanctified, and fit for the Master’s use." It breathes universal benevolence. It harbors no unkind thoughts. It indulges no proud spirit. It feeds no bitter temper. But it loves tenderly and heartily — all who love the Savior; and pities, prays for, and strives to benefit — all who are yet in their sins. This faith will produce earnestness. We shall ask — as if we really desired to possess. We shall plead for the blessing — as if we could not do without it. The desire springing from the depths of the soul — will ascend and enter into the heart of God. It will make us importunate. We shall not only ask — but seek; not only seek — but knock; not only knock — but continue knocking until mercy’s door is thrown wide open. Like the woman of Canaan, we shall pray, plead, and persevere — until our Lord says, "Be it unto you even as you will." Like the man who went to his friend at midnight, who would take nothing for an answer but the loaves for which he went — we shall agonize until we prevail. Like the woman who went to seek relief from the unjust judge — we shall go, and remain until we obtain what we seek. God’s elect cry day and night unto him, until he arises and has mercy upon him. This faith will awaken expectation. We shall wait, watch, and expect that the Lord will do as he has said, give as he has promised, and answer prayer according to his word. Earnest, importunate pleaders with God, always expect to be answered, and they are never disappointed.
Faith honors God, for it commits the soul to him, and seeks every blessing from him. It leaves the time when, the place where, and the means by which — the answer shall be given to the Lord. It never . . .
dictates to infinite wisdom,
complains of infinite love, or
doubts the faithfulness of the Most High God.
It leaves everything for him, or holds everything loosely, ready to surrender it as his command; and when all is gone for Christ and his cause, it rises like the lark from its torn nest and sings, "Doubtless I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him" (Php 3:8-9).
God honors faith — by conferring much upon it. Indeed he never says nay. The Savior has put a blank into the hand of faith signed with his own name; he says, "Fill it up, ask for what you please, and go to my Father for it, and I give you my word that he will bestow it." "Whatever you shall ask the Father in my name — he will give it to you" (John 16:23). Yes, he engages to give it himself, that his father may be honored by his so doing; hence we read, "I go unto my Father, and whatever you shall ask in my name, that will I do — that the Father may be glorified in the Son" (John 14:12-13).
God ascribes much to faith. Yes, he ascribes more to faith, than to any exercise of the human mind, any work wrought by any of his creatures, or any other grace of his Holy Spirit. It is faith which has power with God and prevails. Faith . . .
opens Heaven,
unlocks God’s treasury,
presents God’s promises for payment,
and brings numerous, invaluable, and everlasting blessings unto our possession!
Lord, increase our faith! Holy Spirit, help us to pray in faith; and may it be said of us, as it was of Abraham, "Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised." (Romans 4:20-21).