Prayer
Ch 14 Prayer I. WHO CAN PRAY SO THAT GOD WILL HEAR? Psalms 66:18 — "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me."
First Proposition: The one who regards iniquity in his heart cannot pray so that God will hear. The word translated "regard" means primarily to see or to look. Then it comes to mean to look at with favor, to respect, approve, regard. God will not hear the man who in his heart looks upon sin with any favor or allowance; God looks at sin with abhorrence. He is of "purer eyes than to behold evil." ( Habakkuk 1:13 — "Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity.'') The Hebrew verb here is the same as the one translated "regard" above. If we want to be heard by God, we must have the same attitude toward sin that He has. If we regard sin, He will not regard us when we pray. Herein lies the very simple explanation why many of us pray and are not heard. Proverbs 28:9 — "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination."
Second Proposition: He who turns away from hearing the law, his prayer is an abomination; he cannot pray so that God will hear.
If we turn our ears away from what God says to us in His law, He will turn His ears away from what we say to Him in our prayers. We have an illustration of this in scripture: Zechariah 7:11-13 — "But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his Spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts. Therefore it came to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts."
Many are saying, "The promises of God are not true. God does not hear my prayers." Has God ever promised to hear your prayers? God plainly describes whose prayers He hears. Do you belong to that class? Are you listening to His words? If not, He has distinctly said He will not listen to your prayers, and in not listening to you, He is simply keeping His word. (Compare to Proverbs 1:24-25; Proverbs 1:28 RV — "Because I have called, and you refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof.... Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; They shall seek me diligently, but they shall not find me." Proverbs 21:13 — "Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry, but shall not be heard."
Third Proposition: Whoever disregards the cry of the poor cannot pray so that God will hear.
If we will not listen to the poor when they cry to us in their need, God will not listen unto us when we cry to Him in our need. The world's maxim is, "The Lord helps those who help themselves." The truth is, the Lord helps those who help others. Luke 18:13-14 "And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.'' Fourth Proposition: The great sinner, who is sorry for and humbled by his sin, and who desires pardon, can pray so that God will hear. The question is often asked, "Shall we get unconverted people to pray?"
What do you mean by unconverted people? If a man is sorry for his sin, and wishes to forsake it and find mercy and is willing to humble himself before God and ask for pardon, he is taking the very steps by which a man turns around, or is converted. To tell a man he must not pray under such circumstances is to tell him that he must not be converted until he is converted, that he must not turn until he is turned around. To get him to pray is just the thing to do: "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" ( Romans 10:13). But how, someone may ask, can he pray until he has faith? The answer is very simple. This prayer itself is the first act of faith. The first and most natural and proper thing to do for one who honestly wishes to turn from sin and to believe in Christ, is to pray. The Lord Jesus looked on with delight when he could say to Ananias of the stubborn rebel, Saul of Tarsus, "Behold, he prayeth." ( Acts 9:11 — "And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth.") We should be sure, however, that the sinner really is sorry for sin and really wishes to forsake it before we tell him to pray for pardon. You can get him on his knees even before this, and so get him to realize that he is in God's presence, so that his rebellious heart may be humbled, but do not have him pray until he really does wish to turn from sin. 1 John 5:13-15 RV — "These things have I written unto you, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, even unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God. And this is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he heareth us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him."
Fifth Proposition: Those who believe in the name of the Son of God can pray so that God will hear. The promises of the New Testament cannot be applied indiscriminately to all men. A great mistake is often made by taking promises made to the believer and applying them as if they referred to all classes of men; or, by taking promises made to those that have surrendered absolutely to the will of God, and applying them as if they referred to all professed believers. When we find promises with "we" and "ye" in them, we should study the context and find out who the "we"s and "ye"s are, and whether we belong to that class. Psalms 34:15; Psalms 34:17 — "The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry... The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles." Proverbs 15:29 — "The LORD is far from the wicked; but he heareth the prayer of the righteous." Proverbs 15:8 — "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight."
Sixth Proposition: The righteous and the upright can pray so that God will hear. The words translated righteous and upright have nearly the same significance. They both mean primarily "right" or "straight." (The latter may also mean "level" or "even.") Psalms 32:6 — "For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found; surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him."
Seventh Proposition: The godly (or merciful) can pray so that God will hear. The word translated "godly" in this passage is so translated three times in the Authorized Version (four times in RV). But its primary significance is "kind" or "merciful." It could be so translated in at least almost every passage where used. It is frequently translated "saints." <19E519> Psalms 145:19 — "He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them."
Eighth Proposition: Those who fear God can pray so that God will hear. To tear God means to have the reverent regard for God that is due him and that manifests itself in glad obedience to His will ( Hebrews 12:28-29; 1 Peter 2:17; Revelation 14:7; 2 Corinthians 7:1; 2 Samuel 23:3; Proverbs 8:13; Proverbs 16:6; Isaiah 11:2-3; Psalms 2:11; Psalms 25:14; Psalms 33:18; Psalms 34:7; Psalms 34:9; Revelation 19:5; <19B511> Psalms 115:11; Psalms 118:4). 1 John 3:22 — "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing to his sight."
Ninth Proposition: Those who keep God's commandments and do what is pleasing in His sight can pray so that God will hear.
Here we find one of the greatest secrets of prevailing prayer. If we listen to God's commandments, God will listen to our prayers. If we do as He bids us in His word, He will do as we ask him in our prayers. If we do what pleases Him, He will do what pleases us. The one who turns away his ear from hearing God's law cannot pray so that God will hear; the one who turns his ear to listen attentively to God's word can pray so that God will hear. This explains why some people's prayers are heard and some people's are not. To keep His commandments means more than merely yielding obedience to them; it means to guard them as a precious possession, to treasure them. John 15:7 RV — "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you."
Tenth Proposition: Those who abide in Christ, and Christ's words abide in them, can pray so that God will hear. They can ask whatever they wish and it will be done to them. This is the other great secret of prevailing prayer. It is closely related to the preceding.
QUESTION: What is it to abide in Christ?
ANSWER: It is to continue in living union with Him. To bear the same relation to Him that the living healthy branch, the continuously fruitbearing branch, does to the vine. This branch has no independent life of its own. Is sap and vigor all come from the vine. So we abide in Christ in so far as we have no independent life of our own. In so far as we do not seek to have any thoughts, plans, feelings, purposes, works, fruit of our own, but let Christ think his thoughts, feel His feelings, purpose His purposes, work His works, bear His fruit in us. When we do this, and in so far as we do this, we may ask whatever we wish and it shall be done.
QUESTION: But what if we ask something contrary to God's will?
ANSWER: We cannot in so far as we abide in Christ; our prayers themselves will be the outcome of the Christ-life in us. The Father hears him always and will hear Him when He prays through us. Note that He says also, "And my words abide in you." It is through His words, and only through His words, that Christ imparts His life to us and lives His life in us. The words of Christ are the vehicle of the life of Christ. It is vain, then, to talk or think of abiding in Christ if we neglect His words. We must let His words sink deep into our souls and form us, mould our thoughts, our feelings, our purposes, our plans, our actions. "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you" is the way the promise reads. Psalms 91:1; Psalms 91:14-15 — "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty .... Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him."
Eleventh Proposition: The one who dwells in the secret place of the Most High, who sets his love upon God and knows His name, can pray so that God will hear.
QUESTION: What is it to dwell in the secret place of the Most High?
ANSWER: The word translated "secret place," means primarily a covering, then hiding-place, protection. It is translated "protection" once, and "hiding-place" a number of times. To dwell in the secret place of the Most High, means, then, to put oneself and keep oneself under the protection of the Most High, to be covered and hid from all harm by Him.
It means to leave all our welfare absolutely to Him, and to look to Him and to trust Him to take care of it. To know His name means to know Him as he has revealed Himself to us. That is only possible through the study of the word. Psalms 37:4 "Delight thyself also in the LORD and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."
Twelfth Proposition: He who delights himself in the Lord can pray so that the Lord will hear.
If our delight is in Him, our great prayer will be for Himself, and He is always willing to give Himself. With Himself He will grant every other desire of our hearts. If our delight is in Him, it will be His delight to give us what we ask. Do you delight in the Lord? Remember that "delight" is a strong word. Psalms 37:5 — "Commit thy way unto the LORD trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass."
Thirteenth Proposition: He that commits his way to the Lord and trusts in Him can pray so that God will hear. The word here translated "commit" means literally "roll." To commit our way to the Lord is to roll it upon Him, leave its direction and protection entirely to Him. Have you done this?. Psalms 9:12 — "When he maketh inquisition for blood he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble." Psalms 10:17 — "LORD thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear."
Fourteenth Proposition: The humble can pray so that God will hear. The Revised Version translates the word "humble" differently in these two passages. In Psalms 9:12, it translates it "poor." In Psalms 10:17, it translates it "meek." The two words so translated are closely related, almost identical, and are from the same root (according to one reading they are precisely the same). The thought of the word is "the afflicted" who bear their affliction with meekness and humility. This latter thought is especially true of the word used in Psalms 10:17. (See also Zephaniah 2:3 — "Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger.") Psalms 69:33 RV — "For the LORD heareth the needy; and despiseth not his prisoners." <19A217> Psalms 102:17 — "He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer."
Fifteenth Proposition: The needy and the destitute can pray so God will hear. The word translated "destitute" is a very strong word, primarily meaning "naked." Those to whom man does not listen are just the ones to whom God does listen. "The hungry he hath filled with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away" ( Luke 1:53 RV). The poor cannot get a hearing down here, but they can up there. The more a man has, the more attentively the world listens to him; the more a man needs, the more attentively God listens to him. James 5:13 RV — "Is any among you suffering; let him pray."
Sixteenth Proposition: The suffering ones among God's people can pray so that God will hear.
People often hesitate to pray to God because their afflictions are so many.
These afflictions are a warrant for praying and a guarantee that God will hear. (Compare to Matthew 11:28.) Many are saying, "My troubles and sorrows are so many, what shall I do?" The answer is, pray. "Is any among you suffering; let him pray." Isaiah 19:20 — "And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them." James 5:4 "Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth."
Seventeenth Proposition: The oppressed can pray so that God will hear. The oppressed cry for justice down here, but only get greater oppression; but God will hear if they cry to Him, and He will deliver and avenge them.
Israel cried to Pharaoh and was only sent to more bitter bondage, to make bricks without straw. Israel cried to Jehovah, and He brought them forth with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. So will He do again when the oppressed cry to Him and not to human governments. Exodus 22:22-23 — "Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.
If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry."
Eighteenth Proposition: Widows and fatherless children can pray to God in their oppression so that God will hear. James 1:5 — "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."
Nineteenth Proposition: The child of God who lacks wisdom can pray so that God will hear.
If we lack human wisdom, we can have God's wisdom. If we are full of our own wisdom, we cannot have His. Acts 10:24; Acts 10:31-32 — "And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsman and near friends .... And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee."
Twentieth Proposition: The man who sincerely seeks the truth, and obeys the truth as fast as he finds it, can pray so that God will hear — even though he does not yet know the truth as it is in Jesus, and so is not yet saved. (Compare to Acts 11:14 "Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.")
II. WHO SHOULD WE PRAY TO? Acts 12:5 — "Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him."
First Proposition: We should pray to God.
Much so-called prayer is not to God. There is very little thought of God in it. We think of the audience; we think, it may be, of our need; but there is not a clear, deep sense that we have come into the presence of the all holy, almighty, all-loving One, and are laying hold upon Him for His help. This is one of the most frequent causes of failure in prayer. We do not really pray to God. The first thing to do when we pray is to actually come into God's presence, to dismiss from our minds, so far as possible, all thought of our surroundings and look to the Spirit to present God to our minds and make Him real to us. It is possible by the Holy Spirit's aid to have God so really present that it almost seems as if we could see and touch Him. Indeed, we do see Him with the Spirit's eyes, and touch Him with the hand of faith. Matthew 6:9 — "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name." Luke 11:13 — "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your' children; how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" John 16:23 — "And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you."
Second Proposition: We should pray to the Father.
Various modes of address to him are found in the prayers recorded in the Bible: Father ( John 17:1). Holy Father ( John 17:11). Righteous Father ( John 17:25). Our Father which art in Heaven ( Matthew 6:9). "Lord, thou art God, which has made heaven, and earth, and sea, and all that in them is" ( Acts 4:24). "God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory" ( Ephesians 1:17). "Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" ( Ephesians 3:14). "Our God and Father" ( 1 Thessalonians 3:11 RV). Acts 7:59 RV — "And they stoned Stephen, calling upon the Lord, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 — "For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 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." Acts 9:9-10; Acts 9:13-14; Acts 9:17; Acts 9:20-21 — "And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord .... Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name .... And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost .... And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?" 2 Timothy 2:22 — "Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." (Compare to 4:8 — "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.") 1 Corinthians 1:2 — "Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them which are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours." Romans 10:12-13 — "For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Compare to verse 9 — "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.") Third Proposition: We should pray to the Lord Jesus Christ.
One of the most distinctive characteristics of Christians is that they pray to Jesus Christ. They were spoken of in apostolic days as those who called on the name of Jesus ( Acts 9:14; Acts 9:21). Paul described them as those "that call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" ( 1 Corinthians 1:2 RV).
QUESTION: Ought we to pray to the Holy Spirit?
ANSWER: There is no recorded prayer in the Bible to the Holy Spirit, but the communion of the Holy Spirit is spoken of. This may imply prayer, but it may mean the partaking of the Holy Spirit. (Compare to Corinthians 10:16.) We are dependent on the Holy Spirit for everything, and so must look to Him, which implies prayer. Yet it is the Father and the Son who give the Holy Spirit ( John 14:16-17; John 15:26; Acts 2:33). It would seem, then, that if we desire Him, instead of praying directly to Him, we should pray to the Father or Son for Him.
III. WHO SHOULD WE PRAY FOR? 1 Chronicles 4:10 — "And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldst bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldst keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested." <19A604> Psalms 106:4-5 — "Remember me, O LORD, with the favor that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation; That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance." 2 Corinthians 12:7-8 — "And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me." Hebrews 5:7 — "Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared." John 17:1 — "These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee."
First Proposition: We should pray for ourselves. A prayer for self is not by any means necessarily a selfish prayer. We may pray for something for ourselves in order that God may be glorified by our receiving it ( John 17:1; Psalms 50:15). If we would pray more often for ourselves, God would be more glorified in us, and we would be a greater blessing to others. It was well for the world that Jesus spent so much time in prayer for Himself. If we would be fit to pray for others, we must spend much time in prayer for ourselves. It is a bad sign when one is always praying for others and never for himself. He is not like his Master. James 5:16 — -"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." Romans 1:9 — "For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers."
Second Proposition: We should pray for one another — i.e., believers should pray for fellow-believers. Ephesians 6:19-20 — "And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel. For which I am an ambassador in bonds; that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak." Colossians 4:3 — "Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds." 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2 — "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith." Acts 13:2-3 — "As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me, Barnabas and Saul for the work of whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away." Matthew 9:38 — "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest."
Third Proposition: We should pray for ministers of the word.
Those who God has called to devote their lives to the ministry of the word should be the special objects of the prayers of God's people. The neglect of prayer on the part of God's people accounts largely for the absence of power on the part of God's ministers. 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 — "For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith? Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints."
Fourth Proposition: We should pray for those who have been converted through our ministry.
It is remarkable how often Paul writes to his converts about his praying for them. We find Jesus also praying for His converts in John 17:9-26: "I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me, I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the Scriptures might be fulfilled. And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. O righteousness Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it; that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them."
It is to be feared that few modern ministers pray for their converts with the frequency and intensity that Paul did for his — "night and day praying exceedingly,'' he writes in one place. James 5:14; James 5:16 — "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:... Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
Fifth Proposition: We should pray for sick brethren. 1 John 5:16 — -"If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death; I do not say that he shall pray for it."
Sixth Proposition: We should pray for any brother we see sinning a sin not unto death. Ephesians 6:18 RV — "With all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints."
Seventh Proposition: We should pray for all the saints.
Christ's prayer took in all believers in all ages ( John 17:9; John 17:20). Our sympathies, and consequently our prayers, should take in the whole church of Christ. It is astounding how narrow is the circle taken in by the prayers of the average Christian. Every child of God is my brother and should be remembered in my prayers. Let us give our prayers a wider sweep. (Compare to Psalms 36:10 — "O continue thy loving kindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.") 1 Chronicles 29:19 — "And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision."
Eighth Proposition: We should pray for our children. 1 Timothy 2:2-3 — "For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour."
Ninth Proposition: We should pray for our rulers.
I fear that most Christians today are grievously disobedient to God at this point. The present fashion is to rail at our rulers. This directly disobeys God's word (Jude 8:9 RV; 2 Peter 2:10-11; 1 Peter 2:17). Christians can accomplish far more for "good government" by praying than by railing at the powers that be. Jeremiah 29:7 — "And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace."
Tenth Proposition: We should pray for the city where we live. A Christian should be interested in all lands and in all places. But we have a special responsibility and duty in prayer, as well as in service, toward the place where God puts us. Romans 10:1 — "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved." Joel 2:17 — "Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, where is their God?" Isaiah 62:6-7 — "I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence, and give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth."
Eleventh Proposition: We should pray for Israel.
It is a sin not to. 1 Samuel 12:23 — "Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way." A special blessing is pronounced upon those who pray for Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is very dear to God. <19C206> Psalms 122:6-7 — "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces." 1 Kings 11:13 — -"Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen." Zechariah 2:7-8, 10-12 — "Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon. For thus saith the LORD of hosts: After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: he that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of his eye .... Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD. And many nations shall be joined to the Load in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee. And the LORD shall inherit Judah, his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again. Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD for he is raised up out of his holy habitation." Luke 6:28 — "Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you." Matthew 5:44 RV — "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you."
Twelfth Proposition: We should pray for those who despitefully use us and persecute us. (Compare to Luke 23:34 and Acts 7:60.) We have a special obligation of prayer toward those who do us wrong. 1 Timothy 2:1 — "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men."
We should pray for all men. The love of God takes in the world ( John 3:16); so should our prayers. But there are certain classes, as seen above, toward whom we have a special obligation of prayer.
IV. WHEN SHOULD WE PRAY? Daniel 6:10 — "Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and, his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime." Psalms 55:16-17 — "As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me. Evening and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice." Acts 10:9; Acts 10:30 — "On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:... And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting unto this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing." (See also Acts 2:1; Acts 2:15 — "The third hour.") First Proposition: The holy men of the Bible prayed three times a day — evening, morning, and at noon. <19B9146> Psalms 119:146-147 — "I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies. I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word." 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."
Second Proposition: We should pray very early in the morning, before dawn. Luke 6:12 — "And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God."
Third Proposition: Our Master and example "continued all night in prayer to God. ' This was on the eve of a decisive step in His life, the choice of the twelve.
He prayed similarly at a great crisis in His life, when the multitude wished to take Him and make Him king ( John 6:15). (Compare to Mark 6:46-48.) It is a good example to follow. There are some who strangely object to whole nights spent in prayer. They say that faith takes at once what it asks. Does this mean the Savior didn't have faith? (Compare also to Isaiah 40:31.) Nights of prayer to God are followed by days of power with men. It is recorded of John Livingston that he spent a night in prayer and religious intercourse with a company like minded, and that the next day he preached with such power in the kirk of Shotts that five hundred people dated their conversion or some definite advance in their spiritual life from that sermon. Of course, one can keep a night of prayer in a false and legal way. Psalms 88:1 — "O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee."
Fourth Proposition: We should pray day and night. At all times our heart should be looking up to God, and this upward look of the heart will be frequently uttering itself in a cry to Him. Matthew 14:19 — "And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude." Acts 27:35 — "And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all; and when he had broken it, he began to eat." 1 Timothy 4:4-5 — "For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer."
Fifth Proposition: We should pray at every meal. Psalms 50:15 — "And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me." Psalms 81:7 — "Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee at the waters of Meribah."
Psalms 77:1-2 — "I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me. In the day of my trouble I sought the LORD: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted." Psalms 86:7 — "In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me."
Sixth Proposition: We should pray in the day of trouble.
Compare to Psalms 18:6; Psalms 120:1; Psalms 118:5.) Here two different Hebrew words are used, but both are from the same root as the words used in the passages given above.) Psalms 3:1-2 — "Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah."
Seventh Proposition: We should pray when those who trouble us increase in number and many rise up against us. When enemies increase we should not despair, but cry to God. Then we can lie down without fear to sleep. We need not fear though ten thousands of people set themselves against us. (Compare to verses 5-6.) 1 Chronicles 5:20 — "And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them: for they cried to God in the battle, and he was entreated of them; because they put their trust in him."
Eighth Proposition: We should pray in the day of battle.
Victory is of the Lord ( Proverbs 21:31 RV). Therefore, in every battle we should cry to Him. 2 Chronicles 14:8-9; 2 Chronicles 14:11 — "And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand: all these were mighty men of valor. And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with a host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah .... And Asa cried unto the Logo his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O Logo our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let no man prevail against thee." 20:1-4, 12 — "It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them others besides the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle. Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, the), be in Hazazon-tamar, which is En-gedi. And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Logo, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the Logo: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Logo .... O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee."
Ninth Proposition: We should pray when outnumbered by enemies and when we have no might against them, and don't know what to do. When there is nothing else left to do, there is one thing that always remains — pray to God. 2 Chronicles 13:13-16 — -"But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about behind them: so they were before Judah, and the ambushment was behind them. And when Judah looked back, behold, a battle was before and behind: and they cried unto the Logo, and the priests sounded with the trumpets. Then the men of Judah gave a shout and as the men of Judah shouted, it came to pass, that God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. And the children of Israel fled before Judah: and God delivered them into their hands."
Tenth Proposition: We should pray when in grave danger. Psalms 60:11 — "Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man."
Eleventh Proposition: We should pray when all human help fails. Jonah 2:7 — "When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple."
Twelfth Proposition: We should pray when our soul faints within us. Psalms 61:2 — "From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I."
Thirteenth Proposition: We should pray when our heart is overwhelmed. <19D001> Psalms 130:1 — "Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD."
Fourteenth Proposition: We should pray unto God when in the depths. Deuteronomy 4:25-29 — "When thou shalt beget children, and children's children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, to provoke him to anger; I shall call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it: ye shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed. And the Logo shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the LORD shall lead you. And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul."
Fifteenth Proposition: We should pray in the day when we are being chastened for sin, when we feel far from God and desire to come back to Him. The chastisements of God are a call to prayer. Isaiah 55:6 — "Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near."
Sixteenth Proposition: We should pray while God is near and may be found. <19B601> Psalms 116:1-2 — "I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live."
Seventeenth Proposition: We should pray as long as we live. The last utterances of Christ were prayers. The last words of the Bible are prayers. Luke 18:1 — "And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint." Ephesians 6:18 RV — "With all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints." 1 Thessalonians 5:17 — "Pray without ceasing."
Eighteenth Proposition: We should pray always, at all seasons, without ceasing, and never give up. A Christian should breathe an atmosphere of prayer. Faith in God has always an upward look. True trust in God is constantly crystallizing into definite prayer to God.
V. WHERE SHOULD WE PRAY? Matthew 6:6 RV — "But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thine inner chamber, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret shall recompense thee."
First Proposition: We should pray in secret, in our inner chamber.
We should pray shut in alone with God, the world shut out. There is a temptation when prayer is offered in the presence of others to think of what observers are thinking of us. True prayer is taken up with God, not with men. The danger Christ is guarding against in this passage is ostentatious piety, or hypocrisy — praying to be seen of men. The Heavenly Father is "thy Father which is in secret," "Thy Father which seeth in secret."
Everyone should have a secret place to meet God, a place where he is absolutely alone with God. 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." Matthew 14:23 — "And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone." (See also Luke 6:12; Luke 9:28.) Second Proposition: Jesus went apart from others to pray. The primary purpose of His seeking this place to pray seems to have been that He might be alone with God. The mountains were His "secret" place.
Moreover, the mountains in their majesty seem to bring God wonderfully near to us and us wonderfully near to God. Acts 16:25 — "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them."
Third Proposition: The prisoner should pray in prison.
Doubtless some of the most acceptable and effective prayers that God has ever heard have ascended to Him from prison cells. Prayer transforms a prison cell into a portal of heaven. Jonah 2:2 RV Margin — "I called by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD and he answered me; Out of the belly of Sheol cried I, and thou heardest my voice."
Fourth Proposition: We should pray in the very jaws of death. John 17:1 — "These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee." (See the context.)
Fifth Proposition: We should pray in the assembly of believers. Acts 27:35 — "And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all; and when he had broken it, he began to eat." (See context.) Sixth Proposition: We should pray in the presence of the unsaved. In doing so we must guard against praying to be seen and heard by men. By far the greater part of our praying should be in secret. But there should be public acknowledgement of our sense of dependence upon God. 1 Timothy 2:8 RV — "I desire therefore that the men pray in every place, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and disputing."
Seventh Proposition: We should pray in every place.
VI. WHAT SHOULD WE PRAY FOR?
PRAYERS RELATING TO GOD.
Matthew 6:9 — "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name."
First Proposition: We should pray for the hallowing of God's name. The supreme desire of every believer's heart should be that God be duly honored and revered. This should be the highest motive in all our prayers. The chief purpose of our prayers should be that God may be glorified in granting our petitions. (Compare to John 17:1; John 12:27-28.) Matthew 6:10 — "Thy kingdom come.”
Second Proposition: We should pray for the coming of God's kingdom.
God's kingdom will surely come anyway, but our prayers will hasten the coming of that kingdom. Little do most of us realize how far our prayers go in hastening the coming of God's kingdom, and how far our neglect of prayer goes in retarding the coming of that kingdom. The coming of God's kingdom is one of the desires of the true believer's heart. Yet this prayer is often uttered thoughtlessly and mechanically. Revelation 22:20 — "He that testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly: Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Third Proposition: We should pray for the coming of God's king, Jesus. The kingdom will never come until the King comes. Yet there are many who have prayed often that the kingdom of God would come, who have never prayed once that the King would come. This prayer stands as the climax of Christian aspiration. It is the final prayer of the Bible. The whole revelation of the Bible leads up to this. How often have you prayed for it? Matthew 6:10 RV — "Thy will be done as in heaven, so on earth."
Fourth Proposition: We should pray that God's will be done on earth as in heaven.
God's will is the most desirable thing in the universe to the true child of God. (Compare to John 4:34.) He wishes it done in himself, but not only in himself, but everywhere and in every person and thing. No other prayer rings out quite so heartily from an understanding soul as this: "Thy will be done." Habakkuk 3:2 — "0 LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy." See also Psalms 85:6.
Fifth Proposition: We should pray for the reviving of God's work and God's people.
There is much prayer for revival in these days, but how much of that prayer is governed by the thought that it is God's work and God's people that must be revived? How much of our concern comes from the fact that God's work is declining or being neglected? Far too often, it is only the interests of men that we have in view in our prayers and efforts for revival. Prayer for the reviving of God's work and God's people is a prayer that God is pleased to answer. All through the centuries of Israel's and the church's history, God has granted His reviving grace in answer to prayer. Prayer has been the most prominent human element in great revivals. It has been behind everything else. There have been extraordinary revivals without extraordinary preaching; there have never been extraordinary revivals without extraordinary praying.
PRAYERS RELATING TO MINISTERS OF THE WORD.
Matthew 9:38 — "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest."
Sixth Proposition: We should pray that God send laborers into His harvest.
Christ has given us an urgent command to pray this prayer. Have you obeyed Him? There was never a time when there was a greater need for laborers than today. The fields are white and open to the harvesters as perhaps never before in the history of the church and the world.
There are a great many professed laborers in the Lord's harvest who He surely never sent. The way to get the right laborers for any particular field is to pray for them. (Compare to Acts 1:24.) If Paul and Barnabas had taken to God in prayer the matter of whether Mark was God's man to take with them on their second missionary journey, instead of trying to settle it themselves, there would have never been occasion to write one of the saddest verses in the Bible ( Acts 15:39). Many other bitter separations among brethren over ministers could have been avoided in the same way. Colossians 4:3 — "Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds."
Seventh Proposition: We should pray for a door of utterance to be opened for those who preach the word. The way to get open doors is to ask for them. There are few more pitiable sights than men who believe God has called them to preach, but who can find no open door. True prayer to God to open a door, and a willingness to enter the door God opens, would solve the difficulty. If there is any place where the gospel ought to be preached but there is no open door, pray for it. Paul was in a most unlikely place to find an open door when he made this request. He was in prison, but God heard the prayer and Paul entered a door to an audience he is still preaching to. Many doors in heathen lands seemingly closed and barred against the gospel have been opened in the same way. Prayer to God will open more doors than appeals to human governments. Ephesians 6:19-20 RV — "That utterance may be given unto me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Gospel, for which I am ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly as I ought to speak."
Eighth Proposition: We should pray for ministers of the word to make known the Gospel with boldness, that they may speak as they ought to speak. Not only are open doors needed, but also open mouths to enter the open doors. Ministers of the word greatly need boldness in this compromising age, and God's children should pray constantly that ministers of the word may have this boldness. If even fearless Paul felt the need of prayer along this line, how much more do ordinary men need it! There are plenty today to criticize the timidity of preachers of the word; how many are there who are in constant, earnest prayer that they may be given utterance, "to make known with boldness the mystery of the Gospel"? Praying will accomplish far more than grumbling and criticizing. (See Acts 4:29; Acts 4:31.) 2 Thessalonians 3:1 RV — "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified, even as also it is with you."
Ninth Proposition: We should pray for ministers of the word, that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified.
We complain of the slow progress of the word. Are we praying that it may run? <19D209> Psalms 132:9 — "Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness."
Tenth Proposition: We should pray that God's ministers may be clothed with righteousness. The text applies primarily to priests, and the preacher of the word is, strictly speaking, no more a priest than any other believer; but he does in a particular way represent God, and God's honor is involved in his walk. We may then quite legitimately apply to the representative of God this petition.
We should desire and pray for the righteous walk of those who represent God. This is sadly needed in this day when so many of them are falling into sin, and when the enemies of the Lord are so glorying in their downfall. We live in a perilous time and we do well to pray for all saints, but especially for those in whose steadfast righteousness God is particularly honored, and in whose fall God is particularly dishonored.
PRAYERS FOR SPIRITUAl, BLESSINGS.
Matthew 6:12 — "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." Psalms 25:11 — "For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great." Psalms 5:11 — "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions." Luke 18:13 — "And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner." Hosea 14:2 — "Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips." Exodus 34:9 — "And he said, if now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us; for it is a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance." Exodus 32:31-32 — "And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin — and if not, blot me I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written." 1 Kings 8:47-50 — "Yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they were carried captives, and repent, and make supplication unto thee in the land of them that carried them captive saying, We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have committed wickedness; and so return unto thee with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their enemies, which led them away captive, and pray unto thee toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, the city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name: Then hear thou their prayer and their supplication in heaven thy dwelling place, and maintain their cause, and forgive thy people that have sinned against thee, and all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against thee, and give them compassion before them who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them." Acts 8:22 — "Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee."
Eleventh Proposition: We should pray for forgiveness of our sins.
It is sometimes said that believers ought not to pray for forgiveness of sin, but simply to confess their sins. That comes from forcing 1 John 1:9 ("If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness") beyond what it says and contradicts the plain teachings of the word elsewhere. It is true that God has provided pardon for all the believer's sins on the ground of the all-sufficing atoning blood of Christ, but what God has thus provided we appropriate to ourselves by confession of sin and prayer for pardon. Prayer for pardon is a proper acknowledgment to God of our guiltiness. Prayers for pardon are more frequent in the Bible than prayers for almost anything else. Of course, we ought not to pray again and again for the forgiveness of some sin that we have already laid before God and that has been put away forever. <19D923> Psalms 139:23-24 "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."
Twelfth Proposition: We should pray for the Lord to search us and try us. The true child of God will desire that every evil way in him be searched out and brought to light. This work can never be thoroughly and satisfactorily done by any process of personal self examination. God must do it, and He does it in answer to prayer. It needs to be done frequently. Sin, selfishness, carnality, and worldliness surround us as the very atmosphere we breathe; they are constantly creeping into our hearts and lives unawares. Each day should close by our going into God's presence and laying our inmost lives and outward walk before him, and asking Him to search them through and through, to lay bare to us whatever in them is hateful to him. This will be to us a painful but salutary process. Psalms 51:7 — "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." Psalms 19:12 — "Who can understand his error? cleanse thou me from secret faults."
Thirteenth Proposition: We should pray for cleansing from sin. The Hebrew verb translated "cleanse" in both of these passages means to clear or acquit. (See Psalms 19:12 RV.) This prayer is a prayer for pardon, cleansing from guilt, rather than for cleansing from the presence of sin. Psalms 51:10 — "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."
Fourteenth Proposition: We should pray for God to create in us a clean heart.
It is vain for us to try to cleanse our own heart. A clean heart requires a creative act that God alone can perform. He will do it in answer to prayer.
He will create in us a heart that loves righteousness and hates sin. <19B9117> Psalms 119:117 — "Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually."
Fifteenth Proposition: We should pray for God to hold us up.
If God holds us up, we "shall be safe." It is a hopeless task to try to stand alone. The way is too slippery, and none of us is surefooted. He "that thinketh he standeth" needs to "take heed lest he fall" ( 1 Corinthians 10:12). The only sure way of taking heed is by humble, honest, and earnest prayer. God is abundantly able and willing to hold us up ( 1 Corinthians 10:13). Psalms 19:13 — "Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression."
Sixteenth Proposition: We should pray to be kept back from and delivered from the dominion of presumptuous sins. The word here translated presumptuous, means primarily boiling, then swelling, insolent, arrogant, proud. Pride and arrogance are common to us all. God alone can keep us back from them. <19B910> Psalms 119:10 — "With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments."
Seventeenth Proposition: We should pray that God will not let us wander from His commandments. "Prone to wander" is what every child of Adam is. Unless we are constantly looking to God to keep us from wandering, we are sure to go astray from the straight path of His word. But he is ready to keep us from wandering if we look to Him to do it. Matthew 6:13 RV — "And bring us not into temptation." Mark 14:38 RV "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
Eighteenth Proposition: We should pray that we enter not into temptation. This is the prayer that springs from a true knowledge of self. If we have true humility we will recognize our own weakness and this petition will be upon our lips often. No one who has any true knowledge of self will court temptation. He will flee from it and pray for God not to bring him into it.
Many who have made seemingly great attainments in the spiritual life have fallen because they have lost the spirit of this prayer. It is one of the most suggestive petitions of the prayer Jesus taught His disciples. Matthew 6:13 RV — "But deliver us from the evil one."
Nineteenth Proposition: We should pray to be delivered from Satan.
Anyone who carefully and candidly studies the New Testament and human history must be convinced of the existence and awful power, cunning and malignity of the evil one. Our only security against his wiles and his power is in constant prayer to God. <19E103> Psalms 141:3 — "Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips."
Twentieth Proposition: We should pray that the door of our lips be kept. This is the only way in which our speech can be governed. "The tongue can no man tame: it is a restless evil" ( James 3:8 RV), but God can govern it and will in answer to prayer. Psalms 86:11 — "Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name." <19B933> Psalms 119:33 — "Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I will keep it unto the end." Psalms 25:4 "Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths." <19E310> Psalms 143:10 — "Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy Spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness."
Twenty-first Proposition: We should pray for God to teach us His way, the way of His statutes and His path, and to do HIS will.
We will never know His way nor how to do His will until He Himself teaches us, and He will not teach us unless we ask Him to. We can, however, ask Him with absolute confidence that He will teach us. Psalms 90:12 RV — "So teach us to number our days, that we may get us an heart of wisdom."
Twenty-second Proposition: We should pray for God to so teach us that we become wise. Luke 11:1 — "And it came to pass, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples."
Twenty-third Proposition: We should pray to be taught to pray. "We know not how to pray as we ought," but the Lord is just as ready to teach us today by His Spirit ( Romans 8:26 RV), and by His word, as He was to teach His disciples when here, by word of mouth. <19B918> Psalms 119:18 — "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law."
Twenty-fourth Proposition: We should pray for God to open our eyes to behold wondrous things out of HIS own word.
We shall never see nor appreciate the wondrous things of God's word until God Himself opens our eyes to behold them. This He does in answer to prayer. Prayer gives a keenness of perception to spiritual beauty of which the prayerless man never dreams. No amount of study of Hebrew or Greek, or mere intellectual study of any sort, will open spiritual eyes blinded by sin. The prayerless eye can no more see the spiritual beauty of God's truth revealed in the Bible, than the blind natural eye can see the beauties of the natural world through any spectacles. There must be natural sight to discern natural beauty.
There must be spiritual sight to discern spiritual beauty. A man who has sight can see more beauty without spectacles than a sightless man can with the best glasses ever constructed. So the man who has spiritual sight can see more beauty in the word of God without the aid of scholarship, than the spiritually sightless man can with all the aids of the most recent and most approved scholarship. There is many a modern Bartimeus occupying a theological professorship who needs to cry, "Lord, that I might receive my sight" ( Mark 10:51). But they go on, the blind leading the blind, and both are falling into the ditch of destructive criticism. Only