Prayer

by G.S. WEBSTER | Category: General | Dec 1958

Prayer is one of the most important subjects, and is also one of the most essential exercises in Christian experience. The great men of the Scriptures were men of prayer. Such men prevailed with God and had power with men. The spirituality of men amongst the people of God can be gauged by their prayer-life. The Psalms for instance are the outcome of the experiences of men in touch with God, and many of them breathe the longings of such men in prayer. Examples of these longings are to be found in such Psalms as 5, 17, 36 and 142. What a difference between the experiences of such men, and the mere repetition of prayers which the hypocrites performed! (Matthew 6.5). The latter loved to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they might be seen of men. Such praying is vain.

It must have been a delight to listen to the Lord Jesus pray (Luke 11.1). On hearing Him pray one of His disciples was impelled to say, "Lord, teach us to pray." Obviously then there is a right way to pray. We confess that we know not how to pray as we should, because we are so blind and ignorant, but the Holy Spirit maketh intercession for us according to the will of God. The vital thing in praying is to know the will of God, or, at least, to be prepared to bow to His will when circumstances or experiences indicate to us what it is (Acts 16.6-10). Much anxiety would be avoided by beloved saints if they fully realized that they were in their Father's care who has a bounteous hand and a loving heart.

We live in a unique dispensation in this respect, for the children of God have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous (1 John 2.1). The Lord Jesus said to His disciples, "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My Name; ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be fulfilled" (John 16.24). That is to say, that in our asking we have the authority and the power of the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

"Precious Name, oh how sweet,

Hope of earth, and joy of heaven !"

This truth should cause us to be very careful what we ask, as well as how we ask, lest we be found in the position of those of whom it is said, "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may spend it in your pleasures" (James 4.3).

Further help on the right kind of prayers is found in 1 John 3.22, "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do the things that are pleasing in His sight." Such a word should send us to the Word of God to see if we are in the will of the Lord in what we ask. If we are positive that we are asking aright, then we have indeed the answers to our petitions. This can be a most blessed experience (1 John 5.14, 15). Let us illustrate this point. The apostle James writes in chapter 1.5, 6, "But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God ... and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith." Here the known will of God is made known for all who lack wisdom. Much foolishness would be avoided if we acted on this word, and God would indeed honour our faith. Let us reiterate the vital principles we have been seeking to impress on our hearts

(1)The prayer of faith is the result of knowing the will of God (1 John 5.14), "This is the boldness which we have toward Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us."

(2)It is to the glory of God (John 14.13), "And whatsoever ye shall ask in My Name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."

(3)It is the result of the work of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3.20), "Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us."

(4)It is according to the truth (John 15.7), "If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you."

(5)Prayer should be interwoven with love and mercy (Mark 11.25), "And whensoever ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any one; that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."

(6)Prayer is joined with obedience (1 John 3.22), "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do the things that are pleasing in His sight."

(7)Prayer should be in sincerity and importunity that it will not accept denial (Luke 11.9), "And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."

The experience of praying is vital to our well-being, both individually and collectively. The apostle Paul spoke very highly of Epaphras in Colossians 4.12, 13. Here was a brother who strove for others in his prayers. Prayer requires quietness,

(a)a quiet place, (b) a quiet hour, (c) a quiet heart.

It may not be within the reach of all to find a quiet place, but your Father knows. The Lord Jesus may on occasions have found it difficult to secure the privilege of solitude when He was at home in the carpenter's cottage in Nazareth, as there were possibly nine persons under the one roof. Besides Himself, there were Mary His mother, and Joseph, also four brothers, and two sisters. Yet morning by morning His ear was opened to hear His Father speaking to Him.

It is most difficult to find a quiet hour in these days of hurry and bustle. The Lord Jesus saw the necessity of withdrawing Himself into the deserts to pray (Luke 5.16), how much more so His disciples! Beloved, let us find time to pray.

The most difficult exercise is to have a quiet heart. It is here we so much need the help of the Holy Spirit. George Miller confessed that often he could not pray until he had steadied his mind upon a text. "When Thou saidst, Seek ye My face; My heart said unto Thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek" (Psalm 27.8).

"Let me my feebleness recline

On that eternal love of Thine,

And human thoughts forget.

Childlike attend what Thou wilt say,

Go forth and serve Thee while 'tis day,

Nor leave my sweet retreat."

In connexion with large projects these days, we hear of the work of the backroom boys. These are the men who do so much behind the scenes, to bring success to a project. We are in constant need of devoted persons today in the house of God, that is, men and women who will spend much time with God in private. "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." Thus will the house of God become a house of prayer.

Do we stand in need of reviving as the people of God? If so then it is because we as individuals need to know the quickening power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Living and walking in the Spirit is a present need, for unless we have this experience the lust of the flesh (to have), the lust of the eyes (to see), and the vain glory of life (to be something), will occupy our time and energies. If our treasure is here on earth and not in heaven then it will be to our present and eternal loss, "for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Luke 12.84).

"But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God looking' for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life" (Jude 20, 21)

G.S. WEBSTER | Dec 1958
General