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Prayer (page 2)
- STUDY
INDEX
- Page 1 - Introduction; Why pray?; Praying effectively
- Page 2 - Is there a wrong way to pray? Fasting; Conclusion
- Page 1 - Introduction; Why pray?; Praying effectively
Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. 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.: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess you faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias (Elijah) was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit." (James 5:13-18).
Matthew Henry writes in his commentary, "In a day of affliction nothing is more seasonable than prayer. The spirit is then most humble, and the heart is broken and tender. It is necessary to exercise faith and hope under afflictions; and prayer is the appointed means for obtaining and increasing these graces. Observe, that the saving of the sick is not ascribed to the anointing with oil, but to prayer. In a time of sickness it is not cold and formal prayer that is effectual, but the prayer of faith. The great thing we should beg of God for ourselves and others in the time of sickness is, the pardon of sin. Let nothing be done to encourage any to delay, under the mistaken fancy that a confession, a prayer, a minister's absolution and exhortation, or the sacrament, will set all right at last, where the duties of a godly life have been disregarded. To acknowledge our faults to each other, will tend greatly to peace and brotherly love. And when a righteous person, a true believer, justified in Christ, and by his grace walking before God in holy obedience, presents an effectual fervent prayer, wrought in his heart by the power of the Holy Spirit, raising holy affections and believing expectations and so leading earnestly to plead the promises of God at his mercy-seat, it avails much. The power of prayer is proved from the history of Elijah. In prayer we must not look to the merit of man, but to the grace of God. It is not enough to say a prayer, but we must pray in prayer. Thoughts must be fixed, desires must be firm and ardent, and graces exercised. This instance of the power of prayer, encourages every Christian to be earnest in prayer. God never says to any of the seed of Jacob, Seek my face in vain. Where there may not be so much of miracle in God's answering our prayers, yet there may be as much of grace."
Is There a Wrong Way to Pray?
The prayer life of Christ, including the results of His prayer life which were seen by all, made a tremendous impact on His disciples, so much so that after watching Him during a session of prayer, one of the disciples came to Him and asked, "Lord, teach us to pray." (Luke 11:1). Jesus gave us instructions on how we should pray. But, He also taught us we should not pray.
1.
Praying to receive praise of men, or for an outward show of piety.
"And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are:
for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of
the streets, that they may be seen of men," Jesus exhorted, "Verily
I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter
into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father
which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward
thee openly." (Matthew 6:5-6). God always looks and examines the
heart, and He sees and knows all motives. A person may appear most righteous
on the outside, but within may hold a heart which is evil. This was probably
the characteristic of the Pharisees which angered Jesus more than anything
else --- "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye
are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward,
but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness,"
Jesus proclaimed. "Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto
men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity." (Matthew
23:27-28). Knowing then that God sees the heart and gives it priority
over outward appearance, let us also examine ourselves and our motives.
Why do you attend prayer meeting at church? Why do you attend Sunday School?
Why do you give? Why do you even go to church most of the time? Is it
so that others may see? so that others may think you are righteous? If
so, Jesus said you have your reward now. Jesus said to "enter into
thy closet" when you pray. The word translated "closet"
comes from the Greek word "tameion" which means a storage room
or inner chamber. Your place of prayer can be a private location, or you
could be surrounded by other worshippers. The idea here is that where
ever you pray, it should be done out of a sincere desire to talk with
the Father and not to display a false holiness before others.
2.
Using vain repetitions, or repeating prayers.
"But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for
they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not like
unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before
ye ask him." (Matthew 6:7-8). Many Christian denominations or sects
teach their subjects to repeat prayers and chants, count prayers, or even
to say a certain prayer for a certain occasion. Some have even published
whole books containing various prayers. This is in direct violation of
what Jesus spoke to us in the passage above. The danger comes in trusting
in performing your prayers instead of trusting the One you are praying
too. God is not impressed by our much speaking (ever noticed a pastor
or teacher who teaches in normal English, but suddenly switches to King
James English when praying?).
Prayer is simply talking to God --- should not prayer come from the heart, and not recited from a book? Is this how we talk to each other? Some of the most effective public prayers were short and to the point (these short powerful prayers were the result of long sessions in private prayer!). Elijah, "a man subject to like passions as we are, prayed earnestly....." Such long sessions in the presence of God resulted in a confidence and trust in God (even standing alone in the presence of 450 false prophets) which caused Elijah to have the altar and the sacrifice soaked with four barrels of water three times. Listen then to his concise prayer, "Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again." (1 Kings 18:37). God honored his prayer by sending fire which consumed the altar, the sacrifice and all the water around it. A few words uttered in assured faith, and with fervent affection for the glory of God, and love for the souls of men, with thirstings after the Lord's image and his favor, form the effectual, fervent prayer of the righteous man which availeth much. Elijah sought not his own glory, but that of God, for the good of the people. Also recall Hannah, who prayed for God to bless her with a child. She was in such bitterness of soul and, weeping before the Lord, could not even talk --- only her lips moved (1 Samuel 1:9-15). There is such a sincere desire and longing for God to move that comes from deep within your soul that speech is not possible --- all you can do is cry. Ever been there? The Holy Spirit, in our times of prayer, has promised to help us know how to pray and what to pray for. Paul told the Romans, "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." (Romans 8:26-27).
Matthew Henry writes, "Though the infirmities of Christians are many and great, so that they would be overpowered if left to themselves, yet the Holy Spirit supports them. The Spirit, as an enlightening Spirit, teaches us what to pray for; as a sanctifying Spirit, works and stirs up praying graces; as a comforting Spirit, silences our fears, and helps us over all discouragements. The Holy Spirit is the spring of all desires toward God, which are often more than words can utter. The Spirit who searches the hearts, can perceive the mind and will of the spirit, the renewed mind, and advocates his cause. The Spirit makes intercession to God, and the enemy prevails not."
3.
Praying to another, and not to the Father in the name of Christ.
"There is one God," Paul wrote to Timothy, "and ONE mediator
between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for
all." (1 Timothy 2:5-6). The word "mediator", translated
from the Greek word "mesites", means "one who intervenes
between two, a medium of communication, or arbitrator." Jesus uttered,
"I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,
but by me." (John 14:6). "I am the door", Jesus said, "He
that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some
other way, the same is a thief and a robber." (John 9:1,9). The words
of the Scriptures are so clear..... "No man cometh unto the Father,
but by me..... There is ONE mediator between God and men, the man Christ
Jesus.... I am the door. He who enters in another way is a thief and a
robber." To try and reach God by praying to Mary or to a "saint"
is in gross error. Jesus is the only way to the Father! "Whatsoever
ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified
in the Son," Jesus promised. "If ye shall ask any thing in my
name, I will do it." (John 14:13-14). If you have done wrong and
have committed a sin, you should pray to the Lord, confess your sins to
Him, and ask forgiveness. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful
and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.....
My little children, these things I write unto you, that ye sin not. And
if any many sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only,
but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 1:9, 2:1-2).
In the passage above, the apostle John says we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. The word "advocate" is translated from the Greek word "parakletos", which means "one who is summoned or called to one's side, one who pleads another's cause before a judge, or a council for defense." It doesn't matter who you are, where you have been, or what you have done, you can find forgiveness at the cross of Christ. We have an advocate, a defense council, to plead for us before the Father. "Come now, and let us reason together," the Lord said through Isaiah the prophet, "though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18). David the Psalmist cried with assurance, "Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name..... Who forgiveth ALL thine iniquities.... The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy..... He hath not dealt with us after our sins, or rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him." (Psalms 103:1,3,8,10-12). To confess your sins to a priest, and to seek forgiveness from a priest, is trying to reach God without going through Christ. If I want forgiveness from my dad, I will not go to my mom. No, I will go to my dad! Jesus will not tell you to perform certain acts first. He will not tell you your salvation is based upon you doing certain things first. No. The Word promises us, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
4.
Praying selfishly.
"Ye ask, and receive not," James scolded, "because ye ask
amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts." (James 4:3). Matthew
Henry writes, "Worldly and fleshly lusts are distempers, which will
not allow content or satisfaction. Sinful desires and affections stop
prayer, and the working of our desires toward God. And let us beware that
we do not abuse or misuse the mercies received, by the disposition of
the heart when prayers are granted. When men ask of God prosperity, they
often ask with wrong aims and intentions. If we thus seek the things of
this world, it is just in God to deny them. Unbelieving and cold desires
beg denials; and we may be sure that when prayers are rather the language
of lusts than of graces, they will return empty." Again, motives
are key. You want a nicer car, a bigger house, more money, to be healed,
a better job, etc. Why? So that God may be glorified? So that you can
use your blessings to give to others? Or so that you may consume it upon
your own lusts? The Scriptures state that God only accepts (1)
the prayers of the righteous; "The eyes of the Lord are upon the
righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry." (Psalms 34:15).
Likewise, David lamented, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the
Lord will not hear me." (Psalms 66:18-20); (2) the prayers
of those who call upon Him in truth; "The Lord is nigh unto all them
that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth." (Psalms
145:17-19); (3) the prayers of the those who are sincerely repentant
and humble (see parable of the Pharisee and the publican ---Luke 18:9-14);
and (4) the prayers of those who ask according to His will; "This
is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according
to his will, he heareth us. And if we know that he hear us, whatsover
we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him."
(1 John 5:14-15).
5.
Praying with sin and doubt in our hearts.
Again, as mentioned in point 4 above, David the Psalmist cried, "If
I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." (Psalms
66:18-20). Walking in truth and in obedience to God's commandments are
essential for one's prayers to be effective. John tells us, "And
whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments,
and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment,
That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one
another." (1 John 3:22-23). James also adds, "But let him ask
in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the
sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he
shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in
all his ways." (James 1:6-8). James commands us to ask in faith,
nothing wavering. The word "wavering" is translated from the
Greek word "diakrino" which means "to doubt, to contend,
to separate one's self in a hostile spirit, to oppose or to strive."
James stressed the importance of confessing our faults to each other and
praying for one another. When we realize there are no "super Christians"
among us --- we all fail, we all have times of doubt, we all have times
of weakness and sin --- we are united, strengthened and humbled through
praying for and counseling each other. The great prophet Elijah "was
a man subject to like passions AS WE ARE, and he prayed earnestly that
it might not rain: and it rained not....." (James 5:17). "The
effectual fervent prayer of a RIGHTEOUS man availeth much." (James
5:16).
Fasting in Conjunction with Prayer
"And (Anna) was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day." (Luke 2:37).
Fasting is abstaining from food and sometimes drink. There are no guidelines for the length of time you are to fast. Just listen to the Holy Spirit's guidance, whether it be one meal, one day, one week, or even one month. Fasting was done by many individuals throughout the Bible, and also by Israel as a nation.
Why should you fast?
To Humble the Soul. Through the act of fasting, one becomes humble before God. David wrote in Psalm 35, "I humbled my soul with fasting."
To Show a Repentant Heart and Spirit. God spoke through the prophet Joel, "Turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your heart and not your garments" (Joel 2:12-13).
To Seek God's Guidance and Will. Ezra called a fast "That we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek of him a straight way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance." (Ezra 8:21).
Through fasting we show we can, with God's help, conquer the desires of the flesh, which in turn strengthens us for times of future testing and trial. Paul fasted often and kept his body under subjection. Our body is not our own, but God's. We should never let it rule us or control our actions. Fasting, in conjunction with prayer, shows singleness of mind in touching God for a particular need. Remaining in an attitude of prayer, while refraining from eating, shows God your seriousness about the need, your desire for Him to answer, and willingness to sacrifice in order for the need to be met. Fasting will lead to a deeper level of spiritual growth and inward revival and renewal which can spread to others around you. It will cause a humble, meek repentant heart and spirit, which is preciousin the sight of God.
When Jesus spoke of fasting in Matthew 6:16, He said, "When ye fast...." as if it were an expected discipline. Our motive for fasting should always be to glorify God and to draw closer to Him. Never should it be for self-glorification or just to make yourself appear spiritual before others. You may have a need or request you desire God to answer, but seek His will concerning the matter and pray that He will answer so that He is glorified and not man. Jesus taught us in Matthew, "Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly." (Matthew 6:16-18).
"Ye ask and receive not," James tells us, "because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts." (James 4:3). One of the reasons for unanswered prayer, James tells us, is the we pray selfishly, or to satisfy our lusts for worldly pleasures and things. The same could be said of fasting. If we are fasting and praying for selfish reasons or for self-glorification, then our fasting and prayers are in vain. God told the people of Israel through Isaiah, "For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them. 'Why have we fasted,' they say, 'and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?' Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect yor voice to be heard on high. Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? Is not this the kind of fast I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter --- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?" (Isaiah 58:2-7 NIV).
God was telling Israel here, "Every day they seek Me and seem eager to know My ways, just as if they were keeping My commandments and doing what is right. They ask Me for guidance and seem eager for Me to come to them. But I know it is only an outward show. On the outside they appear righteous and sincere, but on the inside they are hypocrites. What is fasting?", God challenges them. "Is it just a day for you to bow your head and humble yourself? Don't just do this for yourself! The food you are giving up --- take it and give it to the hungry, clothe the naked and give shelter to the homeless. Set the oppressed free and break the yokes of bondage. Sure, you want healing, you want Me to help you in your day of trouble. But it is not just about you, but it is about others also." If we do our fasting the right way, God has given us a promise, "Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear," God says through Isaiah. "Your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call," God promises, "and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say, 'Here am I.' If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness." The great promises continue, "The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs.... You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." (Isaiah 58: 8-11 NIV).
Closing Thoughts
The early church was a praying church. No gyms or fellowship halls here! And the people of the Thessalonica testified concerning them, "These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also." (Acts 17:6). Could it be, that with so many churches, we see so little results because the church no longer prays? There are lots of organizers, but few agonizers. Many players, few pray-ers. The supper room is full, the upper room is empty. Let the modern church return to the methods of the early church and we too will see God move as in days of old. And people will say of us, "These have turned the world upside down!" True, God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think, but the key is, "according to the power that worketh in us." (Ephesians 3:20).
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