What do You Believe About Prayer?

Saints,

I recently heard Dr. Wayne Grudem speak at a local conference. He talked about the power of God’s Word and how doctrine changes life—he spoke of communism in world history as an example. He asserted that what we think about God directs how we lead our life. Let’s apply this to the church. Does the church believe true doctrine? If she does, she will serve the Lord with passion and fruitfulness—and at the same time, diligently seek the Lord in prayer—having real impact in the world.

This makes me wonder what we think about prayer. What do you believe about prayer? Do you believe that prayer is necessary? Do you believe that prayer is effective? What kind of prayer is effective? If you pray for salvation or revival will God hear? How does sin affect prayer? What is prayer?

Let’s look at four truths about prayer. My hope is that as we look at these truths we will commit to more and deeper prayer, all for God’s glory and for His purposes. 

First, as followers of Jesus Christ we must notice and accept the truth that Jesus modeled prayer and instructed His followers to pray.

·         Jesus prayed at the beginning of His ministry (Lk 3:21-22)

·         Jesus prayed all night before choosing His disciples (Lk 6:12-13)

·         Jesus agonized in prayer as He faced the cross (Mk 14:33-35)

·         Jesus repeatedly promised to answer prayer in His name (John chapters 14:13-14, 15:7, 15:16, 16:23-24)

Second, Paul teaches that the enemy is not flesh and blood. The enemy consists of rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers over this present darkness, and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (ESV). Paul then shares to put on spiritual armor. After we have done that, our first activity is to pray.

Ephesians 6:12-20 (ESV)
¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
¹⁴ Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
¹⁵ and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
¹⁶ In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
¹⁷ and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
¹⁹ and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,
²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Third, we see James promising that the prayers of righteous people cause change.

James 5:16-17 (ESV)
¹⁶ Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
¹⁷ Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.

Fourth, we see in God’s Word that Jesus’ disciples noticed something about Jesus. They lived with Him and observed Him speaking, teaching, healing, correcting, rebuking, and praying. Which of these activities did the disciples ask Jesus to teach them to do? Yes, they said to Jesus, “Teach us to pray.” Let’s not read too much into this, even so, let’s realize that Jesus’ disciples noticed that prayer was special to Jesus—somehow Jesus prayer-life impacted all He did. They naturally wanted to know how Jesus prayed.

Do you believe these truths about prayer? I submit to you that if we truly believe that Jesus modeled and instructed us to pray—if we truly believe that God will answer prayer in Jesus’ name—if we truly believe that our prayers could impact the salvation of others—if we truly believe that renewal in the church will not happen until we have renewal in our prayer-lives…then guess what? Yes, we will pray. We will pray with fervor Bible-based, kingdom-focused, Holy Spirit led prayers in Jesus name. 

Yes, Dr. Grudem, we agree that doctrine changes life. May God’s truth about prayer change us.

Father, please cause your truth to change us. May we be given to prayer. Father, use us as your intercessors to keep watch and pray that Your church would press ahead in Your power and people would know, trust, follow, love, and serve You. We ask this for Your glory and in Jesus name, Amen. 

Compelled to pray and desperate for God, Steve

More Intercessors

Saints,

We know that the Father designed His church to impact and influence the world—one life at a time. And as we have looked at before we know Jesus emphasized and modeled prayer for His followers and for us. Remember Jesus praying in the garden—He cried out with vehement groans. Remember how Jesus repeatedly promised to answer prayer in His name in John chapters 14-16. He promised six times to answer prayer in these chapters which scholars refer to as Jesus’ “farewell discourse.” It’s as if Jesus explained to His followers, “Guys, you are entering the church age and you will need to pray.”

Even right now Jesus is praying for His church. He embodies the Spirit of prayer—the Spirit of intercession. Would it be too much to ask God to somehow lead us, guide us, and compel us to pray more like Jesus prays? Can you imagine the Father answering this request by stating, “No, I already have enough intercessors?” No, brothers and sisters, the Father desires for us to pray. He designed His kingdom this way.

So, today I want to submit to you that at least two things will happen as you ask God to lead you to pray like Jesus. First, you will have more and more Christ’s heart for people—people who don’t know Him. Remember Jesus shared that eternal life is to know the Father and the Son,

John 17:3 (ESV)
³ And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

Second, you will more and more have a heart for the church—any church which serves as a witness of Jesus Christ and engages in making disciples. The purpose in this devotional today is to challenge you to ask the Father to pray like Jesus—like Daniel. Ask God to fill you with the same hurt, the same love, the same concern, the same passion, the same desire, the same perseverance Jesus has in prayer for His church and people who do not know Him yet.

I love reading and learning about folks who lived (or live) lives of prayer—real prayer-lives. People like Daniel, Andrew Murray, Hudson Taylor, John Hyde, George Mueller, David Brainerd and so many more.

Please read this excerpt about John Hyde’s prayer-life as written by Francis A. McGaw from the book, Praying Hyde, p21-22.

“Let me introduce here a gem from the pen of Paterson: “What was the secret of the prayer-life of John Hyde’s?” he asks. “This, that it was a life of prayer. Who was the source of all life? The glorified Jesus. How do I get this life from Him? Just as I receive His righteousness to begin with. I own that I have no righteousness of my own—only filthy rags, and I in faith claim His righteousness. Now, a twofold result follows: As to our Father in heaven, He sees Christ’s righteousness—not my unrighteousness. A second result as to ourselves: Christ’s righteousness not merely clothes us outwardly, but enters into our very being, by His Spirit, received in faith as with the disciples (see John 20:22), and works out sanctification in us.”

McGaw continues,

“Why not the same with our prayer life? Let us remember the word “for.” “Christ died for us,” and “He ever liveth to make intercession ‘for’ us,” that is, in our room and stead. So, I confess my ever-failing prayers (it dare not be called a life), and plead His never failing intercession. Then it affects our Father, for He looks upon Christ’s prayer-life in us, and answers accordingly. So that the answer is far “above all we can ask or think.” Another great result follows: it affects us. Christ’s prayer life enters into us, and He prays in us. This is prayer in the Holy Spirit. Only thus can we pray without ceasing. This is the life more abundant which our Lord gives. Oh, what peace, what comfort? No more working up a life of prayer and failing constantly. Jesus enters the boat, and the toiling ceases, and we are at land whither we would be. Now, we need to be still before Him, so as to hear His voice and allow Him to pray in us—nay, to allow Him to pour into our souls His overflowing life of intercession, which means literally: Face to face meeting with God—real union and communion.”

Father, please fill us with Your Spirit of intercession. Forgive us for our weak prayer-lives. May we pray more like Daniel and like Jesus. Father, use us as your intercessors ordained by You to keep watch and pray that Your church would thrive and people would know You. We ask this for Your glory and in Jesus name, Amen.  

Prayer is Abiding in Christ

Saints,

True prayer which connects with the Most High God is more about God than us. Prayer is about our identity in God. Think of this. Let’s say you desperately wanted to speak with President Obama, would that conversation likely take place? No, he is running a country and does not have time to speak with 350 million people individually. However, if you wanted to speak with and listen to the Most High Creator God, you can. In fact, God promises to hear you. In fact, Jesus Christ promises to answer your requests.

Today, we want to look at the promise to answer prayer Jesus’ gives us in John 15. This is an amazing promise. It also speaks to who we are. There is a deep connection with Jesus described by these words. In fact, I submit that the depth of connection described here is so deep that it is transformational—the person described here as abiding in Jesus and as having Jesus’ words abiding in him is no longer the same person he used to be. As we look at this abiding a little more closely, let’s ask the Father to help us truly abide in Jesus and have His words abide in us, just as Jesus meant it when He spoke these words 2,000 years ago. 

Jesus said,

John 15:7 (ESV)
⁷ If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

Spiros Zhodiates explains that this passage is portraying a connection with Jesus in which we “remain united with Him, one with Him in heart, mind, and will.”

I want us to think about and pray about this idea today. Do we understand the depth of connection with our Savior which is described here? Do we desire this kind of deep connection? Are we willing to “let go” of our own agenda, will, plans, and desires to allow Jesus to fill us up with His will, plans and desires?

I am reminded of the passage in Mark 12 when Jesus is asked by the scribe about which commandment is the foremost commandment.

Mark 12:29-31 (ESV)
²⁹ Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
³⁰ And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’
³¹ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Paul understood the depth of oneness with Christ that is described in John 15:7. Let’s look at Paul’s words in Galatians,

Galatians 2:20 (ESV)
²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Abiding in Christ is not about us and our desires. But then again, it is about our desires after they have been re-made into Christ’s desires. This is the depth of abiding that Jesus speaks of in these passages. We are not talking about asking for anything we want, hoping that if we have enough faith--we get what we want. Neither is it about our lives getting “better and better” as we add a little Jesus to our lives like we would add pepper to our steak.

In reality, Jesus is the steak. He is the pepper and the plates and the table and the utensils—He is the air, the house, the room, and the gravity, which holds it all down. What I'm trying to communicate is that Jesus is everything.

So, we are to abide in Him.

Please read what Andrew Murray says about this depth of abiding in Christ in His book, With Christ in the School of Prayer, Lesson 21,

“This is the true abiding, the occupying of the position in which Christ can come and abide; so abiding with Him that the soul has come away from self to find that He has taken the place to become our life. It is the becoming as little children who have no care, and find their happiness in trusting and obeying the love that has done all for them.”

What we are trying see here is that in Christ we are changed. We are no longer what we were. Look at the people in the New Testament who had the deepest connection with Jesus—take Paul for example. Paul had direct revelation given him by Christ through visions, as a result he spoke God’s truth—he was a God-ordained instrument to relay God’s Word to others, to us. Another characteristic about Paul was that his life was no longer his—he completely belonged to God. This is what Jesus is talking about. I’m not sure that I/we get this depth of abiding that Jesus describes here. In fact, we might have a tough time overcoming our own cultural baggage or pre-understanding in order to fully understand this truth. Here again, we must ask God to help us understand this.

D. A. Carson speaks about identity in his book, The God Who is There, in chapter Eight, The God Who Grants New Birth, p 133. He discusses the interchange between Nicodemus and Jesus in John 3:11-13. He describes how Jesus teaches about being born again with authority, Carson says,

“The reason why Jesus could speak about being born again with the authority and confidence he displayed is bound up in his identity. To dismiss what he says is to dismiss who he is.”

Yes, Jesus is God. Jesus is man. He paid the penalty of our sin. He purchased a place for us in heaven. Eternal life is knowing Him—it is knowing the Father. We like Paul are to live in Him, abide in Him. Jesus words are to remain in us and live and become our will.

We are not talking about a position we hold in Christ—we are talking about how we actually live—who we actually are.

Is the abiding Jesus speaks of merely adding a little Jesus, His truth, His wisdom to our lives? No, I don’t believe this. Jesus is clear. He is speaking of a whole-hearted deep connection in which we are led by His Spirit. We are immersed in His word. As a result, when we pray, we reflect back to the Father His very heart—his truth. Then God surely answers this kind of prayer. It starts with who we are.

Father, please help us to know Jesus as He described in this passage for us to know Him. May we know Him and be known by Him. God help us to grow in faith, obedience, love and abiding—may our prayers flow out of deep abiding with Jesus Christ. We ask this for Your glory and in Jesus name, Amen.  

Compelled to pray and desperate for God, Steve