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Prayer

All Things

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Second Peter 1:3 assures us “His divine power has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness.” So, what are these “all things”?

  1. Knowledge through God’s Word (II Tim. 3:16-17, which assures us by His promises, II Pet. 1:4).
  2. Power through the indwelling Holy Spirit (II Cor. 3:18; Gal. 5:22-23).
  3. Cleansing through the efficacy of the shed blood of Christ and His high priestly advocacy (I Jn. 1:7, 9; 2:1-2; Heb. 7:25) when we falter and fall.
  4. Angelic ministration at the bidding of the Lord (Heb. 1:14; cf. Matt. 4:11; Lk. 22:43).

It should be noted, further, that access to all four of these can be implemented or enriched through believing prayer (Ps. 50:15; 91:14-16; 145:17-20; Isa. 41:10).

Intercession for Others

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Early in the Scriptures the experience of Abraham gives us a lovely example of intercessory prayer. The old patriarch prays for the deliverance of his nephew Lot, when he learns that God is about to destroy the city of Sodom where Lot and his family live. “Abraham came near [to the Lord] and said, ‘Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked?’” (Gen. 18:23). He then pleads for the safety of the city if fifty righteous can be found in it, bargaining his way down to ten righteous people.

Abraham prays for Sodom.

This latter figure could well be the number in Lot’s own family. There were: Lot and his wife, and two virgin daughters living at home (Gen. 19:15, 4 people), plus sons-in-law, married to Lot’s daughters (vs. 14, at least 4 more people), and “sons” (vs. 12, may imply at least 2 more). Abraham knew his nephew was a believer (cf. II Pet. 2:7-8), but he seems to have assumed a greater influence for that worldly compromiser than Lot actually had.

  1. Abraham showed an appreciation for the justice of God in his prayer (Gen. 18:25).
  2. He had a loving concern for the welfare of others.
  3. He speaks to God with humility (vs. 27).
  4. Perhaps there is even a desire to see the wicked Sodomites come to repentance and faith in God, in that the preservation of a few righteous would spare the whole city.
  5. In the end Lot was rescued because of Abraham’s intercession (Gen. 19:29).

Some would deny that it is possible for our prayers to change God’s mind, but I am not so sure about that. God knows what will eventually be done, because He knows all things. But somehow He has designed intercessory and prevailing prayer to operate within the sphere of His sovereignty. Prayer “avails much” (Jas. 5:16). Prayer moves the hand of God in those matters He has sovereignly permitted to be affected by the input of His people. So, do we pray for others as we should? That is the question.

Prayer Answers: Does God Answer Prayer?

Prayer Answers. As to the subject of prayer, I need to ask you a couple of serious questions:

Girl praying

1) Are you on praying ground? By that I mean are you a born again Christian, one who’s trusted in the Lord Jesus as your Saviour? If not, what’s needed in that case is faith in Christ’s Calvary work, trusting fully (and only) in what He did there to pay your debt of sin (Isa. 53:6; Jn. 3:16). We aren’t saved by good works or church rituals, only by what Jesus did for us (Eph. 2:8-9).

2) If you are a Christian, are you harbouring unconfessed sin in your life? As the psalmist says, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Ps. 66:18; compare Isa. 59:1-2)? The answer there is confession of your sin, and accepting God’s cleansing and forgiveness (I Jn. 1:9).

If you have dealt with those two areas, then you can be sure that God will hear your prayers. God’s Word tells us that “the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (Jas. 5:16). Another translation of that verse says, “Tremendous power is made available through a good man’s earnest prayer” (J.B. Philips paraphrase).

The Bible invites us to make our requests to the Lord, and promises “peace” of heart as we trust Him to answer (Phil. 4:6-7). We are also promised “mercy and…grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:14-16), and “wisdom,” when it’s required (Jas. 1:5).

Some answers come over time, and are more difficult to see. Others come quickly and dramatically. Here are two examples of prayer answers.

1) A few years ago, I was sitting in the living room of the home we are renting. I was concerned because we had little income, and didn’t have enough to pay the rent that month. As I was praying about it, the phone rang. A local pastor said he had something for me, and could he come over and give it to me. It turned out to be an anonymous gift of a considerable amount of money. Enough to take care of the rent that month. Praise the Lord!

2) One time a young woman went to the London airport to share Christ with passengers walking through the terminal. She came upon a stewardess, to whom she witnessed. Afterwards, the woman prayed a simple prayer, trusting the Lord as her Saviour.

A few minutes later, her flight was called and she had to leave. But the girl rummaged in her backpack and said, “Here, take this and read it,” thinking it might help her to better understand what it meant to be a Christian. It was a book by Christian author Dr. Francis Schaeffer. As the stewardess went to the plane, the girl prayed, “O Lord, please send a Christian on that flight to follow her up.”

Later the stewardess got in contact with the girl and told her what had happened during the flight. She was sitting in the jump-seat, reading the book, when a passenger walked up to her. “What do you think of the book you’re reading?” he asked. “Well,” she replied, “I’ve only been a Christian for a few minutes, so I really can’t understand it.” “Perhaps I can help you,” he replied. “My name is Francis Schaeffer.”

The Bible says, “if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (I Jn. 5:14). I don’t know the things you are praying for, but God does hear and answer prayer–all prayer–given under the conditions described above. But not all the things we ask for are His will for us, or His will at this particular time. So sometimes His answer is “No.”

We have an example in God’s Word of some missionaries wanting to do something that seems good and commendable, but God said, “No.” Paul and his missionary team wanted to preach the gospel to those in Asia, but in some way the Spirit of God revealed that they should not (Acts 16:6)? Why? We’re not told–and God is not obligated to reveal all His reasons and plans to us.

The missionaries wanted to fulfil the Great Commission. The gospel was needed there, But it’s possible that Paul was not the missionary who could do the best job for those people, or that it wasn’t God’s timing for this venture. But we do know that the gospel eventually reached Asia, and Peter wrote to the Christians in Asia to teach them more (I Pet. 1).

Someone has said that the Lord has four ways of answering prayer: No, Grow, Slow, and Go.

  1. No is a possibility. As wise parents, we have sometimes had to refuse a child something he or she asked for. Perhaps it was something that would be harmful to the child–such as playing with a sharp knife. Our heavenly Father sometimes has to say “No” because our requests are foolish and immature.
  2. Grow. Sometimes, not getting what we ask for is temporary. The Lord knows we have some growing to do before we would be ready for it.
  3. Slow. At other times, God grants us what we ask for, but there are cautions to be considered as we receive and use whatever it is. We need to move forward slowly and carefully, seeking His further guidance along the way.
  4. Go. That represents a direct and clear answer to prayer. It is God’s “yes” to our request.

Philippians 4:6 says we should “with thanksgiving let [our] requests be made known to God.” Why “with thanksgiving”? I believe it’s a matter of thanking the Lord, in advance, for how He will answer–even if the answer is no. That’s a step of faith. It says that we trust the love and wisdom of God.

“We know that all things [even unpleasant things, or things we don’t understand] work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28). We can trust Him to answer our prayers in the right way, and at the right time.

Rural Churches: The Waiting Harvest

Is it a forgotten mission field? Or an often neglected one? Perhaps so. There is definitely an unmet need there. And I’m not speaking of a remote jungle tribe, or people in a country closed to the gospel. What I have in mind is those in the hundreds of small rural communities scattered across North America.

rural church

I can only speak about Canada, where I’ve lived and ministered. The numbers in the United States are ten times larger, but I suspect percentages of urban and rural are somewhat similar for them.

Canada is a vast and beautiful country, with a population spread from coast to coast. But in recent years many have gravitated to the cities for various reasons–schooling, jobs, medical care, and so on. As of the 2011 census, the population of our country was around 34 million. Of these, 81% are in the urban centres, leaving 19%–or 6.5 million people–living in the hundreds of small communities spread across the land.

But…six and a half million people–that’s a true mission field! And surely the gospel is for “all the world” (Mk. 16:15).

My Own Experience

In over forty years of ministry, I’ve served in one larger city church, and several smaller ones in rural communities. One of the latter was in a tourist area circled by beautiful woods and lakes; another in farming country, in the midst of a boundless vista of western prairie.

I know something of the challenges and opportunities that come with each situation, but the Lord has given me a special burden for the smaller centres. I grieve to see church buildings, once open and a vital part of the community, shut down and boarded up. Or ones that have been turned into private homes, stores, museums and other things.

The Pressing Need

Though some smaller communities continue to thrive, others are in decline. Highways and railroads now bypass them, and the population has been dwindling. Often churches in these towns are forced to close, or are seriously struggling. In many towns, there’s no evangelical witness at all. Perhaps an urban centre is situated within reasonable driving distance, where people can shop, receive medical care, and even attend church. But in some cases there isn’t one conveniently nearby.

Of course the larger centres have their appeal. Easier access to the things just mentioned, and much more variety in the way of culture and entertainment. They can also support larger churches, with more programs for more people. But there are advantages to the smaller communities as well. Lower cost housing is one and, generally speaking, there is less crime. They are a great place to raise a family.

In terms of ministry, there’s the possibility of belonging to a closely knit social structure where almost no one is a stranger. Values may be a little more conservative–one reason why simply cloning what is done in the city may not work there. On the other hand, country folk tend to be very accepting of the effort pastors or Christian workers put forth to serve them, even if it’s not fancy enough to suit a large city church.

The Lord’s Concern

Sometimes it’s argued that we need to focus on the cities because we can reach more people there. In many cases that’s true. But we should ask whether numbers are always the bottom line with God.

The Lord drew Philip away from a successful evangelistic campaign in Samaria, where multitudes were being saved, to minister to one man on a journey through the desert (Acts 8:5-12, 26-39). But who can say what the impact of that one convert was, when he returned to his homeland of Ethiopia? And who can say what the impact will be of one convert in a small rural church, if Jesus tarries?

The Lord speaks, in a parable, about going out into “the highways and hedges” (Lk. 14:23, NKJV) to draw people into the bounty of the master’s house. The word “hedges” likely refers to those grown around fields along country roads, to protect the crops. Folks in those areas are clearly important to God as well. Yes, “the dying groan in the city” (Job 24:12), and a compassionate Saviour hears their cry. But those in small and scattered farming communities have need of the life-changing gospel too.

A Call to Prayer

Some individuals are gifted to be involved in the kind of ministries available in urban centres. But surely the Lord has provided others with a passion to serve in our smaller communities. Are you alert to the opportunity? Are you informed about the need? I can’t tell you to take up the kind of ministry I’ve  described. Only the Lord can issue a call like that. But will you pray, and ask Him if it is His will for you? I urge you to bring the possibility of your involvement to the Lord.

  • Pray with perception. Be informed. Learn as much as you can about the opportunities and challenges in the smaller centres. “Lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest” (Jn. 4:35).
  • Pray with passion. There is definitely a need. Pray earnestly, with the kind of caring heart the Lord Jesus had. “When He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd” (Matt. 9:36).
  • Pray with persistence, not just on one occasion. Tennyson speaks in one of his poems of “battering the gates of heaven with storms of prayer.” That is persistence! Pray with a readiness to respond to God’s call, like the prophet who said, “Here am I! Send me” (Isa. 6:8).

A Ministry in Rural Communities
For 65 years Village Missions has been providing (and subsidizing) pastors for rural communities. Their motto is: “Preach the Word and love the people.” Small struggling churches have been built up, and the Lord has used them to bring thousands to Christ. Do check them out if you have an interest in this work. I know they would be blessed by your support and involvement, as the Lord leads.

War Room Movie: Is the film War Room true to God’s Word?

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Question: What do you think of the Christian movie War Room?

Answer: My wife and I watched this recently released film. Later, I went back and watched it again, double-checking some things. Here are a few personal observations.

War Room provides an interesting and emotionally intense story about a husband and wife in serious conflict (an all too common problem), and how God answered prayer and got them on the right path. Great! Miss Clara’s desire to pass on what the Lord had taught her was also good, providing an example of personal discipling (cf. II Tim. 2:2).

However, there were a number of things that concerned me, so that, in spite of what is positive, I would not personally recommend the film to others.

1) First, there’s the “closet” issue–going into a clothes closet to pray. It’s apparently based on Matthew 6:6, in the old King James Version, “when thou prayest, enter into thy closet.” Most modern translations simply have “room,” or “private room.” In the context of the Matthew text, the Lord is decrying the hypocritical Pharisees’ practice of offering their personal prayers out in public, “that they may be seen by men” (vs. 5).

In narration over what Elizabeth is doing to her closet, Miss Clara does acknowledge that the place is not the critical thing,  But Clara, Elizabeth, and the couple’s young daughter, all turn their clothes closets into a prayer rooms. If that’s not an essential point, why not show alternatives by having one or two choose someplace different? (And what have they done with their clothes and other things? Closets are storage areas.)

Personal prayers are best offered in a quiet and private place. I often pray in the living room, before my wife is up, in the car on my way to the city, and in the office alone, while I work.

At the end of the film, a pastor goes in Clara’s closet (now stripped of everything she had there) and somehow senses that someone has been praying in the closet (“It’s almost like it’s baked in.”). That seems downright spooky! And it’s nonsense.

2) Elizabeth, in her “prayer closet,” quotes James 4:7 several times,  “Submit to God, resist the devil,” which basically means we are to say “Yes” to God’s Word and will, and “No” to the devil’s temptations. (When we sin, we are doing the opposite.)

But then, using an unscriptural technique popular in some “spiritual warfare” circles, she goes through the house, shouting angry insults and orders to Satan. “I know you can hear me,” she says. Really? How does she know that? The devil is neither omniscient nor omnipresent, but she “knows.”

“Get out, in Jesus’ name,” she cries. That is not what the Scripture means by resisting Satan. Nor is it appropriate for a Christian to do. Elizabeth needed to read on a little further in her Bible. Jude tells us, “Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!'” (Jude 1:9).

Leave Satan to God. It’s not up to us to tell him off. Instead of taking a more biblical approach, praying for strength to “resist” the devil’s attacks, Elizabeth went to reviling and ridiculing the devil’s person in an angry way. And Miss Clara’s comment about “kicking the devil’s butt” was wrong, in bad taste, and totally uncalled for.

3) In the same rant, Elizabeth cries, “Jesus is the Lord of this house.” I wonder what she meant by that. It sounded a bit like the “territorial spirits” notion. Drive the devil out, and let Jesus in to rule over the building. However, I know of no text that speaks in these terms. Some might appeal to Luke 11:24-26. But that is something of a parable. The “house” in that case is a figurative picture of a “man” (vs. 26), not a man-made structure.

Jesus Christ is Lord (Acts 10:36), and we need to recognize His lordship over us personally and individually. But the only houses God was said to have occupied specifically were the tabernacle in the wilderness and, later, the temple in Jerusalem. Both are gone, now.

And if, by “house,” Elizabeth meant their family (as Joshua likely did in Joshua 24:15), rather than the building, it was still incorrect, since her husband, the head of their home, was far from God at that time.

4) I was turned off by all the shouting in prayer, especially by Miss Clara. Is yelling our words supposed to make the prayers more effective? God is not hard of hearing! It seemed too much like the prophets of Baal, “crying aloud and cutting themselves” to get their god’s attention (I Kgs. 18:26, 28), and not enough like the reverent prayer of Elijah that God answered with fire from heaven (vs. 36-37).

And more noise. Three or four times in the film we were subjected to blaring rock music. (I finally put my hands over my ears!) I know this is a pet peeve of mine, and that I’m going against a modern trend, but so be it. I couldn’t understand the words that were being sung, and it simply injected the ways of the world into what was supposed to be a spiritually significant moment.

5) We get a lot of references to “Jesus” in the film, which does bother me a bit. Jesus was the earthly name of the Son of God. He is called Jesus hundreds of times in the Gospels. And yes, it’s still an important name (Phil. 2:10). But He is only rarely called “Jesus” by itself, after His resurrection and ascension.

Almost always, in Acts and the Epistles, He is “the Lord Jesus,” or “the Lord Jesus Christ” (e.g. Acts 1:21; 4:33; 7:59; 9:29; 11:17, etc.). It is a recognition that He is not only our Saviour, but our Lord, now exalted in glory, and that He should be spoken of (and to) with submission and reverent respect.

6) When a robber confronts Elizabeth and Miss Clara, asking for money, and threatening them with a knife, Miss Clara boldly commands, “In Jesus’ name, drop the knife!” And he does so. This makes for exciting drama, but it’s poor theology. It may be based on the faulty idea that whatever happened in Acts must, of necessity, be happening today.

That is not the case. We do not have God-given apostolic authority (Acts 2:22; Heb. 2:3-4). Nor do we have the right to command other people to do what we think God wants them to do–assuming that, if necessary, He will supernaturally force them to comply. This too is nonsense.

Does God ever work that way. I’d be hesitant to say it never happens, but it is not the general rule for God’s people. It’s not for every Christian to go here and there, commanding this and that, “in Jesus’ name.” We cannot simply assume we know God’s will in every situation.

We need to be very cautious about making such grandiose assumptions (cf. the “but if not” of the three Hebrews, Dan. 3:15-18). We are to pray to God the Father, on the authority of Jesus’ name and in the energy of the Spirit of God, and in submission to His will (Eph. 2:18; Jas. 4:15).

A flash prayer to heaven from Miss Clara would have been appropriate (cf. Neh. 1:4-5). Then, the two women should have dealt graciously and gently with the man, trusting the Lord to work in the situation, dealing with him according to His will.

7) The text of Second Chronicles 7:14 is displayed at the end of the film. I realize this verse is dear to the hearts of those who teach a particular kind of revivalism, but a closer look at the context needs to be considered. Here is the verse:

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

2 Chronicles 7:14

It is a promise specifically for the nation of Israel, whom the Lord spoke of as “My people” from early days (cf. Exod. 3:7, 10; 5:1). Beginning with their forefather Jacob (Gen. 32:28), they are the people called (by God Himself) by His name.

The “El” in their name (a version of the Hebrew Elohim) is the name of God. They are literally, therefore, called by God’s name. The whole name “Israel” has been variously interpreted, but it seems to mean God Fights, that God is the Defender of the nation of Israel, and of their God-given land.

There is a special covenant relationship of that nation to the Lord. God promised obedience would bring the people blessing, in their land. (Deut. 28:9-10), but that if they sinned, He would discipline them by destroying their crops (II Chron. 7:13), and by exiling them from the land (vs. 20).

Returning to the Lord would bring restoration. “Healing” the land means just that–driving out the locusts, and bringing the rain to water the crops. The whole issue of the prosperity of the land of Israel being attached to the obedience of the people is dealt with in detail in Leviticus 26:3-45, and Deuteronomy 28–30.

The Lord makes no such promise to other countries–that, in fact, is one thing that makes Israel unique above all the nations of the earth (cf. Deut. 7:6). Nor does His promise of “healing” the physical land of Israel apply to the spiritual healing of the people of Canada, or the United States, or any other nation.

Nor can we take material promises made to this one earthly nation, and apply them in some spiritual sense to the church of Jesus Christ. The church is a spiritual body of people made up of all nations. We cannot lift verses out of context and apply them as we like.

8) In conclusion, the “general rule” for God’s people today, that I mentioned earlier, is where the film should have been aimed. There are numerous general principles and admonitions in Scripture that give us plenty to work on.

These are many times embodied in “one another” exhortations–of which there are dozens. For instance, we are to love one another (Jn. 13:34; I Jn. 3:11), bear one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2), forgive one another (Eph. 4:32), comfort one another (I Thess. 5:11), and pray for one another (Jas. 5:16). See also: Rom. 12:5, 10, 16; 15:7, 14; I Cor. 12:25; Eph. 4:2, 25; Col. 3:16; Heb. 10:25; I Pet. 4:9-10.

Surely the intent of the film is to instruct, and show us what we all should be doing. For that reason, more care should have been taken to avoid error, and the odd or extreme things mentioned earlier. They set forth a bad, and sometimes quite unbiblical example.

Amen! In Prayer: The Meaning of “Amen”

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Amen. The word is a carry-over from Hebrew language. It is used some 72 times in the Old and New Testaments. The root meaning of the word indicates firmness, dependability, and certainty. It is easy to see how this term came to be associated with God’s truth and faithfulness. And when uttered by human beings, it is a way of saying, “Yes, I agree!” or, “May it be so!”

Prayer - Amen!
  1. When Jesus precedes a statement in the gospels with “Verily, verily, I say unto you…” (sometimes translated “Truly, truly…” or “Most assuredly…), He is literally saying, “Amen, amen, I say to you…” (Jn. 5:24; 12:24; 13:38). In other words, “What I am saying is true and faithful. You can definitely count on it to be so.”
  2. The Lord Jesus calls Himself “the Amen” (Rev. 3:14), because through Him the promises of God are steadfast and certain (II Cor. 1:20).
  3. The expression is found at the end of Bible prayers, to indicate, “So be it! May it be so!” (Ps. 41:13; 72:19; Eph. 3:21). In a similar way, it is used at the end of a vow, showing agreement and acceptance of the vow– “So be it! I agree!” (Deut. 27:14-15).
  4. When we read or hear of the promised blessings of God, and respond with a hearty “Amen!” we affirm our confidence in their fulfillment (Rev. 22:20).
  5. In the early church, it was apparently common for members of the congregation to say “Amen,” at the end of prayers (I Cor. 14:16). Of course, Amen-ing in public worship can be overdone, becoming a meaningless and distracting habit. But spoken sincerely, and used thoughtfully, the word is a declaration of faith that honours the Lord.
  6. This is an expression the saints will also use in heaven. When an exclamation of praise is uttered, it will be a fitting way to respond and show our agreement (Rev. 5:13-14).

For further study of this Bible term, see W. E. Vine’s Expository Dictionary.

Things for which to Pray

Things for which to pray. (See also the previous article about the Praying Hand.) For the beginner, making a prayer list could seem to be difficult. But by both instruction and example, the Bible gives us much help in finding subjects for prayer. A few of these are listed below. You will be able to think of more, but this is a good beginning. For ourselves or for others we can pray for:

  1. A deeper personal fellowship with the Lord (Ps. 27:4, 8; 42:1)
  2. The Lord’s guidance and direction (Ps. 25:4-5; Jas. 1:5)
  3. Special help in times of need (Heb. 4:16)
  4. Boldness in witnessing for Christ (Acts 4:29)
  5. Bodily healing, within the will of God (Lk. 5:12)
  6. The spiritual needs of other believers (Eph. 6:18; Col. 1:9-11)
  7. Servants of Christ facing oppression and persecution (Acts 12:5; Col. 4:3; II Thess. 3:1-2)
  8. Ministries needing more workers (Matt. 9:38)
  9. Family members (Job 1:5)
  10. The salvation of others (Rom. 10:1)
  11. Enemies and those who offend us (Matt. 5:44)
  12. Those in positions of authority (I Tim. 2:1-2)
  13. The accomplishment of God’s great purposes (Matt. 6:10)
  14. The glory of God in all things (I Cor. 10:31; cf. Rom. 11:36)

These are some significant things for which to pray which are always in season and appropriate. May the Lord help us to be more consistent in prayer.

Praying Hand Pattern

Praying hand? What is that? Well, did you ever want a simple pattern for prayer requests that would help you to remember who and what to pray for? There is a little memory aid using the five fingers of one hand as a guide to what to pray for. You can teach it to others in a few minutes. Each finger becomes a reminder of a certain group that needs our prayers.

praying hand pattern

The Thumb. When the hands are held palm to palm, in the traditional praying position, the thumb is nearest to you, so begin by praying for those closest to you–family, friends, and perhaps work associates. Prayer for our loved ones is, as C. S. Lewis once said, “a sweet duty.”

The First Finger. This is the pointing finger. Pray for those who are serving the Lord and pointing others to Him. This includes pastors and other church workers, missionaries, Bible school staff, and those who serve in other Christian ministries.

The Second Finger. This is the tallest finger. It reminds us to pray for those in leadership and in authority over us. Pray for national, provincial (or state) and local governments. Pray that God will give them the wisdom and courage to uphold what is just and true.

The Third Finger. Surprising to many, this is the weakest finger of all (as a piano teacher can tell you). It should remind us to pray for those who are sick and suffering, those who carry heavy burdens, those who are sorrowing, and so on.

The Fourth Finger. This is the smallest finger, reminding us of where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. By the time we have prayed for those in the first four categories we will have a better perspective on our own needs and can pray for them.

The praying hand is a simple way to help us to be more consistent in remembering to pray for the needs of others as well as for ourselves.

Why Pray? The Purpose of Prayer

Question: Patty asks, “If God knows the outcome of everything, then why pray?”

Answer: Thanks for the question. It’s a good one. And it certainly has practical relevance in our lives.

Yes, God is what theologians call omniscient, meaning He possesses all knowledge. He not only knows all about the past, but all about the future as well. “His understanding is infinite” (Ps. 147:5), meaning without limit. He says, “I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done” (Isa. 46:9-10). “Known to God from eternity are all His works” (Acts 15:18). He is fully aware of both the physical and the spirit realm. He knows all about angels and about human beings–even what we are thinking, feeling and planning (Ps. 139:1-4; Heb. 4:13; I Jn. 3:20).

That being so, what is the point of prayer? We can’t tell the Lord anything He doesn’t know already–and know more accurately and fully than we do. Why bother? Here are a few reasons that come to mind:

1) We should pray because God commands us to in His Word.

Christ instructed His followers on the subject by giving them a model prayer–and He begins this by saying, “In this manner, therefore, pray [a command]” (Matt. 6:9-13). “Men always ought to pray” (Lk. 18:1). We are to “be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let [our] requests be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6).

And we are to “pray without ceasing” (I Thess. 5:17). The latter verse does not mean we are to do nothing but pray, 24/7. Rather, it speaks of persistent prayer, not giving up on praying. A similar expression was used in Paul’s day of a chronic cough, one that just wouldn’t go away. We are to foster the consistent habit of prayer.

Whether we fully understand how prayer works or not, that’s not the point.These verses and others show that God calls on His people to pray and keep praying. Therefore, the other side of the coin is that if we don’t pray we are guilty of sinful disobedience.

2) We should pray because the Lord Jesus sets us an example of prayer, an example followed by His followers and the early church.

Christ came to be our Saviour. But He also lived among us, as perfect Man, giving us an example to follow (Jn. 13:15; I Pet. 2:21; cf. I Cor. 11:1). Part of this example is the prayer life of the Lord, mentioned all through the Gospels (Matt. 26:39, 44; Mk. 1:35; 6:46; Lk. 5:16; 6:12, etc.). After His ascension, we see believers consistently at prayer (Acts 1:14; 2:42; 4:23-31; 6:4; 13:1-3, etc.). Is there any valid reason not to follow these examples? I think not.

3) We should pray because the Lord longs to fellowship with us.

This is a mind-boggling concept: That Almighty God, the Maker and Ruler of all, desires our companionship. In fact, I believe He made us in His image for that purpose (among others). Genesis 3:8 implies that God revealed His presence in the garden of Eden to fellowship with Adam and Eve. And the Lord Jesus expresses the desire “that where I am, there you may be also” (Jn. 14:3; cf. 17:24).

When we worship the Lord, and express our love and our willingness to serve Him, it is true that we are not telling Him anything new. But He delights to hear it, all the same. To use a human example, a husband might argue that his wife already knows he loves her because he said so years ago, when they got married. And yes, she may know this. But it also warms her heart to hear it repeated again and again.

4) We should pray because God delights to be reminded of His promises.

This is a slightly different aspect of #3, related to praying on the basis of God’s promises. We must never think that God is irritated when we come to Him in prayer and remind Him of what He has promised to do. He does not view us as being like a nagging wife, pestering her husband to fix a dripping faucet! Rather, He sees such prayers as a longing to see His will accomplished. We are adding our “Amen” (So be it!) to His promises.

After the Lord made a covenant with David regarding his descendants having a right to the throne of Israel forever (the Davidic Covenant) David prayed, “Now, O Lord God, the word which You have spoken…establish it forever and do as you have said….For You…have revealed this….Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer” (II Sam. 7:25, 27).

In his quaint way, Charles Spurgeon urges us to, “Draw the word of promise out of its scabbard, and use it with holy violence. Think not that God will be troubled by your reminding Him persistently of His promise….The sun is not wearing of shining, or the fountain with flowing. It is God’s nature to keep His promises.”

5) We should pray, because God is graciously willing to act in answer to prayer.

In some way that the Bible doesn’t explain (and which we wouldn’t likely understand if it did!) our desires and prayers operate within the sovereign purpose of God (I Jn. 5:14). He never loses control of things, and yet He has pledged to work through the prayers of His people. He wants to involve us in the process (Ps. 84:11; Matt. 7:7-8). In the words of hymn writer John Newton: “Thou art coming to a King, / Large petitions with thee bring; / For His grace and power are such, / None can ever ask too much.”

When we pray, we bring our life situations into the presence of God, exposing them to His scrutiny. King Hezekiah did this when he received a letter demanding the surrender of Jerusalem to a heathen king. He spread the letter out before the Lord, calling on Him to act (II Kgs. 19:14-19). In this respect, prayer is an expression of humility. It recognizes our own inadequacy and seeks the direction and enablement God can give (cf. II Chron. 20:3-9, 12). On the other hand, prayerlessness can be seen as arrogant pride and sinful independence.

The throne of grace is available and the Lord has promised mercy and grace to help those who come and express their need (Heb. 4:14-16). God’s Word says, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (Jas. 5:16). What a privilege we have! What a resource for good! How foolish to fail to avail ourselves of it! Yet it happens. And a failure to pray means we may fail to get some blessings we otherwise could have had. “You do not have because you do not ask” (Jas. 4:2; cf. Matt. 7:11).

6) We should pray because our own weakness and waywardness needs to be recognized and dealt with before God.

Prayer is not just asking for things. There are also prayers of worship and praise, prayers of thanksgiving, and prayers of confession of sin. Let’s take thanksgiving first. We are to pray with thanksgiving (Phil. 4:6; cf. I Thess. 5:17-18). Why? Well, for one thing, it is a recognition of where our blessings come from. The heathen have no such perception and are therefore unthankful (Rom. 1:21; II Tim. 3:2).

But I think there is another purpose in thankgiving too. Bathing our requests in thanksgiving (cf. Phil. 4:6) is an act of faith. It recognizes that however God answers, it will be for the best, and we can thank Him in advance for this.

With regard to confession, we are to admit our sins to God in order that free and unhindered fellowship with Him be restored (I Jn. 1:9). To “confess” means literally to agree. And when we agree with God about our sin (and therefore forsake it), we are delivered of a painful burden (Ps. 32:1-5). A restoration of the joy of our salvation, and renewed power in service result from confessing our sins before a holy God (Ps. 51:1-4, 12-13).

7) We should pray because others are depending on us to do so.

Prayer is not simply a recitation of selfish “gimmes.” We can positively affect the lives of others through prayer. We have an amazing example of this in Abraham’s prayer for his nephew Lot’s family living in wicked Sodom, a city which God was about to destroy. It is an audacious prayer. Abraham, in effect, bargains with God, the way he would bargain over household goods in the marketplace. Even more amazing, the Lord stoops humbly and graciously to work within the limits of Abraham’s supplication (Gen. 18:23-33).

Also, prayer is a way of participating in the ministry of others all over the world. The servants of Christ around the globe are doing His work, facing challenges and obstacles along the way. God is willing to equip and empower them, and meet their needs, as His people pray. They also face an implacable spiritual enemy, and we must pray for their protection against the devil and his demon host (Eph. 6:10-12).

The Apostle Paul understood that, and asked the readers of his letters to pray for him and his coworkers (Eph. 6:18-20; I Thess. 5:25; II Thess. 3:1; Heb. 13:18). We are also to pray for our national leaders so that the gospel can continue to be shared freely in our land (I Tim. 2:1-4). To fail to pray means we are letting others down.

Why pray? I’m sure there are other reasons to pray which could be discussed, but there are several for your consideration.

Purpose of Faith: Getting Things from God?

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Question: How can I use my faith to obtain blessings from God?

The purpose of faith?

Answer: An interesting question! Another way to consider it is to ask: what is the purpose of faith? And for some reason I find your troubling–at least, in the way it’s worded. Though you may not have intended it so, it sounds very self-centred and utilitarian. Like God is simply a celestial vending machine, and faith is the coinage we stick in the slot to get the goodies we want!

We ought to bow the knee to God, and put our full trust in Him, simply because of who He is, not for what we can get out of it. However, the Bible clearly reveals that God, in abundant grace, blesses the saints beyond measure. Consider a few Scriptures on the subject:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has [already] blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3). “His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness” (I Pet. 1:3). “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32). “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits” (Ps. 103:2).

We are called upon to “walk by faith” (II Cor. 5:7), not “use” our faith to get more from God–who has already assured us we have “all things” in Christ. The old gospel song makes a point: “Count your blessings, name them one by one; and it will surprise you what the Lord has done!” The New Testament describes something like three or four dozen things the Lord does for a sinner the moment he/she trusts in Christ as Saviour. In Him we have all we need, and we are “complete in Him” (Col. 2:10).

Now, am I saying we should never ask the Lord for things? No, of course not. We are invited to do so (Phil. 4:6; Heb. 4:15-16). But it’s also clear that a carnal, selfish attitude can sometimes infect our prayers. (“You ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures,” Jas. 4:3).

What is the purpose of faith, and the purpose of prayer? Not self interest, but service, to the glory of God. A good prayer would be, “Lord, make me more and more aware of the blessings I have.” And a better question than the one you pose would be: “How can I grow in faith, so that I can serve the Lord more effectively?”

The answers there are commonly known–if not consistently practised! Things such as:

☼ Regular study and meditation upon the Word of God (II Tim. 2:15; 3:16-17; cf. Acts 17:11)
☼ Regular times of prayer (Phil. 4:6; I Thess. 5:17; I Tim. 2:1-2; Heb. 4:15-16)
☼ Christian fellowship in a good Bible-believing church (Heb. 10:23-25)
☼ Confession of sin (I Jn. 1:9)
☼ A commitment to get involved in serving the Lord, according to whatever gifts and opportunities He gives us (Rom. 12:1; I Pet. 4:10).

When we do these things, we can be sure that testing times will come–which, if we respond to them in a godly way, will result in the growth of our faith. Perhaps we can compare faith to a muscle in our bodies. As it is exercised against resistance, in the power of the Holy Spirit, it grows stronger.

The Bible assures us, “This is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (I Jn. 5:14). And what is His will for each of us, as believers?

☼ To His own glory, God is working in all things, in our lives, to make us more like Christ (Rom. 8:28-29; II Cor. 3:18).
☼ We are also called to be “ambassadors for Christ” (II Cor. 5:20; cf. Mk. 16:15). “Always be ready to give a defence to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (I Pet. 3:15).

Committed to cooperating with the Lord in fulfilling these goals, we can be assured that He will strengthen our faith to trust Him for all we need to accomplish them.

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