Thoughts On Prayer

by T. W. SALT | Category: General | Mar 1944

From the story of the man who was visited unexpectedly by a friend and had no bread to set before him, and therefore went to another friend and begged three loaves, the Lord Jesus emphasised the value of persistence in prayer (see Luke ii. 5-18). We are also told in James 5.16 that" The supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working." The Lord Jesus said to His disciples," What things soever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the. Son" (John 14.18). Do not limit this " whatsoever" to things which seem to us to be possible of achievement, for that which is impossible with men is possible with God. What hope could here be that Peter should not share the same fate as James the brother of John, seeing that "when Herod was about to bring him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and guards before the door kept the prison" ? Deliverance may have seemed impossible, but nevertheless, "'prayer was made earnestly of the church unto God for him" and the seemingly impossible thing was accomplished, for, as we read in Mark 10.27, "All things are possible with God," and those who had been praying for Peter had the joy of seeing him at liberty and hearing from his own lips, " how the Lord had brought him forth out of the prison" (see Acts 12.).

We read in Psalm 66.18, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the LORD will not hear," and in James 4.8, "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may spend it in your pleasures." We are to "ask in faith, nothing doubting ", (James 1.6). Many of our needs, such as the need of wisdom, are well known to us. We are not different from the apostle who confessed in Romans 8.26, "We know not how to pray as we ought," yet, like him too, we can rejoice that" the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity," and "the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."

God's delays are not to be regarded as denials, and, like as it was with Daniel in chapter 10.12, it may be long after our prayer has been offered ere we know it had come up to God with acceptance when first offered.

The precarious condition of the health of Epaphroditus, when it became known to the Philippian saints, must have occasioned them much exercise before God, as it did - the apostle himself, and earnest supplication would be made by them, also by the messenger himself who "was sore troubled because" they had heard that he was sick. What a joy when they knew that God has shewn mercy to them all in restoring him! (Philippians 2.25-30).

More than a hundred years ago, the poet Montgomery wrote thus

of prayer

"Prayer is the simplest form of speech, that infant lips can try;

Prayer, the sublimest strains that reach the Majesty on high."

It is interesting to observe that the initial letters of the three things the Lord Jesus told His disciples to do in Luke 11.9, namely, to ask, seek and knock, form again the first word, "Ask," which I suggest is the primary thing in prayer. To ask is one of the first things a child learns to do, and as it is a pleasure to parents to hear their little ones ask for things, so our heavenly Father delights to hear His children ask Him for things in the name of the Lord Jesus.

"For the LORD God is a Sun and a Shield:

The LORD will give grace and glory:

No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly"

(Psalm 84.11).

The above-mentioned story in Luke ii. shows how that, even although it was midnight, the man went to his friend and persisted in his petition in order that provision might be made for his visitor. Our prayers are not to be selfish, just for our own good. True, it is right that we pray for ourselves, and many are the instances recorded in Scripture where godly men did so, but with enlarged hearts we are called upon to pray for others too, and to seek their welfare at the throne of grace.

When Samuel had pointed out to the children of Israel the evil they had committed in insisting on having a king to reign over them, as the children of Ammon had, when the LORD their God was their King, he said,-" As for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you" (1 Samuel 12.12, 23). "Love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you," said the Lord, -"that ye may be sons of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the -evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust" (Matthew 5.44, 45). Indeed we are to encompass ALL MEN in the scope of our prayers, as we are instructed in the epistle which teaches us how to behave in the house of God. (See 1 Timothy 3.15; 2.1-4).

It is wonderful how we are upheld by each other's prayers! Paul wrote to the Corinthians,-" Ye also helping together on our behalf your supplications" (2 Corinthians 1. 11), and he made many requests to others to pray for him. (See Romans 15.80; Ephesians 6.19; Colossians 4.8; 1 Thessalonians 5.25; 2 Thessalonians 3.1). When he requested Philemon that a lodging might be prepared for him- it should be observed that Paul did not say,-" I hope that through my prayers I shall be granted unto you," but, as if he attached -the greater efficacy to the prayers of Philemon, he wrote,-" I hope that through your prayers I shall be granted unto you" (verse 22),

What joy it affords to know that not only have we the Holy Spirit within us to touch and influence our hearts, helping our infirmity but we have the Lord Jesus Himself at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us (Romans 8. 34)

In order to prevail in striving with God and with man it essential that we be praying men and women The saying has often been quoted " No prayer no power little prayer, little power much prayer, much power and in view of David 5 words in Psalm 62.11," God hath spoken once Twice have I heard this that power belongeth unto God we can readily accept it as being true. Thus we fittingly sing,

"But there's a power which faith can wield, when mortal aid is vain,

That eye, that arm, that love to reach, that listening ear to gain.

That power is prayer which soars on high, through Jesus on the throne;

And moves the hand which moves the world to bring deliverance down."

How good it would be if, in all our petitions, we possessed a lively faith like that of the two blind men who followed the Lord Jesus, crying out,-" Have mercy on us, Thou Son of David"! The Lord said to them,-" Believe ye that I am able to do this?" and when they replied,-" Yea, Lord," He touched their eyes and said, According to your faith be it done unto you" (Matthew 9.27-31).

in Mark 9. we have the story of the epileptic boy whom the disciples were unable to cure. The father, in answer to the Lord's question as to how long the boy had been afflicted, replied," From a child.

And oft-times it hath cast him both into the fire and into the waters, to destroy him: but if Thou canst do anything, have compassion on us,

and help us." The Lord told him that all things were possible to him that believeth, and" Straightway the father of the child cried out, and said, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief." Then the Lord commanded the unclean spirit (it was both dumb and deaf, - but as John 5.28 intimates even the dead in the tombs shall hear and be responsive to His voice) to come out of the boy, and to enter no more into him. The spirit came out, and after the Lord and the disciples had gone into the house- they enquired how they could not cast it out. Hi reply was-" This kind can come out by nothing, save by prayer."

God has given us many examples in the Scriptures which should encourage us to pray. Elijah, we are told, was a man of like passions with us, "and he prayed fervently that it might not rain; and it rained not on the earth for three years and six months. And he prayed again " and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit" (James 5.17, 18).

Many other instances might be cited, but in conclusion I would draw attention to the Lord Jesus Himself as an example in this matter of prevailing prayer. The first thing He did after He was baptised was to pray (Luke 3.21). When great multitudes came together to hear Him and to be healed of their infirmities, we read, "He withdrew Himself in the deserts, and prayed" (Luke 5.15, 16). Then in the important matter of making choice amongst His disciples of the twelve we are told that" He went out into the mountain to pray; and He continued all night in prayer to God" (Luke 6.12). With unshod feet we would draw near to dark Gethsemane. "When He was at the place, He said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. And He was- parted from them about a stone's cast; and He kneeled down and prayed ... And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly: and His sweat became as it were great drops of blood falling down upon the ground" (Luke 22.40-46). No wonder it is written of Him in Hebrews 5.7, "Who in the days of His flesh having offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death, and having been heard for His godly fear."

"0 Thou by whom we come to God, the Life, the Truth, the Way,

The path of prayer Thyself hast trod, Lord, teach us how to pray!"

T. W. SALT | Mar 1944
General