Foundations of Faith
PRAYER (V)
All believers, young and old, male and female are to pray. None are excluded from this privilege. Every true child of God will pray almost involuntarily. It was said of Saul of Tarsus in the first three days after his conversion, “Behold he prays” (Acts 9:11).
At the assembly prayer meeting, of course, the sisters are to “keep silence” (1 Cor. 14:34; see Oct98). But no brother should think he cannot pray in public. Some say, “I have no gift for prayer.” But does one need a gift to beg if he is starving? Dear young brothers and sisters, attend your local assembly prayer meetings. Write out your prayer requests and hand them to an older brother. Dear young brothers, do not sit like wax figures on the benches month after month. It is only the sisters who are to “keep silence in the churches.”
The apostle Paul bowed his knees “unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph. 3:14). Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (Acts 7:59). We have no instruction or example in Scripture for prayer to the Holy Spirit. We read of praying in the Holy Spirit (Jude 20), but nothing of prayer to the Holy Spirit.
Fasting may often be a help to effectual prayer. Fasting is not an empty exercise which was to be abandoned after the death and resurrection of Christ. The disciples often prayed and fasted (see Acts 13:2,3; 14:23; 2 Cor. 6:4,5). The apostle Paul encouraged the believers at Corinth to devote part of their time to prayer and fasting (1 Cor. 7:5). The relationship between fasting and prayer is a very practical one. For one thing, we do not have to interrupt our praying for the preparation and consumption of food. Also, that part of our blood supply which would have been diverted to the digestive organs is now available for the brain, thus keeping us more alert as we labor before the Lord in prayer.
Some of you may not be familiar with this word “unrequited,” but the following verses will help to define it:”In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed unto the LORD; and He spoke unto him, and He gave him a sign. But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him, for his heart was lifted up” (2 Chron. 33:24,25). The Lord wonderfully answered Hezekiah’s prayer when he was terminally ill and gave him 15 more years of active life (2 Ki. 20). But how did Hezekiah respond to this blessing? He did not necessarily fail to thank God for it, but he did fail to devote those additional 15 years faithfully to the LORD.
Let us ask ourselves, “How do I respond when God answers my prayers?” If I have been praying for good health and have also been taking a daily dose of Vitamin C, does God or Vitamin C get credit for my getting through the winter without a cold? If I have asked the Lord for help repairing an automobile and it turns out that I am able to find the problem and correct it in record time, do I turn around and brag about how skillful I am? If the Lord answers my prayer and helps me in a way that leaves me with an extra amount of money, time, or health, do I use such bonuses to treat myself or take it easy, or do I use it to benefit the Lord’s work or minister to needy people? (See Assignment 1)
Perhaps we would receive more answers to prayer and realize significantly greater spiritual growth and blessing if we were more faithful to render to the Lord according to the benefits that He has so graciously heaped upon us.
Running the Race
SOME EXAMPLES OF ANSWERED (AND UNANSWERED) PRAYER (V)
A few years ago my wife and I were in Nakuru, Kenya with a couple of hours free before having to travel on to Nairobi; we considered visiting a nearby national park famous for its lake with millions of flamingos. But upon asking the Lord what to do, I was given a strong sense that we should skip the park and catch the first bus to Nairobi.
We arrived a few minutes too late to catch the big, safe “country” bus that tourists are encouraged to take. Our only immediate alternative was to take a minibus “matatu” with its reputation of having a high rate of accidents. Upon praying further, the Lord seemed to direct us to take a matatu. Our ride was safe and uneventful. The next day we read in the newspaper that a riot had broken out at the Nakuru bus station about two hours after we had left, with personal injury, destruction of property, and total disruption of bus service. How we praised the Lord for keeping us from going to the national park that morning and getting us out of there in the nick of time.
These “unanswered” prayers in the Bible were really answered differently from what was asked:
1. King David prayed and fasted for the child of Bathsheba, but “the child died” (2 Sam. 12:16,18). But as a result, David’s heart was drawn toward heaven in a way it might not have been otherwise, for he worshiped the LORD and said, “I shall go to him” (verses 20-23).
2. Elijah prayed, “Take away my life” (1 Ki. 19:4). The LORD had better plans-taking Elijah to heaven without dying (2 Ki. 2:11)!
3. The apostle Paul prayed three times for the thorn to be removed from his flesh, and the Lord responded, in effect, “I will not remove it, but I will give you grace to bear it” (2 Cor. 12:8,9). As a result, Paul learned the wonderful truth that through the power of Christ, “When I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Cor. 12:8-10).
4. The Lord Jesus Christ prayed three times at Gethsemane that the cup of God’s judgment might be kept from him. God’s answer was to send an angel from heaven to strengthen Him (Matt. 26:36-44; Luke 22:43). Aren’t you glad Jesus accepted that cup of wrath for your sins?
Finally, here are four ways God answers prayer:
1. No, not yet.
2. No, I have something even better for you.
3. Yes, I thought you would never ask.
4. Yes, and here’s more.
Assignment 1: In Luke 17, only one of the ten lepers responded to being healed by the Lord? (a) Write out a verse that describes his response. (b) Write out a verse that tells of an added blessing this healed leper received as a result of his response to the Lord. (c) Write out a verse in Psalm 116 that refers to our response to God’s blessings.