[Biblemat] B> Gospel Observer 2/4/07
tedwards at onemain.com
tedwards at onemain.com
Mon Feb 5 20:01:29 CST 2007
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THE GOSPEL OBSERVER
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"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching
them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you
always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20).
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February 4, 2007
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Contents:
1) A Check Up On Prayer (M. Thaxter Dickey)
2) News & Notes
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-1-
A Check Up On Prayer
by M. Thaxter Dickey
Undoubtedly it's not been long since you heard a sermon on
prayer, read an article on prayer, or determined to improve your
prayer habits. And that's good because if there is a secret
ingredient of success as a disciple of Christ, prayer is it. So how
are you doing? How well do you understand the purpose, operation
and practice of prayer? Here's a quiz that may help you check up on
your understanding of prayer.
What is Prayer?
Some define prayer as talking to God, and it is indeed a
precious privilege to know that His ears are open to the prayers of
the righteous (1 Pet. 3:13). Prayer is not a solitary pursuit. No
one really prays who has no sense of God's presence. We have time
for conversation with our friends. Can we not find time at God's
invitation to converse with Him?
Others have defined prayer as a wish turned to heaven. It is
not just wishful thinking or daydreaming but a concentrated effort
to put one's problems into the hands of Him who can do all things.
Thus, Paul speaks of striving in prayer (Rom. 15:30; Col. 4:12).
Righteous prayer which avails much is fervent and not a casual
thing. It requires effort.
In a similar vein, Paul portrays prayer as a crucial tactic in
the spiritual warfare (Eph. 6:18). It is the battleground upon
which we conquer our spirit and subject it to God. Some complain
that prayer is difficult and wish that it came easily to them and
even suppose that it does come easily to others. But this is not
the biblical picture. We pray only with great effort, for Satan
strives to prevent us.
What is the Purpose of Prayer?
It is not to get for us that which we wish. Prayer is not an
Aladdin's lamp which we rub to get free wishes. God is not a gift
machine which we manipulate to our own whims through prayer. This
is the difference between magic and religion. Magic endeavors to
bring the supernatural under the control of man, whereas religion
is man's effort to make himself pleasing to God. Prayer is thus
conversation with God through which we conform our wills to His
standards of holiness and come to agree with His plans for our
lives.
Prayer is not for the purpose of debating with God, though
Moses did apparently change God's mind with his prayer for Israel
(Ex. 32:9-14), and though prayer is effective, accomplishing much
(Jas. 5:16), prayer is not out arguing or out thinking God. Who
could be so presumptuous? The primary purpose of prayer is not to
change God's will, but to bring our will in line with His.
Prayer is not to be a sermon to either God or man. We may well
follow the example of Bible prayers and rehearse that which God has
accomplished and promised. But the purpose of prayer is
communication of our spirit with God not the noble purpose of
converting souls or teaching men. Effective public prayers are
distinguished from those which leave us disinterested by this. They
are spoken to God and not to an audience of men and thus lead us to
think of God and not ourselves.
How Serious Is It If We Do Not Pray?
Prayerlessness is sin. Samuel recognized this at the time the
Israelites offended him by asking for a king in his place. But he
continued to pray for them rather than commit the sin of
prayerlessness (1 Sam. 12:23). Prayer is a privilege, but it is
also an obligation, and failure to pray is sin. We should so name
it in our lives that we might be the more determined to pray.
Paul commands us to be vigilant in all manner of prayers (Eph.
6:17,18; 1 Tim. 2:1). Failure to do so leaves us vulnerable to the
onslaught of Satan. No sermon should ever be preached, or lesson
taught, or trip begun, or task undertaken, or day begun without
prayer. To do so is to foolishly risk temptation and spiritual, if
not even earthly, failure.
What Hinders Our Prayers and Causes Prayerlessness?
The primary hindrance to prayer is sin. As Adam ran from God in
the garden because of consciousness of sin, so we today avoid God
in prayer when we are burdened with unrepented sins. If we love a
sin more than we love God, He will not hear us (Psa. 66:18). When
you have trouble praying, take spiritual inventory, and it's likely
you'll find some sin lurking in the recesses of your soul. Root it
out and your prayers will again flow to God.
1 John 3:22 teaches the positive lesson that God hears those
who obey Him. By implication it teaches that He does not hear those
who disobey Him. In the case of Cornelius, God responded to the
prayers of a devout man who was not in a covenant relationship with
Him. But His only answer was to refer him to a preacher that he
might hear the gospel and have an opportunity to respond to it. I
doubt that a man who is out of covenant relationship with God can
effectively pray for recovery from illness or intercede on behalf
of another.
James 1:5-8 reminds us that those who ask doubting will not
receive anything of the Lord. One who doubts will not pray as he
should. He will not persist in prayer. Nor will God hear prayers
offered in doubt. The infamous prayer of the agnostic perfectly
illustrates the foolish ineffectiveness of the prayer offered in
doubt. "God, if there be a God, save my soul, if I have a soul,
from hell, if there be a hell."
Another hindrance to our prayers is faulty personal
relationships. Jesus taught that our sins are forgiven as we
forgive others. This is the one lesson from the model prayer that
He singled out for explanation after the prayer (Matt. 6:14,15).
Many who would never drink or steal or murder will hinder their
prayers by bearing a grudge against another. It's a good bargain
that God offers to us. If we forgive others their small offenses
against us, He will forgive the great offenses we've committed
against Him. Can you afford to reject so generous an offer?
Not just a lack of forgiveness, but any faulty personal
relationship will hinder our prayers. Especially is this so of
those with whom we are most intimate. Neither man nor woman can
pray effectively if his heart is wrong against his spouse (1 Pet.
3:7), parents or children.
Another serious threat to prayer, as indeed it is to our entire
relationship to God, is pride. Those who do not see their need will
not ask. Further, God abhors the proud (Prov. 6:17) while His eyes
are upon the humble. This is easy for us to understand. We enjoy
helping those who ask us gently but resist those who are arrogant
toward us. The temptation to pride is subtle. Some have even been
known to grow proud of their humility. It is a difficult lesson for
us to learn of our dependence and weakness and to ask as children
that God deliver us. But we must become as children to enter the
kingdom (Matt. 18:3).
When, How, and How Much Should We Pray?
Jesus tells us that we ought always to pray and never to grow
weary in it (Lk. 18:2-8). Paul, a man of like passions to
ourselves, taught the same lesson (1 Thess. 5:17). They did not
mean that we were to give up daily life and become monks for the
Lord's sake, devoting ourselves in this way to prayer. Rather, they
mean that we should never lose the habit of prayer, that we should
be ready always, at the blink of an eye as it were, to speak to God
of that which is on our hearts. This requires living every day with
a keen awareness of the presence of God.
There are times that are especially advantageous for prayer. It
is a good idea to begin the day with prayer. This Jesus did (Mk.
1:35). A few moments at day's beginning can set the tone for the
entire day. And were there not many plans you had for this day that
needed the Lord's blessings? Likewise evening is a time for prayer.
Were there not this day things which you need to speak to your
Heavenly Father about before you sleep? Dare you sleep this evening
before you've made yourself right with the eternal God who sees all
things?
We ought to pray before important decisions as Jesus did all
night before selecting the Twelve (Lk. 6:12,13). Our lives are
filled with decisions, and the sad truth is that almost all of them
must be made on the basis of inadequate information. Always after
we've decided and set things in motion, we see more clearly the
correct choice -- and often it's not the one we made. Can we, then,
afford to neglect so great help as God offers?
We need to pray in times of temptation. If we prayed and
thought of God during times of temptation we'd not fall prey to
sin. Sin loses its power the moment we see God and His glorious
holiness. The old adage about pausing and counting to ten in times
of anger was good advice, for the delay before taking action allows
more reasonable thoughts to prevail. Of even greater value than
counting to ten is prayer. Jesus taught His disciples to pray that
they might be kept from temptation. Do you fear temptation as you
should? What is it that you pray will not come to you: poverty, old
age, illness, ridicule, death? Above all these we should fear, and
pray that we are kept from sin.
For What Can We Rightly Pray?
Remember, prayer is not just presenting God with a list of our
desires and waiting for Him to fill our order. But we are
encouraged to pray for specific blessings.
We are to pray for others. Paul commands us to pray for rulers
(1 Tim. 2:1). This command indicates that God is active in the
affairs of nations today. The best national defense is not missiles
or ships but prayers. Likewise solutions to domestic problems are
to be found, not in political rhetoric, but in prayer and a return
to God-given values.
We are commanded to pray for our enemies (Matt. 5:43,44). This
is the unique characteristic of the Christian. He loves his enemy
and prays for him. Jesus showed us the way by dying for us on the
cross while we were yet sinful, unlovely and unlovable. But He died
not just for you and me but for all men who will come to Him. Dare
we hate and despitefully use someone whom Jesus loved so?
We should pray for the salvation of men as did Paul (Rom.
10:1). Our relationships with those outside the body of Christ
would be far different if we spent hours in prayer over their
soul's salvation. We'd soon seek out opportunities to evangelize.
We can rightly pray for the spiritual growth of others (Phil.
1:9; Col. 1:9; 1 Thess. 1:11). I know I could benefit from more
prayers on my behalf by spiritual men and women. Couldn't you? Let
us do for one another what we can. And this striving together in
prayers will be of more benefit than all the "Hello's" and "How are
you's" we've ever said, though we shouldn't leave these unsaid.
We should pray more specifically than we do for the physical
ailments of others. Those leading public prayers should make it a
point to learn the names of those in need of prayers and make
specific mention of them. And we can pray directly for their
recovery. And in our prayers we need not limit God to working
through the hands of doctors.
We are of course entitled by our relationship with God to pray
for ourselves. But what manner of things may we ask for ourselves?
We should pray for forgiveness, of course (Matt. 6:12). We should
pray for wisdom -- not just in matters of Bible study but in the
practical wisdom needed to live rightly in this present world (Jas.
1:5). We can pray for our daily bread (Matt. 6:11). This means we
pray for necessities not for a super-abundance. Don't be deceived
by the present trend which distorts the gospel to promise wealth in
return for serving God. Jesus didn't make such promises even when
multitudes thought He might. Instead He promised difficulties and
heart break for those who would become His disciples (Lk. 14). We
may pray for protection from bodily harm or poverty or other
disasters. However, I think we should exercise great care in
praying to God for material possessions. We cannot ask for these
things out of selfishness and expect to receive them (Jas. 4:3). It
is wrong to pray to God for a grand new home thinking only of its
pleasure to you. It would, however, be right to pray for a new car
if the one you presently drive is unsafe and unreliable in taking
you about the Lord's business. In short, we may pray for anything
which relates to participation in and enjoyment of eternal
redemption by ourselves or any other man.
What Are the Benefits of Prayer?
God, of course, answers prayer. Thus we may escape temptation
through prayer or regain our health or be preserved on the highway
through prayer. But there are other benefits to prayer, too. I
don't intend to reduce prayer to a psychological exercise as some
have done, but we ought to recognize all of its benefits.
We are drawn closer to God through prayer. Someone has said
that prayer is like pulling on an anchor stuck to the bottom (Heb.
6:12). You feel as if you're pulling it in, but all the while
you're pulling yourself to it. Thus in prayer you may well be
putting your needs before God, but fervent honest prayer will all
the while bring you closer to Him.
Prayer can give us a feeling of forgiveness. Of course feelings
can be wrong and the only way to know for certain you are forgiven
is to comply with God's conditions for forgiveness. Nonetheless
feeling forgiven is important and prayer makes that possible. We
need to feel renewed that we might with enthusiasm be about our
Father's business (Heb. 9:14). Our souls are often like a new car.
We are so careful when it's new to avoid any scratches or even
dust. But after it's a year old we no longer are so fussy about
where we drive it or how it looks. Thus, if we had no way to scrub
up our souls and make them new again the motive for doing good
would be diminished. But we can be made new and pure again each day
through prayer and thus maintain our incentive for acting soberly,
righteously, and godly in this present world.
Prayer puts things in perspective. Some things we thought were
so very important lose significance when we take them to God in
prayer. The secret to accomplishing any great thing is not to lose
sight of the big picture. We can get so caught up in the details of
a task that they overwhelm us. Living faithfully to God is a great
task and we often get so caught up in the grubby details of life
that we lose sight of the big picture of God's scheme of
redemption. We forget, in our anxiety over bills and home repairs
and children's school, that we are bound for heaven. Prayer sets
these things in their right place again.
How well do you understand the purpose and practice of prayer?
Are you praying as you ought or are you missing out on the
blessings of prayer? Let us today renew ourselves in prayer to God
the Father who is the source of our strength and our blessings.
Adoring and thanking Him, let us place our burdens and petitions
and our lives in His competent, loving hand.
-- Via Guardian of Truth XXIX: 20, pp. 624-626, October 17,
1985
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-2-
News & Notes
The following update I received just a little while ago from
Jackie Evans, wife of R.J. (preacher of the Southside church of
Christ in Gonzales, LA):
"I'm afraid I have some bad news to pass along. RJ is
scheduled for surgery tomorrow [Tuesday, 2/06] at 1:00 at Our Lady
of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge. He has some kind of blockage
of the small intestines and has had to be hospitalized again for it
-- first, two weeks ago and again last Friday. His doctors think
it may be adhesions -- they can see the narrowing of the intestines
on a CT scan, which he had yesterday. Since this keeps happening,
they are advising the surgery. He is not able to eat at all and
is getting all liquids and nourishment through an IV tube.
"He has had so much trouble with various side effects. They,
at first, thought it may be from the chemotherapy and still think
this may have something to do with it. Hopefully, after tomorrow,
we will know what's causing it and it can be 'fixed.' He can't
keep any food down and has had a tube through his nose to drain his
stomach. As you can imagine, this is very uncomfortable and RJ is
not 'the best patient.' He wants to be up and about -- he walks up
and down the halls with his IV pole as much as possible and meets
various people who are hospitalized and talks with their families.
Right before I left, we talked to the man across the hall who has a
24-year-old daughter there. She has stage 4 colon cancer which is
also in her liver. It is just devastating to see the patients and
hear some of their stories. We just don't appreciate our good
health -- even when it's not so good. :-) RJ and I were talking
today about how much we take for granted -- just everyday chores,
visits with friends, etc.
"We are asking that you please pray for RJ now and during his
surgery. We appreciate your cards, e-mails, calls and especially
your prayers. Thanks so much."
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MYRTLE STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST
1022 Myrtle Street
Denham Springs, LA 70726
(225) 664-8208
Sunday: 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:00 PM
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520
e-mail: tedwards at onemain.com
web site: http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go
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