The Meaning of Prayer - Part I

The Lutheran Ambassador - July 29, 1986

                Prayer may certainly be thought of as one of the highest privileges of the Christian life.  It is awesome to consider that open communication with an infinite God is actually possible for finite man. There is a sense in which we may also speak of prayer as a duty or obligation. This is because it is our Lord's will for His children to pray. But prayer is more than a mere privilege. It is much more than a duty.

v Prayer Starts with God

                Prayer is made possible because God sent His Son to atone for our sin. The sin-obstacle has been removed between a holy God and sinful man. In light of the work of Christ on our behalf, the writer to the Hebrews says, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).
                Not only has God removed the obstacle of sin so that access to God is possible. He has also given us His Holy Spirit who enables us to pray. We are helpless in terms of spiritual strength. We are ignorant in terms of spiritual insight. We desperately need the Holy Spirit's help as we pray! How encouraging to know that our Lord recognizes our need. The Apostle Paul describes the experience of every believer in this regard. " In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words" (Romans 8:26 - NASB). An Anglican bishop defined prayer as follows: "True prayer is the Holy Spirit praying through us back to God." I like that! It points up this tremendous Christian distinctive. Prayer does not start with man but with God Himself. God initiates prayer as he does faith and everything else in the Christian life. He (God in Christ) is "the author and finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2).

v Prayer Centers in God

                More than merely seeking things from God, true prayer seeks God Himself, for when we have Him we have all that we need. Prayer is simply the turning of the soul to God. David describes it as the lifting up of the soul to the living God. "To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. " (Psalm 25:1 - NASB). That is a beautiful description of prayer.                 Prayer at its best reveals a soul made thirsty for God, just for God alone. Count von Zinzendorf was a great man of prayer. Why? He sought the Giver rather than the gifts. He said, "I have one passion; it is He, He alone."
                How can we have a prayer life that is centered not merely in petition, asking for things? Two thoughts are suggested. First of all, we need a realization of God's glory, and then a realization of God's grace. In coming before the Lord in prayer, it is well to simply reflect on who He is according to God's Word. This should help us to praise and worship Him according to His attributes; His holiness, power, wisdom, justice, mercy, and so forth. The great hymn in the Concordia, "My God, How Wonderful Thou Art," reflects the writer's attention to the Person of God and the subsequent worship. His spirit of worship is called forth in consideration of God's "endless wisdom, boundless power, and awful purity."
                We need a fresh biblical vision of God in our day, God in His glory and God in His grace. The reason for our frequent failures is that we see people rather than God. When Luther saw God, Reformation fires began to burn. When Jonathan Edwards saw God, the "Great Awakening" began. When John Wesley saw God, the world became his parish. When George Mueller saw God, thousands of orphans were fed. O may God help us to see Him in His Word and enable us to respond in prayerful worship and willing service!

The Meaning of Prayer - Part II

The Lutheran Ambassador - August 12, 1986

Many people do not think that prayer makes much difference. They like to think of prayer merely in terms of meditation or communion. It is possible for us to fall into this same trap, to think of prayer merely as spiritual fellowship, to lack expectancy in regard to God answering prayer and settling simply for a new feeling of strength. The Bible teaches us to expect that God answers prayers as we ask.

v  Prayer Asks of God

                There are two principal words in the Greek New Testament translated "ask". One is a word which means to inquire, as in asking questions. But the word used in regard to prayer means to crave, to desire, to call for, always meaning asking for something. It is properly translated "ask". Our Lord used this word in encouraging His disciples to prayer.
                "Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it."" (John 14:13-14 NASB). This is one of several passages which connect prayer with asking. (e.g., Matthew 7:7; John 16:24).
                The Gospels give us many examples of people asking things of God and receiving. The publican cried out, "God be merciful to me a sinner!" He went home justified (Luke 18:14). Blind Bartimaeus called out by the roadside, "Lord, that I might receive my sight." He did (Mark 10:51). Peter, sinking in the waters of the Sea of Galilee, prayed, "Lord, save me!" Our Lord restored his footing (Matthew 14:30).             
                Do you and I really ask God for things when we pray? Too many of us are perhaps only "window shopping" when we prayer. May God enable us to ask in prayer.
               
v Prayer is Work for God
                An elderly lady lamented to her pastor that she no longer was able to be active in Christian service. "All I can do is pray!" Her pastor told her that her days of service were not over. He encouraged her to realize the great ministry that God could give her in prayer.
                Perhaps we are prone to consider prayer somewhat incidental in our Christian life. We know we should pray but we have not come to value prayer as a highly effective means of advancing Christ's kingdom. And so the interest and attention so often is placed upon those "up front" who are really doing something!
                Let us note briefly phases of Christian endeavor where prayer is so vital.

1. Prayer for Workers.
                In Matthew 9:37-38, our Lord indicates that it is through prayer that laborers are sent forth into the great harvest fields of service. O. Hallesby thinks no prayer task is more important than prayer for Christian workers. He says, "If the right man gets into the right place, there is almost no end to what he can do." He mentions the influence of men like Luther, Hauge, William Carey and Hudson Taylor.
                There is a great need for pastors and missionaries in our AFLC. Let us join in renewed prayer for more people of God's choosing to prepare for full-time service. Indeed, the fields are "white".

2. Prayer for Our Meetings
                As we plan for services, our Bible studies, our fellowship meetings, we often give meager attention to prayer. No wonder there is little effect from all our efforts to meet! May God help us to realize afresh how much more could be accomplished by accompanying prayer.

3. Prayer for the Unsaved
                Prayer for the unsaved is fundamental for effective evangelism. Yet we often betray our confidence in the outward things we do or say as sufficient in seeing people come to Christ. Our Lord's repeated call to "abide" in Him is implicit direction to depend upon Him in prayer if we are to bear fruit (John 15:4-8). May God help us to see that without Him we can indeed do nothing. But with Him, abiding in Him in prayerful dependence, He promises to bring forth fruit, even much fruit.

The Pattern of Prayer - Part I

The Lutheran Ambassador - September 9, 1986

                Believing that our Lord has left us an example that we should "follow His steps" (1 Peter 2:21), we are bold to say that His pattern in prayer is so very instructive for us to observe. Additionally, His numerous references to prayer in His ministry of teaching are rich in practical importance for us. As we survey the Gospels, we note in Christ's life and teaching definite periods, definite places, definite forms, and definite settings for prayer. We observe, first of all definite periods.

v The Morning Hours

                In the Gospel of Mark, we read, "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed" (1:35). Our Lord evidently valued the early moments of the day for prayer. Why are the early hours a good time to pray? In the morning the mind is fresh and at its very best (that is, if we have retired early enough the evening before). In the morning, the mind is usually free from distraction. In the morning, the ability to concentrate upon God is more easily possible. Furthermore, when the early hours are spent in prayer, the whole day is anticipated. Strength is received for overcoming the temptations that will come as well for responding to the opportunities to serve the Lord. Someone suggested praying through one's schedule for the day step by step, anticipating the needs in each situation.
                Many of the most effective people for Christ and His Church have followed our Lord's example in morning prayer. Martin Luther, as he faced the great tasks before him each day as the primary leader of the Reformation, said, "I am so busy now that if I did not spend two or three hours each day in prayer, I would not get through the day" (Quoted by Oscar Feucht, The Practice of Prayer, Concordia, 1956, p.22). He felt he needed more time in prayer, the busier the day before him was. No wonder there was such a powerful influence from his ministry.
                Hudson Taylor, the great missionary to China, was so fully occupied with the administration of the China Inland Mission during one period of his life that he found it difficult to get time for prayer. He solved that by rising each night at 2 o'clock to prayer until 4 o'clock and then sleep until morning. No wonder he was used so mightily to plant the Church in China.
               
v All-Night Prayer

                During our Lord's earthly ministry, there were sustained periods of prayer on occasion. In the Gospel of Luke, it is recorded. "And it came to pass in those days, that He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God" (6:12). We have no reason to expect that all-night prayer was the regular practice of our Lord nor do we know how common his practice was, but there were definitely times when the whole night was given up in prayer.
                Certainly we do not want to follow our Lord's example in a legalistic way. If one imagines he is going to win God's favor by long prayers, he is legalistic. But there may be times of special need when we will be driven to our knees for longer periods of prayer.
                This was true also in the life of Luther. There is an account of a spy who followed Luther to a hotel one night and roomed right next door to him. The next day the spy informed the one who had employed him that Luther prayed nearly all night, and that he could never conquer a man like that.
                We will continue our study of our Lord's pattern in prayer in the next issue. He has left us an example that we should "follow His steps".

The Pattern of Prayer - Part II

The Lutheran Ambassador - September 23, 1986

                As we observe the prayer-life of our Lord as revealed in the Gospels, we note that there were definite periods during His ministry devoted to prayer. Last time we called attention to His habit of rising early in the morning for prayer. Also we noted occasions when our Lord would spend an entire night in prayer. Now we want to consider the special "seasons" of prayer in His life before and after great events, during busy times, and before great temptations. As disciples of our Lord, we review His prayer life with the earnest intent of following His example as He enables us.

v Before Great Events

                Our Lord prepared for every important crisis or turning point in His life by a prolonged season of prayer. For example, He prayed before His anointing by the Holy Spirit and the subsequent entrance upon His public ministry (Luke 3:21, 22). He prayed before choosing the twelve disciples (Luke 6:12, 13). He prayed before starting out on an evangelistic tour (Mark 1:35-38). He prayed before announcing to the Twelve His approaching death (Luke 9:18, 21-22). He prayed before the great consummation of His life at the cross (Luke 22:39-46).
                Our Lord's practice of prayer preparation is a tremendous lesson to us. Whenever any crisis or decision of life is seen to be approaching, we should prepare by a season of very definite prayer to God. We should take plenty of time for this prayer.

v After Great Events

                Our Lord not only prayed before the great events and victories of His life; He also prayed after its great achievements and important crises. When He had fed the five thousand with the five loaves and two fishes, and the multitudes desired to make Him king, He sent them away and went up into a mountain to pray (Matthew 14:23, John 5:15). There He spent hours in prayer. We are more prone to pray before the great events of our lives rather than after them. If we could humble ourselves before our Lord after the achievements and give Him the glory, we could go on to greater victories. As it is, we are often secretly congratulating ourselves and thus we fail to praise the Lord.

v During Busy Times

                When His life was unusually busy, our Lord gave special time to prayer. He would withdraw during such times from the multitudes that thronged about Him and go into the wilderness to pray. For example, we read in Luke 5:15,16. "But so much the more went abroad the report concerning Him; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed of their infirmities. But He withdrew Himself in the deserts, and prayed. (Am. St.)
                Some of us think we are so busy we find no time for prayer or it's at best quite short. Apparently, the busier our Lord's life became, the more He prayed. Sometimes He had no time to eat ( Mark 3:20); sometimes He had no time for needed rest or sleep (Mark 6:31, 33, 45), but He always took time to pray, and the more work crowded His schedule, the more He prayed.

v Before Great Temptation

                As our Lord drew nearer to the cross and realized that it was to be the final test of His life, He went out into the garden of Gethsemane to pray (Matthew 26:36). The calmness and dignity He displayed in meeting the terrible onslaught of Calvary was the outcome of the struggle, agony, and victory of Gethsemane.
                Many temptations come upon us quickly and unannounced. All that we can do in those moments is lift our prayers to God for help. Many other temptations can be seen approaching from the distance and in such cases the victory should be won before the temptation really reaches us.
                While we speak of "definite periods" for prayer, our whole life is to be prayerful (1 Thessalonians 5:17; Ephesians 6:18). Though we cannot be alone and on our knees constantly, we can live with an "upward look", walking so habitually in God's presence that prayer comes as the most natural expression of our hearts. 

The Pattern of Prayer - Part III

The Lutheran Ambassador - October 7,  1986

It is true that a Christian can pray anywhere and at any time. Yet, our Lord's earthly life and His teaching directs us to consider definite periods and places for prayer. There is opportunity to pray regularly with others and there is opportunity to pray alone.

v Congregational Prayer

                As we observe the earthly life of our Lord, we note that the synagogue was a regular place of worship for him. In Luke 4:16, we read that it was His "custom" to go to the synagogue. Since the place of worship was to be a "house of prayer" (Isaiah 56:7), we may assume that prayer was a fundamental part of His activity in the synagogue.
                In our Lord's first usage of the term "church" to describe the assembly of those trusting in Him as Messiah, He said "I will build My church" (Matthew 16:18). It is appropriate to ask what kind of church He builds. In the Book of Acts, it is evident that the kind of church our Lord builds is in large measure a praying church (e.g. Acts 1:14; 2:42; 3:1; 4:23-31; 6:4; etc). The New Testament church was sustained by united prayer.
                What a privilege it is for us to pray with others. The prayer meeting is the "hour of power" in any congregation. There are distinct promises from our Lord in regard to united praying. In Matthew 18:19, we read, for example, "Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven."
                Many of us need a renewal in recognition of the importance of congregational prayer. For many congregations, it is sadly noted that the prayer meeting is the least frequented activity. We sincerely believe that if more of our congregations could be truly characterized as "praying congregations", we would see a tremendous difference in terms of spiritual effectiveness. The degree of blessing our AFLC has enjoyed in its short years is in large part attributable to the prayers of God's people. May God awaken in us a greater sense of dependence upon Him leading to much more prayer together.

v Personal Prayer

                Not only was the house of worship a regular place of prayer for our Lord, but we observe Him often seeking a quiet place apart from others. Our Lord called His followers to seek a place where they would be ndisturbed. In Matthew 6:6, we read, "Go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you." Prayer requires a place where we can think undisturbed, where we can freely express ourselves and tell God all that is upon our hearts. Do you have such a quiet place? Our personal situations vary and may call for some creativity in finding that special place. Regardless, personal prayer is a rich opportunity afforded us by our gracious God. May He find us in that place frequently.
                Certainly, as mentioned above, we can pray wherever we are. Prayer doesn't require a certain posture or a certain room. Sir Thomas Brown, a great Christian physician,  said: "I have resolved to pray more and to pray always; to pray in all places where quietness inviteth; in the house, on the highway, and in the street, and to know no street, or passage in this city that may not witness that I have not forgotten God." It is not the place of pray that is all-important: it is the spirit of prayer as given by God that is so fundamental. The Apostle Paul exhorted: "Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension." (1 Tim. 2:8). The place of prayer is, after all, where you are.

Invited to Pray

The Lutheran Ambassador - July 15, 1986

                 In a recent survey on the practice of prayer in the United States, it was indicated that the average layperson spends four minutes a day in prayer and the average Pastor seven minutes. The survey also indicated that only 1% of husbands and wives have any meaningful prayer together. E.M. Bounds has observed, "Little prayer is the characteristic of a backslidden age and of a backslidden church. Whenever there is little prayer in the pulpit or in the pew, spiritual bankruptcy is imminent and inevitable."
                 The word of God contains an abundance of invitations, promises and instructions regarding prayer; yet, many who claim to be Christians neglect prayer or restrict it to "saying grace" at meals and participating in prayers at church. Many feel themselves embarrassed when asked to take part in prayer. Many live day after day without resorting to prayer in the common concerns of their daily lives. Many adults pray less than they did as children. Husbands and wives live together for years without a regular time of prayer. Family devotions are neglected because of the press of other activities or they are conducted in routine fashion because of the decline of a living faith in Christ. How altogether appropriate and urgent that renewal in the practice of prayer is being encouraged throughout our Association of Free Lutheran Congregations! Our Lord's invitation to pray and His gracious promises to hear us should lead us to a rich practice of daily prayer.
                  In the Gospel of Matthew, our Lord sets before his own a very distinct invitation. This invitation to pray comes as a directive to all those who follow Him.

                "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you                 will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For                 everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks               finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."
                (Matthew 7:7-8 - NASB)

                To ask, to seek, and to knock indicates a realization of need. This sense of need is fundamental to a growing prayer life. As the Holy Spirit is allowed to reveal through the Word our deep need for the grace of God because of our sin, for assurance because of our proneness to doubt the absoluteness of God's forgiveness, for wisdom and truth because of our inability to perceive spiritual realities, and for guidance because of our tendency to wander from God's will, we come again and again as helpless ones. To such, our Lord gives repeated promise, "… it shall be given you… you shall find.. it shall be opened unto you."  How encouraging to know who is giving such assuring promises --- Jesus, the very Son of God!
                We find in the Gospel of John another gracious invitation from our Lord to pray.
                "…Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full" (John 16:23-24 - NASB)
                The words of our Lord reveal His understanding of our difficulty in believing that access to God in prayer is really possible or meaningful. His use of "truly " to introduce the invitation is intended to underline the complete trustworthiness of His promise to answer. His deliberate indication of who is issuing the invitation ("I say to you") serves to accent the vital difference it makes that the very Son of God is speaking. Again, the simple directive to "ask" emphasizes the importance of the spirit of helplessness if one is to feel the need to pray. The promise is quick from our Lord for all those who pray in His powerful Name, "You shall receive." As further encouragement, He speaks of the result of responding to His invitation, "…that your joy may be made full." Let us accept the gracious invitation of our Lord. 

"Lord teach us to Pray"

The Lutheran Ambassador - December 30th, 1986

                In this six-month series on our Lord's teaching and example regarding prayer, many things have been observed. Consideration was given first to the meaning of prayer. It was shown that prayer is initiated and sustained by God. Because of Christ's atonement and the Holy Spirit's enablement, we can pray. Furthermore, because of our Lord's invitation, we can bring our petitions to God with the expectation of being heard and answered. Rather than being a second-rate type of activity in kingdom service, prayer was shown to be paramount in realizing effective ministry of God's Word.
                Our Lord's pattern in prayer was also noted in respect to the definite times and definite places He sought during His earthly ministry for prayer. It was obvious that our Lord depended on His Heavenly Father continually in prayer. His prayer took the form of direct request as well as thanksgiving and praise. Our Lord's encouragement and direction in regard to praying in agreement with others was also noted. He promised His presence and His power in such praying.
                In consideration of our Lord's teaching effective praying, the hindrances of an unforgiving spirit, an unbelieving heart and a selfish attitude were studied. Indispensable ingredients in a fruitful prayer life were shown to be faith in God's promises, coming in the Name of Jesus, praying according to God's will and continuing persistently in prayer even as one realizes his own helplessness.
                Our over-arching concern in these studies has been to sit together at the feet of our Lord with the simple request, "Lord, teach us to pray". That request however, must mean much more than simply reviewing the theory of prayer, learning how to pray. That is fundamental but it may be one thing to know how to pray and quite another thing to actually allow the Lord to apply what we know. Our Lord warned of the consequence for those who give mere "lip-service" to divine truth. "Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven"                   ( Matthew 7:21). So the concern of the believer is not only to learn how to pray but also to actually pray.
                1986 has been a year of special emphasis on prayer throughout our Association. Our Bible conferences, the Annual Conference, the Bible camps, the seminary summer institute, articles in The Lutheran Ambassador are some of the ways the importance of prayer has been highlighted on a national level. It has been heartening to hear of the concern in many congregations to experience renewal in prayer. Is it all over now as we enter a new year? Is it back, perhaps, to the former neglect and indolence? It need not be in any of our lives. It must not be if we are going to experience an increasing fruitfulness as individuals and as congregations. But the solution will not occur because of a New Year's resolution on January 1. It will need to be, as it always has been, a daily Spirit-wrought sense of helplessness that drives us to our knees in petition to our gracious God.  The Holy Spirit always and only works through the Word; thus, it will be vital, as it has always been, to maintain the priority of our devotional life regardless of what else must be set aside in its favor. May God truly help us to continue learning how to pray as well as to continue to pray!
                Andrew Bonar's plea is appropriate in light of all we know of prayer and because of the urgency of the hour in which we live:
                "O brother, pray; in spite of Satan, pray; spend hours in prayer; rather neglect friends than not pray; rather fast, and lose breakfast, dinner, tea, and supper---and sleep, too---than not pray. And we must not talk about prayer, we must pray in right earnest. The Lord is near. He comes softly while the virgins slumber."