Prayer For Today

Feature 2 –November 2017 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Prayer For Today

Going through all the prayers in the Bible is an edifying and challenging exercise. In this article, however, we will focus on those of the Lord Jesus and the early believers.

Luke’s gospel portrays the Lord Jesus in His humanity and as our perfect Model, the Man of prayer. The book of Acts shows how Christ’s example has had a tremendous impact, because He now has a company, the Church, namely the believers who have been drawn to Him. They are the ones who represent Christ in the same world that rejected Him, and who display His qualities in many different ways. In other words, while the Lord Jesus Christ is exalted in heaven, absent from this scene, all true believers represent Him here on earth. To do this they need to rely on Him just as Christ depended on His Father during His earthly ministry.

Studying Acts is rewarding, encouraging and challenging – and it provides many cases of answered prayers. By His example in the Gospels, our Lord set standards with regards to prayer. He is the Pattern for every Christian as well as the Teacher who instructs us. We should remind ourselves, too, of Paul’s exhortation to be his followers, as he was of Christ (1 Cor. 11:1).

The Man Of Prayer On Earth
The example the Lord Jesus, especially in Luke, provides a great number of incentives to all believers to always “pray and not lose heart” (Lk. 18:1 ESV). Luke used the verb “to pray” (Greek: proseúchomai) nine times in relation to Christ, and he did so for seven special occasions when the Lord prayed (3:21, 5:16, 6:12, 9:18,28-29, 11:1, 22:41,44). These cases present the Lord Jesus as a dependent Man, always relying on God, for whose interests He really cared. Let’s review them.

1. For the first time in human history God saw a Man on this earth who was different, who did not need to repent, in contrast to those whom John the Baptist addressed. Yet Jesus joined all those who answered John’s call for repentance, for we read when “all the people were baptized ... Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. And the Holy Spirit descended1 in bodily form like a dove upon Him” (3:21-22 NKJV). God was pleased to answer Jesus’ prayer and confirmed His delight by opening the heavens, sending the Holy Spirit and saying, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased” (v.22). This was the first occasion where the eternal God revealed Himself on earth in a manner He had never done before: the Father spoke to the Son, and the Holy Spirit descended from heaven to identify with the Son – the Word who became flesh and the Man, Christ Jesus.2
2. After the Lord Jesus had worked great miracles of healing among the multitudes which came to Him, we read that He withdrew to the wilderness to pray (5:15-16). He did not seek man’s approval. Instead, this Man relied on God, for He had come to do His will (Jn. 4:34).
3. When the religious leaders began to reject Him, the Lord Jesus extended His mission by calling and sending disciples: first the Twelve, then the Seventy. He spent a whole night in prayer before choosing any of them (Lk. 6:12-13). There is much that we can learn from this dependent Man!
4. The Lord was praying on another occasion when His disciples joined Him (9:18). His perfect example must have impressed them, so He asked them, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “the Christ of God” (v.20). By that time the Jewish leaders had rejected the Lord, but faith recognized and accepted Him as being God’s choice.
5. While the Lord was praying on the mountain, “the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening” (vv.28-29). The “eight days” in this passage suggests a new order of things as displayed in Him.
6. Later we read that the Lord Jesus prayed in a certain place. “When He ceased ... one of His disciples said to Him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples’” (11:1-2). The Lord did so, and His prayer is a model we certainly can follow. Saying this prayer is not to be a ritual, for today we have a privilege that the disciples didn’t have then: the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. He leads, helps and intercedes for us (Rom. 8:26-27).
7. In the garden of Gethsemane (meaning “oil-press”) the Lord “knelt down and prayed” (Lk. 22:41). He was in great distress as He anticipated the coming sufferings on the cross, especially the three hours of darkness. “His sweat became like great drops of blood,” and “He prayed more earnestly” (v.44). Jesus, our perfect Model, submitted to the Father’s will. We realize that we cannot follow Him in His path of sufferings on the cross, but we should submit willingly to the Father.

Luke used six different verbs in relation to seven other occasions when Christ prayed. They include while He was with His disciples on earth, His dying on the cross, and in connection with His resurrection and ascension. These occasions and terms we list as follows:

1. To bless – Looking up to heaven in true dependence, He blessed the loaves (9:16).
2. To praise – He praised His Father even though the Jewish leaders rejected Him as Messiah (10:21).
3. To give thanks – He did so at the occasion of the last Passover (22:17).
4. To pray (literally: to beseech) – In the Lord’s intercession for Peter, before he denied Him (v.32).
5. To speak – “Jesus said,” speaking to the Father, when making intercession for His enemies (23:34).
6. To commit – Having finished His work on earth He proclaimed victory, speaking with “a loud voice”; and then He prayed for Himself, “Father, into Thy hands I commit My spirit” (23:46 JND).
7. To bless – The same verb as mentioned under #1, was used after Christ’s resurrection. While visiting with the two disciples from Emmaus, our Lord blessed God before breaking the bread (24:30). Then, while going to heaven, He blessed the disciples (vv.50-51). They responded by blessing3 God (v.53).

Luke’s gospel presents a two-fold and complete testimony (2x7) of the “Man of prayer.”

The First Occasion Of Prayer In Acts
Before His ascension the Lord gave a charge to His disciples to stay in Jerusalem (Acts 1:4), promising that they would receive power (v.8). The Eleven returned from the Mount of Olives, from which the Lord Jesus ascended to heaven, and went to the upper room where they were with their wives and other believers closely related to the Lord (1:13-15). The disciples’ obedience and dependence should be noted as they were waiting for the Lord in heaven to fulfill His promise. In this context, a number of points may be highlighted:

• “The upper room” (NKJV) is possibly a reference to the place where they had celebrated the Passover with the Lord.
• They “went up” to that particular place and remained there.
• “They all continued” (literally, “persevered”) and this was in unison, in one accord as they truly relied on God. Their dependence was expressed in ongoing prayer,4 for ten days, after which the Holy Spirit came down.
• This company comprised around “120 people.” The Eleven are listed first, followed by several “women, and Mary the mother of Jesus.” Notice in this last reference to Mary that Luke did not call her “the mother of God” or “the queen of heaven” – things she is never called in the Bible.

Women, including widows, play important roles in Luke’s writings. How good to read about the women who were present in Acts 1, many joining in their husbands’ exercises just as Sarah had done long ago (Heb. 11:11, see Acts 4:1-4,16-25).

Some Details About Prayer In Acts, Including Answers
The Greek New Testament uses seven different root words for prayer, most of them in verb forms and some as nouns. Luke used several of them in Acts, with about 30 verses referring to prayer. Besides the Lord’s own example as the Man of prayer, especially in Luke’s gospel, we should remember what the Lord had said earlier, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine; so neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; He who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing” (Jn. 15:4-5 NASB). Such intimate communion with God and dependence on Him – continuing or abiding in Him – is expressed in true prayer, and confirmed or strengthened by it. To give an example, Acts 9:11 records that Saul was praying, implying a marked contrast to how he had prayed his ritualistic prayers before his conversion. Indeed, Acts is about praying5 people, who are following Christ’s example. It is striking to note how often prayers were answered immediately, showing that the believers were living in close communion with the Lord. Needing to wait for an answer does not necessarily mean that we are not in communion with the Lord, as Paul experienced when he prayed three times (2 Cor. 12:9). However, this could be the case when there is disobedience (Prov. 28:9).

Links Between Heaven And Earth
Let’s focus on Christ’s example in Luke’s gospel while we consider many examples in Acts. Learning much from both, we will see the new links between heaven and earth – between Christ glorified and His praying people on earth.

• The Beginning At Jerusalem: Marked By Prayer
The ten days of prayer after Christ’s ascension (Acts 1) were answered by the coming of the Holy Spirit from heaven (2:1-4). The prayers for finding the right person to replace Judas (1:24) were answered after they had cast lots (v.26), according to a common Old Testament practice. However, after the coming of the Holy Spirit there are no other recorded instances of casting lots. There is therefore no reason for believers to cast lots,6 because a divine Person, the Holy Spirit, indwells them, giving the guidance that is needed. As a baby’s regular breathing demonstrates its good health, so this new company’s well-being can be identified by its constant reliance, through prayer, on her exalted Lord (2:42). Such prayers cannot be detached from the apostle’s doctrine, fellowship and the breaking of bread, for prayer is indispensable for the enjoyment of these privileges experienced in fellowship with our Lord in heaven.

The healing of the paralytic remarkably demonstrated this link with Christ in heaven, even though this proof was opposed by the religious and political leaders. The believers, therefore, prayed for boldness and confirmation from heaven (4:24-30), praying with one accord. This was answered by a distinctive sign, as they received boldness, grace and special power (vv.31,33). Notice that the name of “Your holy7 Servant Jesus” is emphasized (vv.27,30 NKJV). As God’s Servant, Christ had been rejected by the Jewish leaders. Yet now in heaven He remains the true Servant, acting in grace by signs and wonders and with other proofs of His heavenly ministry. Christ, operating from heaven in the days of Acts, is the Same who still does so today. He may not necessarily use the same methods, but He still answers the prayers of His people.

The apostles understood this, and when further tests came they emphasized the need to continue in prayer and in the ministry of the Word (6:4). The selection and appointment of the seven deacons was accompanied by prayer, which was answered in further blessings (vv.6-7). Opposition continued too, as Stephen became the first martyr. However, his prayer to the Lord Jesus in heaven, while being stoned (7:60), was answered in a very remarkable way: the conversion of Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9).

• The Expansion To Samaria, Also Marked By Prayer
Before Saul was saved, Scripture recorded answered prayer in connection with the believing Samaritans having received the Holy Spirit8 (8:15-17). However, Simon the sorcerer’s request to Peter to pray for him could not be answered because Simon was not a true believer (v.21). Saul of Tarsus, having met the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus, was praying, no longer as a religious Jew but as a newborn babe in Christ, and his prayers were answered (9:11-18). Around the same time Peter prayed for Tabitha and she was brought back to life (v.40). Later, Peter was needed to open the door of the kingdom of God to the Gentiles (Mt. 16:19), which was also as a result of believers’ prayers and heaven’s response, as shown in Cornelius’ obedience and Peter’s willingness to go to a Gentile home (10:2,4,9,30-31, 11:5). When Herod arrested Peter, intending to execute him, many were in prayer (12:5,12). These prayers were miraculously answered, beyond their expectation (see Eph. 3:20) – a fulfillment of what the Lord had promised in Matthew 7:7-8.

• Prayer Characterized Paul’s Ministry
Reading Paul’s epistles we learn that his ministry was accompanied by much prayer. Several occasions are recorded in Acts and they can be summarized as follows:

• The assembly at Antioch identified with Paul’s and Barnabas’ exercise, and their subsequent mission, by prayer and fasting (13:2-3).
• The ordaining of elders, chosen by the Holy Spirit, was done with apostolic authority as well as with prayer and fasting on behalf of the apostles and all those involved (14:23).
• During Paul’s second missionary journey, further direction was given by way of a vision, namely of a praying Macedonian man (16:9).
• This led the apostle and his company to a group of praying women at Philippi (vv.13,16). Here is another example of answered prayer, but not necessarily according to human expectation, because Paul and Silas landed in jail. However, God allowed this so the jailor and others would be saved.
• In prison, Paul and Silas were praying and singing at midnight (v.25). Their prayers resulted in several miracles, including the conversion of the jailor and his household.
• Near the end of Paul’s third missionary journey, we read about him praying with the Ephesian elders (20:36) and with the assembly at Tyre (21:5).
• Paul was praying in the temple (22:17) before he started his ministry among the Gentiles.
• Even in the midst of great trouble and imminent shipwreck, Paul was an encourager because of his prayers and thanksgiving (27:23-35).
• New miracles took place at Malta on Paul’s way to Rome, including his own healing after the viper’s attack. The gospel had not been brought to the island before, so Paul’s visit opened a new area to God’s work. As the Lord had done in Jerusalem at the start of the Church age, He worked healings, but in this case they were in answer to Paul’s prayer (28:8).

Concluding Remarks About Prayer In Acts
We notice that all of Paul’s prayers in Acts were answered, although at times in ways that may not have been expected. The Church of the living God was announced by the Lord (Mt. 16:16,18), and it started with prayer (Acts 1-2) and continued in dependence on Christ in heaven throughout the period described in Acts. Prayer should characterize all believers until the Lord comes.

Furthermore, Acts shows how Christ’s example had an impact on the believers, for they followed Him in faithfulness and commitment as a praying people – men and women of prayer. Prayer is intimately linked with the beautiful name of the Lord, “that noble name by which you are called” (Jas. 2:7). This name – described as “excellent” (JND), “worthy” (KJV) and “fair” (NASB) – should always have our special attention. In connection with the topic of prayer, it is significant that the verb “to call upon,” “invoke,” “appeal” or “surname” (Greek: epikaléo) occurs 21 (3x7) times in Acts.

In conclusion, let’s be aware that the enemy constantly attacks true prayer and devises counterfeits to it, whether in reducing prayer to a ritual, vain repetition, or means for individuals to exalt themselves. The Devil also tries to connect prayer with influences or practices that belong to the invisible world – a realm from which we should stay away. Let’s cling to the Lord and His example, and not be influenced by Satan’s tactics or devices.

END NOTES
1. John emphasized that the Spirit remained on Him (Jn. 1:33) because the Lord Jesus was the only One who qualified for that. On the basis of Christ’s redemptive work, the Holy Spirit has come to dwell and remain with us (14:17).
2. Today, on behalf of the exalted Lord in heaven, the Holy Spirit has come to dwell in the believers on earth and to identify them with Christ in heaven.
3. Luke used this verb eulogéo (“to speak well”) 14 times: 13 times in his gospel and once in Acts 3:16.
4. Today we don’t pray for the coming of the Holy Sprit, for He has come and we received Him the moment we were saved. We may pray to be in tune with Him and to be filled with Him – to be under His control.
5. Luke used the noun “prayer” (Greek: proseuche) nine times and the verb “to pray” (proseúchomai) 16 times in Acts. Besides these two words, he used several other terms for prayer, found less often in Acts: all together about 15 times. The verb proseúchomai occurs 35 (5x7) times in Luke’s writings (19 of which are in Luke and 16 in Acts).
6. God’s thoughts about casting lots are summarized in Proverbs 16:33. This practice will occur again during the coming millennium of peace (Ezek. 45:1, 47:22, 48:29).
7. Acts 4:25 uses the same expression of David as servant, but without the term “holy.”
8. At least five different scenarios are described in Acts with respect to the reception of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2, 8-10, 19). The time of transition from Judaism to biblical Christianity caused these differences. We should not deduce a normative sequence of events, applicable to all believers, from such exceptional situations as the case of the Samaritans, for instance. To ensure unity between the Jewish and Samaritan believers, the latter received the Holy Spirit only as they submitted to the apostles. It would not be biblically correct to take this notable situation to argue that believers can receive the Holy Spirit only through the laying on of hands. Moreover, the apostles are no longer with us to do so.

By Alfred Bouter