The Power Of Prayer – Plug Into It!

Feature 3 –November 2017 – Grace & Truth Magazine

The POWER of Prayer
Plug Into It!

The Bible mentions much about prayer and praying! In it we can find examples of praying men, praying women, praying families and praying children. But there is another group that is marked by prayer: the praying Church! Follow it through the book of Acts and you will see that the Church grew when it was on its knees. We often ask, “Why is it that the Church is not growing today?” Maybe a lack of prayer is part of the answer, for where there is no prayer there is no power.

One verse that we often think of regarding revival or the need of prayer is 2 Chronicles 7:14, which says, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (NKJV). Let us not consider lightly our responsibilities as mentioned in this verse.

Praying Together Versus Praying Alone
Corporate prayer is that of believers when they are gathered together, whether during a scheduled meeting of the local church or simply by a few individuals at another time. There are many examples which show corporate prayer is an important part of the life of the church, along with worship, sound doctrine, communion and fellowship. The early church met regularly to learn the doctrine of the apostles, break bread and pray together (Acts 2:42). When we pray together with other believers the effects can be very positive and edifying, unifying us as we share our common faith. The same Holy Spirit who dwells within every believer causes our hearts to rejoice as we hear praises to our Lord and Savior, thereby knitting us together in a unique bond of fellowship found nowhere else in life.

To those who may feel alone and are struggling with life’s burdens, hearing others lift them up to the throne of grace can be a great encouragement. Interceding in prayer builds in us love and concern for others. Corporate prayer will be a reflection of the hearts of the individuals who participate. Whether individually or corporately, we are to come to God in humility (Jas. 4:10), truth (Ps. 145:18) and obedience (1 Jn. 3:21-22), with thanksgiving (Phil. 4:6) and confidence (Heb. 4:16).

Sadly, corporate prayer can also become a platform for those whose words are directed not to God but to their other hearers. Jesus warned against such behavior in Matthew 6:5-8, where he exhorts us not to be showy, long-winded or hypocritical in our prayers. There He taught that we should pray secretly in our own rooms in order to avoid the temptation of using prayer in a wrong way.

To my knowledge there is nothing in Scripture to suggest that corporate prayers are more powerful than individual prayers in the sense of moving the hand of God. Far too many Christians equate prayer with getting things from God, and group prayer sometimes seems to become an occasion to recite a list of our wants. Biblical prayers, however, are multi-faceted, encompassing the whole of the desire to enter into conscious and intimate communion with our holy, perfect and righteous God. That such a God would bend an ear to His creatures causes praise and adoration to pour forth in abundance (Ps. 27:4, 63:1-8), produces heartfelt repentance and confession (Ps. 51; Lk. 18:9-14), generates an outpouring of gratitude and thanksgiving (Phil. 4:6; Col.1:12) and initiates sincere intercessory pleas on behalf of others (2 Th. 1:11, 2:16).

Prayer, then, is cooperating with God to bring about His plan rather than trying to bend Him to our will. As we abandon our own desires in submission to the One who knows our circumstances perfectly and the things we need before we ask (Mt. 6:8), our prayers reach their highest level. Prayers offered in submission to the divine will, therefore, are always answered positively, whether offered by one person or a thousand.

The idea that corporate prayers are more likely to move the hand of God comes largely from a misinterpretation of Matthew 18:19-20: “Again I tell you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” The passage that includes these verses addresses the procedures to be followed when a church has to discipline a sinning member. To interpret the two verses as promising believers a blank check for anything about which they agree to ask God, no matter how sinful or foolish, does not fit the context and denies the rest of Scripture, especially the sovereignty of God.

In addition, to believe that when “two or three are gathered” to pray some kind of mysterious power boost is automatically applied to our prayers is not biblically supportable. Of course Jesus is present when two or three pray, but He is equally present when one believer prays alone, even if that person is separated from others by thousands of miles.

Corporate prayer is important because it creates unity (Jn. 17:22-23), is a key aspect of believers’ encouraging one another (1 Th. 5:11) and spurs one another on to love and good deeds (Heb. 10:24). May we be found praying together.

To Whom Do I Pray?
The Bible teaches that we can pray to the Father or the Son in and through the power of the Holy Spirit. To the Father we pray as the Lord taught His disciples, “Our Father in heaven ...” (Mt. 6:9).

Stephen, as he was being martyred, prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (Acts 7:59). In Revelation 22:20 we read about the aged apostle, John, praying, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” Paul wrote about his prayers to “the Lord,” a title he frequently applied to Jesus (2 Cor. 12:8). Examples like this give us a precedent for doing the same. It is good, right and proper to pray to Jesus.

We are also to pray in the name of Christ. Paul exhorted the Ephesian believers to give “thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph. 5:20). Jesus assured His disciples that whatever they asked in His name, meaning in His will, would be granted (Jn. 15:16, 16:23). He didn’t say we are to ask the Holy Spirit, but we are to ask the Father.

We never see an instance in the Bible where anyone prays to the Holy Spirit. Why is that? It is because the Holy Spirit bears witness of the Son, not Himself (15:26). If I pray to the Holy Spirit, I rob myself of the Great Intercessor – the Lord Jesus – who is our Great High Priest. It also denies the Holy Spirit His purpose, having been sent into the world to glorify the Son (Jn. 16). He glorifies the Son by leading us to the Son and causing us to see Him as the ground for our access to the Father. The Son came to die for our sins in order to bring us to God. The Holy Spirit’s function is to point us to the person of Christ and to empower us to be like the Lord Jesus Christ. Never drawing attention or exalting Himself, the Holy Spirit’s desire is to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ (vv.13-15).

We are told to pray in the Spirit and in His power. The Spirit helps us to pray even when we do not know how to or what to ask (Rom. 8:26, Jude 20). But we are never instructed to pray specifically to the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who helps us pray. In doing so the Spirit is obviously not going to pray to Himself. There is not one example of praying to the Spirit in the entire New Testament!

Perhaps the best way to understand the role of the Trinity in prayer is how Paul expressed it in Ephesians 2:18, “Through [Jesus] we ... have access by one Spirit to the Father.” We pray to the Father, through and in the name of the Son, and by the power of the Holy Spirit. All three persons are active participants in the believer’s prayer. When Paul explained the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer, one of the things he emphasized is how the Spirit gives us confidence to approach God in prayer. In fact, it is by the Spirit that we cry, “Abba, Father” (Gal. 4:6; Rom. 8:15). This is not incidental. Jesus Himself cried out these same words (Mk. 14:36). The Spirit moves Christians to address the Father in the same language used by God the Son! Prayer is a way of expressing the sonship we have through the Lord Jesus.

It is important to mention others to whom we are not to pray. Some religions encourage their adherents to pray to a number of gods, holy places, dead relatives and spirits. Others teach to pray to Mary or various “saints.” Such prayers are not scriptural and are, in fact, an insult to our heavenly Father. To understand why, we need only look at the nature of prayer.

Prayer has several elements, including praise, thanksgiving and worship. When we praise God we are worshiping Him for His attributes and His work in our lives. When we offer prayers of thanksgiving we are worshiping His goodness, mercy and loving-kindness to us. Worship gives glory to God – the only One who deserves to be glorified. He will not share His glory! In fact, praying to anyone or anything other than God seeks to share His glory with another, and therefore it is idolatry. “I am the Lord, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to carved images [idols]” (Isa. 42:8).

There are other elements of prayer such as repentance, confession and petition. We repent knowing that God is forgiving and loving, and He has provided the means of forgiveness in the sacrifice of His Son on the cross. We confess our sins because we know “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1:9). We come to Him with our petitions and intercessions because we know He loves and hears us.

The greatest need of the present-day Church is prayer. Prayer should be the vital breath of the Church, but right now it is gasping for air. A Bible teacher of the past said that the Church goes forward on its knees. The only way for us to go forward is on our knees in prayer!

Praying In Jesus’ Name
Why do we often say at the end of our prayers, “In Jesus name, Amen”? Just before our Lord went to Calvary, He gathered His disciples together in the upper room and taught them many things which they would need to know once He was no longer with them. One subject was prayer. They had observed Him praying many times and had asked Him to teach them to pray (Lk. 11:1). The so-called “Lord’s Prayer” was really a model prayer that He taught them in answer to their desire to learn to pray. It was not meant to be a repetitious chant, but it contains all the elements of relational communication with God as our Father.

We learn more about prayer in John 13-17. Six times between John 13 and John 16 the Lord Jesus emphasized praying in His name. Consider John 14:12-14: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” Prayer is one of the best remedies for a troubled heart. In these verses the Lord gives the conditions for a successful prayer life, one of which is praying in faith. Then He adds that to ask anything of the Father in the name of Jesus means we ask what Jesus would ask, what would please Him and what would bring Him glory. We are authorized to enter where the Lord Jesus is now, at God’s right hand (Heb. 7:25), and speak to the Father anytime – all in Jesus’ name. What a tremendous privilege!

When we are truly praying in Jesus’ name, what we ask of the Father is in keeping with the character and will of the Lord Jesus. Praying in Jesus’ name means the same thing as praying according to the will of God: “This is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” (1 Jn. 5:14-15). When we pray in His name we are acknowledging that our confidence is not in our prayers but in a person. His presence in heaven gives us the assurance that our prayers will be answered if we are obedient. Our prayer life will be nullified if we are not willing to obey God’s Word. The Lord Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (Jn. 14:15). Prayer and obedience go together.

The central theme of John 16:19-33 is prayer: “Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full” (v.24). There are two different words used for “ask” in this passage. In verse 19, the beginning of 23, and 26 “ask” means “to ask a question or a request,” as when someone makes a request of an equal. But the word “ask” in the last part of verse 23 and in verse 24 as well as “pray” in verse 26 means “to request something of a superior.” The Lord never used the second word in His own prayer life, for He was equal to the Father. We, however, come as inferiors to God, asking in Jesus’ name. Only by abiding in Him can we bear fruit for His glory. Praying in Jesus’ name shows that we are associated with the Savior – this is what makes it possible to approach God through prayer.

This portion in John 16 shows we have access to the Father because of Christ’s death, resurrection and ascension, and the presence of the Holy Spirit now. There, at the end of verse 25, is a very important phrase, “I will tell you plainly about the Father” – the purpose of all Bible study and prayer! In John 14 the Lord said that He came to reveal the Father. Think of it: the God of the universe is our Father and we can know Him in an intimate way, having a daily relationship with Him! The veil that closed off the Holy of Holies from man has been torn (Mk. 15:38), and we can now come boldly into His presence to the throne of grace. Listen to Hebrews 4:14-16: “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Because of Christ’s work and the Holy Spirit we have the privilege of talking to God as our Father, directly, without human intermediary. “For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father” (Eph. 2:18).

Saying “in Jesus’ name” at the end of a prayer is not an all-approving formula. If what we ask for or say in prayer is not for God’s glory and according to His will, saying “in Jesus’ name” will be meaningless. Genuinely praying in Jesus’ name and for His glory is what is important, not attaching certain words to the end of a prayer. The intention of the prayer is what matters. When we come with sincerity of heart and truly pray in Jesus’ name we have the assurance that our prayers are heard and will be answered in His time and according to His perfect will. How much are we speaking with our Father?

The Throne Of Grace
Is today a time of need for you? Hebrews 4:16 promises some very special help. Many of God’s children have put it to the test and found that it works.

The place to go is God’s throne of grace. This throne is unusual and different in that judgment does not issue from it. At a future time there will appear “a great white throne” from which God will judge all who have rejected His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. None of God’s children will appear before that throne, for all who stand before Him in that day will be “cast into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:11-15). During the present dispensation of grace, however, God’s throne is “the throne of grace.”

Are you acquainted with this place? When did you last appear before this throne? Our verse says, “Let us come.” Your burdens can be lifted; right now there can be a fresh awareness of God’s grace and mercy in your life. Come to this wonderful place which He has provided for you.

How are we supposed to come to the throne of grace? We are urged to come “boldly,” or confidently, but not rudely, immodestly or shyly. We can speak freely and frankly to God as our Father. A high priest in Israel could enter the Holy of Holies only once a year, and then he had to stand silently before God. But something wonderful happened when Christ died on the cross: “The veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Mt. 27:51). The believer in Christ now has access to what was once the place of exclusion. The apostle Paul declared that all of God’s justified ones “have access by faith into this grace in which we stand” (Rom. 5:2).

We must never be timid about coming to this blessed place. We don’t ever need to hesitate to tell God what exactly is our need. There are times when it is good for us to remain silent, but our time of need is not one of them. Come boldly to His throne.

Hebrews 4:16 also teaches that there is a purpose for our coming to the throne of grace: “that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Mercy is one of our primary needs because of our sins and failures. Our Father is “the Father of mercies” (2 Cor. 1:3), and He is “rich in mercy” (Eph. 2:4). God’s attitude toward His children who are in distress is one of mercy, pity and compassion. In time of need we all appreciate someone who shares in our thoughts and feelings of sorrow or trouble. Will our loving God, who was merciful in saving us (Ti. 3:5), be less merciful now that we are His children? Of course not! Go to Him with confidence and tell Him all about your need.

There are times when “we do not know what we should pray for” (Rom. 8:26). It is possible that you do not know what your needs are. But our Lord assures us that “your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him” (Mt. 6:8, see v.32).

The apostle Paul appeared before the throne of grace when he was suffering from his thorn in the flesh. Three times he asked God to remove this infirmity, but that was not what he needed. It was perfectly natural for him to pray for relief. He received what he needed: the assuring word from the Lord that “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Cor. 12:9). The Lord did not heal Paul nor did He remove his discomfort at that time. Yet it was there, at the throne of grace, where he discovered the infinite, inexhaustible resource of God’s grace. There he found grace for timely help, and that grace is available to you and me. “Let us therefore come boldly.”

A Person is waiting at the throne of grace. He is the Lord Jesus Christ, who died to redeem us from the guilt and penalty of our sins. Four times in this letter to the Hebrews it is stated that He is at the right hand of the throne of God (1:3, 8:1, 10:12, 12:2). In another favorite portion of this same epistle we are shown His three appearings:

1. He did appear to redeem us (9:26),
2. He now appears to represent us (9:24), and
3. He will appear to reward us (9:28).

The teaching in Hebrews about the continuing ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ is precious indeed. His work in redeeming us is completed; His work in representing us continues. The one person who is capable of meeting all our needs is at the right hand of the throne of God. Let us come to Christ.

The Bible tells us about three ways He works in our behalf. First, He meets our need through His prayers. In his epistle to the Romans the apostle Paul asked, “Who is he that condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us” (Rom. 8:34). Christ is not condemning us; He is interceding for us. “He always lives to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:25). Therefore, let us come.

Next, He meets our needs by His power. The throne of grace is the place of power, and our Lord Jesus Christ is the person of power. We see “the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places” (Eph. 1:19-20). Christ has an ability that knows no inability. He is able to:

• “Save to the uttermost” (Heb. 7:25),
• “Keep you from stumbling” (Jude 24),
• “Aid those who are tempted” (Heb. 2:18), and
• “Subdue all things” (Phil 3:21).

Lastly, He meets our needs through His priesthood. While it is true that priesthood is as old as man, let us never lose sight of the fact that it is an institution of God. In Old Testament times the ministry of the priest was to appear before God in behalf of the children of Israel. This divine provision was an expression of the gracious compassion and concern of a holy God for His children. The priest was the Father’s consecrated link between Himself and His own.

None but the Son of God could ever qualify to be the Great High Priest over the house of God. “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:14-15). Aaron’s sons were priests and Aaron was a high priest, but only the Lord Jesus Christ is our Great High Priest.

If you are in need, come to Him now. No problem is too tough, no petition too trifling, and no power too great for Him to handle. Let there be no lack of confidence when coming to your Great High Priest. He knows you. He loves you. He is waiting now for you to come to Him in your time of need.

Do not delay in coming to God’s throne of grace!

By Timothy P. Hadley

Let us remember to persevere in prayer, to continue in what we have learned and to hold fast that which has been entrusted to us by the Holy Spirit. It is not always easy to do so in this world of conflict and confusion, but God is with us.

The psalmist has told us through the Spirit that he was “enlarged” through “pressure” (Ps. 4:1 JND). This is true for us as well. It is in the pressure of trial that spiritual enlargement will come to us, individually and collectively. Therefore, let us persevere in the path set before us for we know that as a result, blessing will surely come. —Brian Reynolds