To the majority of us who are not familiar with electronics, the voices of people carried around the world by means of the radio or telephone, or the image of a person thousands of miles away shown clearly on our television screen are still something of a mystery. But, although many in the world today fail to understand these wonders of invention, they have put their faith in them and found them to be a necessity in their daily lives. For these things to be removed from the world today would bring about international chaos. For progress in this age then, we will admit that such inventions are essential.
And so it is with the use of prayer. If a man or woman desires to make spiritual progress, he or she must allow the exercise of prayer to become a part of their lives. Although we may fail, as with the telephone or television, to understand its functioning, we must place our faith and trust in the knowledge that God who reigns in heaven above will receive and answer prayer.
God will answer prayer
Jesus told His disciples that God would answer their prayers (Matthew 6:6). Evidence is not lacking in the Bible that God answers the prayers of a righteous man or woman. With the examples we present, we shall witness the power of prayer and the wonders performed by it.
Turning to the Old Testament we read that when Moses prayed, the Lord stayed the hand of vengeance upon willful Israel. Hezekiah prayed and the angel of death destroyed Sennacharib and the enemies of the Lord. Elijah prayed and there was no rain for three years. Ahab, by that action, was brought to know that the God of heaven will be feared. Going to the New Testament we read how Peter prayed when a prisoner, and the prison doors were opened. Paul prayed and the Lord stood by him.
Jesus lived by Prayer
The same sincerity, faith and belief that these men had in prayer found its perfection in the Lord Jesus. Jesus, we might say, lived by prayer. To Him prayer was essential to His desire to fulfill the purpose to which He had been called. Paul also speaks of this in Hebrews 5:7. The opposite picture is shown clearly in the Scriptures, that those who fail to use prayer or who treat its power lightly will come to nought, finding no hope or peace in life.
The downfall of the Israelitish nation was caused by lack of two things, faith and prayer. Jesus on one occasion caused a fig tree to dry up because of lack of fruit. From this lesson He drives home the message that if they desire to bear fruit, to give the Creator of heaven and earth pleasure, and to be blest themselves, they must allow these two things to fill their lives. With faith and prayer they would progress and grow spiritually.
With the unrest that prevails between the nations, the hope of prolonged world peace has grown dim. Sickness and disease are still bringing misery to many, and the juvenile problem causes many a heartbreak for parents. Where can man turn for help and strength to face life? Although troubles and hardships beset us we shall be able to look to a brighter future. Jesus said: “Men ought always to pray and not to faint.” The Scriptures tell us to “draw nigh unto God and He will draw nigh unto us” (James 4:8).
God Has provided a way
God has always provided a way whereby man can approach Him. It has always been the desire of God to hear man’s prayer. Yet for a prayer to be heard and received, it must be offered in the way that God has ordained. This is made evident in the history of the nation of Israel when the tabernacle was in their midst (Hebrews 9:2-10). The high priest was appointed by God to represent the people, to offer sacrifices and offerings to Him, and to be an intercessor between God and man. Paul enlarges upon this in Hebrews 5:1.
God explained to Moses how these offerings and sacrifices should be made and warns that to deviate from this method would be fatal. Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron, did deviate from God’s way and were punished with death (Lev. 10:1-3). It is important here that we turn to Lev. 16 12, for we shall learn further concerning the attitude of prayer The incense that the high priest threw on the fire which rose and covered the mercy seat had first to be beaten small (Lev 16 12)
The incense represents our prayers which ascend to heaven where God s mercy seat is, and, like the incense, must always be consistent They should never be of the indifferent type that are hurriedly offered before a meal, or like the frantic pleas to God for help when danger threatens us and all other means of help have failed The Scriptures tell us to pray unceasingly, not Just at certain times (1st Thess 5 16 18)
Read the Bible
We are instructed to read the Bible, and, with the entrance of the Word of God into our hearts become men and women who place our lives in the hands of God through prayer We fully realize that we are not under the law of Moses today, for it has given way to a better law, the law of Christ Yet we are not without an altar of sacrifice or an High Priest to intercede on our behalf Paul describes this beautifully in Hebrews 13 10 15
We are all aware of the events of Christ’s life, but we would like to point out the fact that God did this because He so loved the world Because of His love for you and me He has provided in this day and age, a Mediator and High Priest (Psalm 110) Paul also speaks of this in 1st Timothy 25 Because His sacrifice was perfect it wasn’t necessary for blood to again be shed for there is one God, and one Media tor between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time
Different Stages
In our studies of prayer, then, we see different stages set First, we have the person who is conscious of the fact that he must conform to God’s will if he hopes to have life after death, and to receive strength and help from God for this present life Earnest prayer will bring about guidance along the right channels Cornelius, a Roman centurion, stood in such a position once, and it is written of him that he was a devout man, one that feared God and prayed to God always (Acts 10 1, 2) The outcome of his prayers was that a servant of God was sent to instruct him as to what he should know and do So we read that Cornelius obeyed the message that was given to him and was baptized into the saving Name of Christ He became related to Christ, and so, from that day on, he was able to pray to God through Christ Better still, he was able to ask for forgiveness of his sin, that at the judgment seat he might have the hope of being granted eternal life.
Second, for those who become children of God, brethren and sisters of Christ, there is no need to fear as other men fear For their strength and confidence cometh in promises given by God through Scriptures, such as the following
1st Peter 5 7 Cast all your care upon him, for he careth for you’
Psalm 37 23 26 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and he delighteth in his way Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand I have been young, and now am old, yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread He is ever merciful, and lendeth, and his seed is blessed.
Isaiah 55 6, 7 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon”
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One