Pray Much More

Many times we may speak to individuals in the byways of life, at our workplaces, etc. and we speak to them of the fulfilling of the prophecies of the Bible in the things that have been happening up until now, since Sept.11, in Iraq and in other places. But they seem not to understand what we are saying; that we are trying to show them that there is a God and that the time is short.

We need to pray and ask the Lord to help the people to understand what we are saying, but how do we pray?
One day the disciples came to Jesus as He was praying. They were very impressed and they asked; Lord teach us how to pray (Luke 11). Jesus gave an example of prayer in what is known as the Lord’s Prayer.

There are many examples of prayer we have in the Bible: We can pray in strong faith like Joshua when the sun stood still, as in the prayer of the confession of Daniel, and Ezra as he prayed for the people. A good prayer of contrition is that of David for his great sin, asking the Lord to search his heart and to make it as white as snow.

Something to remember when we pray for the sick is that we need to be very careful and always say “if it is the Lord’s will” that the sick person (s) we prayed for should be healed and God be glorified. The 3rd commandment says: “thou shalt not take the Lord’s name in vain.” In the Lord’s Prayer in Matt.6:9-13, we read in verse 6 that we should not take the Lord’s name in vain when we pray. There is no need to mention the Lord’s name so much (it is only mentioned once in the prayer); no need for vain repetition, God hears us.

So then for whom, how, why or what we pray for is outlined in the model of the Lord’s Prayer.

(1) Jesus teaches us to call His Father our Father. He is not ashamed to call us brethren. Hebrews 2:11. No earthly parent ever pleaded so earnestly with an erring child as He who made you pleads with the transgressor. No human, loving interest ever followed the impenitent with such tender invitations. God dwells in every abode; He hears every word that is spoken, listens to every prayer that is offered, tastes the sorrows and disappointments of every soul, regards the treatment that is given to father, mother, sister, friend, and neighbor. He cares for our necessities, and His love and mercy and grace are continually flowing to satisfy our need. {MB 105.2} It will be your joy to recognize and honor your relation to your Father and to every member of His family. You will rejoice to do any act, however humble, that will tend to His glory or to the well-being of your kindred. {MB 105.3}

(2) To hallow the name of the Lord requires that the words in which we speak of the Supreme Being be uttered with reverence. “Holy and reverend is his name” (Ps. 111:9). We are never in any manner to treat lightly the titles or appellations of the Deity. In prayer we enter the audience chamber of the Most High; and we should come before Him with holy awe.

(3) His kingdom will not come until the good tidings of His grace have been carried to all the earth. Hence, as we give ourselves to God, and win other souls to Him, we hasten the coming of His kingdom.

4) “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven,” is a prayer that the reign of evil on this earth may be ended, that sin may be forever destroyed, and the kingdom of righteousness be established. {MB 110.1}

(5) In teaching us to ask every day for what we need–both temporal and spiritual blessings–God has a purpose to accomplish for our good.

He would have us realize our dependence upon His constant care, for He is seeking to draw us into communion with Himself. In this communion with Christ, through prayer and the study of the great and precious truths of His word, we shall as hungry souls be fed; as those that thirst, we shall be refreshed at the fountain of life. {MB 113.1}

(6) When we feel that we have sinned and cannot pray, it is then the time to pray. We should not try to lessen our guilt by excusing sin. We must accept God’s estimate of sin, and that is heavy indeed. Calvary alone can reveal the terrible enormity of sin. If we had to bear our own guilt, it would crush us. But the sinless One has taken our place; though undeserving, He has borne our iniquity. “If we confess our sins,” God “is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

(7) We are not to be dismayed by trial, bitter though it be, we should pray that God will not permit us to be brought where we shall be drawn away by the desires of our own evil hearts. It is not safe for us to linger to contemplate the advantages to be reaped through yielding to Satan’s suggestions. If we venture on Satan’s ground we have no assurance of protection from his power. So far as in us lies, we should close every avenue by which the tempter may find access to us. The prayer, “Bring us not into temptation,” is itself a promise. If we commit ourselves to God we have the assurance, He “will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13. {MB 118.2}

(8) “Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is Thine… In Thine hand is power and might; and in Thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.” 1 Chronicles 29:11, 12. {MB 122.1}.

“In the case of the noble man at Capernaum whose child was sick to death. Jesus revealed to him his selfish motive of seeking Him. The Lord wants us to plead our great need of His help to cure us of our sickness. We like the nobleman need to plead in ‘agony of supplication’ as when Jacob cried; ‘I will not let thee go unless thou bless me.’ When we come to Him in faith, every petition enters into the heart of God. When we have asked for His blessings we should believe that we receive it, and thank Him that we have received it then go about our duties, assured that the blessing will be realized when we need it most. {DA 200.}

Sometimes, we may get caught up in our busy lives, we are to come aside and rest awhile. “As activity increases, and men become successful in doing any work for God, there is danger of trusting to human plans and methods. There is a tendency to pray less, and to have less faith. Like the disciples, we are in danger of losing sight of our dependence on God, and seeking to make a savior of our activity. We need to look constantly to Jesus, realizing that it is His power which does the work. While we are to labor earnestly for the salvation of the lost, we must also take time for meditation, for prayer, and for the study of the Word of God. Only the work accomplished with much prayer, and sanctified by the merit of Christ, will in the end prove to have been efficient for good.” {DA 362.}

Many times we hear of hardened criminals, abusers, torturers etc and their acts and life. It may bring feelings of disgust; but like the demoniac (filled with a legion of evil spirits) God will hear their prayer if they sincerely seek His help to leave their evil habits behind. “None have fallen so low, none are so vile, but that they can find deliverance in Christ. The demoniac, in place of prayer, could utter only the words of Satan; yet the heart’s unspoken appeal was heard. No cry from a soul in need, though it fail of utterance in words, will be unheeded.” {DA 258}. We may not have any regard for these people or even for those among us whom we may term trouble makers. But we must pray for them; Jesus died for all men.

A situation occurred after the transfiguration, when Jesus came down from the mountain with the three disciples to meet the others. (Matt. 17: 1-8, 15). In the end He said: “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. We need also to do this as part of our prayer; especially when we need to overcome some great sin (s) or situation (s).

These times may require fasting and fervent prayer, with much humiliation of the heart to strengthen our faith.

Jesus has promised that: “He would be present before the Father to make request (our prayers) for them. The prayer of the humble suppliant He presents as His own desire in that soul’s behalf. Every sincere prayer is heard in heaven. It may not be fluently expressed; but if the heart is in it, it will ascend to the sanctuary where Jesus ministers and He will present it to the Father without one awkward, stammering word, beautiful and fragrant with the incense of His own perfection. ‘In My name,’ Christ bade His disciples pray. In Christ’s name His followers are to stand before God. Through the value of the sacrifice made for them, they are of value in the Lord’s sight. Because of the imputed righteousness of Christ they are accounted precious. For Christ’s sake the Lord pardons those that fear Him. He does not see in them the vileness of the sinner. He recognizes in them the likeness of His Son, in whom they believe.” {DA 667}

The disciples were sleeping in self sufficiency in the Garden of Gethsemane. They did not look to the Mighty Helper as Christ had counseled them to do. Let us cooperate with the Lord in these last times, pray more and not die in our sleep. Let us agonize and pray for transformation of character; we need to pray much more.
Amen.

Michael Newby, Toronto