In a few minutes we are going to “go to the Lord in prayer.” Have you ever thought about that phrase? We hear it from time to time, but maybe you don’t use it. Do we ever actually “go” to the Lord? Are we ever out of the presence of the Lord? In a few minutes we are going to spend some time in prayer – something which we think is valuable. What is the value of speaking with Jehovah? What is the value of prayer?
Other questions might be: what are the effects of prayer? What does prayer do? It seems to me in my limited understanding of the Bible, and in my non-existent understanding of modern psychology, that there are three general opinions about the effects of prayer. Prayer has are three purposes, approaches, or effects – objective, subjective and rejective. There is the atheistic opinion of prayer, the humanistic opinion and the Biblistic opinion. The objective approach says that prayer accomplishes a great many things outside of us. The subjective approach on other hand says that prayer only changes us: we who pray. The rejective approach, of course, is no approach at all; it’s a retreat into unreality. I will be brief tonight, but consider these things –
First, there is the Atheistic opinion about prayer – the rejective idea.
This is the theology which says that prayer accomplishes absolutely nothing. It is rooted in the assumption that there is no God to address anyway. As I suggested the other day, it is theological ignorance based on a deliberate ignoring of the evidence. But Creation demands a Creator, and a Creator suggested omnipotence. And further evidence suggests that this Creator is kind and beneficent, so why not seek His blessings?
For the sake of this message, I don’t think there is any reason to consider this any further. “The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God.” The fool sees no need to pray. He rejects the idea of prayer.
That brings us to the humanistic opinion – the subjective idea about prayer.
Some who deny the Word of God say that prayer is effective only in what it does for the person who prays. They think that prayer is a vent for the soul; it reduces the chance for explosions of emotion. Prayer increases hope which supplies some necessary chemical to the body. Rather than depression, prayer helps us release our frustrations and saves us from self-harm. It lifts us up and sets us upon a rock, even if that rock is only in our minds. Is any of this right? Does prayer have a subjective benefit?
I will admit that prayer cannot help but have an effect on the people who pray. There is the emotional part and perhaps a psychological aspect, but I’m no expert in such things. When a Christian comes into the throne room of the Lord, we become like Moses. We are like Moses in the desert standing before the burning bush. That backslidden shepherd on the backside of the desert was a better man in God’s presence. And when he was on Mt. Sinai listening to the voice of God, receiving the commands of the Lord, glancing at the glory of Jehovah, of course he was a better man.
Time spent with the Lord – honest, humble, worshipful time spent in the presence of God – cannot be anything but healthful for the child of God. Of course the hypocrite & fool stumbling like a drunk into temple of God is asking for immediate judgment But for the child running into God’s oval office will always find a personal blessing. Unlike Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah in the fiery furnace, our clothes do smell as though we have been in talking to Him Who is a devouring flame. Those who speak to and listen to God, gain a special tone in their voice as they later to talk to men. There is a psychological and emotional value and effect to prayer.
But why? Because the praying Christian knows, by the promise of the Lord, that the omnipotent God is listening, and that He answers prayer. There is a subjective effect to prayer because we believe & know that there is objective value to prayer. Many times the results of prayer are a matter of faith. And at other times the results are a matter of history and fact.
If some foolish modernistic or humanistic preacher insists that prayer is ONLY a vent for soul, he will soon find that no one is going to pray. It is not enough. The subjective value of prayer can be measured only in pennies, when the real possibilities are in the millions of dollars.
The fact is – there is an Objective effect to prayer.
Now in this, the mound of mush I call my “mind” can get muddled. What DIRECT effect does PRAYER have on circumstances? In one sense, the answer is – None whatsoever. I believe in the absolute sovereignty of God. Jehovah is not obligated to either you or me. He doesn’t have to explain anything to either of us. He doesn’t need our permission or our exhortation to do anything He chooses to do. And our prayer doesn’t change God’s mind, activate His emotions, or motivate His actions.
Well then, why should I pray? Because of the relationship which HE has ordained between the prayer of the saint and Himself. What effect does prayer have on the Lord? Well, prayer glorifies Him. This is because, if we are praying properly, we acknowledge our need and His superiority. Our prayers should humbly express our ineptitude, our impotence, our ignorance. And they should declare our faith and joy in God’s ability to do the things which we think are needed. Also, if done properly, the supplicant comes to the Lord filled with love and gratitude. And with a willingness to receive whatever He has for us in regard to the requests being made. Prayer glorifies the Lord, and thus our prayers please the Lord. “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.” What is prayer? It should be communion and fellowship with the Lord. If our prayer is nothing but demands, wishes and expressions of humanistic hope, then we’ve never really learned to pray. Proper prayer pleases Him, unlike few other things can ever please the Lord. Which pleases the Lord more? Sacrifice or obedience? Following that, who pleased the Lord more Mary or Martha?
Consider a few Biblical illustrations of prayer. Abraham prayed for a son in Genesis 15:1-3 – “After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.” Notice the conversational nature of this prayer. Remember that Jehovah had already hinted to Abraham that he would have a son. “The LORD said unto Abram…..all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, & to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land.” Would God have given to Abraham Isaac without his prayer? Absolutely, because it was ordained that a future son of Abraham would provide salvation. But that prayer brought the man into the presence and pleasure of Jehovah. And I believe that God ordained that prayer as much as He did the fulfilment of the prayer & promise. Abraham’s prayer was a blessing to both God and the man, and was ordained to be a blessing to millions of people since.
Abraham prayed for Lot in Genesis 18:23. “And Abraham drew near (to the Lord), and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?” In this case did Abraham have a promise upon which to base his prayer? No he didn’t. What role did Abraham’s prayer play in saving Lot’s life? Is there a clear answer? Abraham prayed for Abimelech in Genesis 20:17 after he had taken Abraham’s wife Sarah – “So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.” Would there have been healing if Abraham had not prayed? Listen to the earlier verse 7 – “Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.” The Lord intended to bless Abimelech, but He also ordained that Abraham pray. In Exodus 17:8-14 Aaron and Hur, in type, helped Moses to pray during Israel’s battle with the Amalikites. Would Joshua have won the battle without Moses prayer? Would Joshua have won the battle without Aaron and Hur? Moses prayed for his sister in her leprosy, and she was healed. Elijah prayed for rain there at the top of Mount Carmel and it rained, but would it have rained without his prayer? There are hundreds of examples of answered prayer – in both testaments. The church prayed for Peter’s release from prison in Acts 12:5-17.
Did the Lord know what He was going to do beforehand in each of these cases? Would the Lord have done those things whether people prayed or not? In some cases, yes, He would have, but in other cases we can’t know for sure. Then did these prayers help God to make up His mind? I don’t believe so.
Well, then what did those prayers accomplish? They brought God’s people into the equation, giving them a role to play in the events. They glorified God by putting God’s people in their proper place before Him. And this may be one of the most important points to consider. Does the man who thinks that his prayer pushes God into action, really glorify the Lord? Isn’t more glory brought to the Lord, by the saint who humbly beseeches the Lord, but who is willing to accept whatever the Lord provides? And what about the man who doesn’t pray at all? It appears to me that Moses’ prayers were ordained by God, as much as the birth of John or Isaac.
In other words, if I don’t pray, there is good likelihood that the things I don’t bring to God’s throne are not the Lord’s will, and will not come to pass. If we pray, it may or may not be the Lord’s will to grant our request. Nevertheless, it is still the Lord’s will that we pray. I still need to pray. But what if I refuse to pray or neglect to pray? Aren’t we telling God to sit still? Aren’t we saying that God’s blessing is not necessary in this case?
But what do we do when God does not respond to our prayers as we would like Him to? Paul’s thorn in the flesh might be used as an example. Despite not receiving relief, Paul was still a better man for praying. We are always made better through honest, humble prayer. I’m not trying to share with you the metaphysics or psychology of prayer. I’m not sure that I can define either of those terms. My point is there are reasons, grounds and ample opportunity for us to pray.