True prayer is offered to God the Father in Christ's Name

In the New Testament, prayer is always directed to God the Father (Eph. 3:14), offered in the name of the Lord Jesus (Eph. 3:21), and interpreted by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:26). How often have we heard in public, prayer finished with the phrase 'for Christ's sake, Amen' and so rushed over as though it was of little importance and merely a formal or correct way of concluding. Do we realize that it is only because of the Lord Jesus Christ and His precious redemptive work that prayer is possible at all? If we do, then we shall be very conscious of this supreme fact as we pray and ask that all His fragrance should be cast over all our spiritual breathings to God.

The center of purpose of all prayer is to bring each one of us into conformity to the Lord's will, whatever that may involve. Alas, so many of us journey such a long way along the road of Christian experience before we reach this point. When we can honestly and truthfully say we long for nothing so much as His will in our lives, whatever that may cost, and when our wills are completely submerged in His, we have progressed far towards the goal of spiritual maturity. We shall not reach this stage until we know something of the deception, frailty, and sinfulness of our own hearts, and, at the same time, the boundless love and infinite concern for our eternal happiness that exists in the heart of our Heavenly Father toward each one of us. Then, and not till then, can we say as the Saviour did, 'Thy will, not mine, be done' (Luke 22:42).

God is working to a plan and chooses to use redeemed human lives to carry it out, then the question arises as to what part each of us is going to play in its unfolding. The importance of this
can hardly be overemphasized. Does it not mean that we must go to the Throne of Grace constantly and ask 'Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?' (Acts 9:6). We are assured by the apostle Paul that it is according to the 'effectual working in the measure of every part' that the Body grows (Eph. 4:16), and this will only take place when every member of the Church is doing just the
work intended by our Heavenly Father and none other. What this involves can only be discovered by prayer and waiting upon God.

As there are no useless members in the physical body, so there should be none in the spiritual Body. That prayer does make a difference, the following Scriptures make abundantly clear:

'Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified ... and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men' (2 Thess. 3:1,2).

Now it could be argued that it was obviously the Lord's will that His Word should run unhindered and be glorified. If so, then why the need for prayer? But the apostle knew how easily the human factor could enter in and the flesh and the Devil intrude, and so hinder God's work:

'Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds' (Col. 4:3).

The same thought occurs here, but this time Paul is thinking of himself and any possible failure on his part to make known the great Secret:

'For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ' (Phil. 1:19).

Whether we take salvation to mean Paul's deliverance from prison or in a much deeper sense, his salvation with age-abiding glory (2 Tim. 2:10), is not our concern at the moment. It is clear that the suffering he was undergoing in his Roman prison was for the Lord's gain and the furtherance of the truth, and the prayers of the Philippian saints contributed a vital part to this great end.

Whether this would have happened if the church at Philippi had not constantly remembered the apostle in prayer, it is idle to speculate, but it is quite evident that Paul took them as a factor to be reckoned with in the outworking of the Lord's will for himself:

'But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you' (Philem. 22).

Here, quite obviously, the apostle is contemplating the possibility of his being set free from prison and in a position to visit Philemon; and this possibility is inextricably woven with Philemon's intercession for his release. If prayer makes no difference to the daily happenings in our lives, why should Paul say, 'I trust that through, or, on account of (dia) your prayers, I shall be given unto you'? (22).

'Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together (sunagonizomai) with me in your prayers to God for me; that I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judæa; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints; that I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed' (Rom. 15:30 -32).

Here Paul asks for prayer for four important things concerning himself and mentions God's will regarding them. If the fulfillment of this will be automatic, there would be no need for such prayer, but it is evident that the apostle did not so regard it, but rather that the petitions of the Church at Rome could materially help forward the fulfillment of his desire.

We trust that careful consideration of these passages will impress upon the mind of both writer and reader how vastly important our daily prayer life is and how it can very practically affect not only our own Christian service but also the service of others.

From time to time we come across believers who are exercised about their sphere of service and witness for the Lord. They are rightly concerned about these things. It is not our province to direct the conscience of such, but we can say that there is a supreme ministry we can all engage in, namely that of intercession. It will cost us something in time and perhaps in other ways, and we shall get no human commendation for it, as it is a thing only known to us and our Saviour.

We ask you to pray for us and we will be praying for you that we all do the Father's will in the work He has called us to do in The Name of His Son Christ Jesus our Lord.

Pray Together