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Prayer and the Bible Part 3
The Kingdom and all matters pertaining to it must be prayed for; and if men did not pray angels would. We read that angels desired to look into these things; but God has not committed the future Kingdom into the hands of the angelic hosts, but to specially chosen men, the Son of Man himself being chief. The prophets of old foretold of the sufferings of this chosen class, and the glory of the Kingdom to follow (1 Pet.1:12; Heb.2:5). Jesus, addressing his disciples, said: "Unto you it is given to know the mystery (secret) of the Kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing that may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand" (Mark 4:11,12). It is not every one who can be the disciple of Jesus; only those who deny themselves and take up their cross daily, and follow him into his sacrificial death, can claim discipleship (Luke 9:23; 14:27; Rom.6:3‑5; Psa.50:5). Effective prayer implies sacrifice, and consequent suffering. Here is a great secret underlying power‑producing prayer; and we would that we could make it clear—the Kingdom cannot come unless it is prayed for, and those only who know God's will concerning the Kingdom can pray acceptably. It is not every one who repeats: "Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as in heaven," who is praying acceptably, for few indeed know what God's will is, and what kind of Kingdom is to come. According to the plain declaration of the Scriptures (1 John 5:14,15), only such as know God's will can be heard by him, and receive an answer. Therefore, the Kingdom shall come, and God's will shall be done on earth, not because millions in Christendom have for centuries prayed for it, but on account of the few who have known the secrets of the Kingdom, and have been heard and answered. Just why it is that the prayers of the specially instructed few can accomplish the great work of establishing the Kingdom of God, will, we believe, become clear as we proceed. What Prayer is. There are a number of senses in which the word prayer is used, as: petition, intercession, entreaty, supplication, confession, invocation, blessing, praise, thanksgiving, adoration, devotion. These all imply communion with God as the centre of power, and the giver of every perfect gift. The fundamental thought is that of a petitioner pleading with a contrite heart for favours for himself, or on behalf of others. As befitting the hallowed majesty of the great Being with whom he communes, the petitioner approaches in a reverential attitude of heart, in a thankful mood because of favours already enjoyed, and in loving adoration and praise at the realisation of the wonderful perfection of God's character as demonstrated in his gracious and bountiful provision in reserve for the children of men. In no sense, therefore, is praying to be thought of as commanding; although the attitude of a commander may often be necessary for the Lord's co‑labourer, in order to bring into effect that for which he has previously prayed. In other words, after having prayed to God according to his will, we are sometimes invested with authority to command the performance of God's will. Our meaning will appear clearer by a contemplation of Mark 11:13,14,20‑24. While the subject of prayer is wide, and its phrases many and impossible to comprehend in a sentence, one thing is specially prominent, namely, that the only prayers that are heard and answered by Jehovah are those uttered according to his will (1 John 5:14,15; Psa.34:15; Psa.66:18‑20; John 9:31). And if God's will is reflected in acceptable prayer, then prayer can be said to be the expression of God's will. It is this definition of prayer we desire particularly to consider. Whatever other definitions can be profitably brought forward and studied, this one, that prayer is the expression of God's will, is thoroughly Scriptural; and to understand it is most helpful to the child of God. None can know God's will and pray in accordance therewith, unless they have given themselves in sacrifice to him in the way appointed. This is the teaching of Rom.12:1,2 where we read: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God." Complete knowledge of God's perfect will cannot be acquired without careful Christian study and experience; yet from the very first the spirit‑begotten son of the heavenly Father can pray acceptably. The Father of Spirits has so ordered it that we who obey the call to be sacrificing ‑ disciples of Christ shall be heard by him, though not at all times able to frame our petitions in suitable words nor even fully realise what are our proper desires as New Creatures in Jesus Christ. In this connection we specially notice the Apostle's words in Rom.8:26,27 Diaglott rendering: "The spirit assists our weakness; for we do not know what we should pray for as we ought; but the spirit itself intercedes with unspoken groans. And he who searches the hearts, knows what is the mind of the spirit, because according to God it intercedes on behalf of Saints." This vague pleading of the child to the Father will continue with us in measure to the end of our Christian course; for the spirit‑begotten sons of God cannot be satisfied until they awake in the spirit‑realm in the likeness of Christ. (1 John 3:2). As the Apostle says: even we ourselves, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, "groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body" (Rom.8:23). But while our inarticulate yearnings in the spirit are acknowledged and answered by Him, who reads and understands the heart, it is still possible, and necessary, that we should study the Holy Scriptures to show ourselves approved unto God, workmen that need not to be ashamed (2 Tim.2:15). Otherwise, if we did not study to rightly divide the Word of Truth, how could we know God's perfect will and pray in accordance therewith? Prayer is a necessary office, to which those who show themselves approved spiritual‑workers are appointed (John 15:15,16). And as the will of our heavenly Father is made manifest to us through our study of his Word, it is our glad privilege to pray according to the things thus revealed and so obtain the blessings promised. This, however, requires a close adherence to our covenant of sacrifice. Our own will must go as God's will is done, until at the end of our course the will of our Father is supreme, and our own will is entirely laid aside. It was so with Jesus to the end (Mark 14:35,36), and it must be so with all who desire to be where he is (1 Cor.14:15). ME
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The
most wonderful kingdom the world shall ever know is to be established as the
result of prayer. When Jesus taught his disciples to pray to the Father for the
Kingdom to come, and for His will to be done on earth as in heaven, he was
committing to them a necessary office (John 15:16). We must not suppose that the
Kingdom would have come in any case, whether prayed for or not. We do well to
grasp the proper thought, as it makes much difference in our attitude toward
prayer. Prayer is in itself one of the factors in Jehovah's fore‑ordained
Plan of Salvation. Tennyson expressed a great truth when he sang: "More
things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of."