By: RICHARD BAKER.
(Bennington, Kansas.)
I. WHO SHOULD PRAY?
“I WILL therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” 1 Tim. 2:8.
“Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” Luke 18:1.
“Every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoreth her head.” 1 Cor. 11:5. (note see 1Cor. 11:15 definition of “uncovered”)
“He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.” Ps. 102:17.
“The prayer of the upright is his delight.” Prov. 15:8, last clause.
“He heareth the prayer of the righteous.” Prov. 15:29, last clause.
“If any man be a worshiper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.” John 9:31.
” Is any among you afflicted? let him pray.” James 5:13.
“The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers.” 1 Pet. 3:12, first clause.
II. WHOSE PRAYERS ARE NOT ACCEPTED?
“He that turneth away his ear ,from, hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.” Prov. 28:9.
“Now we know that God heareth not sinners.” John 9 :31, first clause.
“The Lord is far from the wicked.” Prov. 15 :29, first clause.
“And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.” Matt. 6:5.
“And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you; yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.” Isa. 1:15.
“The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord.” Prov. 15:8, first clause.
III. THE TIME FOR PRAYER.
“Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud, and he shall hear my voice.” Ps. 55:17.
“Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Luke 21: 36.
“And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.” Luke 6:12.
“Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thess. 5:17.
“Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually.” 1 Chron. 16:11.
“Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.” Col. 4:2.
“But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” Acts 6:4.
“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.” Isa. 55:6 (See also Luke 18:1-8.)
IV. THE LENGTH OF PRAYERS.
“When ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do : for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.” Matt. 6 :7.
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites? for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.” Matt. 23:14.
(See the prayer of the publican in contrast to these prayers. Luke 18 :18.)
V. HOW TO PRAY.
“Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” Mark 11:24.
“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” Matt. 21:22.
“The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.” Ps. 145:18.
“But without faith, it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Heb. 11:6.
“But let him ask in faith, nothing waivering.” James 1:6, first clause.
“What is it then? I will pray with, the spirit, and I will pray with, the understanding also.” 1 Cor. 14:15, first part. (See also the example of our Lord, as recorded in Matt. 6:9-13.)
We should pray in public. (See 1 Sam. 7 :5; 12 : 19 ; also Job 42: 8.)
We should pray in secret: “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” Matt. 6:6.
“And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.” Matt. 14:23 ; also John 6 :16. (See further, Acts 10 : 9 ; 2 Sam. 7:18-29.)
VI. FOR WHOM TO PRAY.
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Matt. 5:44.
“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” Eph. 6:18.
“And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up.” James 5:15.
“I exhort, therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and
honesty.” 1 Tim. 2:1, 2.
“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another.” James 5 :16, first part.
VII. WHAT TO PRAY FOR.
First, we have a beautiful example in the Lord’s prayer,— the hallowing of God’s name, the soon coming of his kingdom, the obedience to his will, the supply of our daily bread, the forgiveness of our sins, to be kept from temptations, and to be delivered from all evil. Matt. 6:9-13.
“Ask, and it shall be given you.” Matt. 7:7, first clause.
“Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Phil. 4:6.
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” James 1:5.
“Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.” Acts 8:22.
“Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: remove far from me vanity and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.” Prov. 30:7-9.
“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.” Isa. 55:7.
“Beloved, I wish [margin, pray] above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” 3 John 2.
“That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” 1 Tim. 2:2.
VIII. THE EFFECTS OF PRAYER.
“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16.
“All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” Matt. 21:22.
All through the Bible we find many instances of the effects of prayer: Abraham’s intercession for the inhabitants of Sodom, as recorded in Genesis 18; Jacob’s prayer on his return from Laban, being in fear of Esau (Genesis 32); Moses’ prayers when the Israelites were mal treating him (Ex. 17:4; 32:11, etc.); Samuel’s prayer against the Philistines (1 Sam. 7:9); Solomon’s prayer for wisdom (1 Kings 3:9); Hezekiah’s prayer for a longer life (2 Kings 20); Daniel’s prayer in Daniel 9; Cornelius’ prayer (Acts 10:4), and many more might be quoted.
“But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.” 1 Pet. 4:7.
The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald Aug. 27, 1889