Prayer Helps, Part 4

Today I wish to conclude this series of meditations on the helpfulness of prayer. In the preceding meditations we have cited verses that clearly prove that prayer helps and we have given Scriptural examples of prayers helping. We have shown that prayer still helps even when we do not receive the specific things we ask for. And we have stressed that prayer helps far more than we can fully comprehend. That prayer can have far reaching effects beyond anything we imagine is made quite clear in Paul’s words:

Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

In today’s meditation I wish to again demonstrate the far-reaching effects of prayer by citing the following passage from the book of Revelation.

Revelation 8:2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.

3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

In reading this passage there is an obvious connection between the offering up of “the prayers of all saints” with the casting into the earth of fire of the altar and with the voices, thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake. Also connected with the offering up of these prayers is the preparing to sound of the seven angels with the seven trumpets.

The angel that offers the incense with the prayers of all saints is the Lord Jesus Christ. The primary meaning of the word angel in Hebrew, Greek, and English is a messenger. The Lord Jesus Christ is called the messenger (angel) of the covenant in Malachi 3:1. It is Christ Who is the one mediator between God and men by Whom the prayers of the saints are accepted with God (1 Timothy 2:5)

After this angel offers the prayers of the saints with the incense, the censor is filled with fire and is cast into the earth and in connection with this there are voices, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake. These phenomena all suggest the terror of God. These things were manifested on Mount Sinai and it struck terror in the hearts of those who heard and beheld them.

Exodus 19:16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.

17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.

18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.

19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.

Observe on Mount Sinai fire, voices, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake, all which caused the people to tremble. As you continue reading in Revelation 8-9 you will see that the sounding of the seven trumpets introduce the working of terrors in the earth. But all of this happens when the prayers of all saints ascend up before God through the mediation of the angel. This leads us to conclude that there is a connection between the prayers of the saints and the outpouring of the terrifying judgments of God upon this earth.

Our Lord taught His saints to pray continually to be avenged of their adversaries.

Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

The Psalms contain many petitions to God for the saints to be avenged of their enemies. Think of how many times you have prayed to be delivered out of the hand of the wicked. Do you not pray for their wickedness to end? And do not God’s judgments put a stop to their enterprises? Yea, His judgments are the answer to your prayer.

Only God knows how many prayers have been prayed by His saints from the beginning of earth’s history that God might maintain their cause and avenge them of their adversaries. It seems sometimes that God is slow to respond, but whenever He does arise to execute His vengeance, the work will be speedy. And then shall all those prayers of all those saints be fully and finally answered. Think about it, believer, when time is winding down and this earth’s history is drawing to a close, a series of devastating judgments will be unleashed on this earth. The wicked will be made to suffer for their blasphemies against God, His word, and His church; for their persecutions of the righteous; for all their filthy sins that have defiled this earth. And all this will come to pass in answer to your prayers. Next time you pray to God the words “thy kingdom come….deliver us from evil,” think about the fact that the effect of what you are asking will be keenly felt in the last hours of this earth’s history. In the face of such a stupendous fact, it seems almost an understatement to say, “Prayer helps.” I close with this following beautiful poem:

There is an eye that never sleeps

Beneath the wing of night;

There is an ear that never shuts

When sink the beams of light.

There is an arm that never tires

When human strength gives way;

There is a love that never fails

When earthly loves decay.

That eye is fixed on seraph throngs;

That arm upholds the sky;

That ear is filled with angel songs;

That love is throned on high.

But there’s a power which man can wield,

When mortal aid is vain,

That eye, that arm, that love to reach,

That listening ear to gain.

That power is PRAYER, which soars on high,

Through Jesus, to the throne;

And moves the hand which moves the world,

To bring salvation down!

Prayer Helps, Part 3

Prayer obviously helps because our Lord Jesus taught us to do it. He taught that “every one that asketh receiveth” (Matthew 7:8). It always helps to do what Christ taught us to do. So much of our misery arises from our failure to follow the teaching of our Lord.

We saw last time that prayer helps far beyond anything that we realize. We gave an example that showed how believers today are still being helped by prayers prayed for Paul, Silvanus, and Timotheus by the church of the Thessalonians. Imagine prayers helping for nearly 2000 years!

The following passage plainly declares that prayer helps and that a lot. It also gives an example of just how much prayer can help.

James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

In analyzing this passage, let’s begin by defining that word avail.

Avail – To have force or efficacy for the accomplishment of a purpose; to be effectual, serviceable, or of use; to afford help.

Here we are straightly told that “the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man” affords help. That it “availeth much” tells us it helps a lot. An exciting fact that emerges from this passage is that the prayer of a single man can help a lot. It does not require of group of people praying to get results, even great results. The example of how much a single man’s prayer can help is given in the experience of Elijah, whose prayer availed to stop the rain for three and half years. And when he prayed again, it rained and the earth brought forth fruit. How many dramatic shifts in climate have resulted from prayers? How many rains and harvests have occurred because someone prayed? Granted, we do not always get the weather we pray for. But do you ever consider how many times you have received the kind of weather you prayed for? We get so focused on what we don’t get, that we overlook the many things we do receive in answer to prayer.

Because of the fall of man into sin, we will always experience wants, inequities, and troubles in this world. Through prayer some of these will be removed, but not all of them. God has not ordained prayer to make a paradise of this world. But God has ordained prayer as a means to help us deal with this fallen world. In a discourse recorded in John 14-16, our Lord had this to tell His disciples:

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

We will have tribulation in this world. Prayer is not going to stop that from happening. But Christ said the things He did in this discourse that in Him His disciples might have peace. Notice how many times Christ spoke of prayer in this discourse (John 14:13-14; 15:7, 16:23-24, 26-27). That is because prayer is a means whereby we can experience this peace that our Lord gives.

Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

A peace that keeps our hearts and minds helps a great deal when we are going through tribulation. And this peace comes as a result of prayer. Again, prayer helps!

Indeed, we do not always get everything we ask for in prayer. Prayer is not a means to control God to do our will. God is not a magic genie at our service to just give us anything we want. The reason we sometimes doubt the helpfulness of prayer is that we are using prayer as a way of getting God to do our will. Paul prayed three times that the Lord would remove his thorn in the flesh. God did not give Paul what Paul wanted, but He did give him grace sufficient to bear his infirmity.

2 Corinthians 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

But notice! Although Paul did not get what he specifically asked for, he did get grace to help bear his problem. So in the final analysis, prayer helped. One thing we can be assured of in bringing things to God in prayer and that is that we will receive “grace to help in time of need,” even if the particular need is not removed.

Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

So even though you do not get everything you ask for in prayer, do not overlook all the things you have received in answer to prayer. And do not overlook the fact that sincere, fervent prayer helps even if you do not get what you ask for. Do not give up on prayer because you do not get something you ask for. If you do that, you will be rebelling against God and you will not receive the grace you need to help. Remember this:

James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

Prayer Helps, Part 2

In our last meditation we began considering the thought expressed in 2 Corinthians 1:11 that prayer helps.

2 Corinthians 1:11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

Let us first consider that prayer helps us when we pray for ourselves. Scripture cites numerous examples of people who prayed for themselves and were helped. Jacob prayed to be delivered from the hand of his brother Esau and God delivered him (Genesis 32:9-11). Hannah prayed for a child and God granted her request (1 Samuel 1:9-11, 19-20). Solomon asked God to give him an understanding heart to be able to judge Israel and God gave him what he asked (1 Kings 3:9-12). Hezekiah prayed that he might not die and he was granted fifteen more years of life (Isaiah 38). In the Psalms David recounts times when God helped him in answer to his prayers.

Psalms 34:4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

Psalms 138:3 In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.

But not only do our prayers for ourselves help us, but our prayers for others actually help them as well. This is why Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “ye also helping together by prayer for us.” Our prayers help others. When Abraham learned of the coming judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah, he prayed for his nephew Lot, who lived in Sodom. God heard and delivered Lot (Genesis 18:23; 19:29). Isaac prayed for his wife Rebekah because she was barren. God heard and granted her conception (Genesis 25:21). When Israel went to do battle with the Philistines, Samuel ceased not to cry unto God for Israel to save them from the Philistines. God heard the prayer of Samuel and Israel subdued the Philistines (1 Samuel 7:7-13). When Peter was imprisoned, “prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.” Again, God heard and Peter was brought out of prison by an angel (Acts 12:1-17). Then we saw in our last study the example of the churches praying that Paul might be delivered so as to bring the collection that had been gathered to the poor saints at Jerusalem, which prayer God heard and answered. We could give other examples, but these suffice to show that our prayers for others help them.

You and I have no idea how many blessings flow into our lives as a result of the prayers of others for us. The help gained through prayer extends far beyond anything we can fully comprehend. No doubt we enjoy blessings today that have come into our lives because of prayers prayed for us by believing souls who have gone on to be with the Lord, yet the effects of their prayers remain.

Consider another example of how far reaching the help of our prayers for others can be. In this example Paul sought the prayers of the church of the Thessalonians for himself, Silvanus, and Timotheus.

2 Thessalonians 3:1 ¶Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:

2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.

God has indeed answered those prayers and that to such an extent that those prayers are still being answered today. God delivered these ministers of the word from unreasonable and wicked men, and He gave free course to the word of the Lord that they preached. In fact, God gave that word such free course that it is still running today. To this very day we have the teachings of Paul, Silvanus, and Timotheus recorded in Paul’s epistles that have been preserved and transmitted in copies and translations throughout the earth. When Paul was taken prisoner, even then he was delivered from unreasonable and wicked men.

When Paul arrived in Jerusalem bringing the alms that had been gathered for the poor saints there, the unbelieving Jews seized upon Paul and would have killed him had not the Roman authorities intervened and taken Paul captive. The account of this is found in Acts 21:17-33. Throughout the remainder of the book of Acts, we have the account of Paul’s imprisonment by Rome. During the time of this imprisonment, Paul was protected from the Jews who sought to kill him. God used Roman imprisonment to keep his servant safe. While a prisoner, Paul bore powerful witness before the Roman governors who heard his case. He could write this while a prisoner:

Philippians 1:12 ¶But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;

13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;

2 Timothy 2:8 ¶Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:

9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.

During this imprisonment, Paul was permitted to minister (Acts 28:30-31). And it was during this time that the great prison epistles were written and sent out: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 2 Timothy, Philemon, and Hebrews. Fully half of Paul’s epistles were written during the time he was in bonds. And what a blessing those epistles have been to believers throughout the centuries unto this day. I have been preaching from Ephesians alone since 19 December 2004. It is now 13 January 2009 and I just passed the middle of chapter 5. Indeed, Paul was delivered and the word of the Lord given through him has had free course! But remember, this has been in answer to the prayers of that faithful church of the Thessalonians.

Are you getting the idea that prayer helps. I mean, it really helps big time! It helps far beyond anything we realize. Just writing about this has excited me. Have you gotten goose bumps yet? Has this encouraged you? I shall close for today and do something to help you.

Prayer Helps, Part 1

There is a profound thought expressed in the following verse:

2 Corinthians 1:11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

The profound thought that I refer to is the thought that prayer helps. This verse is part of a larger sentence that begins with verse 8. In this sentence Paul recounts that God had delivered him and Timothy from so great a death, that He was delivering them, and that they trusted that He would yet deliver them. Then Paul wrote the verse we are considering. Trusting that God would yet deliver them, Paul said that the Corinthian believers would also help by prayer for them. Somehow the prayers of these believers would help toward the deliverance of Paul and Timothy.

As Paul traveled among the churches, he was in the process of making a collection for the poor saints at Jerusalem (Romans 15:25-27; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4; 2 Corinthians 8-9). As Paul traveled about he encountered many enemies who sought to destroy him. Therefore, he sought the prayers of the churches for deliverance from his enemies so that he might bring the gift that had been bestowed upon him to the saints at Jerusalem. In the following passage Paul requests the prayers of the Roman Christians in regard to this need:

Romans 15:30 ¶Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;

31 That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;

Paul sought their prayers for deliverance so that he could perform to the saints in Jerusalem the service of bringing them the gift that had been collected for them. Paul was confident that the prayers of the churches for him would help bring about this deliverance and that he would indeed minister the gift to the saints in Jerusalem. This service would in turn result in those saints giving thanks to God, thanks for the gift and thanks for the deliverance of Paul and his comrades.

2 Corinthians 9:12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;

Now Paul did indeed complete his journey to Jerusalem to bring this gift to the saints. Speaking of his arrival in Jerusalem he said:

Acts 24:17 Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings.

God delivered him and his companions and that with the help of the prayers of the other believers.

Now the main thought I want to drive home to you is that prayer helps. It is not difficult to understand how this is so when we remember that our Lord said:

Matthew 7:7 ¶Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

God has appointed prayer as a condition for our receiving blessings from Him. Therefore, if we fail to pray we fail to receive.

James 4:2 … ye have not, because ye ask not.

Since God bestows blessings in response to our prayers and these blessings help, it follows that prayer helps. That prayer helps can also be seen in the following exhortation:

Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Are you or someone you love in a time of need? Do you or they need help? Well, there is grace to help in time of need and it is found in coming unto the throne of grace. It will help to pray. We shall have more to write about this another time. For today, would you help me with a prayer?