All kinds of Prayer

22 February 2009

Ephesians 6:18-19

Read: Ephesians 6:18-19; 1 Tim. 2:1-3

Prayer is a wonderful Christian experience. Many people of the world do not have a useful concept of prayer and do not really know how to pray.

e.g. a Buddhist tour guide in Asia who went to the temple but did not know who she was praying to or even if ‘he’ could hear her. Her prayers were basically formulae she had learned by heart – but she said she ‘felt better’ for doing it.

e.g. story of Sydney taxi driver who said that when he went to the temple he gave money and bowed to an idol but basically just prayed ‘in his heart’ – he didn’t think anyone was really listening.

The concept of communion with God through Jesus Christ is a unique and wonderful privilege.

If we are going to pray, we must pray in the spirit

‘Pray in the Spirit…’ (Eph 6:18).

D L Moody once wrote, ‘I was crying all the time that God would fill me with his Holy Spirit. I can only say that God revealed himself to me and I had such an experience of his love that I had to ask him to stay his hand.’

At a recent church camp a young man to whom I prophesied about being used by God came for prayer. Almost immediately Spirit fell on him and he prayed fluently in tongues. His mother, sitting next to him, prayed earnestly, 'Take my life, Lord, take my life, Lord…’ She was swaying and weeping and sighing. Her minister told her, ‘You are already accepted. Just allow the Spirit to come.’ She became more emotional and began to tremble. Then the Spirit came upon her and although she was trying to speak English she found herself uttering new words. She prayed fervently through her tears.

Experiences like these are undoubtedly examples of ‘praying in the Spirit’ but they are also exceptional. Such spiritual and emotional intensity cannot be sustained. Normally, prayer in the Spirit is simply praying as empowered and led by the Spirit.

So prayer in the Spirit is –

Christ-honouring
According to God’s will
Unselfish
In the fruit of the Spirit
With the gifts of the Holy Spirit

If the Holy Spirit is in the prayer, it cannot be otherwise. For further reflection on these points see B.Chant, Praying in the Spirit (Tonbridge, Kent: Sovereign World, 2002, chapters 7 to 11)

‘On all occasions’

Literally ‘at every time’
This phrase leaves little room for prayerlessness!
We are to pray whenever we can. See 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Our lives should be characterized by prayer.

‘All kinds of prayer’ --
Our texts make no mention of places or positions. These also vary enormously –

Form --
Some prefer structured prayers; others prefer free-flowing prayer. For example,

Set liturgy (the Lord’s Prayer, the prayer of St Francis)
Spontaneous (simple conversation with God from the heart)

Place –
People prefer all kinds of different places including –

Beach
Office
Bedroom
Chapel
Hills
Car

Position –

Standing (1 Kings 8:14)
Sitting (Act 2:2)
Kneeling (Ps 95:6-7; Lk 22:41; Act 7:60; 9:40; 20:36; 21:5; Eph 3:14)
Walking (Ps 89:15)
Reclining (Ps 63:6)
Prostrate (Neh 8:6)

Time
The best time is the time when we are able to share with God most effectively. ‘Morning people’ usually cannot pray well late at night and vice versa.

Aspects of Prayer

Several different words used in our texts (Eph 6:18; 1 Tim 2:1). It is not needful to go through those now. They can be summarized as –

Prayer

Communion – i.e. fellowship with the Father and the Son. This is the essence of prayer.
Why pray? To ask this question is like asking a child, ‘Why do you talk to your mother/father?’ Or why do we talk with any loved one? Wife? Husband? Brother? Sister? Friend?
Hymn writers say much about communion with God.

Friendship with Jesus,
Fellowship divine
O what blessed sweet communion
Jesus is a Friend of mine
(J.C.Ludgate)

Still, still with Thee when purple morning breaketh
And the dawn waketh, and the shadows flee
Fairer than morning, lovelier than the daybreak
Dawns the sweet consciousness,
I am with Thee.
(Harriett Stow)

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.
And he walks with me
And he talks with me
And he tells me I am his own.
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.
(C.Austin Miles)

I like to walk in the Aussie bush to pray – there are no roses there. So this is my version –

I come to the bush land alone
While the gum leaves glint in the sunrise
The lorikeets squawk and the insects talk
The mists of morning vaporize.

And he walks with me and he talks with me
And hears my words as I pray
And the joy we share as I wander there
Uplifts me with strength for the day.

I praise Him for fresh air and sun,
For creeks tumbling down through the valley

For untidy scrub and for witchety grubs
Acacia shrubs and mallee.

Seriously, I like to pray in the bush because there are no phones or emails or minutes or reports or books at hand and I can focus on just being in communion with God. So I spend a long time just walking and talking – talking about anything, using a spiritual prayer language, seeking guidance, giving thanks and so on. The point is that prayer is essentially communion with God. These are precious and valued hours when I am very aware of the Lord’s presence.

Jesus often went to solitary places to pray (Luke 5:16).

Petition (requests)
This word is used in ancient papyri of having the good fortune to be admitted into the presence of a king to present a petition. It is regularly used of a petition being presented to a higher authority.

There are several other similar words used in Scripture such as asking, supplication, seeking, knowing, intercession, pleading (See Barry Chant, Praying in the Spirit, chapter five).

The Bible tells us to make requests (Philipians 4:6, 7)

Jesus urged us to make requests – and scolded his disciples for not asking for more (John 16:24).

See also Luke 11:9-13, where Jesus told us to keep asking, seeking, and knocking.

Sometimes people are unsure about the will of God. Many things are God’s will!

It is important also to pray for others – a Prayer Diary is essential here to be sure we can’t overlook people.

Praise (thanksgiving, worship).
Praise and thanksgiving are essential to a healthy prayer life.

The verb used here is eucharisto = give thanks (hence, ‘eucharist’)..

SeePsalm 136; 1 Thess 5:18

A pattern for Prayer

Praise
Repent
Ask
Yield

Two disciplines

There is a discipline in prayer. It is nice when we are so excited or blessed we can hardly help ourselves. But most of the time we need to build disciplines into our lives. We need to ‘plod with God’. This means just keeping going whether we feel like it or not so that we have a disciplined prayer life. A Prayer Diary is a way of encouraging this.

Keep alert

See also Matt 26:41 (‘Watch and pray’).
The Greek term implies alertness as opposed to listlessness. C.f. Proverbs 6:1-6.
Meanings include to stay awake, to pass a sleepless night, to be watchful, to be vigilant.
In other words, to pray like a watchman, or a sentry, always alert and prepared.

Persevere

The verb used in ancient papyri of holding out e.g. till one’s trial comes to court or of continuing diligently with one’s work.
In other words, don’t give up.
See Luke 11:8; 18:1 where Jesus told us to persist in prayer.
See also Act 1:14; 2:42; 6:4; Rom 12:12; Col 4:2

Challenge

Let’s do what Eph 6:18 tells us!

Something to think or talk about

Remember: You don’t have to answer all the questions: just choose those that are most relevant to you.

Read Ephesians 6:18; 1 Tim 2:1

Biblical
1. Read Ephesians 6:18 in several translations. What differences are there? How significant are they?
2. In the original text, the beginning of Eph 6:18 could be translated either, ‘Pray in the Spirit…’ or ‘pray with the spirit…’ (i.e. the human spirit). There is no way of proving either version right from the text itself. Which translation do you think is preferable and why?
3. What do you think is the most significant word or phrase in Eph 6:18 and why?
4. What is the difference for you between each of the four words for prayer in 1 Tim 2:1?
5. Why should we pray for those in authority? (1 Tim 2:1-4)

Personal and practical
6. ‘Pray at all times…’ When is the best time for you to pray and why? List both benefits and drawbacks.
7. ‘With all (kinds of) prayer…’ What different kinds of prayer do you experience? How do different kinds of prayer affect you?
8. What practical things do you do to keep ‘alert’ when you pray? (Eph 6:18)
9. What disciplines have you developed to ensure that you persevere in prayer? (6:18)
10. Eph 6:18, 19 and 1 Tim 2:1-4 both tell us to pray for others. Refer to your Prayer Diary to see how you can do this systematically without forgetting people.

Christian Life