No. 1.
THE relationship with God, which by grace the believer is brought into, is necessarily connected both with child-like confidence and dependence. The knowledge of the Father, the liberty we have to enter into the holiest of all, by the blood of Jesus, at all times, the operations of the Holy Ghost dwelling in us, and the all-prevailing plea given to us in the name of Jesus, lead us to suppose that the Christian while here would be peculiarly given to the exercise of prayer.
The cry which the Spirit produces, the Spirit of adoption, when sent forth into our hearts, being "Abba, Father," opens up to us at once His tender love, as well as His fatherly care and resources. It is this knowledge of the Father that gives such confidence and perseverance in prayer, and thanksgiving, and worship too. "The Father Himself loveth you," said Jesus," "because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God." The Spirit thus reveals the Father, and makes us know that He delights to give His children good things. "If ye, being evil, know how to give good things unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him." The sense on our hearts of the reality of this relationship, which, according to the Father's eternal purpose and grace in Christ Jesus, we are now brought into, makes it natural, if I may so speak, for Christians to be emphatically men of prayer, both for themselves and others: and especially when challenged with such a gracious declaration as "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things.”
Nor can there be a doubt that it is the will of 'God that our souls should be going out to Him in much prayer for others. The apostle Paul, in writing to Timothy, makes this perfectly clear. He says, "I exhort, therefore, that first of all supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;... for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior." (1 Tim. 2:1-31I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; (1 Timothy 2:1‑3).) Elsewhere we are enjoined to pray for "all saints," but this circle includes the widest possible range—"all men." Nor is it well to overlook the quality of prayer here contemplated. It is not cold, dry, formality, but as earnest and pointed as such a chain of words could well convey—"supplications, prayers, and intercessions.”
We have, too, in Scripture, individual prayer as well as united, and it is well to consider this. The habit of prayer, or that state of constantly felt dependence on God, as shall lift the heart to Him on all occasions, is set before us in such words as "Pray without ceasing;" that is, wherever we are, whether in the house, or place of business, or walking the streets, to have the heart habitually going out to God about all our need. But there is another thing which nothing else will supply; it is going into a secret place to be alone with God, to pour out the heart to Him, and wait upon Him. We find the Lord going out into "a solitary place" to pray, or going up "into a mountain," or "into the wilderness," to pray. Our Lord expressed His mind for us on this point most touchingly when He said, "But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou halt shut the door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." (Matt. 6:66But 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. (Matthew 6:6).) Here we have, first, the believer going into a secret place, away from every human eye and ear, for the express purpose of prayer to his heavenly Father. 2nd . The fact announced that our Father is in that secret place—"thy Father who is in secret." 3rd. The encouragement that such who do thus seek the Father shall not fail to be openly rewarded." How blessed this is!
As to united prayer, we have precious examples of the marvelous way in which God has honored this. And our Lord blessedly encourages our hearts, too, on this point; and where are the Christians who cannot praise God for His mercy and faithfulness in again and again giving most precious answers to their united prayers? Jesus said, "If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matt. 18:19, 2019Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:19‑20).) But observe there must be agreement. This is of the greatest importance. It is not one praying, and the others merely listening; but hearts united in presenting certain requests to God. All going together into "the holiest of all" to present common supplication. At Pentecost the disciples were not only "in one place," but "of one accord," before the mighty blessing came. Oh, if God's dear children would only simply take God at His word in this particular, and seek Him earnestly and together in supplications, prayers, and intercessions, what blessed results thee would be! This would soon put to flight the deadness and formality which so largely prevail in prayer-meetings at the present time. Thus crying to God, reckoning upon Him, and expecting only from Him, what rich and abundant blessing would follow!
In prayer, however, we must remember that God expects us to come before Him in uprightness. "If I regard iniquity in my heart," says the Psalmist, "the Lord will not hear my prayer." He must have uprightness. Evil must not be cloaked. Sin must be judged, and honestly dealt with before Him. The upright soul abhors that which is evil, and cleaves to that which is good, and from such God will keep back nothing good. "No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly." This is most encouraging. David had lamentably failed, and circumstances, because of his failure, seemed all against him, but he hoped in God. "David encouraged himself in the Lord his God," and we know the blessed deliverance that followed. The upright soul can turn to God with confidence, and find encouragement in Him, when there is none elsewhere.
We find also in Scripture that success in prayer is connected with obedience, and especially love to the brethren. Our Lord connected the act of praying with forgiving "if we have ought against any;" and so with obedience to the word of God, or fruit-bearing, "I have ordained you," said Jesus, " that ye should go, and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, He may give it you."(John 15:1616Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. (John 15:16).) And so the apostle John, after presenting to us God in His nature as Light and Love, and the relationship we are called into by the Father, and the conduct suited to such relationship, he exhorts that brotherly love may be real, that is," not in word and in tongue, but in deed and in truth;" for in this way we shall assure our hearts before Him. If, however, this brotherly kindness be wanting our hearts will condemn us, and this God knows. But if we are walking in true brotherly love, then have we confidence toward God, and obtain answers to prayer. "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment, That we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He gave us commandment." (1 John 3:18-2318My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 20For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 22And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 23And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. (1 John 3:18‑23).) Nothing, then can be clearer, that if we would be successful in prayer we must be obedient children, and walk in true practical love with our brethren in the Lord. Perhaps the importance of this is too much overlooked in the present day. We must never forget that in prayer we are acting in the relationship of a child to a father; and we know that when we are truly loving our children, how hindered we feel in granting them their requests if they are acting disobediently, and not walking lovingly toward their brothers and sisters. Oh, to be constantly in felt helplessness abiding in the Lord Jesus, finding all our resources in Him, drawing all we want by faith from Him; for He said, "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." (John 15:77If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (John 15:7).)