Practical Remarks on Prayer: 1. Expression of Dependence 2. Jesus as a Man of Prayer

 •  8 min. read  •  grade level: 8
 
I.-The Expression Of Dependence
How blessed is the subject of prayer! And if scripture research can assist the tried and buffeted saint to a better understanding of its principles, and how to utilize it more fully in daily difficulties, how welcome such a result! Let us, then, seek to enter upon the observation of some of the teachings of scripture on this subject. First—prayer is the language of request addressed to God. It is important to distinguish between prayer and worship, though they may both be found together in the same address to God. In worship, we give something to God—our thanksgiving, praise, or adoration. “Let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name” (Hebrews 13:1515By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. (Hebrews 13:15)). Praise, then, is an offering, but prayer is a request. The common phrase “offering a prayer” is therefore a mistake. We may offer worship, praise, adoration, thanksgiving. Prayer, however, is not an offering to God, but a request of something from Him. Secondly—prayer is the expression of dependence. Dependence is the due attitude of the creature towards the Creator. God alone is sufficient to Himself. Every creature, whether he know it or not, is really dependent; and prayer, in its foundation principle, is the expression of this dependence. To acknowledge it, is to live in truth; to deny it—to live the prayerless life—is to walk in darkness. Man, as revolted, has lost the sense of dependence upon his Creator. He has slipped his moorings, got away from moral connection with the blessed Center of the universe, and, wandering in sin and darkness, thinks it the finest and grandest thing to be independent. This, the very principle of his life, is a falsity; he “maketh a lie” (Revelation 21:2727And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. (Revelation 21:27)). It was to a new feature, therefore, in the life of Saul of Tarsus that the Lord directed the attention of Ananias, when, sending him to Saul, He said, “Arise, and go...and inquire... for one called Saul, of Tarsus; for behold, he prayeth” (Acts 9:1111And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, (Acts 9:11)). Here was a remarkable thing. Yesterday he was breathing out threatenings and slaughter; now he is upon his knees. Man, in this instance, had got back to his bearings; the creature was humbled before, and reconciled to, his Creator. Thus, prayer is one of the earliest, truest instincts of divine life in man; and in this view it may be said that the first genuine breathing of the soul to God is the beginning of an eternal communion. A stream has started which will flow, and flow forever—like the water which Christ gives the soul, and which is in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. Not that this communion or intercourse will always have the character of prayer—that is the form which it takes from the nature of the scene where it occurs—a world of sin and of necessities. In the future scene the language of dependence will not be that of request, for satisfaction will have taken the place of need, and every vessel will be full. As is often sung,
“Hope shall change to glad fruition,
Faith to sight, and prayer to praise.”
But in the present time, and in the place where we are, dependence, really felt, expresses itself in prayer. To be dependent on one who is capricious, or ill-willed, is misery; but to be dependent upon God, whose nature is love, and whose power is limitless—this is happiness!
II-THE LORD JESUS A MAN OF PRAYER
The blessed Son of God, when becoming a man, though not Himself a creature, took so fully man's place of dependence that we find He prayed habitually. “Cold mountains and the midnight air Witnessed the fervor of His prayer.” Beautiful indications are the prayers of Jesus of the reality of His manhood—He kneels down and prays. Preeminent in all things, He is an example in this. So He entered upon His ministry with prayer (Luke 3:2121Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, (Luke 3:21)). And may we not say, as a canon of Christian life, What is begun with prayer will end in praise? It was when praying thus at His baptism that the heavens were opened to Jesus. Prior to choosing apostles He spent the night in prayer to God (Luke 6:12, 1312And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 13And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; (Luke 6:12‑13)). Again, in Luke 9:1818And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am? (Luke 9:18), we find Him “alone praying.” It was “as He prayed” on the mount of Transfiguration that the fashion of His countenance was altered, and He received from God the Father honor and glory. He did not go up to the mountain to be glorified; He went up “to pray,” and was glorified. The object was prayer, the result was glory (Luke 9:2828And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. (Luke 9:28), et seq.).
The principal recorded instances of the Lord's praying appear to be: (1) At His baptism (Luke 3:2121Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, (Luke 3:21)). (2) On the first great spread of His fame (Mark 1:3535And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. (Mark 1:35); Luke 5:15, 1615But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities. 16And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed. (Luke 5:15‑16)). (3) Before choosing the apostles (Luke 6:1212And 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)). (4) After feeding the five thousand (Matthew 14:2323And 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. (Matthew 14:23); Mark 6:4646And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. (Mark 6:46)). (5) At the virtual crisis of His testimony, when He forbids His being announced as Messiah, and predicts His death (Luke 9:1818And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am? (Luke 9:18)). (6) At the transfiguration (Luke 9:2828And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. (Luke 9:28)). (7) Occasion not mentioned (Luke 11:11And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. (Luke 11:1)). (8) At the raising of Lazarus (John 11:4141Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. (John 11:41)). (9) In view of His death (John 12:2727Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. (John 12:27)). (10) His wonderful prayer to the Father, “The hour is come” (John 17). (11) Intercession for Peter (Luke 22:32). (12) Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-4436Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. 37And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. 38Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. 39And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. 40And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? 41Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. 42He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. 43And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. 44And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. (Matthew 26:36‑44); Mark 14; Luke 22). (13) Intercession for His murderers (Luke 23:3434Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. (Luke 23:34)). (14) At death, commending His spirit to the Father (Luke 23:4646And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. (Luke 23:46)).
We see then, that when, in the maturity of manhood, having patiently passed thirty years in privacy, He is at last about to enter on the momentous undertaking of His life, He does so with prayer. “And it came to pass, all the people having been baptized, and Jesus having been baptized and praying, that the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form as a dove upon Him; and a voice came out of heaven, Thou art my beloved Son, in Thee I have found my delight” (Luke 3:21, 2221Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, 22And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. (Luke 3:21‑22), New Translation).
Following this, He is subjected to the temptation—the Spirit, who has just descended upon Him, leading Him into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. Emerging victorious, He now, under the Baptist's testimony, becomes the center of gathering, calling upon men to follow Him (Luke 5:11, 2711And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him. (Luke 5:11)
27And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. (Luke 5:27); John 1:4343The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. (John 1:43)), and exercising authority in bestowing a name upon one of them (John 1:4242And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. (John 1:42)). He thus formally begins His work and testimony. So far, however, the work is in His own hands alone; the campaign is opened, but is only in its first stage. The field is white unto harvest. Now an important development takes place. There is a night of prayer. “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 6:1212And 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)). The result of this exercise in seen. When it is day He assembles His disciples, and out of them selects twelve to be apostles. He is already Center of gathering, now He becomes Source of mission. The work widens, and, He employs others under Him to carry the testimony throughout the land. Thus, in the record of the Lord's life great occasions are signalized, or brought about, by special prayer. Not only, however, did the Lord pray specially at special crises, but He had a practice. He would go, distinctly and on purpose, to pray. Thus, “And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray” (Matthew 14:2323And 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. (Matthew 14:23)). “And it came to pass, as he was alone praying” “And it came to pass about an eighth day after these sayings, he... went up into a mountain to pray” (Luke 9:18, 2818And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am? (Luke 9:18)
28And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. (Luke 9:28)). “He went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives... and kneeled down and prayed” (Luke 22:39, 4139And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. (Luke 22:39)
41And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, (Luke 22:41)). Shall we not be gently led by so sweet an example? He had not where to lay His head—but with Him the solitudes of the mountain served for the walls of a closed chamber; and thus, is it not true with regard to prayer, that “Where there is a will, there is a way”?
The Lord is never recorded as praying with His disciples. He taught them to pray. He prayed about them, prayed for them, not with them.1 For His own position was unique. Our prayers are on the basis of what Christ is for us. He could draw near to God, as qualified in His own person and dignity; we, only in His name. This explains a verse which otherwise would seem a contradiction. “As he was alone praying, his disciples were with him” (Luke 9:1818And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am? (Luke 9:18)). The disciples were there, but He was “alone praying.” And in Gethsemane He told the disciples to pray; but He, to pray, withdrew from them about a stone's cast (Luke 22:40, 4140And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. 41And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, (Luke 22:40‑41)). This is important, as everything is which affects our thoughts about Christ. Christians sometimes speak of the Lord as “Our Elder Brother,” Scripture never does.
“Ye call me Master and Lord,” He says, “and ye say well, for so I am.” One has even heard him addressed in prayer as “Dear Lord” —a familiarity which is certainly not quite reverent. We cannot exaggerate the grace of Christ towards us, but it has been well said that: “The personal dignity of Christ is never lost in the intensity and tenderness of His love. True saints among the Moravians have called Jesus Brother,' and others have borrowed their hymns, or the expression. The word never says so. He is not ashamed to call us brethren, but it is quite another thing for us to call Him so."2
[E. J. T. ]
(To be continued)