Chapter 57 - Prayer

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Prayer is an important theme in the New Testament. It was taught, demonstrated and commanded by both Jesus and His apostles. (Matthew 5:44; 6:5-13; 14:23; 21:22; Mark 6:46; 11:24-26; Luke 5:16; 6:12; 6:28; 11:1-13; John 17:1-26; Acts 1:14; Acts 2:42; 10:9; Romans 8:26-27; 12:12; 1 Corinthians 11:1-16; 2 Corinthians 13:7, 9; Ephesians 1:18; 6:18; Philippians 1:9; 4:6; Colossians 1:9; 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:2; 5:17; 1 Timothy 2:8; James 5:13-18; 1 Peter 4:7)

The early New Testament church valued prayer. In Jerusalem, they devoted themselves to prayer. (Acts 2:42; cf. 1:14; 6:4) The Apostle Paul later commanded the churches in Rome, Corinth, and Colossae to do the same. (Romans 12:12; 1 Corinthians 7:5; Colossians 4:2)

The early New Testament church understood the effectiveness of prayer. James said, “…the effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” (James 5:16) As evidenced by their considerable influence in the ancient Mediterranean world, the prayer of the New Testament ecclesia was effective.

The New Testament church was a praying church. Prayer was both a primary and intentional activity. It constituted an act of faith that allowed the ecclesia to cooperate with God on earth in the fulfillment of His eternal plan.

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Divine Origin

The prayers of the early New Testament church were not self-derived. They originated from God.

The apostles taught the New Testament church to pray “in the Spirit.” (Ephesians 6:18; Jude 20) Prayer “in the Spirit” originates from the realm of the Spirit according to the will of God. (cf. Romans 8:26-27; John 14:13; 15:7; James 4:3; 1 John 5:14)

By nature, prayer that originates from the realm and power of the indwelling Spirit of God is in conformance with the will of God. Therefore, both heard and answered by God; it is prayer of eternal significance. (1 John 5:14-15)

The New Testament includes revelation of prayer originating from the Spirit of God. (Ephesians 1:15-19; 3:14-19; Philippians 1:9-11; Colossians 1:9-12; etc.) They provide an example of “spiritual thoughts” revealed through “spiritual words.” (cf. 1 Corinthians 2:13) Rather than earthly, they are heavenly and spiritual by nature.

Faith

Prayer “in the Spirit” is an act of cooperative faith. Therefore, it is not “blind” or presumptuous. On the contrary, prayer “in the Spirit” is distinguished by knowledge, agreement, and trust.

First, cooperative faith is characterized by the knowledge of divine truth as revealed in the word of God, the Bible. Mankind possesses no other source of specific revelation from God in which to exercise its divinely allotted measure of faith. (cf. Romans 12:3)

Second, cooperative faith requires agreement with the will of God. It is possible to understand the will of God revealed in the Bible but choose to disagree. However, it constitutes a lack of cooperation and, therefore, is contrary to biblical faith. Agreement with the will of God is cultivated from the prayerful reading and studying of the Bible, intimate fellowship with God, and the counsel of other believers. (cf. Romans 12:1-13)

Third, cooperative faith is distinguished by trust, defined as “reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.”[1] To trust God means to rely on His “character, ability, strength” without condition. Undergirded by the knowledge of biblical truth and cooperative agreement, it is a personal choice.

Fundamentally, effective prayer “in the Spirit” is an act of cooperative faith. It involves the knowledge of the word of God, agreement with the will of God, and trust in God that He will act as promised.

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Fear

Too often, prayer is not characterized by cooperative faith. Rather than distinguished by knowledge, agreement, and trust, it is the product of fear and uncertainty. For example, the attitude, “I sure hope God will answer my prayer,” is not demonstrative of cooperative faith but wishful thinking. The uncertainty of wishful thinking originates from fear. It is contrary to cooperative faith.

The prayer of cooperative faith does not entertain wishful or fearful thinking. Instead, it proceeds from a vastly different mindset. For example, “…precious Lord, I choose to trust You. I know with absolute certainty that you will answer my prayer in a manner that serves Your best interest and my own. Therefore, I can say without condition, ‘not my will, but Yours be done.’ Thank You that You love me, deeply care about my every need and desire, and always answer my prayers according to Your will”.

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In the Spirit

Prayer “in the Spirit” originates from God, conforms to His will, and is distinguished by faith. Gifted from God, it is an instrument designed to move the church. Thus, prayer "in the Spirit" serves as a means for finite mankind to cooperate with God to fulfill His eternal plan on earth.

© 2023 James Hiatt

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