Page 4 - January 2021 - Truth & Tidings

Introduction be influenced, and His purpose is fixed.
Scripture indicates that prayer is cen- So are we to conclude that if what He has
tral to the Christian life. It was said of decreed is rigid, it is futile to appeal to
Him? I think not.
the newly saved Saul of Tarsus, “Behold,
he prayeth” (Act 9:11). The Lord Jesus Scripture does tell us that the “effectual
1
“spake a parable unto them to this end, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth
that men ought always to pray, and not to much” (Jas 5:16), and Elijah is cited as
exemplifying that. So the Word of God
faint” (Luk 18:1). Paul wrote, “Continue encourages us to see great value in prayer
in prayer, and watch in the same with and to believe that God does answer
thanksgiving” (Col 4:2), just one of many prayer: “Call unto me, and I will answer
NT injunctions encouraging a healthy thee, and shew thee great and mighty
prayer life. Thus, by illustration and in- things, which thou knowest not” (Jer 33:3).
struction it is clear that prayer is crucial. I repeat, there is something unfathomable
Congregationally, among all assembly about that, but it seems to indicate that
activities, prayer is portrayed as a major God’s sovereign decrees take into account
function. From day one of the church, the prayers of His believing people, and
believers “continued stedfastly … in thus there is the invitation to “come boldly
prayers” (Act 2:42). When Paul outlined unto the throne of grace” (Heb 4:16). In
the pattern for the prayer meeting, he fact, it is not merely an invitation; it is a
made it the “first of all” item in his house summons, a command in Scripture: “Pray
of God teaching; it is as important as that without ceasing” (1Th 5:17). Are we obey-
(1Ti 2:1). Why, then, is the prayer meeting ing that command?
the Cinderella of assembly gatherings? Be clear, prayer does help: “Ye also help-

An Enigma ing together by prayer for us” (2Co 1:11).
“This shall turn to my salvation through
If prayer is so vital individually and your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit
collectively, what is its purpose? Undoubt- of Jesus Christ” (Php 1:19). Paul believed
edly, there is something puzzling about that while God was superintending his
it. We know from the Word that we are circumstances, the prayers of the saints
dealing with a God who “worketh all were a considerable factor in each new
things after the counsel of his own will” development. An old adage is that “prayer
(Eph 1:11), and so we refer to Him as being moves the hand that moves the universe.”
sovereign. “Who hath been his counsel-
lor?” (Rom 11:34). The question infers An Exchange
that He does not need advisors, cannot As we probe some of the reasons for
¹ All Scripture quotations in this article are from praying, Paul’s words to the Philippians
the KJV. are apt: “Be careful for nothing; but in

4 TRUTH kTidings January 2021