J. Oswald Sanders
REVIEW
Our school of prayer has concluded, but a life of prayer stretches out ahead. What we have learned in theory we must work out in daily praying, and this demands purpose of heart. God will not pray instead of us, but He will intercede in us and thus aid us in our weakness.
Let us now gather the lessons and principles of prayer that we have been learning.
- Faith is an indispensable element, for “without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Heb 11:6; cf. Matt 17:20; James 1:6).
- The petitioner must not be clinging to any sin. “If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear” (Psalm 66:18; cf. Isa 59:1-2).
- To be effective, prayer must be offered in the name of Jesus. Implied in this is the understanding that the petitioner offers only requests that He could endorse. “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do” (John 14:13; cf. 15:16; 16:23).
- Our prayers must be in harmony with the will of God. “If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14; cf. James 4:2-3).
- Acceptable prayer is prayer in the Spirit — guided and directed by the Holy Spirit, who dispels spiritual ignorance and imparts spiritual dynamics. “Praying in the Holy Spirit” (Jude 20; cf. Rom 8:26-27).
- A forgiving spirit is essential to prevailing prayer. When a resentful or unforgiving spirit is harbored, the Spirit is grieved. Jesus frequently emphasized this principle. “And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone” (Mark 11:25; cf. Matt 6:12-15).
- Importunity is another element God requires. “Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you” (Luke 11:5-9; cf. 18:1-8).
- To be effective, united prayer must flow from a Spirit-produced oneness of heart and mind. “If two of you agree [symphonize] on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who art in heaven” (Matt 18:19).
- There is an aggressive and militant side to prayer, which involves the intercessor in soul-travail and conflict if Satan’s captives are to be delivered. “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against … world forces of this darkness” (Eph 6:12; cf. Col 2:1).
- Christ has delegated spiritual authority over Satan and his forces to His disciples, and we are encouraged to use this authority humbly in the spiritual warfare. “Behold, I have given you authority … over all the power of the enemy” (Luke 10:18-19). “They overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even to death” (Rev 12:11).
Lord, teach us to pray.
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