The men upon whose shoulders rested the initial responsibility of Christianizing the world came to Jesus with one supreme request. They did not say, “Lord, teach us to preach; Lord, teach us to do miracles; or, Lord, teach us to be wise” … but they said, “Lord teach us to pray.”
Where do you suppose the Disciples learned the supreme importance of prayer? They learned it from Jesus. No one has given more encouragement to prayer than did Jesus. The followers of Christ were both encouraged to pray and taught how to pray. They saw constantly the example he set in praying and they noted the direct relationship between Jesus’ unusual ministry and his devout life of prayer.
Jesus considered prayer more important than food, for the Bible says that hours before breakfast, “… 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).
To the Son of God prayer was more important than the assembling of great throngs. The Bible says, “… and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities. And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed” (Luke 5:15–16).
The precious hours of fellowship with his heavenly Father meant much more to our Saviour than sleep, for the Bible says, “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 6:12).
He prayed at funerals, and the dead were raised. He prayed over the five loaves and two fishes, and a multitude were fed with a little boy’s lunch. He prayed, “Not my will, but thine,” and provided sinful man access to a Holy God.
It has pleased God to relate his work in the world to the prayers of his people. Noah prayed, and God handed him a blueprint of the ark of deliverance. Moses prayed, and God delivered the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. Gideon prayed, and the host of a formidable enemy fled in fear before his valiant, prayerful three hundred. Daniel prayed, and the mouths of the lions were closed. Elijah prayed, and the fire of God consumed the sacrifice and licked up the water around the altar. David prayed, and he defeated Goliath on the Philistine battleground.
The disciples prayed, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit so that three thousand were added to the Church in one day. Paul prayed, and hundreds of churches were born in Asia Minor and Europe. God does answer prayer.
What a privilege is ours: the privilege of prayer! Christian, examine your heart, reconsecrate your life, yield yourself to God unreservedly, for only those who pray through a clean heart will be heard of Him. The Bible says, “The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Pray in times of adversity, lest we become faithless and unbelieving. Pray in times of prosperity, lest we become vaunted and proud. Pray in times of danger, lest we become fearful and doubting. Pray in times of security, lest we become self-sufficient.
Christians, pray for an outpouring of God’s spirit upon a wilful, evil, unrepentant world. Sinners, pray to a merciful God for forgiveness! Parents, pray that God may crown your home with grace and mercy!
Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his knees—so pray, Christian, pray!—Evangelist BILLY GRAHAM in a sermon on “Prayer.”
