Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of commercials for Zion's Tour. Someone has said
there is no such thing as an atheist in a foxhole when bombs
are falling. When a person has a child or
loved one who is sick unto death, they will generally pray after
a fashion. Just about any time that a person
finds himself in the right jam, they will cry out to God. This
is proof of that which Paul said, because that which may be known
of God is manifest in them, for God has showed it unto them.
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world
are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made,
even his eternal power and Godhead. Men cannot escape the facts concerning
his eternal power and Godhead, even though they secretly despise
his way. Therefore Paul goes on to say
in that same verse, so that they are without excuse. The very
inclination of men to ask God for assistance in times of great
trouble bears witness against them in the day of judgment.
This natural tendency to call upon the Lord for help is very
often mistaken for what the scripture speaks of as true prayer. The
flesh will gladly embrace the concept of natural praying since
it is, in a measure, a universal language which is practiced in
all of the religions of the flesh. It serves the flesh and salves
the conscience. It is very much ingrained in
the natural man who is certain that he can converse with God
whenever he feels like it or needs something. Scientific and
statistical studies have been done to determine if people who
believe in prayer recover from diseases more readily than those
who are skeptics. Just like the power of positive
thinking and other psychological exercises, what men call prayer
has some calming and useful influence, in the same sense that singing
a lullaby to a baby helps them to sleep. Yet all of this has
little or nothing at all to do with the praying which the sons
of God are exhorted to engage in. The praying of the flesh
is primarily concerned with its own self, and the benefits which
it can derive from what it believes is a means whereby to influence
God to grant its wishes in much the same way as Aladdin rubbed
his lamp to get the genie to come out. True prayer is that
which is prompted in a man by the Holy Ghost. It cannot be
turned on and off according to his own will, but is the operation
of the Spirit as he works in him both the will and to do of
his good pleasure. Likewise, the Spirit also helpeth
our infirmities, for we know not what we should pray for as
we ought, but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with
groanings which cannot be uttered. True prayer is that which is
primarily concerned with the glory of God rather than the
fulfillment of one's wishes. When the Lord gave his disciples
his model prayer, it began with a sense of worship. Our Father
who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. It also ended with
the saying, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the
glory forever. True prayer is essentially worship.
True prayer is that which is according to the will of God.
And this is the confidence that we have in Him that if we ask
anything according to His will, He heareth us. The flesh will
pray according to its own will, but the Spirit of God will use
prayer to cause His children to be reconciled to the will
of God. True prayer is the work of the Holy Ghost in the sons
of God to bring them to a state of contentment and trust in Him.
The man who does not pray cannot trust the Lord, and vice versa.
That man who is taught to trust the Lord cannot help but pray.
True prayer is that which is used by the Holy Ghost to convince
men of their own weakness and total dependence on Him. For
it is in the presence of the Lord that they are convinced
of their utter unrighteousness and of His absolute holiness.
Even as the publican prayed, God be merciful to me a sinner,
the Lord brings men to this place in prayer and gives them the
gift of faith. True prayer is the place where
faith is applied. True prayer is never demonstrated
any more clearly than when the Lord Jesus poured out His soul
and gets Him in His garden. Never has a more earnest prayer
been made. Never has a man been brought
more perfectly to be reconciled to the will of his Father. Never
has the weakness of the flesh been demonstrated more clearly
than here. He who determined to redeem his
bride did not shrink from it, even as he wrestled with the
desire to please his father, and yet only being able to do
so by becoming sin and being forsaken by his father. Surely
the sorrows of hell got hold of him. Yet he prayed, nevertheless,
not my will but thine be done. He was determined to be the author
and finisher of our faith, and by his own sacrifice to bring
many sons unto glory. Have you seen the glory of this
Savior? If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at forthepoor at windstream.net.