What is Prayer?
If God knows everything, why pray?
Let me ask you a question. Do you have a child or know someone who does? If so, has your child ever touched or changed the heart of you or someone you know? Especially if they sincerely wept and wept bitterly at that, falling into your lap, or maybe extending their hands out in desperation for you to pick them up? Of course, how could you refuse such helplessness, in all sincerity a much needed love from a child? If you could possibly move the sun, moon and stars for your child, you would, and many times around. Who wouldn't? How much more our Father in heaven? We desire the best for our children, again, how much more our Father in heaven. Think on this.
What is prayer?
If God knows everything, why pray?
While at a beautiful family gathering "Good-Friday" of 2008, in celebration of our risen Savior, several very intriguing and theological questions came about. Some of these questions included; If God already knows all, then how, if at all, do our prayers benefit others. Does not God know what's already going to happen? Do our prayers truly have any barring or impact of outcome in the lives of those we pray for? And, can God's heart be touched or changed by our prayers?
As this deep theological conversation transpired, I couldn't help these nostalgic memories blaring in my mind; my Sunday school teachers saying, "Prayer is talking to God, it is not something to be taken lightly." This old Sunday school message was so true and yet so simple and to the point. It quite often reminds me, anyone can pray, you don't have to have a seminary degree to talk to and with God. However, in this particular writing, the question is not how simple prayer is; it is the question on the affects of prayer in the life of the person or persons praying, and the person or persons on the receiving end of prayer. Also, knowing that God is unchanging, and already wrote past, present and future, can we, as children of God plead for change in certain circumstances, by fervent and faithful prayer? The answer is? Keep reading.
Please, before I endeavor to respond to these great questions, I ask that you keep in mind, that God is a great and glorious God, and if we could fully understand Him, then He would not be God. I would also ask that you continue to ask the Lord Jesus for wisdom and understanding of Him and His Word, (James 1:5). Jesus says that those who seek Him will find Him and those that ask, will receive, and if you lack in wisdom, ask. I would encourage you to seek Him daily in communication (prayer/talking), and in the reading of His Word, (Jeremiah 29:13). Make sure you are in a church that is educating people correctly, right from the Word of God, a church that is spreading the love of Jesus through Gospel evangelism, making disciples and baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, (Matt. 28). You will know they are true followers of Christ, by the Love that they have for one another, (John 13:35), (1Corinthians 13).
In order to answer and fully understand these questions of prayer, it would make perfect sense to define what prayer and intercession is. These definitions of prayer and intercession will be translated in their original Hebrew and Greek languages. In the breakdown of definitions, there are biblical chapters and verses that help illuminate understanding. I would encourage you to read these biblical chapters and verses. Again, by reading the word, you will gain wisdom, knowledge and understanding. It is my full intention to educate the listeners and readers in the proper translation. This is essential in order to take hold of the true intended meaning to the fullest extent in the Word of God. After defining what prayer is, then can we look and see the particular instances that have already occurred and taken place by and through prayer and intercession throughout God's Word. It is interesting when in reading in context and paralleling the Old Testament with the New Testament, findings are conclusive in prayer.
We will also begin to understand and see that in reading the Word of God, there are different types of prayer. It is important as a child of God to realize and understand this. This will hold well in our personal application and in the teaching and training of others.
Let's begin. I would like to give several definitions of prayer and intercession from some credible, recognized resources.
The Student Bible Dictionary by Karen Dockrey, Johnnie Godwin, and Phyllis Godwin, (pages 120, 191), defines prayer and intercession as follows:
Prayer Talking and listening to God, an intimate fellowship with God (1 Kings 8:28; Matt. 21:22). Calls for faith and a right relationship with God (Ps. 66:18; Jas. 5:16). May include praising, thanking, confessing, asking, interceding (praying for someone else), and receiving.
Intercession Praying or pleading on someone else's behalf (Isa. 53:12; Heb. 7:25). An intercessor serves as a go between. Jesus and the Holy Spirit intercede for Christians (Rom. 8:26-27, 34). Christians are to intercede for one another (1 Tim. 2:1).
Now according to the New Spirit Filled Life Bible, a Thomas Nelson Bible, using Strong's concordance, prayer and intercession definitions / purposes in the original Hebrew and Greek, are as follows:
Pray (asking for or inquiring about), in the Hebrew, sha'al (shah-ahl); Strong's #7592: To ask, inquire, request, pray, desire, wish for, demand. Sha'al is not the usual Hebrew word for "pray," but it has the suggestion of "asking for" or inquiring about" something. In Psalm 122:6, for the sake of God's people and for the sake of the Lord's house (vv. 8,9) we are instructed to seek Jerusalem's good, that is, to inquire earnestly about its welfare, pray for its peace, and ask with true concern about its condition. From sha'al comes the proper name Sha'ul (Saul), meaning "Asked For" or "Requested," that is to say, a wanted child.
Pray (request toward God), in the Greek, proseuchomai (pros-yoo-khom-ahee); Strong's #4336: The word is progressive. (Matt. 6:6), Starting with the noun, euche, which is a prayer to God that also includes making a vow, the word expands to the verb euchomai, a special term describing an invocation, request, or entreaty. Adding pros, "in the direction of" (God), proseuchomai becomes the most frequent word for prayer.
Prayed (Job 42:10), in the Hebrew, palal (pah-lahl); Strong's #6419: To pray, entreat, intercede, make supplication. This verb occurs more than 80 times. Palal speaks of prayer as intercession, asking someone with more power and wisdom to intervene in behalf of the one praying. For example, Hannah prayed for a son (1Sam. 1:2); Hezekiah prayed for an extension of his life (Is. 38:2, 3); and Jonah prayed from within the fish's belly (Jon. 2:1-9). Furthermore, palal is found in the promise of 2 Chr. 7:14, "If my peoplewill humble themselves, and prayI will hear from heaven." See other intercessory examples of palal in Gen. 20:7, 17; Num. 11:2; and 1 Sam. 12:23.
Prayer (2 Chr. 6:20), in the Hebrew, tephillah (the-feel-lah); Strong's #8605: Prayer, supplication, intercession. Tephillah occurs more than 75 times in the OT, 32 of these in the Psalms. In the present reference, prayer from the temple in Jerusalem was afforded special significance, for day and night God watched over that house of prayer. From tephillah comes the word tephilin, which refers to the bands wound around the arm of a devout Jew as he prepares for his time of prayer.
Intercession (make; reaching God with urgent request), (Jer. 27:18), make intercession, paga' (pah-gah); Strong's #6293: In the Hebrew, to reach; to meet someone; to pressure or urge someone strongly; to meet up with a person; encounter, entreat; to assail with urgent petitions. This verb occurs 46 times. In some passages it is translated "meet," as in Josh. 2:16. In Josh. 19:27, paga' refers to the extent to which a tribal boundary is reached. Sometimes the verb refers to "falling upon" someone in battle, that is, to meet up with the enemy with hostile intent (1 Kin. 2:29). Paga' is also translated "make intercession," the idea being that a supplicant catches up with a superior, and reaches him with an urgent request. Thus, intercession involves reaching God, meeting God, and entreating Him for His favor.
Intercession (make; plead on behalf of another), (Hebrews 7:25), make intercession, entunchano (en-toong-khan-oh); Strong's #1793: In the Greek, to fall in with, meet with in order to converse. From this description of a casual encounter, the word progresses to the idea of pleading with a person on behalf of another, although at times the petition may be against another (Acts 25:24; Rom. 11:2).
Now that we have seen the definitions and examples of prayer, we are able to dive right into the precious order of prayer. By witnessing the biblical accounts, we can know that there is great importance of how we must approach and enter into prayer and communion with our Holy God, our Daddy. We must enter humbly, in reverence, and with a pure heart. If we have not a pure heart, we must confess our sins to Him. We must realize that without Him we are nothing. We cannot expect a Holy God to listen to us if we have un-confessed sin or cherished sin. Cherished sin is anything that you are holding onto that is not of God, sin that you really don't desire to give up. (Psalm 66:18) If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
If you desire to confess, it is very simple and the Word makes this very clear in 1 John 1:9 which states, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If you still feel for whatever reason that you may not have been forgiven, rest assure, if you were sincere, as King David in Psalm 51, coming to God with a broken spirit and a contrite heart, then you are forgiven. Sometimes it may help to confess to a Pastor, leader in the church or someone you trust. Jesus paved the way, dying for us and rising again, for you and I to have straight access to the father, however, for human affirmation and resolution, a physical hug, holy kiss and an eye to eye conversation, just may be the ticket you need, the encouragement that you need to know that forgiveness is there. James 5:16 - Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
Remember, God will hear us if we 2 Chronicles 7:14 -if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
It is important to know that, first, we must be His children. Then, we must humble ourselves, we must pray and seek His face and completely turn from are wicked ways and then God will
My friend, please understand that all of this information on confession and being pure before the Lord is prime in speaking to and with God. All of this leads up to There is a process of prayer. Jesus Himself in the book of Matthew states, "Matthew 6:5-15
5"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9"This, then, is how you should pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
11Give us today our daily bread.
12Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.[a]' 14For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
God Himself gives the absolute best example and pattern of how to approach our heavenly Father in Heaven.
1. (Matt. 6:9) We should praise God
2. (Matt. 6:10) Pray for His work in the world
3. (Matt. 6:11) Pray for our daily needs
4. (Matt. 6:13) Pray for help in our daily struggles
This is a very fundamental and straightforward prayer pattern; helping us, the Christian believer to keep a very theological order on how to approach the throne room of God. Now, does this mean, we can't just talk with God, and have a chilling chat? Absolutely not! You can talk to God however you wish, with respect and reverence in mind. Remember, He is a Holy God that only deserves the best, our very best.
Let's move forward and reveal the evidence of sin in not praying on behalf of others as a believer in Christ. 1 Samuel 12:23 - As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right.
If Samuel believed that it was a sin not to pray on behalf of others, then it would make perfect sense to conclude; it is a sin if we do not pray for one another. There is not much that could be added to this, it's pretty much black and white.
I would like to draw your undivided attention to the book of Isaiah, chapter thirty-eight. In reading this, you will see without a shadow of doubt, that the Heart of God can be touched and changed, by fervent unadulterated prayer. Please understand that God does this for us, because He loves us.
Isaiah 38
Hezekiah's Illness
1 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, "This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover."
2 Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 3 "Remember, O LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4 Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah: 5 "Go and tell Hezekiah, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life. 6 And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city.
7 " 'This is the LORD's sign to you that the LORD will do what he has promised: 8 I will make the shadow cast by the sun go back the ten steps it has gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.' " So the sunlight went back the ten steps it had gone down.
9 A writing of Hezekiah king of Judah after his illness and recovery:
10 I said, "In the prime of my life
must I go through the gates of death [a]
and be robbed of the rest of my years?"
11 I said, "I will not again see the LORD,
the LORD, in the land of the living;
no longer will I look on mankind,
or be with those who now dwell in this world. [b]
12 Like a shepherd's tent my house
has been pulled down and taken from me.
Like a weaver I have rolled up my life,
and he has cut me off from the loom;
day and night you made an end of me.
13 I waited patiently till dawn,
but like a lion he broke all my bones;
day and night you made an end of me.
14 I cried like a swift or thrush,
I moaned like a mourning dove.
My eyes grew weak as I looked to the heavens.
I am troubled; O Lord, come to my aid!"
15 But what can I say?
He has spoken to me, and he himself has done this.
I will walk humbly all my years
because of this anguish of my soul.
16 Lord, by such things men live;
and my spirit finds life in them too.
You restored me to health
and let me live.
17 Surely it was for my benefit
that I suffered such anguish.
In your love you kept me
from the pit of destruction;
you have put all my sins
behind your back.
18 For the grave [c] cannot praise you,
death cannot sing your praise;
those who go down to the pit
cannot hope for your faithfulness.
19 The living, the livingthey praise you,
as I am doing today;
fathers tell their children
about your faithfulness.
20 The LORD will save me,
and we will sing with stringed instruments
all the days of our lives
in the temple of the LORD.
21 Isaiah had said, "Prepare a poultice of figs and apply it to the boil, and he will recover."
22 Hezekiah had asked, "What will be the sign that I will go up to the temple of the LORD ?"
This is the perfect reason why we should never question God. Who are we to know the exact plan and purpose and even heart of God. "I love it!"
Hezekiah was given news straight from God through the prophet Isaiah. Hezekiah was told to put his house in order because he was going to die and not recover.
What was the first thing Hezekiah did when receiving this news? "Oh, God why me?" Hezekiah complained like a little baby and crawled up into a little hole, right? Wrong, He did nothing of the kind! The bible says that he turned his face to the wall and prayed. He earnestly sought out his God and cried out bitterly to Him, in a most unique humble manner. This was not a crying and complaining baby; this was a broken spirit and a contrite heart before a Holy God.
According to Merriam-webster.com, the word bitterly means the following: marked by intensity or severity: accompanied by severe pain or suffering <a bitter death> being relentlessly determined.
Wow, Hezekiah really poured out his heart. Hezekiah actually reminded God respectfully, of all his faithful service and diligence in walking before Him righteously.
Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah: 5 "Go and tell Hezekiah, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life. 6 And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city.
Wow, look what God did. He heard the prayers of a righteous man. Did God change His heart and plan? Well, just think for a moment, what would have happen if Hezekiah did not pray, or worse, complained about the initial news of his death?
Listen, prayer does move a mighty God. He is our daddy and He loves us. If he did not love us, then why create us and then die for us? His heart moves with great joy from His children.
Let me ask you a question. Do you have a child or know someone who does? If so, has your child ever touched or changed the heart of you or someone you know? Especially if they sincerely wept and wept bitterly at that, falling into your lap, or maybe extending their hands out in desperation for you to pick them up? Of course, how could you refuse such helplessness, in all sincerity a much needed love from a child? If you could possibly move the sun, moon and stars for your child, you would, and many times around. Who wouldn't? How much more our Father in heaven? We desire the best for our children, again, how much more our Father in heaven. Think on this.
Let's take a look at Abraham and Lot for another example of the affects of prayer. I believe that it is good to cross reference and parallel questions, answers and explanations in the Word of God.
Genesis 18:16-33
Abraham Pleads for Sodom
16 When the men got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way. 17 Then the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? 18 Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. 19 For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him."
20 Then the LORD said, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous 21 that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know."
22 The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD. [a] 23 Then Abraham approached him and said: "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare [b] the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thingto kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge [c] of all the earth do right?"
26 The LORD said, "If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake."
27 Then Abraham spoke up again: "Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, 28 what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city because of five people?"
"If I find forty-five there," he said, "I will not destroy it."
29 Once again he spoke to him, "What if only forty are found there?"
He said, "For the sake of forty, I will not do it."
30 Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?"
He answered, "I will not do it if I find thirty there."
31 Abraham said, "Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?"
He said, "For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it."
32 Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?"
He answered, "For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it."
33 When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home.
What I find so interesting in this particular message and passage, is God Himself, desire to communicate with us, to actually commune with us, His creation.
It is clear and evident that Abraham pleaded on behalf of others, and God heard him. Abraham we see is pure before the Lord and humbly interceding for others out of love. Who says that God can't hear us or that we can't touch the very heart of God? God desires us to step out on faith and trust in Him completely and whole heartily.
These are just some of the many, many examples of the affects and benefits of prayer. Now that we have established the many types of prayer by definition and their uses in the context of the Word of God, we can agree and establish a foundational truth of the importance of prayer in our lives and in the lives of others. There are in fact great benefits for those that pray and seek God selflessly for others.
Now, the original opener was this, if God already knows all, then how, if at all, do our prayers benefit others. Does not God know what's already going to happen? Do our prayers truly have any barring or impact of outcome in the lives of those we pray for? Can God's heart be touched or changed by our prayers?
We have conclusive biblical evidence that in fact, we can by faith and true sincerity in heart, touch and change the heart of God. We know that faith, Humility, a broken spirit and a contrite heart, God will not turn away from. These very ingredients; faith, Humility, a broken spirit and a contrite heart, will absolutely move the very heart of God.
So the answer to the opening question is an absolute YES, YES, YES. We, by fervent prayer, can move the heart of God.
Bibliography
http://www.biblegateway.com/
<a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bitt er">bitter</a>
The Student Bible Dictionary by Karen Dockrey, Johnnie Godwin, and Phyllis Godwin, (pages 120, 191),
NIV New Spirit Filled Life Bible, a Thomas Nelson Bible, using Strong's concordance