The Purpose of Prayer

Weekly Update – April 22nd, 2021

For the second week in a row, we will be talking about prayer in our Sunday morning service. Last week was a warning from Jesus about how not to pray from Matthew 6:5-8. This week, from Matthew 6:9-15, we will see what we might call “The Model Prayer.” As we continue through this subject, I think it would be helpful to look at what some of the purposes of prayer are. Therefore, consider these three purposes:

First, prayer is vital to seeing people come to Christ.  Charles Spurgeon once said that “We shall never see much change for the better in our churches in general till the prayer meeting occupies a higher place in the esteem of Christians,” What Spurgeon is saying here is that if we plan on seeing any sort of movement from the Lord, then prayer ought to be held in utmost regard.  We desperately need churches to unite in the kind of prayer that the Spirit may use to produce any sort of gospel fruit.  Now the truth is that God doesn’t need us to accomplish his will. But he has so ordained his will to be accomplished through the prayers of his people.  Again this is not because he needs us, but he has done this because he loves us and he desires to show us his power through our prayers.   

Second, prayer is for more than just our comforts.  The Washington Times estimated that around 90 percent of all people pray on a daily basis (12/5/08).  What most of these people pray for are for personal desires such as good health, parking spaces close to stores, good friendships and strength through difficult circumstances.  In and of itself these are fine prayers to pray.  God desires to hear our every need regardless of what it is.  But stopping there neglects the fullness of what prayer is meant to be.  As one writer says, “Prayer is not meant to be a domestic intercom to give us more comforts down in the den.  Prayer is meant to be a wartime walkie talkie to receive more supplies for the battlefield.”  Paul realized that he was in the midst of a war.  This war wasn’t “against flesh and blood, but it was against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12).  Pray for every need that comes to mind, but also remember that our lives are in the midst of a spiritual war and the gospel of truth explained through the word of God is our weapon.  Pray that this weapon would be effective. 

Third, prayer is vital for our faith.  In 2 Thessalonians 3:5, Paul prays for these young believers asking the Lord to “direct their hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.”  For our faith and the faith of those around us to be sustained, we must daily depend upon the Lord in prayer.  The way that prayer strengthens our faith in this manner is by reminding us that God is ultimately bigger than any problem and only he is sufficient to respond. 

The apostle Paul says in 2 Thessalonians 3:1, “Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified.”  Therefore, as we consider the topic of prayer in our Sunday morning gatherings, let us not merely be people who hear, but let us be people who devote ourselves to the practice of prayer for the spread of God’s word and for the glory of His name.

This week we will be in Matthew 6:9-15. I hope that you will join us in person or via livestream.

Serving Him with You,
Pastor Michael Nelson