Author Archives Jbeard

“Mark, IF you want to know God and His promises, IF you want to understand how He works in the lives of men through prayer, including WHY God does WHAT He does, then put these two–Scripture and Prayer–together.”
(from my novel:  A Reason to Pray at Mountainview)

Did you know that your practice of prayer must be within the rules, the boundaries, and the requirements of prayer that God has set down in scripture? Someone may argue, “I don’t have any boundaries or requirements when I talk to God. That would be legalism! I just say what is on my mind.”

That may sound sincere and fundamentally true, but it is not in line with scripture. Why should someone think that they could approach God and expect His attention and favor outside of the way that He has established? Were the Israelites allowed to merely throw anything down on an Alter and believe that it would be acceptable to God? Was a priest allowed to follow his own ideas of how to worship God? Of course not; God gave detailed instructions on how He was to be approached, what was acceptable; and how to offer prayers and offerings.

This didn’t change in the New Testament. Jesus corrected erroneous practices of prayer in His Sermon on the Mount. He makes it clear that certain ways of praying are not received by the Father.  I challenge you to read Matthew 6:5-8 and notice at least two wrong ways to pray and two correct ways to pray.

A few examples of prerequisites to prayer are found in the scriptures below. If these aren’t met, your prayers are bouncing off the proverbial ceiling.

1 Timothy 2:5; John 14:6; Hebrews 11:6

Did you notice them, or read right past them? The prerequisites in the verses above are absolutes; they are theological boundaries. They are not as shallow or simplistic as we have made them to be. The Holy Spirit leads the humble within these boundaries and He confirms them with His word. The scriptures are given to us to learn the truth about God and His ways. Though we can learn some things about Him from other sources, such as His creation, we must rely upon the Scriptures as the final authority to discern truth from error. We should also use the Scriptures as a filter and a fountain to drink in the truth.

Scripture not only teaches us what God requires from us, but also what we can expect from Him. Therefore, having scripture as a part of your prayer time will help guide you in orthodoxy—in right belief, as well as with orthopraxy—right practice. Psalm 119:130 tells us that the entrance of His Word gives light and understanding. This applies to the subject of prayer as with all areas of truth. You and I need light to guide us, to search our hearts, and to show us the Father and the Father’s will in prayer. Psalm 119:169-172 is a good example of how God’s Word brings our prayers in line with God’s will.

Someone will say, “This sounds like you need to know the Bible before you can pray?” That is not what Jesus taught, as recorded in Matthew 6, and that’s not what I am saying. God gives us truth in His word to guide and help us. Our hearts and minds need these boundaries because we are prone to humanistic mindsets. We are prone to want to be our own gods–take the throne seat, make up rules around ourselves, and require God to adhere to them. Oh, but we do. If we are not trying to be gods, we are trying to earn or work for God’s favor. Or we are prone to interpret through our experiences and feelings–wow! that’s dangerous!

Jesus wants us to pray with simplicity, sincerity, and single-mindedness.

Question:

If you discovered in the scripture that you have been stepping outside the boundaries lines of biblical prayer in either the way (manner) that you pray … or … what you pray, how serious of an issue would it be to you? Just asking. We love our own ways and change ruffles the feathers. So, I’m just wondering how important it would be to you. The more you learn about how God works in prayer, the more you are drawn to Him. This is one of my motives to pursue God in prayer and the scriptures. He’s calling us to fellowship with Him through His word and prayer.

If you’re interesting in learning more about prayer, grab my books.

There are two theological words that can help us understand both the difference between and a dependence upon having a sound, biblical definition of prayer and a practical exercise of prayer:

1.   Orthodoxy – literally: “right praise” or “right belief” (as opposed to error and heresy). To be orthodox in your faith implies that your beliefs are founded exclusively in and on Scripture. If that is the case, then it also means that your fundamental beliefs are in line with the historical Christian faith that has been recognized, proclaimed, and supported by the teachings, creeds, and liturgy of the Church over the last 2,000+ years. What we embrace and claim to be an orthodox faith must be a part of the “common faith” or “common salvation” that was taught by the apostles and writers of Scriptures. As the Apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Ephesus,

Ephesians 2:20–21 — having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,

And we find more on this in Jude 3-4:

Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

See also Titus 1:4.

2.   Orthopraxy – means reflective, responsive action, or the practical expression of truth. It literally means: “right practice.” As we learn “orthodoxy,” we learn to live it out and experience it = “orthopraxy.”

Why are these words important, you ask? Because your theology of prayer determines your belief, that is, your view of prayer, which determines:

• Your mode or method of prayer
• Your frequency and length of time in prayer
• Your attitude towards and during prayer
• Who you are praying to
• How you think God sees you when you pray to Him
• What you should and should not pray
• What you do after you pray—hope, faith, actions.

The How, Why, What, When, and Where you pray is based on your theology of prayer, which is what you believe to be true about prayer (orthodoxy) and thus how you put your beliefs into practice (orthopraxy). Another reason to examine your theology of God and prayer is to make sure that we don’t flip the order of these two theological words. It is always “orthodoxy” and then “orthopraxy.” Correct belief drives and guides correct living.

Be in guard, our Christian culture has has a way of putting Orthopraxy before Orthodoxy, which is putting personal experience as the driving influence of what and how we believe.  Let me repeat this:  We should never let our experiences, including those we tag “religious” or “spiritual,” define and guide how, why, and what we pray. Feelings and experiences will change and deceive you. Let the scriptures frame and guide you in prayer.

Ask yourself:

• Do I know enough about what the Scripture says on the subject of prayer to know if my prayers are biblical?
• Have I accepted any non-biblical influences or ideas into my theology of prayer?

More on this issue coming.

Part II of examining our definition of prayer. Right theology unfolds the truth of who God is, what He has done, is doing, and will do. Have you considered the necessity of correct theology in growing in your relationship with God?

Wait a minute! Does God require us to get our theology cleaned up in order to pray? Absolutely not! If that were the case, no one would be heard when crying out for salvation. As a believer, within the household of God, if you want to grow in Christ and in grace, the Bible tells us that we must grow in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. (2 Peter 1:2). Spiritual couch potatoes do not grow; ignorance is not a fruit of the Spirit.

A question may be:  How much do you want to grow in your relationship with God?  or … How much do you want to grow in the area of prayer?

Everyone has a theology, even the self-proclaimed atheist as chosen a theology. Howbeit he is the god within that theology. Have you given thought to what and who has most influenced your theology? Have you given thought to what you believe and how biblically sound it is? What you believe molds more than religious views, it molds how you live and what you live for. To say that theology plays a critical role in your life would be a Grand Canyon size understatement. For instance, your values, morals, ethics, and for some people everything from their diets to their choice of personal attire are influenced by their theology.

Think about the choices that you have made, recently or over many years. What choices have you made that were influenced by your religious and/or moral beliefs? If your religious convictions and beliefs influence your so-called “secular” part of life, how much more are your spiritual exercises, such as prayer, worship, and charitable service, molded by our theological beliefs? Accepting the fact that you have a theology and that it plays a significant part in your everyday life is Step One. If your life is being guided and/or influenced in some degree by your theology—religious beliefs, then Step Two needs your attention. Step two is moving towards and acquiring a biblical theology. Let’s start that journey with a definition of Theology from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary:

“the study of religious faith, practice, and experience; the study of God and God’s relation to the world.”

That’s a plate full. The subject of prayer falls right in the middle of that definition. But since the Bible isn’t a dictionary, we’ll use a definition of prayer that is formed out of scripture and agrees with the whole subject of theology. We’ll use a simple yet thorough definition from the Puritan pastor, John Bunyan. It’s from his book A Discourse Touching Prayer. John Bunyan wrote this book in the year 1662 while imprisoned for preaching the Gospel and pastoring a non-government sanctioned church. In this book Bunyan breaks down the quintessential theological elements of prayer and takes us to the heart of the subject. If you are interested in a rich book on the subject of prayer, I recommend adding this to your library.

Under the chapter heading titled, What Prayer Is, Bunyan writes,

Prayer is a sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the heart or soul to God, through Christ, in the strength and assistance of the Holy Spirit, for such things as God hath promised, or according to the Word, for the good of the church, with submission, in faith, to the will of God.

In this description are these seven things. First, It is a sincere; Second, A sensible; Third, An affectionate, pouring out of the soul to God, through Christ; Fourth, By the strength or assistance of the Spirit; Fifth, For such things as God hath promised, or, according to his word; Sixth, For the good of the church; Seventh, With submission in faith to the will of God.

Bunyan’s seven part definition puts the focus on God and His will. How does your view of prayer match up against Bunyan’s? Is your view of prayer more about you or is it focused on God?

In the Introduction of Bunyan’s book there’s a quote from Dr. Watt’s Guide to Prayer that reminds us of the glory and excitement of prayer. Consider this quote as icing on top of a mouth-watering dessert.

“It [prayer] is that language wherein a creature holds correspondence with his Creator; and wherein the soul of a saint gets near to God, is entertained with great delight, and, as it were, dwells with his heavenly Father.”

Point: When you pray, do you begin with God or self? Is there a consciousness that this is more than just about me and my wants? After reading Bunyan’s definition of prayer, would you rate your devotional time as “an affectionate, pouring out of the soul to God?”

Part III of this blog will focus on two theological words that will help us understand both the difference between and a dependence upon having a sound, biblical definition of prayer and a practical exercise of prayer.

“…what if … just WHAT IF … God’s purpose for prayer was different from yours?”

“I don’t think I’m following you.”

“What if … what YOU want out of prayer … is different from what GOD wants you to get out of prayer? What if your idea of prayer isn’t God’s idea and purpose for the two of you in prayer? Do you think it would affect your view of prayer? Would it change the way you prayed, or would it stifle you from praying? Would you accept HIS purpose of prayer even if it was completely different than the conventional idea of prayer that you have held for years?” [from my book:  A Reason to Pray at Mountainview]

The novel’s main character–Mark Terrell– has his understanding of the purpose of prayer challenged. The intent is to put a spotlight on Mark’s definition of prayer and more importantly his understanding and belief of who God is. If we do not have a correct understanding of who God is, then you’ll miss His purposes for doing what He is doing, and that includes what He is doing with and in our prayers. This chapter will focus on a biblical view of prayer that is based on a correct view and understanding of God … and man.

How do we form our ideas and beliefs about God? What are our beliefs about His ways—why He does this or that, or not take this action or that action? For most people common sources are childhood stories and lessons; the personal views of relatives like parents or grandparents; books and movies; sermons; personal preferences of what we want to believe, what we want God to be and not be; and … well … the list can go on and on. Basically, personal theology is formed from a melting pot of ideas and preferences. When we think about it, does that sound like a safe and reliable place to rest our faith and relationship with God?

Unless the impurities/falsehoods are removed from our melting pot, our ideas of God are at best a mixture of bits and pieces of truth, half-truths, superstitions, and presumptions. The outcome is a golden calf molded into a god made to our liking that will serve us or ignore us. That doesn’t sound encouraging, but that is the theology that our sinful nature will create by default. Think of the first two of the Ten Commandments. They warn us of the default idol-making tendencies of our hearts.

Exodus 20:3–4 — “You shall have no other gods before Me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;

Throughout the Old and New Testament we are warned and instructed about creating false gods from our imagination. John Calvin bluntly put it:

Man’s mind is like a store of idolatry and superstition; so much so that if a man believes his own mind it is certain that he will forsake God and forge some idol in his own brain.

We also make an idol when we attempt to use God for our own purposes, rather than to give ourselves to God’s will and purposes. Drop this definition of idolatry into the subject of prayer. If any of our prayers attempt to get God to work out our purposes, plans, and desires above His, then we … (finish the end of the sentence).

Mark Terrell’s misunderstanding of the nature and character of God created a misunderstanding of the Gospel, and thus an erroneous Gospel—what Jesus Christ did for him; of the faithful love of God towards and for him; and of the purpose and rewards of prayerful fellowship with God the Father. Bad theology produces bad, unhealthy fruit. Right theology produces life and godliness with God in Christ. Right theology unfolds the truth of who God is, what He has done, is doing, and will do.

Point 1:

Theology defines everything you believe and therefore your perceptions, and hopes. It influences your decisions and thus your actions. If your understanding of God and the relationship between you and God is off center, then your definition and practice of prayer is off center. Yet, to say it bluntly, how much time and effort do we put towards developing a sound biblical theology? I am not suggesting signing up for seminary courses, but examining your what you believe about God and the relationship that Jesus Christ has secured for you. I am suggesting pressing forward to ensure that WHAT you believe about God is biblical. That is the starting place for biblical prayer. Too often prayer is based on feelings or what we want God to be for us. The sad news about that is, we don’t know our great and wonderful God. And we fall short of enjoying Him in the relationship that He as make possible for us through Christ Jesus.

Part II of this blog – A biblical definition of prayer that begins and ends with God.

Many Christians refrain from spending quantity time alone in prayer with God the Father due to condemnation, which is often caused by guilt, shame, and regret. The Gospel of Jesus is the remedy. Perhaps we need to sing hymns to ourselves that remind of the effectual work of our Savior. Some of those hold hymns remind us of His triumph over sin and despair.  Others remind of His matchless character and nature.

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

There is no one like Him; there is no other. If you are weary and wondering about His love for you, read the following words from Charles Spurgeon. He has some encouragement for us from his commentary on Psalm 147:3:

His deep sympathy with mourners is a special mark of his goodness. Few will associate with the despondent, but Jehovah chooses their company, and abides with them till he has healed them by his comforts. He delights to handle and heal broken hearts: he himself lays on the ointment of grace, and the soft bandages of love, and thus binds up the bleeding wounds of those convinced of sin. This is compassion like a God. Well may those praise him to whom he has acted so gracious a part. The Lord is always healing and binding: this is no new work to him, he has done it of old; and it is not a thing of the past of which he is now weary, for he is still healing and still binding, as the original hath it. Come, broken hearts, come to the Physician who never fails to heal: uncover your wounds to him who so tenderly binds them up! (Spurgeon, C. H. (2009). The treasury of David: Psalms 120-150 (Vol. 6, p. 415). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)