Prayer

… The introductory address on prayer by Mr. Frank Wallace at Baffenfell Manor, October 1986. The first is in 2nd Chronicles, chapter 6. 2nd Chronicles, chapter 6, and we'll read from verse 11. Better read from verse 10. The Lord therefore hath performed his word that he hath spoken, for I am risen up in the room of David my father, and am set on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and have built a house for the name of the Lord God of Israel. And in it have I put the ark, wherein is the covenant of the Lord, that he made with the children of Israel. And he stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands. For Solomon had made a brazen scaffold of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court. And upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven, and said, O Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee in the heaven nor in the earth, which keepeth covenant and showeth mercy unto thy servants that walk before thee with all their hearts. Thou which hast kept with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him, and spakest with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand as it is this day. Now therefore, O Lord God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit upon the throne of Israel, yet so that thy children take heed to their way to walk in my law, as thou hast walked before me. Now then, O Lord God of Israel, let thy word be verified which thou hast spoken unto thy servant David. But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee, how much less this house which I have built. Have respect, therefore, to the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O Lord my God, to hearken unto the cry and the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee, that thine eyes may be opened upon this house day and night, upon the place whereof thou hast said that thou wouldst put thy name there, to hearken unto the prayer which thy servant prayeth towards this place. Hearken, therefore, unto the supplications of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, which they shall make toward this place. Hear thou from thy dwelling place, even from heaven, and when thou hearest, forgive. Now, the Epistle to the Ephesians, chapter 3. Just two verses. Verse 14, Ephesians 3, For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named. Now, lastly, the Gospel by Luke, chapter 22. Gospel by Luke, chapter 22, verse 39. And he came out, and went as he was wont to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples also followed him. And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down and prayed, saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony, he prayed more earnestly. And his sweat was, as it were, great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, and said unto them, Why sleep ye? Rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The exercise that has been placed in my heart for these meetings that we shall have in the Lord's Mercy is this tremendous matter of prayer. I think we would all confess that we don't pray enough. And yet, when you read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, we are convinced that prayer is one of the most essential things for any believer in God, in Christ. No matter the dispensation, prayer has been the great service of those who are active for God. And without it, there was barrenness and failure. And I have to confess in my life, I haven't prayed enough. Although one can say humbly that one feels that whatever prayer one has done, that has kept one to some extent. We were talking, Minnie and I, one night, and I confessed that I thought there were three things in my life that had kept me going as a Christian. And one was the essential one, prayer, and secondly, reading the Word of God, and thirdly, keeping in contact with the meetings, fellowship. And I think if we do pursue these three things, we'll keep in the atmosphere of heaven, and in spite of failures and weakness, we'll be kept going on. And we want to concentrate on this great matter of prayer. These are tremendous sites that we've read together. A king in the full flush of fulfillment, the temple built according to the divine plan, all accomplished according to the divine will, the glory of the Lord about to enter into it, and a king on his knees, praying to God, acknowledging the greatness and supremacy of God. I believe that's one of the most essential things in prayer. And whether our prayers are weak, or intelligent, or whatever kind of prayers we offer, every time we bend our knees, every time we make a prayer to God, it's an acknowledgement of his supremacy. We might not understand completely this, but I believe it is an acknowledgement of God's supremacy. And I think we could write over our meetings, prayer is honoring God. I think if we keep that in our minds all the time, prayer is honoring God. It's an acknowledgement of the greatness of the God whom we've never seen, and yet we have a link with him. Robert Burns, the Scottish poet, he wrote a poem to a young man. And he warned the young man that there would be many attacks against him. Obviously this young man was a man with some knowledge of God. And he warned him, and among other things he said, an atheist laughs a poor defense against deity offended. That's a good thing to remember when atheists scorn and ridicule the Christian. But he said, a correspondence fixed with heaven is sure a noble anchor. Now if we remember that, and I'm sure we do, we have a correspondence fixed with heaven. We don't need a poet to tell us that, but his poetic language certainly fixes it in our minds. A correspondence fixed with heaven is sure a noble anchor. Now when Solomon bent his knees and cried aloud to God in the way he did, he was acknowledging the greatness of God, so great that the house that he had built could not contain the presence of God, and well he knew it. But he bowed his knees in the acknowledgement of the greatness of God. What a sight. Now we come to the prison. The Lord's servant, great man, formed by his master to be an apostle, to serve him, to be the apostle to the Gentiles, and what a servant he was. And now, after a life of faithfulness, he's in prison. He's not despondent. He's bowing his knees in worship and in prayer. For this cause I bow my knees to the Father, the Father of whom every family in heaven and earth is named. What an impression Paul had of the greatness of God the Father. And he bowed his knees in that Roman prison, and it certainly wouldn't be congenial. What a contrast from Solomon. Solomon, in the background, this huge temple reared to God with all its magnificence, its gold, its silver, and all the embellishment that the divine will had given to it. And now this man in a prison, with all the difficulties and pressures upon him, and he's bowing his knees to the Father. What a sight to see. What a man he was with his knowledge of God, with his knowledge of the truth, with his knowledge of Christ. And one doesn't feel in any way any note of despondency or defeat, any note of weakness, rather the opposite, because that prayer of Paul takes us right into eternity, the completion of the purpose of God. Unto him, unto God, be glory in the church, in Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, world without end. Why, Paul's mind and prayer, it leaped far beyond the bounds of the prison that he was in. His mind was occupied with God, his mind was occupied with the will of God, and there he was, his mind and his soul, his spirit, soaring above his difficulties and trials. What a wonderful prayer, bowing his knees to the Father. What can we say, dear brethren, when we come to the garden? The Son of God bowed down, kneeling down, around him his enemies, the intrigue, the hatred, the pressure, and above all this, the pressure upon his spirit, as he anticipated what shortly he would endure upon the cross. There he is, bowed down, kneeling down, humble subject man, in his attitude of humility before his God, with tremendous pressures upon him. But he kneeled down in the acknowledgement of the supremacy of his God, not my will, but thine be done. I've just selected these three passages. I can assure you it's not an easy thing to speak about prayer because there's so much in the Bible that we can draw upon, but these three scriptures suggested themselves to me as an introduction to the subject. The King upon his knees, the Apostle upon his knees, the Son of God upon his knees, all indicating, I believe, this acknowledgement of the tremendous greatness of God. Now, dear brethren, my humble desire is for myself and for you is that we might have an increased appreciation of the greatness of God. There is no goodness going to God without problems, without difficulties, without exercises, unless we have firmly embedded in our minds that our God is competent to deal with the problems that we present to him. You'll find, I hope, before we end that it's not all a question of problems when we're praying. There's the happy release of the spirit in worship and to sing to God a form of prayer, as we shall see. But I believe it's so necessary to get into our hearts the greatness, the glory, the supremacy of God that when we enter into his presence, kneeling is the proper attitude for us when it is possible. It may be that in some cases it may be physically impossible, but when there is opportunity, if the King kneeled, if the Apostle kneeled, above all, if the Son of God kneeled, surely we should kneel in our acknowledgement of the greatness and glory of God. We're not forgetting that the Lord Jesus says, when ye stand praying, so there's no difficulty in standing praying. And also Nehemiah, in the exercise of his service before the King, he stood and he prayed. Very short, very brief, to the point. So we're not saying that kneeling is the only way, but dear brethren, when we have the opportunity, when it is permissible, we ought to bow our knees. We have ample examples for us. And by that posture, I believe by that simple posture, we are acknowledging the greatness of God. After all, we're only creatures. After all, God is so infinitely great. How right it is, by this simple method, in our acknowledgement of the greatness of God, we can bring him pleasure. Now that's the first point in the prayer I want to bring to you tonight. Oh, that it might enter into our hearts more and more. Just let me quote one example in practice. You remember when the servants and the saints in the beginning of the church period, in Acts 4, were being persecuted. They had been released from prison. And then they got to their own company and they had a prayer meeting. The place shook when they prayed. And it says, they prayed aloud to the God who created everything. There was their impression of the greatness of God. And mind, that's a tremendous impression, the Creator God. Perhaps we don't use it enough in our prayers. The Creator God, his wisdom, his skill, his understanding in bringing into being this vast universe that we live in. And they prayed to the one who had brought it into being, and they asked for his protection and his help and his power. And they got it. And were able to continue in testimony for God. There's a concrete example of believers who trusted in the greatness of God. God answered their prayers and helped them. We have the example of our Lord Jesus. We've already read and spoken about this from Luke 22. That should be quite sufficient for us to indicate to us the importance of prayer in our lives. The Lord Jesus pre-eminently, in the Gospel by Luke, is presented as a humble, obedient, dependent man. Again and again and again, we read of him praying. He prays when he is being baptized. He prays when he is upon the mountaintop. He prays when he is in the wilderness. He prays before he selects his disciples. He prays on the Mount of Transfiguration. He prays in the garden and he prays on the cross. What a man. What a beautiful expression of dependence. All the time. Never a moment when he wasn't dependent. There's a beautiful expression of the Lord Jesus in Psalm 22. I was cast upon thee from my mother's womb. I was made to lean upon thee from the moment of my birth. I'm not quoting the scripture exactly, but that's the gist of it. From the very moment that he was brought into this world as a babe, he was absolutely dependent upon his God. That could only be true of one who was God, the greatness of the Incarnation. And oh dear friends, what a wonderful thing it is to see this glorious man bowed in prayer again and again and again. How earnest he was in it. He prayed all night. Have you ever prayed all night? Have I ever prayed all night? We think of the multitude of problems that exist in the meetings, whether locally or throughout the world or connected with the Christian testimony. Perhaps we haven't sufficient knowledge in our minds about these things to keep us supplied for a prayer of five minutes. That's to our shame. The Lord prayed all night because he knew as only he possibly could know the extent of the need that existed. And so he prayed all night for the many, many problems and the many, many needs that existed amongst men and women. I remember reading about a Church of England bishop and traveling over from this country to America in the days when planes were non-existent. They sailed by boat. Every day he spent five hours on his knees praying. He must have had plenty to pray about. Five hours every day praying. I know there is the busy life that we live if we're in business and many things connected with the home. And God understands that. But oh, how he appreciates if we have time to use that time, however small it might be, if there's real earnest, diligent prayer in relation to his interests. The Lord Jesus continued all night in prayer. The disciples, they went home to the comforts of their home, the comforts of their bed, but the Lord Jesus was engaged in prayer. It also says that he prayed alone. There is tremendous value in collective prayer, but there's something special, I feel, when you're alone with God. And there are many things that you can say to God that you can only say in private. You could never utter them even in the presence of your beloved or in the presence of other believers. There are things between you and God that must be said alone. Things that have to do with your own private relationship with God and your own personal needs as a believer in Christ. And that's why we need to be alone. The Lord Jesus was alone. It wasn't that he felt that he was left out of things. No, he wanted to be alone. And I believe it's absolutely essential that we find time to be alone, to tell God the things that we require personally. What a man he was, continually praying, continual reference to his God in so many matters pertaining to his service. Never independent, never like man. Man's self-assertive, cocksure. He can manage, he can cope, and so he forgets prayer and then he becomes a cropper. That was never so in the life of the Lord Jesus. Humble, dependent, diligent in prayer. There are two other things, or should I say one other thing, we've mentioned about his example on earth. Praise God. He continues that intercession. He is in glory. We find in Romans 8 and in Hebrews 7 that it tells us there that Christ is carrying on a service of intercession day by day. Of course, he is God and he can do this. He's in the place of supremacy and glory. And this is one of his outstanding unique glories, that he maintains this service of intercession. Though not one of us would be here in the Christian pathway today if that intercession hadn't been exercised on our behalf. You remember what he said in relation to Peter? I have prayed for thee. Oh, how wonderful. I suppose if the Lord could speak to us in words that are to be heard, he could say that to each of us. I have prayed for thee. Praise God for that. That his prayers, his intercession, his protection, his care has kept us in the Christian pathway when we might easily have slipped away, might easily have succumbed to Satan's power and wiles. Now we come to the many, many exhortations that we find in the Bible in relation to prayer. In 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul exhorts the Thessalonians, pray without ceasing. Pray without ceasing. Now we know that that doesn't mean without ceasing literally, at least I think so. We have our work to do and if we are doing our work, then it's obvious that we can't give our proper attention to it and pray at the same time. The Lord understands that. There are many situations that we are in that it would be impossible to pray, but it means pray diligently. Keep on praying when you have the opportunity. The Lord Jesus was preaching. When he was preaching, he wasn't praying. And so we find that this exhortation to pray unceasingly is simply an exhortation for us to use every moment that we can use diligently, righteously to lift up our hearts to God in prayer. Pray unceasingly. The apostle didn't forget either to ask the Christians to pray for him. Well, he knew the power of prayer in connection with Christian service. And through his letters, we find this note coming again and again. Brethren, pray for me. Pray for me. And he's praying not exactly for himself, but for the exercise of his service that it might be for God's glory and for the benefit of all concerned. Then he says, persevere in prayer. Persevere in prayer. I like what someone said about prayer. God's delays are not denials. I think that's a good thing to mind because we want an immediate answer to our prayers, and that's understandable. But God might say, no, there are certain reasons why I don't answer the prayer at the particular moment. And so he delays answering the prayer. So that doesn't mean it's a denial. We've often said there are three answers to every prayer. Yes, no, and wait. So how thankful we are that we can exercise this patience that is so necessary when we pray. But we have to persevere. Persevere in prayer. I like to think of that old sister that we read about in the second chapter of the Acts, Anna. What a tremendous testimony the Spirit of God gives to her. Night and day. Night and day. I don't know how long she carried on this service, but with fastings and prayers, she continued this service. What a tremendous example. That's the most wonderful thing about prayer. You don't need to be a gift to pray because there's no such thing as the gift of prayer. Prayer is open for every brother and sister. It's not a question of how much you know about the Bible. It's how much you know about God. That's the great point. And the more we know about God, the more we'll be encouraged to pray. Stop. Well then, keep at it. I had been praying wrongly. It wasn't that I was insincere. It wasn't that I was praying for something for myself. It was something that I felt was the Lord's mind, but he showed me that it wasn't. Well, one just has to bow one's knees and confess one's ignorance or one's lack of wisdom and perception. But in other matters, if we know it's the Lord's will, persevere, persevere, persevere. That's what the Apostle says. I think in the epistle to the Colossians and also in another place, I think it's the epistle to the Romans, chapter 12. He says this, persevere in prayer. So necessary. Indeed, if the air that we breathe is so absolutely necessary for us physically, I believe prayer is absolutely necessary for us as Christians. We would soon die if we couldn't breathe. I believe we die spiritually if we don't pray. And so Paul says, keep on praying. And he says, pray at all seasons. There isn't a particular season for prayer and then we can forget it. Oh, no. Every season is important in prayer. Every season, every day, every week, every month, every year, we have to keep going and pray and pray and pray and pray. And you think of the Lord Jesus when we find him in the garden with his own. I like that little touch in the gospel by Luke. It's the gospel of the grace of God, isn't it? And Luke says they were sleeping for sorrow. And the other accounts we might say, well, what a poor lot. The Lord Jesus so upset and they're all sleeping. No, says Luke, they were sleeping for sorrow. They were so sad, so upset that it caused them to sleep. But think of him there in the midst of his own sorrow. He exhorts his disciples, pray, pray, watch and pray lest you enter into temptation. Now, I think we've all proved I'm sure we have. We must have proved that when we pray, we are brought near to reality with God and we realize that it's not a question of platitudes or the beautiful expressions that we use or the eloquence we have when we address God. It's a question of sincerity, reality. And the Lord Jesus, he expressed this in a matter in a way that we often use in the gospel. When the two men went up to the temple to pray and the Pharisee prayed God cold, cold and drew attention to himself, although he was speaking to God. And we believe, according to the book of Proverbs, that that kind of prayer would be an abomination to the Lord. But the other man was absolutely sincere, 100 percent sincere. Oh, God, be merciful to me, the sinner. He was sincere, real. He got to God about the matter in a way that pleased God. And that man went down justified. Now, while that pertain to a sinner, it also pertains to a saint. The reality of prayer, it's not something flowery and something that makes much of us. Oh, no. If we realized the one to whom we address ourselves, we would be very, very humble indeed. And yet what a tremendous privilege, what a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer. How blessed creatures like ourselves, so sinful, so weak, so foolish, so prone to go our own way, carve out our own our own path for ourselves. And yet we are privileged to bow our knees and directly address ourselves to God, the great God, the infinitely great God, the creator, the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ. And we are privileged to talk to him direct, no intermediary. Well, I shouldn't say that. We address ourselves to God through Christ. But I mean, no human intermediary. We know we need no human help to help us in this matter of addressing ourselves in prayer to God. Oh, dear brethren, what a privilege, what a privilege to get right into contact with the resources of power and wisdom infinitely beyond anything that the world possesses. Isn't this what Paul means when he wrote to the Philippians and he says, My God shall supply all you need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus, our need, riches in glory in Christ Jesus, inexhaustible resources to be drawn upon through prayer. Now, the last point I want to bring before you is of a dual character, and that is the happy side of prayer. Prayer, I believe, is a term that covers many means of addressing ourselves to God. Many of the Psalms, for instance, are prayers. I think at least five, possibly six headings are mentioned in this way as prayers. But then others, without the heading, they breathe the spirit of prayer. They're crying to God for help. They're acknowledging God in his supremacy and wisdom as the one who could help. Some of them are imprecatory prayers, and they wouldn't be the prayers that a Christian would pray. But many, many of them, the language we could adopt quite happily because they are drawing upon God in his greatness and in his wisdom. And then there are songs, and many of the hymns that we have in our hymn book are prayers. Oh, teach us more of thy blessed ways. A song that we're singing that in itself is a prayer, and many, many more will come to your mind. And what a wonderful thing it is that in song, in the voices that God has given to us, we can raise them and utter prayers in this happy and in this very privileged way indeed. And then worship is a form of prayer. The worship that we find, the prayer that Solomon uttered at the dedication of the temple was both a prayer, a supplication and worship. It indicated, as far as he was concerned, how great God was, the covenant he had made with David, the promises he had made. All this involved the purpose and will of God, and it was all involved in this tremendous prayer that he made. And so we too can have this happy experience of addressing God in worship, in song, in praise. Oh, how wonderful. Think of Paul and Silas when they were in that prison in Philippi, their backs lacerated by the Roman scourge, and they're in the prison, and they might well have been depressed. They might well have had a sense of defeat, but were they? It says they prayed and they sang praises. There was the note of worship along with their supplications for help and strength. What a tremendous thing it is then that when we sing, we are singing to a God who hears our song just in the same way as he hears our prayers. Now lastly, the function of prayer. I've already spoken about individual prayer. Each one must determine how this function is maintained. What time is best suited, time that can be set aside to be used for this specific purpose. I believe this is why so often we get in the Bible prayer and fasting. It wasn't simply that they abstained from food just for that particular reason, but they abstained from food to apply themselves to that time in prayer. The time that was spent in preparing food and partaking of food was now spent in prayer, prayer and fasting. Now each one must determine what are the most opportune moments in each life to devote oneself to prayer. Oh, I say this again, absolutely essential. If we are going to be maintained fresh, energetic, diligent, strong in the interest of the Lord, we must have individual prayer. Then there is household prayer. Husband and wife kneeling together at the throne of grace, praying. What a happy thing. Husband and wife, children too if necessary. What a tremendous thing for heaven to look down upon. If I can refer to our Scottish poet again, if you've never read it before, get a copy of The Cotter's Saturday Night and you'll read something that will rejoice your heart. Because Burns portrayed something that was in function in those days in Scotland, something that was general, sad to say, largely disappeared. He describes the cotter and his wife and the children and their daughter's young man kneeling down together and praying. After reading the word of God. And then when they all went away, the husband, the father and the saint, that's how Burns describes him, kneeled down with his wife and they prayed for their children. What a tremendous sight. Oh, would that that were true in the homes, not only in Scotland, but throughout Britain. Would that it were true in the homes of the saints. Prayer in a household way. Diligent prayer, constant prayer, husband and wife and children together. When Paul says thou shall be saved thou and thy house. He wasn't only thinking that they would be free from the guilt of their sins and we're going to heaven. Salvation means much more than that. They would be saved. That household would be saved from many of the activities that had formerly marked it. And that home would be given over to different kinds of activities and prayer would be one of them. And that would be the real evidence that salvation had entered into that home. What a tremendous thing. Burns said from scenes like these, old Scotia's grander springs that makes her love that home revered abroad. Princes and lords are but the breath of kings, an honest man, the noblest work of God. Oh dear friends, whatever the poet might say, it's what the word of God says. That impresses upon us this tremendous need of prayer, individually, householdly and then collectively. Oh what a tremendous thing it is, this matter of prayer. And yet, I know that you will agree with me because we're speaking the truth, we know it. That if any meeting is sacrificed, very often it's the prayer meeting. Ah yes, the Bible reading, we can hear our knowledge then. Or addresses, or gospel meetings, yes. These are places where we can have a great deal of activity. But the prayer meeting, well, maybe that doesn't matter so much. Does it not? Oh, when we neglect the prayer meeting. We are neglecting the powerhouse, so often it has been said. I think it was Charles Spurgeon who took his visitor down to the basement of his church, the tabernacle. And he said, this is the powerhouse. And the visitor looked round to see what he was talking about. Maybe some furnace that supplied heat. No, said Spurgeon, we're talking about the place where prayer is made. This is the powerhouse. This is why that man of God was so powerful in his ministration in the gospel. And we can be sure of this, that when any assembly neglects prayer, they are neglecting the very means to draw upon the power of God. The wisdom of God. Not only for their own encouragement, that's primary. But also for the interest and blessing of those who are around in the area, through the gospel or through the ministration of the world. And so I believe that these three areas where we can function, individually, in the home, in the assembly, are areas where this great service of prayer, one of the greatest, if not the greatest, service can be carried on. And we can all have our part in it, thank God. As we said a moment ago, these instances that we read, indicate, shall I say, the scope of prayer by individuals, a king, a servant, and a son of God. And let us add Anna, the widow. All engaged in prayer and effective prayer. That's the great point. Effective prayer. And all people can engage in prayer. Husbands, wives, all young people who are newly converted, they can all exercise this tremendous prerogative. And so, this introduction to the subject, is one that I believe we need to think about more and more. The supremacy of God. The example of the Lord Jesus. The many exhortations in scripture. And the functions that we can carry on, individually in the home or in the meeting, are sufficient reasons for us to be more and more exercised in this great matter of prayer. I like what I read recently. I don't know who said it, but it appealed to me very much, when the person said, that prayer is the nerve that moves the muscle of omnipotence. That appeals to me very much. I might be a very, very weak nerve, but my prayers can move the power of God, in whatever way it is necessary, for help, for encouragement, for blessing. Oh dear friends, may our little talk, more and more, encourage us in this great matter of prayer. I'm sure, if I could look into your hearts, I know you would be like mine. We would all be confessing, yes, we could pray more than we do. And when we do make that confession, the reality of it will be seen, when we do it a little better than we've done before. Now, just to go over very briefly, if the Lord will, before we close. On Monday, not the Lord's prayer, we hope to say a little about the disciples' prayer. That is the prayer that the Lord taught them. Tuesday night, we might say something about the prayers of Daniel. Wednesday night, the prayer of a man in the Old Testament, called Jabez. On Thursday night, characteristic prayers, by different people. And then Friday, prayer in the early period of the church. Now we've been long enough, trying to help a little, in the things of the Lord, to know that you very often make your plans for a series of meetings, and before you reach the end, you're told to move in a direction that you never thought about. So while we suggest these are the things that we intend speaking about, it may be there will be an alteration, and I'm sure you will accept that. Well, can we close in singing together, Two Hundred and Eighty-Eight. Two Hundred and Eighty-Eight. Although whose mercy is hard to see, all we can do is pray. …

… Der zweite Vortrag von Frank Wallis am Montag, 13.10.1986 Das Gospel von Matthäus, Kapitel 6 Vers 5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions as the heathen do, for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them, for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye, Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. I want to speak particularly about what is commonly called the Lord's Prayer, but was the Lord's instructions for his disciples, how they were to pray. And the verses preceding this instruction that he gave to them tells us that there are things to avoid, told them that there were things to avoid. For instance, to avoid making a demonstration of their prayers, so that this was something that made much of themselves instead of the prayer, or the one to whom the prayer was addressed. And secondly, not to have long prayers, eloquent words, nice platitudes, something that men prided themselves in, but to be precise to the point and to pray in secret. So there were things that were to be avoided. But I particularly want to be occupied with what is positive, what the Lord Jesus directed his disciples to say in their prayers. Now I think you will agree with me that he never taught them this prayer, that it might be reiterated on every occasion they were together, or for any occasion they were together, but rather showing them the kind of prayer that they should pray. Now very simply, before we start to break it up, I believe it falls into three different sections. First of all, God. That was to be the preeminent thing in their prayer. And you'll notice that in that prayer, the Lord is directing their thoughts to what is particularly in relation to God. Secondly, others. Because when they pray, thy kingdom come, the Lord Jesus is thinking not only of the supremacy of God and his own position in that kingdom, but the tremendous benefit that would come to the whole world when that kingdom was established. And thirdly, themselves. Now there is a simple direction for us, and if we examine our prayers, we might find that they are hardly in keeping with that kind of direction. I think if we were to confess, we would say most of our prayers are in relation to ourselves, what we need, what we desire. But oh dear friends, the Lord wants us to think about God first, others, and then ourselves. That's a good pattern for any prayer. But I want to break it up even more. We may not cover all the things, but I want to point them out to you. Our Father, which art in heaven. I'm not going to deal with it as some deal with it in a dispensational sense, I'm just going to use the Lord's words to help us in our prayers today. So our Father, which art in heaven. Now it seems to me that's the prayer of a child, the prayer of a son, the prayer of one who has a known relationship with God, and in this tremendous relationship, knowing God as Father. Secondly, hallowed be thy name, is the prayer of a saint, one who desires that God's name should be set apart, should be recognized, should be distinctive. The prayer of a saint. Then, thy kingdom come, that's the prayer of a subject in the kingdom, and that involves a tremendous scope indeed. Then, thy will be done in earth, is the prayer of a servant, a bondslave who desires his master's will to be preeminent. Then we have, give us this day our daily or our kneaded bread, the prayer of a dependent. Then, forgive us our debts, the prayer of a debtor. Then, lead us not into temptation, the prayer of one who has known weakness, knowledge of one's own weakness and desiring not to be led into testings that are too great. And then, deliver us from evil, one who is in known helplessness, desiring to be protected from the tremendous evil influences that are around. Now, the Lord Jesus, being who he was, could say a tremendous amount in few words. Some of us may say a great deal, many, many words, and not say very much. But it was the opposite with the Lord. When he said a few words, what tremendous meaning was in those words. Tremendous scope. And I believe this prayer that we call the Lord's Prayer provides us with these things. So, this is how we'll use it tonight. Well, first of all, our prayers in a known relationship. Now, I feel that's a tremendous thing. We were saying on Saturday night that one of the great distinctive features about prayer is a recognition of the greatness of God. Now, when we speak about God as Father, this is a distinct recognition of his greatness and deity. There are two scriptures that we can bring forward to prove this. One is in 1 Corinthians 8, where Paul is speaking about the idolatry that existed in the world and the Corinthians in the midst of it. And he said, to us, there is one God, the Father. There we have the distinctive name of God revealed in this dispensation. To us, there is one God, the Father. And then, in the seven ones that Paul presents in Ephesians 4, one God and Father overall, and many other things he says about him. I believe there are two scriptures, and there are more, many more, that indicate to us how great this glorious Father is. He is God, but he is our Father. And this is the declaration that the Lord made to Mary on the resurrection morn when she met him, and he made that tremendous message that she should take to the disciples. I ascend to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God. What a tremendous message to carry back to the disciples. And, of course, we know from that that it is our relationship, it is our blessing, it is our distinctive and unique blessing to know God in this way, our Father and our God. Go a little step further, and Paul tells us in Ephesians that through him, that is through Christ, in the power of one spirit, we have access to the Father. That is, we are helped by another to enter into the presence of this tremendous God, the one whom we know as Father. Free access at all times through Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Now, isn't that a wonderful thing? That at any time and in any place we can lift up our voices to our Father in this known relationship that this Father who loves us and who is so infinitely great has a knee that is open to hear our prayers. That's a tremendous thing for us to consider. And I think it's Peter who says in his epistle, if ye invoke him as Father, invoke God as Father, you address him in that particular way because you know he is your Father. That's the relationship that you have with him. And if I remember in the Gospel by Luke, the Lord Jesus said, When ye pray, say, Father. Now I think all those quotations indicate to us what a dignified thing prayer is. We said at the outset, prayer honors God. And so if we address him in this way, as Father, we are taking advantage of a wondrous relationship that has been set up for us by Christ, can be known and enjoyed in the power of the Holy Spirit, and should characterize our prayers. We don't come before him saying that we are miserable sinners. We don't come before him with a sense that he's so far off. Oh no, we come to him in a known relationship, in association with the Son, knowing that his place is our place, and we can speak to our Father in this tremendous position. Now I think you will agree with me that if we enjoy this and appreciate it, it will give a character to our prayers, a depth and dignity to our prayers, far beyond anything that might be in an established way, an organized way, a written way, this spontaneous outflow of the heart to the Father in this known relationship. Well, that's the first point, our Father which art in heaven. I've had a difficulty here, dear brethren, and I'll express my difficulty, that sometimes people tell us, when you mention your Father who is in heaven, it is a sense of distance. But then I find in the same portion, the Lord Jesus says, My Father who is in the heavens. Now I can't think for one second that the Lord Jesus was thinking of any distance between him and his Father, not for one second. But it may be he was talking as a godly Jew at that moment, taking his place with them, I don't know. But I would be glad of any help in this if the brethren can afford it. But again I say that in the application at least of this quotation, it would bring home to us a sense of nearness and relationship that we can enjoy as we speak to our Father. Now it says, Hallowed be thy name, or sanctified be thy name. This word hallowed is more often used in the Old Testament with the same meaning as we have in the New, sanctified. That is, this great God in his holiness is distinctively set apart in demonstration of who he is and in whatever way he deals with his people. Now I'm going to draw upon the Old Testament to apply this statement to ourselves. The temple was built, built by Solomon, and God said that he was hallowed in that temple. Here was a distinctive place upon earth where God was known and God was approached in a unique way, not in the superstition and idolatry that marked the nations. Here was a God who had revealed himself to the nation of Israel, covenant blessings, a way of approach explained to them how they could draw near to him, and also a moral condition that was binding upon the people as they approached him. And in this sense, he was distinctively hallowed in the whole world in a unique way distinct from the idolatry that marked the world. Secondly, he was hallowed in a certain class of people who approached him, the priests. The priestly family, God was hallowed in them. That is, they were thoroughly occupied with him. They knew what was right in their approach to him. They followed his commandments in their approach to him. They were not governed by their own ideas or anyone else's ideas. They were entirely and wholly governed by what God laid down in relation to them. Then we find, and you can search these scriptures out, you'll find that in the failure of the nation of Israel, they come under the judgment of God, and God is hallowed in that. His holiness becomes apparent in this distinctive, unique way in his dealings with his people. And then, praise God, he is hallowed, sanctified, when he deals with his people in restoration and brings them back to himself. Well now, if we just simply apply these things to ourselves today, use these scriptures and apply them to the distinctive Christian position, praise God, there is a building today, not a material one, a spiritual one. No need in a company like this to explain that. Not a building of lime, stone, girder, wood, and precious stones, but a spiritual building consisting of every true believer in Christ. A spiritual house. And God, without doubt, is hallowed in that situation. Here is a way where God in holiness is approached and worshipped according to his own desire. He's laid down in his word how he is to be approached. He's known in that building. It's his dwelling place. It's the habitation of God in the spirit. And praise God, he in a unique way is sanctified in that sense. And then, not a family of priests, but a whole company of priests. This great approach to God through the whole company of believers, knowing him, worshipping him in this distinctive way. And then, if we do go astray, oh, thank God that he uniquely is hallowed when he brings us back. As we've been singing together, if evil besets us and he chastens us, he has his own way to bring us back to himself, and he is uniquely glorified in this, hallowed in this, if you like. And then, too, in our restoration, how he demonstrates his greatness and glory in this wondrous way. Now, this is what we are to pray for. We are to pray that this might be known in a greater way today. I would think that if we examined and analyzed our prayer meetings, a great deal of the time would be used up in praying for the gospel, and one would not deprecate that in the slightest. We thank God for that. We want to pray more and more and more for the salvation of precious souls. But I think you will agree that the greatest thing we can pray for is that God should be honored in the midst of his people, a greater approach to him, a greater understanding of the position that the people of God have and the opportunity they have to worship him. And, if you like, he set apart in a way that he couldn't be anywhere else but in the midst of his people, he is uniquely, distinctively set apart in their affections and in their minds. Oh, how wonderful. And we should pray for this more and more. There might be greater substance in the worship of God amongst his people if we prayed along these lines. And then pray, too, that we might be able to take advantage of this priestly service in worshiping God and approaching him in the way that he desires, not with any vestment, as the Aaronic priests had, not in any specified way, but the outpouring of the affections and the power of the Spirit going out to God in such a way as to please his heart. And in restoration, and also in discipline, God is great, and God works on the basis of his holiness, never deviates for it, never bends it. We should never think of God as a beneficent old gentleman who very, very kindly overlooks our weaknesses and failures. God's not a God like that. He's a holy God, and he's concerned that we might be up to his standard, and so he places us through discipline, chastisement, that we might return to him, and in this he is glorified, set apart as no one else possibly could be. Then these things ought to be in our prayers, that we're praying that God uniquely should be in the hearts of his people, whether in worship or in any other way. Then he says, I think now we are praying this prayer more often. We're longing for the kingdom to come. Indeed, Paul says we ought to love his appearing. That's the setting up of the kingdom, when the Lord Jesus Christ comes, sets up his earthly kingdom. We might say, why should we pray for the kingdom? Well, there are very good reasons why we should pray for the kingdom. We should be deeply concerned that the kingdom come. The first thing is that God himself might be glorified and honored, because as we search through the scriptures, we find that the kingdom has a very great place in the mind and will and purpose of God. If you haven't read it, our brother has written a book. It's available in the depot, Brother John Blackburn, The Kingdom of God, and that will tell us something about it. But I believe the first thing is the greatness and glory of God, his will, his purpose, established upon earth, as he intended it should be. Secondly, and oh, how we appreciate this, the public vindication of Christ, the one who was crucified and rejected. Oh, what a wondrous day it will be when he is supreme in the world in a public way, known from the river to the ends of the earth. All shall know him from the least to the greatest. Oh, how wonderful that will be. The man of Nazareth, the man of glory, power, administration. Secondly, or should I say thirdly, we think about ourselves, not selfishly, but as the time when we shall share in that administration, and the Lord will reward us for any faithfulness that we have accomplished in this world. Might be very meager, but the righteous judge will give his true assessment as to that which has given him pleasure in our lives, that which has been for his glory, that which has made much of him. There will be degrees of rewards, ruler over ten cities, ruler over five cities, so on. But yes, thank God, we have an interest in the kingdom. Fourthly, from a humanitarian point of view, what a tremendous desire to have that the kingdom should come. Oh, dear brethren, when we think of the sorrow that's in this world, the increasing wickedness, the awful chaos, the awful inhumanity that marks this poor, sad world, to see it at an end, no injustices, everything administered by Christ for the benefit of those upon earth. Oh, surely, this should be very much in our minds, thy kingdom come. What a tremendous day that will be when rule, administration, will be seen in its perfection in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. Just one word, in Revelation 5, we find many things ascribed to the Lord, honor, power, glory, and so on. Amongst them is mentioned riches, and we might well say, what is the Lord going to do with riches? I believe those are material riches. I don't think pound notes or hundred pound notes or gold and silver. I believe the resources that exist in the world. That is true riches, and those riches will be administered by the Lord Jesus Christ. No one will be able to corner the market and make a fortune at other people's expense. There will be no maladministration in the world. There will be an administration of the resources that will be to the glory of God and the honor of Christ and for the benefit of all concerned. No wonder we should pray, thy kingdom come. What a day it will be when the knowledge of the glory of the Lord covers the earth as the waters cover the sea. Thy kingdom come. Then we have the prayer of a servant. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. What a tremendous day that will be when this prayer is answered. In Ephesians 1, Paul reminds us that there is a day coming when God will head up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens and the things upon earth, even in him. That's the good pleasure of his will, the mystery of his will rather, when everything will be under the headship of Christ and a head who will control and influence for the glory of God. That's a prayer to pray for. Let thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. God's will today? Well, it's certainly not apparent in the affairs of men. I wonder in that summit meeting that we've been hearing about so much, Gorbachev and Reagan, I wonder if they ever bowed their knees and cried aloud to God that they might be governed by his will. I'm afraid not. One is an avowed enemy of God, the leader of an atheist nation. How could they possibly bow down, the leader of it rather, bow down and confess his need of God for guidance? Oh, that day will come when every knee will bow and all shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father and God's will will be operative upon earth in every conceivable way. What a prayer to pray and we should be praying this, that God's will will be manifest. We can pray today that it is manifested in our lives individually as we think of Romans 12 where Paul beseeches the saints to give their bodies a living sacrifice unto God in view of knowing and doing his will. That is something that we can all do, every one of us. And in that measure, the will of God will be seen upon earth. That's something that we can do ourselves. Praise God. We have the power to do it. We have the instruction to do it. And a good thing to pray more and more that this might be evident in our lives, every one of us. Then Paul, in a prayer in Colossians 1, he prays that the Colossian believers might grow by the true knowledge of God's will, the full knowledge of God's will. There was a distinctive prayer for a Christian company upon earth that they might advance in the knowledge of God's will for them. There would be a demonstration of the will of God upon earth. I believe that the particular will there would be that they would be entirely free from anything that man would provide because that was their danger. The philosophies of man intruding into Christian revelation and Paul's desire that they might be entirely free from that and be subject to the known will of God and grow in the appreciation of it and in the practice of it. So that's a very wonderful thing that individually and in our companies there can be the evidence of the will of God active upon earth long before it is known in its extensive way under Christ in the world to come. We're involved in that. We're involved in the future. We're involved in the present. I think it's a tremendous thing, tremendous triumph of God's grace and love that creatures like ourselves so poor and failing can in some measure exhibit the will of God. Oh, how great this was seen in our Lord Jesus Christ when in the hour of his greatest sorrow just approaching it he could pray not my will but thine be done. Not avoiding the suffering that he was about to pass through but ready to go through the declared will of God for him. He had come into this world in incarnation saying this, Lo, I come in the volume of the book it is written of me to do thy will, O God. And nothing caused him to deviate from that. He knew it was God's will. He did it every day of his life. He desires that each one of us should follow his example and do his will. Yes, this is a prayer we can all pray thy will be done on earth. We can pray it for ourselves we can pray it for the Christian company we can pray for its speedy coming upon earth in an extended way under Christ. Thy will be done in earth. Come to these confessions of need. Give us this day our daily bread I'm going to give you the rendering that Mr. Darby gives. Give us this day our needed bread. He has a very interesting footnote in his new translation and he says they are not to pray for an abundance it's a question of what is necessary day by day. Now I think that's beautiful because we are never taken out of the place of a dependent. It means that every day of our lives we are praying this. Now in this affluent society in which we live I don't suppose any of us pray this kind of prayer that we need a loaf of bread. But we can pray in a material sense that we might be provided with everything that's necessary for our righteous requirements as Christians to meet everything every obligation that we have as citizens in any particular place that we need to meet the righteous obligations that are upon us as citizens and we may not have the wherewithal to do that and so I think it's perfectly correct that we should pray that that is forthcoming. But the main thing I want to stress is that we're dependent we don't want to be independent that would be false and we have to pray this prayer every day of our lives that we're dependent upon him. Many had an uncle who used to have a little business and one day he felt he had done extremely well and he sat down and he counted his day's takings and he was congratulating himself that he had been so successful. And then into his mind came the quotation from Deuteronomy Think not that it was the power of thy right hand that acquired thee this wealth. There was a word to him that whatever he had received he had received it from God. God gave him the strength God gave him the wisdom God gave him the guidance and he was privileged to acquire what he had acquired. And surely in this affluent society there is the danger of us becoming independent in mind and in practice. Oh how necessary it is to cry aloud to God every day of our lives that we might be supplied with that which is necessary to maintain us as Christians. Our needed bread whatever is necessary for us as true believers in the place where we are. We may have plenty of this world's goods and yet we need to pray this prayer that we might be strengthened, supplied in various ways. I'm sure you will all agree that no matter what we may have materially that we need to pray every day of our lives to be kept in this attitude of dependence. I'm sure that Joseph of Arimathea would learn this. I'm sure that many, many rich people have learned it that whatever they have it never delivers them from the position of a dependent. Every day they are dependent upon God. Every one of us, we are all dependent upon God. A great king was told by the prophet the God in whose hands thy breath is, thou hast not glorified. Do we glorify God as we rise in the morning? Do our hearts rise up to him in thankfulness that we have health and strength and soundness of mind? Do we thank him for the homes we live in, the food that we eat, the clothes that we wear, not with any ostentation, but just profoundly thankful that we have these things that the people take for granted. These are just the necessary things to them. They are necessary to us too, but we acknowledge a God who gives them in all the grace and kindness of his heart. And how to administer these things is surely a constant problem and exercise, but oh dear brethren my desire from my own heart and I'm sure for yours is that we might never feel ourselves independent, but every day of our lives acknowledge that we are dependent. We need God. We need him every day and in every portion of our lives. Let us pray this prayer then. Give us this day our needed bread. I think I ought to say this, that I believe with all my heart that this will be the prayer of the beleaguered remnant during the time of the great tribulation. You remember it tells us that if you don't get the mark of the beast in your forehead and in your hand, you won't be able to buy and you won't be able to sell. That is so and it will be so. How are those people going to buy bread? How are they going to get bread? Impossible. They don't belong to the beast. They won't be supplied by anyone. Give us this day our daily bread. It will be a real prayer coming from their hearts. A prayer for guidance, control and support. A prayer for what is necessary to maintain them in life as they represent God. It will be very real to them. It ought to be very real to us. Day by day dependence. Then it says, forgive us our debts. Here is the prayer of a debtor. It goes on to say, as we forgive our debtors. Now, thank God if we have a forgiving spirit. Great deal of unhappiness amongst the saints of God would be soon cured if a forgiving spirit were more practiced. Oh how hard we can be. And the Lord Jesus said this, remember in the parable of the servant who owed his master a tremendous amount of money. And when the master was going to treat him in a very hard way, he pleaded, pleaded for time to pay back. And his master was so struck by this attitude. He had compassion upon him and he forgave him all. And then he had a colleague, co-servant, who owed him a paltry sum. And he demanded that payment. Indeed was violent in his desire to get the payment. And when he didn't get it, he treated his co-servant shamefully. Now that's a very simple parable, but my, it speaks volumes. When we think of the immense amount that God has forgiven us, are we able to assess it? The tremendous forgiveness that God has exercised towards us in all our sin and folly. Yet we're so reluctant to forgive anyone who says something to us, or does something to us, that we don't like. How unforgiving. So the Lord Jesus is saying, this is the kind of prayer. I want you to pray. Forgive us our debts. As we forgive our debtors, we forgive those who are indebted to us. And that's a very small thing. Oh, we want to be forgiven, because we haven't fulfilled our obligations towards thee. Now, dear brethren, when we think of how much we are indebted to God for his mercy, his grace, his love, when we think of the vast realm of blessing that we have brought into, and we so feebly respond to him in relation to it, I think in this sense we can view ourselves as debtors. That we haven't fully, adequately, livingly answered to what God has given to us. We're indebted to him in such a wonderful way for his greatness and love to us, and how paltry our return to him. I'm going to apply it in that way. That we're a debtor to God in that sense. Oh, that we might be more conscious of responding to him in a way that gives him joy and gladness, and I'm sure that he appreciates it. We just need to quote one little story from the word of God to prove this. You remember the ten lepers who were cleansed? What tremendous blessing in their lives. Completely freed from this loathsome disease. Nine never found it in their hearts to come back and say thanks. One came back and said thanks to God. Incidentally, the only one in the gospels that ever said thanks to Christ. And oh, how he appreciated it. Not only did he give thanks, it says he gave glory to God. Here was one who was indebted and responded to his indebtedness by giving glory to God and saying thanks to the Lord Jesus. Oh, how easily we might fall into this snare of, yes, enjoying these things. Well, if we did enjoy them we would be more responsive. But we accept them in a casual kind of manner. Oh, yes, I'm blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ. And perhaps not responding to the God who has blessed us in such a wonderful way. So, the Lord says, pray this kind of prayer. That we might be forgiven. That we might not be held against us, if you like. Now we have to make ourselves clear here. There is a forgiveness that is absolute. Oh, how wonderful it is. That in the death of Christ, everything has been forgiven in relation to our sin and guilt. There's no possibility of anything being brought up against us in that realm. The death of Christ is absolute in that sense. Those sins of ours are covered, dealt with, finished through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. And we're deeply thankful for that. I think what the Lord is saying here, pray that there might not, on your part, any slackness in showing your response to your God. Very, very difficult to put in Christian terms. But that's the way I apply it this evening. And so, we too should be marked by this tremendous indebtedness to God and ready to respond to Him and give Him pleasure. Now, we come to those last two in verse 13. Known weakness. Lead us not into temptation. You know from the epistle of James that he tells us that God would never tempt anyone with evil, with sin. That's an absolute statement that we can take. It's perfectly true. God will never lead us into a place where we'll sin. Every man is led away by his own lust and when it conceives, brings forth sin and sin brings forth death. That's the order that James presents. But here is unknown weakness on the part of the believer and he says, don't allow me to be in circumstances that are too testing for me. I think Paul felt something like this when he prayed aloud to the Lord three times that the thorn from the flesh might be removed from him. This is something that was bearing in upon him. He desired earnestly that it might be removed. But it wasn't removed. That was a prayer that went unanswered because he proved in his circumstances that the power of Christ was able to help him and sustain him. But here is a person knowing his own weakness. I know my weakness. I know how easily I can succumb to temptations, testings, how easily I can give way. I don't want to be like that. I want to be kept free from these things. I want to go forward and do the things that are pleasing to God and not be allowed to fall into temptation, fall into testings that will be too great for me. I think God understands this. He's so gracious. Do you remember when the children of Israel came out of Egypt? He led them by a way whereby they avoided the wars that were going on. He didn't want them to be embroiled in strife immediately coming out from Egypt. How kind he was. And he looked after them and cared for them in that way. He did allow them to be tested by various means. Sometimes they were successful and sometimes they failed. I think here this is the prayer of one who knows his own weakness. Don't allow us to be drawn into circumstances that are too great for us. Do you feel that you're strong enough to face any testing? I don't. Oh, I'm terrified that I might be in testings whereby I might be overthrown, might dishonor the Lord. I think it's a prayer that's close to our hearts as we get older. George Muller, man of faith, man of God, right till the very day he died, he says, Lord, preserve me from being a wicked old man. There was the prayer of a man of God. Desire in his heart. You see, he had been a man who had known something of evil, debauchery. He had known it. He was a depraved man before he was converted. Didn't want to go back to that. Didn't want to be in circumstances tested by them and overcome. And so this is a good prayer. Oh, don't let us be self-confident. Poor Peter is an example for us in the scriptures. Though all forsake thee, yet will not I. He didn't know his own weakness. Good thing if we know our own weakness. Good thing if we know our own smallness. Good thing if we can get a vision like Gideon when the barley cake rolled into the camp of the Gideons. The... Not the Gideonites. The people who were against the children of Israel. These enemies of Israel. And that's what Gideon saw. A little barley cake. That was to give him an impression of his own smallness and of God's power. And that's a very good thing. If we can always keep this in our minds that God is great and he'll help us in our weakness. And lastly, deliver us from evil. I believe this is the prayer of one who knows his own helplessness. That the powers that are against him are infinitely greater than himself. I like Paul's statement in the last chapter of 2 Timothy. It's very near to my heart. And although it was uniquely true of Paul, I would like it to be true of myself. And I'm sure you would too. The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work. And preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom. What tremendous confidence. Here was a man who was confident that the Lord would look after him and preserve him from those tremendous evil powers that existed. Some say that this could be translated the evil one. The evil one. And what a power he is. Oh, what a power Satan is. We ought to know more about him. His subtlety, his cunning, his wiles. There is so much in Scripture that tell us how great and powerful and wise and cunning Satan is. Not one of us is a match for him. But in the power of Christ we can be protected. Oh, how important it is. The evil one. What tremendous influence and power he is. And like David, as he went into the valley of Elah against Goliath, he went in the power of the name of the God of hosts. That was his strength. A little stripling against this man of war. But that's how he was successful. In the name of the God of hosts. And that's our strength. Oh, what a prayer. Deliver us from evil. And also Paul reminds us that the Lord Jesus Christ died to deliver us from this present evil age. In the first chapter of Galatians, the first few verses. This is an evil world. If we find some of its things attractive to us, let us remember that those attractions are governed by the ruler of this world. They take up our time. They attract us. They deprive us. They take away our appetite for divine things. This is an evil world. If it shows its fair face to us, it's to allure us away from the things that are worthwhile. And we need to pray that we might be delivered in a practical way every day of our lives from this present evil world. A good prayer to pray. A good prayer to pray. Every day of our lives. Evil things. Evil things. Evil things. Evil things. Every day of our lives. Evil is all around us. Every conceivable form. The ruler of this world makes sure some senses it's blatant. Other senses it's very subtly hid. And that's to ensnare the believer. Oh, what a tremendous thing it is. This prayer deliver us from evil. In ourselves we're unable to combat it because we have a nature that responds to it. Willingly responds to it. Thank God we have another nature that desires holy things. And this is the nature that can be successful in the power of the spirit and obedient to the word of God. Well, I made these few suggestions that in this disciples prayer, there is so much when we analyze it. The prayer, as we say, our Father which art in heaven. The prayer of a son. Hallowed be thy name. The prayer of a saint. Thy kingdom come. The prayer of a subject. Thy will be done on earth. The prayer of a servant. Give us this daily bread, our needed bread. The prayer of a dependent person. Forgive us our debts. The prayer of a debtor. And lead us not in temptation. The prayer of known weakness. Deliver us from evil. The prayer of helplessness. I think you will agree that this prayer contains a great deal and can guide us that we might be accurate, that we might be intelligent in our approach to God in our prayers and see the scope that can be covered in our prayers as we intelligently take account of this great avenue that's been opened up for us into the presence of God at all times in the power of the spirit and through Christ. And I'm sure that those prayers will be deeply appreciated by God and in the words of the Lord before that, pray to thy father which is in secret and thy father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. May we be encouraged for his namesake. …

… Der dritte Teil der Serie von Frank Wallace Basenfeldmann, Oktober 1986. Jetzt kommen wir zum Buch von Daniel. Daniel, Kapitel 2. I think you're all acquainted with the early part of the chapter where King Nebuchadnezzar has a dream and he sends for his wise men to tell him the dream and not only to tell him but to give the interpretation of it which they were unable to do and so the king got very angry and he issued a decree that all the wise men in Babylon should be slain and that involved Daniel and his companions so we begin to read at verse 18 rather verse 17. Verse 17 of chapter 2. Then Daniel went to his house and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah his companions that they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning the secret that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Daniel answered and said blessed be the name of God forever and ever for wisdom and might are his and he changes the times and the seasons. He removeth kings and setteth up kings. He giveth wisdom unto the wise and knowledge to them that no understanding. He revealeth the deep and secret things. He knoweth what is in the darkness and the light dwelleth with him. I thank thee and praise thee O thou God of my fathers who has given me wisdom and might and has made known unto me now what we desired of thee for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter. Therefore Daniel went in unto Ariok whom the king had ordained to the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus unto him destroy not the wise men of Babylon bring me in before the king and I will show unto the king the interpretation. Now we move over to chapter 6. Again the background of the chapter is the hostility and intrigue of those who hated Daniel because of his prominence in the kingdom and they very slyly and in a very cunning way sought this opportunity to bring Daniel into disfavor with Darius the king. We begin reading at verse 4. Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom but they could find none occasion or fault for as much as he was faithful neither was there any error or fault found in him. Then said these men we shall not find any occasion against this Daniel except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. Then they take steps and make an arrangement with the king for a certain law to be passed that no one should ask any request except to the king. Now when Daniel knew this, verse 10 it says, now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed he went into his house and his windows being open and his chamber toward Jerusalem he kneeled upon his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God as he did aforetime. Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. Praying in the midst of great danger because doing this he knew that he was liable to be cast in amongst the lions. Now we turn to chapter 9. This is a fairly long portion that we want to read but it's very important that we should read it. Chapter 9 and verse 1. It's been suggested that Daniel might be 90 years of age when he prays this prayer. So we're listening to the prayer of an old man of God. Daniel chapter 9 and verse 1. In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus of the seed of the Medes which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans in the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years but off the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet that he would accomplish 70 years in the desolations of Jerusalem. I set my face unto the Lord God to seek my prayer and supplications with fasting and sackcloth and ashes and I prayed unto the Lord my God and made my confession and said O Lord the great and dreadful God keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him and to them that keep his commandments we have sinned and have committed iniquity and have done wickedly and have rebelled even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets which speak in thy name to our kings our princes and our fathers and to all the people of the land O Lord righteousness belongeth unto thee but unto us confusion of faces as at this day to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and unto all Israel that are near and that are far off through all the countries whether thou has driven them because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee O Lord to us belongeth confusion of face to our kings to our princes and to our fathers because we have sinned against thee to the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses though we have rebelled against him neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God to walk in his laws which he set before us by his servants the prophets all Israel have transgressed thy law even by departing that they might not obey thy voice therefore the curse is poured upon us and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God because we have sinned against him and he hath confirmed his words which he spake against us and against our judges that judged us by bringing upon us a great evil but under the whole heaven hath not been done as had been done upon Jerusalem as it is written in the law of Moses all this evil has come upon us yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God that we might turn from our iniquities and understand thy truth therefore hath the Lord watched upon the evil and brought it upon us for the Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth for we obeyed not his voice and now O Lord our God that has brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and has gotten the renown as at this day we have sinned we have done wickedly O Lord according to all thy righteousness I beseech thee let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem thy holy mountain because for our sins and for the iniquities of our fathers Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us now therefore O our God hear the prayer of thy servant and his supplications and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate for the Lord's sake O my God incline thine ear and hear open thine eyes and behold our desolations and the city which is called by thy name for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses but for thy great mercies O Lord hear O Lord forgive O Lord hearken and do defer not for thine own sake O my God for thy city and thy people are called by thy name and while I was speaking and praying and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God yea while as I was speaking in prayer even the man Gabriel whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning being caused to fly swiftly touch me about the time of the evening oblation and he informed me and talked with me and said O Daniel I have now come forth to give thee skill and understanding at the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth and I am come to show thee for thou art greatly beloved therefore understand the matter and consider the vision my if we could pray like that that's some prayer the heart of that man was in his prayer and he's not praying about himself he's praying about the things that are dear to the heart of God what a prayer what confession willing to take the low place himself my sin and the sin of my people we'll come to that later it's comparatively easy to pray in conditions where things are congenial everything's all right things are going along normal isn't much danger things perhaps quite prosperous and perhaps not the same urgency for prayer on the other hand maybe when things are really difficult in our lives that we are pushed onto our knees to take account of God in his greatness and goodness I feel is a tremendous appeal as we read the book of Daniel and see this man of prayer this man of God this upright man this good man and his prayers and how he besought God and how God answered him in a signal fashion this was a prayer a specific prayer in chapter 2 as we said at the outset it was a tremendous endeavor on the part of Nebuchadnezzar to ask those wise men to reveal to him something that really they were unable to do it really revealed the emptiness of the Gentile professions of knowledge and wisdom and skill and understanding and he made this tremendous request of them that they should tell him his dream and give to him the interpretation of it they were utterly unable to do it they tried to play for time they tried to modify the king's request but to no avail and so the threat went out if you don't tell me my dream and if you don't give me the interpretation you'll all lose your lives no exception well this was a dilemma and then Daniel heard about it knew that he was in danger and his companions were in danger and so he went to them and he said brethren we'll need to pray it was as simple as that that there was fellowship in prayer that great as the danger was Daniel knew that there was a place to which he could turn to find strength resource and wisdom I believe that if Daniel and his companions hadn't been faithful in the first chapter you would never have heard Daniel and his and his praying friends in the second chapter their basis their field their faithfulness rather laid the basis of their prayer life and their success as we go through these six chapters in the book of Daniel faithfulness and small things led to success in greater things and so it is in all our lives let's take care of the small things and don't think they're too small we must be faithful in small things if we are going to have any power with God in greater things so Daniel and his companions they got together with a specific request that God would make known to them the dream and the interpretation of it and God answered their request now I want to present this to ourselves today in the Christian era the Christian dispensation how does it affect us first of all fellowship in prayer a tremendous thing you remember in Matthew chapter 18 the Lord said if two of you agree in any matter it shall be granted you for where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them now that's a divine promise I believe uniquely this was fulfilled in the early days of the church where without any ulterior motive with clear vision as to the mind of the Lord the disciples besought the Lord in prayer and their prayers were answered united prayer on their part we say well why aren't our prayers answered today we pray for much in the prayer meeting we cry to the Lord again and again for blessing in the gospel for power in the ministry for enlargement in our assemblies for greater knowledge of the truth greater affection towards the Lord we pray for many many things and the prayer answers are meager well there's nothing wrong with God we can start with that very very definitely that's a firm basis to rest upon that God is the same today as he was in the days of Daniel it may be that we have to look into our hearts and see if there are things there that need to be removed just as Daniel and his companions were faithful in those small things connection with food they were faithful in that God blessed them and because they were faithful their prayers had power with God we mustn't forget what James said the prayer of a righteous man availeth much no dear friends I honestly believe as far as I'm concerned that's one of the reasons for failure in prayer life in my life you all can answer for yourselves but it's beyond doubt that the Lord has made a promise that he will fulfill that if we are gathered together in his name and we are agreed on specific matters he'll answer those requests well that's a promise that we can take hold of I suppose we all could refer to times in our companies when specific requests were made and those requests were answered there was an urgency about the prayers a reality about the prayers there were no frills or platitudes there was no embellishment of the prayers they came out from the heart in simple terms straight to the point and God heard those prayers and answered them so it was when Peter was put in prison it says unceasing prayer was made on his behalf by the assembly I am perfectly sure those who prayed in that prayer meeting in John Mark's mother's house they didn't indulge in long prayers and going all round about and upside down and in and out they were straight to the point Lord Peter is in prison we need Peter's help he's a gifted man Lord we need Peter released I'm sure their prayers were straight to the point simple prayers honest prayers prayers with no ulterior motive whatsoever and God answered the prayers and sad to say they had the faith to accept it when the visible visible evidence was before their eyes Peter was standing outside nevertheless God answered their prayers wonderful thing when prayer is made in this way you remember in connection I think we mentioned this before in Acts chapter 4 when those who were in prison were released they went to their own company and they cried aloud to the Creator God and they cried specifically for boldness to continue the testimony in the city of Jerusalem in the place where Christ was crucified they desired help to continue this testimony and immediately says God gave them this boldness and they continued in the testimony short prayer they all prayed it short prayer to the point specific prayers and God heard them and blessed them we read in the book of Ezra how Ezra gathered all the company together and they fasted together and he says that we might beseech the Lord for us all for a right way a plea a prayer for guidance a specific prayer for guidance and he says we were entreated of God he heard their prayers and he blessed them and he gave them guidance I remember when we were in Australia and this was without exception at the prayer meetings there would be about 10 minutes after the time for prayer started after the first hymn was given out there would be about 10 minutes employed in various people saying pray for so-and-so pray for this pray for the next thing and before ever the prayer meeting began about half a dozen or a dozen requests were specifically laid before the brethren to pray about now that seems to me dear brethren an excellent thing would it be an exaggeration to say that sometimes we come together at a prayer meeting and you would scarcely think there was anything that required prayer seems to be such hesitation in taking part in the prayer meeting and then very vague general requests oh how much we need specific requests conditions that we know about that require prayer and you say well I don't know very many special requests well that would indicate that you don't know very much about your local situation the condition of your brothers and sisters in health and in spiritual standing it's an indication that you don't ever read the publications that circulate amongst us North Kusai News for instance with dozens of requests for prayer circulars that make requests for prayer all kinds of specific requests that come before the brethren and sometimes you would think there's nothing to pray about isn't it sad and we wonder why we're not enlarged wonder why we're not growing wonder why there's not sufficient spiritual growth individually and collectively when the very place where we should be on our knees before God crying to him about specific matters and there's very very little done in this realm now I believe with all my heart that a prayer list would be an excellent thing in any prayer meeting with brothers who know matters that require prayer I see no difficulty at all in that prayer list being read out to the brethren and then the brethren pray about these specific things that are brought before them I don't think that we come together in a miraculous way and then God suddenly reveals to us that there's something to pray about God wants us to be interested he wants us to be exercised wants us to know about the things that require prayer and pray about them not only individually but in our prayer meetings there can be no question at all that Daniel and his companions they prayed specifically this was a matter of the greatest urgency we read in North Kasai of enemies against the truth who want to gain control of our mission stations how many of us have prayed about that it's in the circular there's in the North Kasai news and this is a dangerous situation for our mission and these enemies are trying their utmost to gain control they've done so in Lusambo they could well do again and so our prayers will greatly help our brothers and sisters who are striving in the Lord's name in that part of the world in Colombia the Roman Catholic authorities are doing their utmost to stifle the the message of the gospel in that area well our prayers will help the Lord's servants to stand firm and there are many many other things that are crying out for prayer many projects such as this built on prayer built on vision and oh what blessing we have had in it but it requires prayer for its furtherance its maintenance that it might still be a place where blessing is secured and the Lord's honor and glory maintained and so dear brethren I believe this matter of specific prayer is one that is crying out to be attended to in our meetings and so if we went back from this place with that alone in our minds then these meetings will be well worthwhile I saw in America a prayer list arranged by a brother Eugene Vedder jr. tremendous prayer list it's printed there's a prayer for every day of the year and that prayer list covers the whole world he searched out matters amongst us that require prayer and there they are I've tried to obtain a copy but I haven't won yet but I hope to get one and I think it's a tremendous guide in this matter of prayer not vain repetition urgent prayers to God in relation to his interests and if we don't know it's to our shame there are plenty of sources of information that we can apply ourselves to to get those prayer requests into our own hearts into our own lips that we might cry aloud to God well then James says if any man lack wisdom let him ask of God what a wonderful thing that is to ask wisdom from God that's what Daniel did Daniel and his companions they asked for wisdom there's a simple prayer that I pray often when I lift my Bible I know that I'm unable to understand the Bible with my human mind I need God's wisdom so if I lift my Bible to read it I just make a simple prayer Lord help me to understand that doesn't take long but it's an expression of dependence which helps I believe the Lord answers those simple prayers when we go along to what sometimes called the business meeting I don't like that name but a meeting where the Lord's interests are cared for oh how we need to pray for wisdom that we might attend to the Lord's business in an upright just and honorable way that the spirit of the flesh the endeavors of the flesh might be kept at bay and what is pleasing to God come into manifestation when we go to a Bible reading good thing to pray for the spirit of wisdom and revelation that we might understand the things that we are reading and make progress in our souls these are prayers prayers for wisdom this was an urgent matter again we see this a specific matter and God answered it an answer prayer praise God leads to praise my what a note of praise that was on the part of Daniel what a tremendous praise it was oh how his heart went out to God in praise and worship I think that that praise indicates the great supremacy of God you'll notice it begins with blessed be the name of God forever and ever why that dream that vision that Daniel got I believe that he also got a vision of that great image and got the interpretation of it and Daniel saw in that the end of Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom blessed be the name of God forever and ever Nebuchadnezzar departs God's name goes on and on and on no stopping the interest and power of God Nebuchadnezzar couldn't remember his dream his wise men couldn't remember the dream neither give the interpretation of it but wisdom and might belong to God he is the one who reveals things again the supremacy of God Daniel could see the times of the Gentiles coming to their end but he prays to God and praises God the times and seasons belong to him he puts down and he lifts up in the ways of God was necessary in the purpose of God everything was secure and his will would be established the servants of Nebuchadnezzar are useless the servants of God they are revealed that the dream is revealed to them and its interpretation the whole tenor of this note of praise is to establish or rather should I say to voice the supremacy of God and the ineffectual power of Nebuchadnezzar and his servants let me say in passing that when the Jew is faithful to his God he's infinitely greater than the greatest of the Gentiles the first six chapters of the book of Daniel demonstrate this in a very powerful way that the faithful Jew is always superior to the best of the Gentiles you read it through for yourself and you'll see that what I'm saying is true and so Daniel he praises God he receives an answer to his prayer and the prayer of his companions and he praises God it would be a strange thing indeed if our prayers answered and we do not return worship and praise to the God who gives answers to our prayers it would be indeed a strange thing but I believe the pattern there is one that we can happily follow now we come to chapter six we've considered the cruelty of this great monarch and his desire to deal with his own servants and also with Daniel and his companions a picture we believe of the cruelty of the man of sin the end the beast the first beast of revelation 13 marked by utmost cruelty and violence and Nebuchadnezzar is a figure of this kind of thing when we come to chapter six it's the cunning intrigue perhaps set forth in the false prophet the second beast of revelation 13 but we're not particularly engaged with that at the moment we're concerned about how this man of God triumphed over that opposition against him first of all there was no question at all that Daniel was an upright man a very upright man indeed they knew perfectly well that there was no possibility of finding any fraud in him any embezzlement any falling behind in his responsibilities towards the king if any fault could be found it would be found in connection with his faith that's a very good thing I remember when Gerald Ford was vice president and you remember he had to take over when President Nixon had to resign and I understand that they went through his life very carefully to see if there was anything in him that would prohibit him from being the president and it's to his credit that they could not find anything politically or criminally against him very unusual thing in American politics or for that matter in any glance politics he must have been a very upright man indeed and this is the kind of thing they tried to do with Daniel see if he's done anything wrong against his master any fraud any deceit any stealing anything of that kind no nothing could be found against him he was an upright man I wonder can that be said of us in our dealings and business in our responsibilities are we upright are we honest well that's a very trying thing we live in days when that kind of thing is accepted practice as long as you get away with it it's all right that's of no use whatsoever in the Christian testimony and God answers prayers that are upright and true backed up by honest lives let us quote again what James says the prayer of a righteous man availeth much righteous before men righteous before God that's the kind of prayer that God answers and we might say well why why have we declined why we look into our own hearts first I'm prepared to take my place like Daniel and say I'll confess my sin I may have gone to the meetings may even been active in Christian service but there may have been things in my life that not pleasing to God that adversely affects the testimony it affects to our power and prayer not with Daniel he was an upright man a good man and so when he heard that this edict had been signed that if any man asked any God or any personal request apart from the king that person was to be cast amongst the lions and when Daniel knew that it was signed notice that dear brethren he wasn't ignorant of what was going on he knew perfectly well the attack against him and when he knew it it wasn't something he did in a hurry or in urgency it was something that fell into the scope of his custom unhurriedly according to his usual life went into his home closed his door opened his window looked towards Jerusalem and prayed the prayer of Solomon when you go home when you find time read the prayer of Solomon first kings chapter eight there's another version of it in chronicles second chronicles and Solomon says to God if there should be a situation arising when thy people are taken captive and they're in captivity and they look towards this house and they call upon thee in repentance hear their prayer and maintain their right that's the kind of prayer that Daniel prayed he prayed Solomon's prayer he took account intelligently of what God had provided and he prayed accordingly and God maintained his right I like to see this man in his unhurried way three times a day he prayed day after day week after week month after month perhaps this was the reason for his stability this was the reason that he was an upright servant for his master this was the source of his power three times a day he prayed I remember rightly in Psalm 55 the psalmist says evening and morning and at noon will I call unto thee there was another man who prayed three times a day Daniel prayed three times a day it was his custom he kneeled and he gave thanks while he made his supplications it's not a very nice thing to think that there are people who are thirsting for your blood and by kneeling down you're disobeying the edict of the king and that edict means your death well that didn't disturb Daniel why I believe that he was like Peter you remember Peter in prison why the Lord had told him Peter you won't die until you're old that's what the Lord told him at the end of the gospel by John and there was Peter in prison lying sleeping and yet he was to be killed in the morning why was he sleeping restful in the promise of God he wasn't yet an old man that is still to come and so my time hasn't arrived yet he said when he wrote his letter many many years afterwards he said the time of my departure has come the Lord had shown him it was his time to go but Daniel he knew that Solomon's prayer would be answered maintain the right when they cry aloud unto thee to this house Daniel knew full well that his God was able to help him and you know the story we don't need to repeat it you know how eventually he was cast into the den where the lions were and he spent a more comfortable night than the king did by faith stopped the mouth of lions it tells us in Hebrews 11 Daniel's faith in his God God who was able to deliver him God who was able to sustain him in the most awful surroundings that God delivered him God maintained his right upright before his king upright before his God this man's prayers had power of ours George Muller was a man of prayer I believe a morally upright man a spiritually upright man someone said Muller you must have a special kind of faith no he says I just make mine work he had faith in God that was the source of his power and I believe dear brethren that if our moral condition was right before God and before men he would hear and answer our prayers especially those prayers in relation to his own interests now lastly we come to chapter six chapter nine this prayer of Daniel's has to be read in connection with the book of Jeremiah chapter 29 and God sent word to the captives in Babylon now marry make sure your sons and daughter marry build houses plant gardens he says you're going to be here for 70 years now don't listen to those people who say oh God will deliver you he says I have no intention of delivering you you'll be here for 70 years and also he said when the time is drawing near cry unto me in repentance and confession of sin and he says I will answer you and I will deliver you and I will bring you back to your land and bless you there isn't the slightest evidence that anyone else except Daniel was concerned about that about that nowhere else in the bible do we find anyone who was concerned about the fulfillment of God's promise so Daniel is really taking upon himself what should have been the remnant's prayer those in Babylon they should have been exercised about this they should have been crying aloud to God they should have been repenting about their sins and their failure and as far as we know not one did it's also been suggested that this was about the time when Daniel was cast amongst the lions by king Darius an old man pitiless man the monarch because he was bound up with the laws that he had passed but Daniel's God delivered him as we have already said but what a prayer I'm sure you would notice as we were reading together how Daniel cried aloud oh God it wasn't a casual prayer it wasn't a well-thought-out prayer with platitudes and nice smooth sayings it was a prayer of humiliation a prayer of repentance a prayer of confession but it also took account of the promise of God it took account of the God of his fathers that is the God of the covenant the God who has a purpose in relation to his people as far as we know this is the only prayer that we find in the Bible that was interrupted from heaven when Daniel was speaking the angel Gabriel was sent to him while he was still speaking and told him his prayer was heard man greatly beloved and then we find in the latter part of the chapter the tremendous vision 70 weeks vision and we haven't time to consider that but it's all one great triumph that God's people Israel will eventually succeed their sins will be put away they'll occupy the foremost place in the nation according to the purpose of God all that is secure and while there was a partial fulfillment in the return of the captives from Babylon the complete fulfillment waited until Christ dealt with it effectively oh dear friends what we see here is a man with a breadth of vision with a depth of feeling with a great concern for what belonged to God personally Jerusalem broken down destroyed the walls flat the house in ruins oh the Jews yes privileged people was Daniel praying principally about them no not principally about them thy city thy sanctuary and then thy people that was the burden of his prayer God's interest first God's people next but the main thing is it's God's interests God's city what did God say about it you remember in psalm 132 here will I rest this is the place forever he said for I will rest this was the place that he selected for the building of the temple and for the approach to himself God never alters the gifts and calling of God are without dependence and so that Jerusalem its broken condition was still God's center God's city and in that city there was the sanctuary the holiest of all the place where the ark should have been the place where God would still meet with men and they with him God's holy sanctuary and God's people his chosen people his elect that people that was so near to him this was the burden of Daniel's prayer but what a tremendous acknowledgement of failure we haven't obeyed thy law we followed our own way we've sinned we've done wickedness and Daniel says I confessed my sin and the sin of my people Israel and you will notice he covers the whole scope of the nation the prophets the priests the kings Judah all Israel no one is left out now that was Daniel's prayer in relation to the nation of Israel what about our prayers our prime responsibility is where we meet with other believers that's our prime responsibility that we pray for the prosperity spiritually and otherwise of those who are gathered to the Lord's name in whatever locality we are in that's our prime responsibility that we pray there and we work there for its success not for our blessing entirely but for the glory of God and of Christ but it doesn't stop there we think of the whole church of God and we should pray for its prosperity and we can pray for the decadence of the Christian testimony today in many parts of the world where once it flourished there must be some reason why it has gone down and perhaps the reason is that Daniel places the reason not obeying the word of God sinning doing things that are wrong and so gradually the testimony declines and eventually disappears but the road for success is repentance that's what Daniel is that's how Daniel is acting here confessing repenting and crying upon God to hear now these are not strange words in our ears in connection with the Christian testimony when we come to the seven churches in chapters two and three of revelation this is exactly the word that continually comes before us repentance repent remember from whence thou has fallen again and again and again we find this word coming in in the Lord's addresses to the churches he in his divine ability in his scrutinizing eye can put his finger right on the part that requires attention we cannot do that we haven't the wisdom that he has but we can pray that the Lord will give us wisdom and guidance and help to see what is necessary to adjust in our own lives individually and collectively that what belongs to the Lord might be maintained for his glory as I close it's very interesting to remember that two men who were greatly beloved were given an insight into the truth of God we find Daniel is given the 70 weeks vision and that vision means the complete restoration of Israel in the future and a place of glory kept for them maintained for them for God's glory primarily and also for their blessing and you remember it was the man the disciple whom Jesus loved who got the vision that we find in the book of revelation succeeding visions visions of the decadence of the church and a little faithfulness in it it's eventually destruction the professing body that's nauseous to the Lord pictured in the great whore Babylon but also the triumph ah that's the great thing John looks on to the holy city the new Jerusalem he looks forward to the bride adorned for her husband and the man who was greatly beloved by the Lord was the man who received those visions perhaps if we were nearer to the Lord then visions would be given to us I don't mean actual visions I mean the wisdom the knowledge the understanding of what's necessary in our own lives and what is necessary in our collective testimony oh may it encourage us to more earnest specific prayer I don't think we could possibly read Daniel 9 and not be affected by it to hear this man pouring out his heart in relation to the interests of God and to the interests of his nation Israel and he an old man there's no opting out of this because of years he is a man of great energy and prayer reaching the end of his life and heaven says he's a man greatly beloved what a thing to qualify for but you don't qualify it because of the excellency of your prayers in human expressions you qualify for it by faithfulness to the truth obedience to the truth as Daniel was taking the consequences they came because of his faithfulness and doing what is pleasing to the Lord may we all be encouraged for his namesake can we sing together 289 289 be still my soul the Lord is on thy side bear patiently the cross of grief or pain leave to thy God to order and provide in every change he faithful will remain to order and provide in every change he faithful will remain be still my soul thy best thy heavenly friend through thorny ways leads to a joyful end 289 …

… The fourth address by Mr. Frank Wallace on prayer at Bassenfell Manor, October 1986. You would notice that the two hymns that we've sung together were very, very personal. We've sung them together in the singular, and the last hymn that we shall sing together is of the same character. And I've chosen them deliberately because the prayer that we're going to read tonight is intensely personal too, the prayer of Jabez. Very significant that this honorable man finds his place in Scripture, inspired by the Holy Spirit, we find his prayer. Quite a remarkable thing that this man gets a place in Scripture and thousands, millions have read about him because he prayed this distinctively personal prayer. That's why I felt we should sing hymns that are very, very personal indeed, distinctively personal, so that we might all enter into this on a personal basis. We turn please to 1 Chronicles chapter 4. 1 Chronicles chapter 4, and we'll read from verse 9. 1 Chronicles chapter 4, verse 9. And Jabez was more honorable than his brethren. And his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bear him with sorrow. And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, O that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me. And God granted him that which he requested. Again I say, dear friends, quite a remarkable thing that this honorable man should find a place in Scripture and be an encouragement to those who pray. Secondly, his prayer was of such a character that God granted his prayer. God answered him and gave him what he desired. That indicates that this is a prayer of outstanding quality. Not many prayers are answered in this way in our experience. We're very, very thankful for the answered prayers that we find in Scripture. One of the outstanding prayers that was answered was the prayer of Solomon. You remember God said to him, Now Solomon, ask me for what you would like, and I will give it to you. And Solomon, he asked contrary to what we would ask, I'm sure. Most of us, I think, would ask for that which is nearest to our hearts. Of course, that might be a challenge to us. But anyway, Solomon, he asked for that which particularly pleased God. He asked for wisdom in relation to the people of God that he might rule them and guide them. God was so pleased with his request that he gave him what he desired and then gave him what he didn't ask for, fame and wealth and power. I think it's a tremendous thing when we know that our prayers are in line with God's will. An easy thing then for God to grant such requests. So we'll examine this man's beginning and his prayer and trust that it will bring something for our souls. First of all, he came into this world and his mother experiencing a great deal of sorrow in relation to it, a great deal of pain, concern. I often think of what the Lord said in John 16 that a woman has travail until the baby is born and then she has joy because a man-child has been born into this world. And the Lord Jesus was giving a lesson in relation to that statement. But I think it fits in here because the mother of Jabez, she called him Jabez because of the sorrow that she had experienced in his birth. But oh what joy when Jabez grew and became a man and became an honorable man with moral qualities that were pleasurable to her and I'm sure were pleasurable to God. Now I find in scripture that when anyone is called honorable, it is because they have some quality that's pleasing to God. I want to prove this from scripture. In the book of Genesis, we did a story where a man called Shechem wanted to marry Jacob's daughter, Dinah. And they placed stipulation in connection with this marriage and he was prepared to go through with it. It's a sad story at the end. We don't want to go into the details. But he loved Dinah and he was ready to do what was placed upon him. And then it says he was honorable. Now it seems to me that because he had love and because he was obedient, he was an honorable man. Nothing dishonorable about him. No ulterior motive. Move on a little bit in scripture and we come to 1 Samuel and we find that people are inquiring about the man of God, the prophet, and they are told he's an honorable man. His word comes to pass. His word is reliable. There I think we find the secret of Samuel being described as an honorable man. What he said came to pass. It wasn't imagination. He was under the direction of God. He was an honorable man. And then you remember when Saul was very angry against David, there was one who spoke up for David in Saul's presence and said, why David? He's an honorable man. He's always thinking of your interests. This is what the man said to Saul. He was a faithful servant, an honorable man. And when we come to the New Testament, we are reminded that the women in the 17th chapter of the Acts were honorable women. They were amongst those in Berea who were more noble than those of Thessalonica because they believed what Paul taught them. They didn't reason in their minds against what Paul says. They accepted it and searched the scriptures daily to see if these things were so. And there are many other references. But you will see that each person who is called honorable has qualities, qualities that indicate why they are honorable. And I believe Jabez had those qualities that were pleasing to God and God could describe him through the Spirit as an honorable man, an upright man. Well, this is the kind of man who prays to God, an upright man, an honest man, an obedient man. I believe a man who loved God and who loved the things of God. And so it says he prayed. Jabez was more honorable than his brethren. Then it says, Jabez called on the God of Israel. I think this is extremely important, the statement that Jabez called on the God of Israel. If we examine the Old Testament and find the way God dealt with his people Israel, we'll find that he made promises to them, unconditional promises, a covenant made with Abraham that was continued through Isaac and Jacob, covenants that indicated God would bless his people. But there were conditional covenants also, and this is where they failed. But the God of Israel never changes. His principles never alter. And anyone who trusted in the God of Israel and was faithful to him was blessed by the God of Israel. And if you read the Old Testament, you'll find this is borne out again and again. Obedience to God brought blessing. But this man is crying to a God, a God whom he knows, a God with whom he is in relationship, a God whose promises he believes, a God who has promised the greatest possible blessing to those who obey him. Now, I think this is extremely important. Now, just for the moment, we transfer that from Jabez and the God of Israel to ourselves as Christians and the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. We've said at the outset that prayer honors God. And here is a man who is honoring God. And if we pray to God because of the way we know him and understand him, then obviously this is going to please our God. We are not talking to him in a way that belittles him or in any way is derogatory to him. We pray to him in the known sense of his greatness and his ability in power and blessing to give us what we desire. And I think this is extremely important. And I cannot stress it enough for myself and for you that we pray to a known God with inexhaustible resources, a God who delights to be called upon, a God who delights to be trusted. Jabez called on the God of Israel. And I believe this name, the God of Israel, is the God of blessing. Just as he blessed the first Israel, Jacob, having his name changed. And we'll speak about that later. And gave him this tremendous name, Prince with God. This is the God who wants to bless his people, individuals, and the nation in a way that pleases himself and brings blessing into the lives of all concerned. Oh, dear brethren, let us lift up our voices freely, happily, intelligently in the knowledge of our God, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. I don't need to tell a company like this how this God desires to bless us, has blessed us, blessed us in a way far beyond our understanding, blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ and in blessing that never shall be taken from us. And I believe there are conditional blessings. There are blessings that are given to us sovereignly in Christ. Blessings that are, oh, too vast to speak about, too deep to be plumbed, too high to be scaled. Tremendous blessings that we have in Christ. But there are other blessings which I believe come to us on the basis of concern, exercise, a hackneyed word, but an extremely important word. It means concern, diligence, blessings that are acquired on that basis. And I think that Jabez was a man of that character. He desired to be blessed. He prayed to be blessed. God knew the reality that was in his heart and God blessed him. Well, we'll see what he asked. Oh, that thou wouldest bless me indeed. I think I mentioned this little word, oh, before. But I want to stress it again. When I come across this little word, it always appeals to me that there's a depth of feeling connected with it. It's not just a casual prayer or a casual request. It seems to indicate a depth of feeling and desire. We have it in connection with Paul when he wrote to his son Timothy. Oh, Timothy. One feels the depth of feeling as the apostle was writing to his young friend. Oh, Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust. Oh, man of God. Again, we find the depth of feeling in the apostle. When he wrote to the Galatians, bemoaning their slipping away from the great things of Christianity and the danger of them slipping into Judaizing influences that robbed them of their liberty and joy. Oh, foolish Galatians. What a tremendous feeling the apostle had in his heart as he saw those dear saints slipping into things that would have been disastrous for them as Christians. Oh, Corinthians, he says. Again and again, we find Paul using this expression. I think we have it, too, in connection with the greatest of all, our Lord Jesus Christ. He quotes this in relation to his God. Remember, I'm quoting from Hebrews 10 where he says, coming into the world, he says, I come to do thy will. Oh, God. So, dear friends, this is a tremendous expression, a small one, but indicative that this is no written prayer just reeled off in a mechanical way, perhaps very precise and exact in expression, but so cold and formal. It's not that kind of prayer. It's a prayer that comes spontaneously from the heart with all the feeling of the man behind it in the conscious sense of the one to whom he was praying and the conscious sense that this God was able to give him his request. Oh, that thou wouldest bless me indeed. There are two people I want to draw your attention to, to show this desire for blessing, both in the Old Testament. You remember in the book of Joshua and in the book of Judges, very significant. The same story is told in precisely the same detail of a promise that Caleb gave to any who would conquer a city. If they conquered it, then he would give his daughter to be their wife. Well, this was done. And Aksah, after this great promise was given, she sprang down from her mule and she asked her father, I want a blessing, she says. I want a blessing. Thou hast given me the southern land, she says. I want the upper and nether springs. And he gave them to her. It was her request. It was consequent upon victory. Othniel, her husband, had won a great victory, and now she desired a blessing. She asked, asked for this blessing, and she acquired it. Well, it was something good she asked for. Southern land, fair land, fertile land, good land and wells to give the water all the irrigation that it required to produce the crops that were so necessary. Oh, what a desire. She wanted the territory. She wanted the springs. And surely that's a lesson for us too, not to be niggardly in our asking and to be content with small things, but to be enlarged in our desires, to be concerned about getting things that are worthwhile, things that are lasting and abiding and eternal, things that form us in our appreciation of the persons of the Godhead and the things that they are doing and things that involve us, asking blessing in relation to these things. Then there is the well-known story of Jacob. What a man he was. Call him supplanter, if you will. Call him a twister, any name you like to mention. What a man of God he was. Morally, I don't think we could tie his shoelaces. He was a great man. God doesn't call himself by the name of someone who is unworthy, the mighty God of Jacob. How often he uses that name again and again and again. And we find him wrestling. I will not let thee go until thou dost bless me. What a depth of concern and struggle and exercise Jacob had as he wrestled with the angel, wrestled with God, the prophet tells us. No, dear friends, he got what he desired. All the rest of his life he limped. The power of nature in Jacob was broken, and he went in the power of that wondrous name that was conferred upon him, Prince with God. How did he acquire that? Not sovereignly, through struggle, through exercise, through concern, through a deep, deep desire to be blessed. And what blessing he acquired. There's not much that is worthwhile that's got easily. Not in the divine realm. Things are not handed to us on a plate. They have to be acquired through great diligence and through great exercise. And I find that Jabez was such a man. Oh, that thou wouldst bless me. There cannot be any doubt as to the depth and reality of this man's desire for blessing. Have we this desire? Are we content? Content with what we have received and not much concern to make any more progress? I don't think any Christian should ever be content with any progress they have made, because if they did feel contented, it would be tantamount to saying, I've reached finality. And that's not true. Not in any Christian's life. There is always room for improvement. There is always room for enlargement. Always room for growth. Always room for adjustment. And that's why I believe continually we have to pray Jabez's prayer, that we might be blessed, blessed in our prayers, blessed in our desires, blessed in our exercises. He goes on to say, and enlarge my coast. Just one moment before we go on to that. The authorized version says, oh, that thou wouldst bless me indeed. I think another translation renders it, oh, that thou wouldst richly bless me. Well, now, if we transfer that to the New Testament teaching, the blessing that a Christian has received sovereignly, he is blessed richly. Tremendously richly. You remember in 2 Corinthians chapter 8, when Paul was encouraging the Corinthians to open their purse strings and to help things that required to be helped, he quoted something that helped them in that direction. Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, for though he was rich, for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be enriched. That is, every Christian through faith in Christ is enriched in blessing through the depths of poverty into which the Lord Jesus went when he died on the cross. And because of that, we have been blessed in a way beyond our understanding, not only for time, but for all eternity. And then again, you remember in Paul's epistle to Titus, he speaks about the Holy Spirit being poured out richly, richly on those who accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. And so today, every believer who trusts in the Lord Jesus Christ, everyone who accepts him as Savior and Lord, receives this tremendous gift, the gift of the Holy Spirit. What richness. And in the indwelling spirit, there is, if you like, the key to open the door for all the riches that are available in Christ Jesus. He is the power that enables us to enjoy them, to understand them, to appropriate them. And so how richly blessed a Christian is. I suppose if we take account of what we're enjoying today and what we've enjoyed this week, the good weather, the companionship, the lovely countryside, the good food, the friendship, many, many things that we could speak about since we've come together to Bassanville. And we would say, and rightly say, we are richly blessed. We are. I'm sure everyone here would say amen to that. We are all richly blessed. But then these things are passing. In a few days, we return to our own homes. I believe the rich blessings that we have in the Bible are blessings that are eternal and abiding. And they have to be acquired, have to be enjoyed in the power of the spirit and on the basis of personal exercise. Why is it that some brothers and sisters are so efficient in witnessing for the Lord and others perhaps not? And we're not saying for one moment that one who doesn't preach or expound the word is not witnessing correctly. There are hidden things that are done in an obtrusive way, but I think it is evident from scripture that some help and some don't. Why is it? We believe because some are on their knees, concerned about what they can do, praying for the Lord to help them and instruct them as to things that require to be done. And we believe this is the source of their power and their energy and their activity. And so this is the kind of prayer that Jabez prayed. Oh, that thou wouldst bless me indeed or bless me richly with riches that are abiding and eternal. Again, if we looked over the New Testament, we would find the riches of God's mercy, the riches of his grace, oh, the wonder of them, the riches of his glory and so on. What tremendous riches, what tremendous worth and value are in them. Then we go on and it says, and enlarge my coast. Now, for a Christian, it might seem a selfish thing to pray in this way, and I think in some senses it would be just to pray for material enlargement. But this wasn't so with a godly Israelite. It was quite in keeping that he should pray for material enlargement. Indeed, it was a mark of God's blessing upon the Jew if he was enlarged in border, enlarged in cattle, enlarged in wealth. You remember Abraham, he seemed to grow in this and the cattle he had in the herds and flocks and in silver and gold. And this was reckoned as a mark of God's favor upon him and was so. And for the godly Israelite, this was always true that material blessings were a mark of God's favor. But now, there's another thought connected with this and I think it's extremely important. In one part of the Old Testament, you'll find that God speaks about enlarging the borders of Israel. And in the same breath, he's talking about them bringing their flocks and their herds as a sacrifice and bringing to the firstfruits of their land. And I think that while on the surface, it might appear a selfish prayer of Jabez, in reality, what he's saying is, enlarge my border and there will be a greater response to thyself. More firstfruits to offer, more tithes to give, more sacrifices to offer. And I think that's a tremendous thing. While it might appear to be selfish, it isn't. He's praying that God might bless him in order that there might be a return to God in this material way as the worship was in those days. Now then, as Christians, we can pray in exactly the same way for a greater appreciation of Christ, for a greater understanding of the persons of the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, for greater enlargement as to the understanding of the truths of God that we find in the New Testament, particularly bearing upon us as Christians. Enlargement in that, enlargement in our spiritual practice as Christians and in our response to him, I believe, which flows out from the real understanding of these things. Enlarge my border, says Jabez. Paul prays to the Colossians that they might grow by the true knowledge of God. There is an enlarged border, if you like, for the Colossians that as they grew spiritually by getting to know more and more and more about God, then there was an added response to God in worship and in praise. I don't think there's any need for me in a company like this to say that worship doesn't consist in following a set of rules and regulations in what we say and do and in hymns that we sing and things of that nature. Worship is the spontaneous outflow of the heart intelligently to God in the understanding of what we find in the New Testament. This is the true worship of God. Now we want enlarged in that. And I think there would be a greater variety of response to God in the morning meetings when we worship him and the Son if we had an enlarged appreciation of them as we find in Scripture and an enlarged appreciation of the blessings that are ours in Christ. That would give us a variety of response that is pleasurable to the heart of God. We don't want to fall into a ritual where we say the same things every Sunday or every time we worship. We don't want to be reiterating the same things again and again, a formal approach of worship, not at all. We want what is fresh, what is varied, what is vital, what is true in relation to God and Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. I think this is true enlargement. Oh, that thou wouldst bless me indeed and enlarge my border. An enlarged border means an increased appreciation of God and an increased response to God in a way that gladdens his heart. Now he goes on to say, and that thine hand might be with me. In the book of Ezra, we find a few quotations that greatly help us in relation to this expression that thine hand might be with me. I think perhaps at least six occasions we find Ezra speaking about the good hand of our God upon us. And each time it is mentioned, there's a different bearing. And very briefly, I think the hand of God upon Ezra and his companions meant guidance, protection, strength, prosperity. God's hand guiding his people, protecting them from the evil powers that were against them, providing the strength that was necessary in order to make this journey from Babylon to Jerusalem and then to be engaged in the work that was necessary. God's provision all along the way, his hand upon them. Now we transfer that to New Testament teaching and we think of our Lord Jesus Christ in glory, the risen glorious man at God's right hand. And there we find the hand stretched out to help us in everything that we require. Do we require guidance for the Christian pathway? Christ will supply it for us. Do we require protection from the powers of evil that are against us? Christ will provide it. Do we require strength to keep going when there is so much against us, in us and around us? Christ will supply that strength. Just let me quote one expression by the Apostle Paul. I can do all things through him who gives me strength or who gives me power. What a sweeping statement to make. But if anyone knew the truth of that, it was the Apostle Paul. What a tremendous man he was. What powers were against him? Power of Judaism, power of Rome, power of paganism, many, many powers. And what he had to contend with? Because he was a man just like ourselves. The flesh was with Paul just as it is with us. Oh, what powers he had to fight against. But he found adequate resources in the Lord Jesus Christ. His hand was with him just as his hand will be with us. Perhaps we don't pray enough to know that hand in living power every day of our lives. I do believe that the sovereign power of Christ operates towards his people and protects them in spite of their failure in approaching him. There is a sovereign provision of power and blessing streaming from Christ day by day on our behalf. I often say this, and I think you will agree with me, those of you who are a bit older, that when we were young, it was quite a common thing to see hanging upon the walls in the homes a young child stretching out over a cliff to gather some flowers. And behind the child was seen a picture of an angel, and an angel stretching out a protecting hand to preserve the child from falling over the cliff. Or a child gathering some flowers on a railway track and an approaching train, and again the angel behind the child protecting it. Now, it might have been imaginative as far as the artist was concerned, but the truth of it was there. Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister to those who shall be the heirs of salvation? Does that scripture not tell us that there is a tremendous resource of unseen power operating on our behalf in protection day by day, and operating through Christ in glory? If there are unseen powers of evil, and there are, according to Ephesians 6, tremendous powers of evil, and they are operating against the saints, thank God there are unseen powers of good that are operating through Christ for the protection and care of those who belong to him. And that's not mystical or imaginative, it's based upon the revealed word of God. What we believe is according to the word of God, not according to our speculation. And extremely important, that in anything we say, we can turn to the Bible and prove it. The Bible says it, we believe it, and also we get the advantage of it. And so what a wonderful thing for the hand of strength operating towards us day by day as Christians, and providing that help that is necessary. And then the idea of provision, it's not only strength, what comfort we need, what consolation we require, what help we need in many, many ways. And thank God it comes to us through our Lord Jesus Christ. You remember when Paul was on the ship as he was traveling to Rome, and what tremendous danger there was, the storm was howling, the waves were rising, and there was all the great possibility that the ship would founder and be shipwrecked. And Paul says, having received help from God, having received help from God, I continue until this day. Oh, it's a wonderful thing to receive help from God. Some of us who are a little older, we look back over many years, and we can remember many occasions when we might easily have slipped away, when we might easily have succumbed to the temptations and wickedness of this world, or the allurements of it. Ah, but there was help there. Help that was ever there, always there, and always operating on our behalf. And like Paul, we can say we received help from God to continue unto this day. I believe all this is involved in the prayer of Jabez. Oh, that thy hand might be with me. Oh, dear brethren, think of that. The hand of God, the hand of God with us day by day, and all the power that is expressed in such an expression. Tremendous thing. The hand of God that formed creation. The hand of God that was stretched out to help those in need in the New Testament and the Old Testament, so evident in his power and protection. And Jabez says, I want that hand to be with me. And surely we can all say that. Remember what the Lord Jesus said in the prophetic words in relation to himself and his sufferings. Thy hand was heavy upon me. What a tremendously solemn statement. The hand of God in wrath, in judgment, not because of his sin, because of your sin and my sin, God's hand was heavy upon him. Thank God that hand is not heavy upon us in judgment. If it were, we would all be shriveled up. But that hand is towards us in blessing, in power. And may we pray this as Jabez prayed it, that his hand might be with us, providing all that is necessary for us in our testimony as Christians. Then he goes on to say, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil. I want to give you the testimony of an old man, a good old man, man of God. That man was Jacob. You remember at the end of his life, the two sons of Joseph were brought to him and he blessed them. Among other things, this is what he said, the angel who redeemed me from all evil. The angel who gave me liberty from evil, protected me from evil, gave me power against evil. This is what Jacob said. The end of his life, after a life of many failures, and we don't want to talk about them. We want to talk about him as a man of God, a man who communed with God, who received revelations from God, a patriarch in the true sense of the word. It's quite an astounding thing that we never read about Joseph praying. We read about Abraham speaking with God. We read about Isaac speaking with God. We read about Jacob speaking with God. You never read about Joseph speaking with God. I haven't the slightest doubt that he did. But in the inspired word, we find no record of it. Jacob was a man who had many communications with God. God loved him. God protected him. God had great designs for Jacob and for his posterity. That's why all through his life, he was the object of God's care. He was an important man. That's why God protected him. Can we say, and we shall say, without any presumption, without any arrogance, that we too, as Christians, are important to God, every one of us? Not one is away from his eye. Not one is out with the reach of his care and his love and his protection. God loves us, each one of us, individually. He loves us, knows our names, knows our circumstances, knows our weaknesses, knows, if you like, our strengths. But he loves us. Oh, his eye is upon us. And just as he looked after Jacob step by step until he came to the end of his life, so it is with us. Oh, how God loves us. Nothing, not things present nor things to come, things seen, things unseen. Nothing, nothing, nothing shall separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. And that's not an abstract statement. It's an operative statement. It's something that goes on day by day by day. It's relative to us as Christians. What a wonderful thing that is, that the love of God is operating day by day in his care for us, his love for us, his protection for us, his provision for us. So this, I believe, is involved when Jacob says that thou wouldst keep me from evil. Jabez says that thou wouldst keep me from evil. He was just praying that he wanted to be protected and blessed in the same way that Jacob was, kept from all the evil influences that are around. My, I don't need to tell the Christians here the amount of evil that's in this world. The Lord Jesus, and his word cannot be denied, said, it's an evil world. You remember how he prayed? Prayed to his father that his own might be kept from the evil that is in the world. That was his estimate of what was in the world. John, the one who was so near to the Lord Jesus Christ, leaned upon his bosom, knew the secrets of his heart. He said, all that is in the world is the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life. That is the world as an organized system away from God, regulated, governed, controlled by the ruler of this world, Satan. That world has nothing to give us but evil, nothing to give us but opposition to the truth that we know and love in our Lord Jesus Christ. And we need to be kept from it. One of the precious words that we find in Peter's letter, Peter the Apostle, when he wrote to some Christians, he says, kept, kept by the power of God. And we need that power as we are brought face to face with the powers of evil that are in this world. Don't let us be casual about the evil that's in the world. It's low standards of morality. It's low standards of righteousness. The wicked evil things that are becoming commonplace in the world. Don't let us as Christians be governed by the prevailing sentiments of the age. Let us be governed by God's high standards, which never bend or are lowered to suit our need or our weaknesses. Let us be marked by a sense of what is truly evil in the sight of God. Homosexuality is a disease. Other things are mentioned as diseases. Things that were formerly spoken of as evil and immoral are now given fancy names and allowed to pass muster in the world. The Christian must say, no, they're evil. Homosexuality is an evil thing. Many, many other things that are being accepted in the world are evil things, grossly evil in the sight of God and should be in the sight of the Christian. Jabez says, I don't want to be governed by these things. These are evil things. And there are many, many things that are evil that we want to avoid and not be drawn in to this morass that's in the world today that's been produced by men's imaginative thinking that has been governed by the Word of God, the inspired Word of God that calls evil, evil and good, good. Unfortunately, the Bible tells us that in the last days things that are evil will be called good and things that are good will be called evil. And we're rapidly approaching that day, but a Christian must never condone these things. And so, Jabez says, that thou wouldst keep me from evil. He's taught to say that it may not grieve me. I've often felt that this is one of the most important things that Jabez said in his prayer. Because of the nature that we have, a sinful nature, a nature that cannot do anything to please God, a nature that is corrupt in every conceivable way, it has the potential of committing the most wicked things. When we hear about things being done, or read about them, or see them even, we mustn't say, I couldn't do that. We could, if we were in the area or in the circumstances where we'd be tempted to do these things. We have a nature that has the potential for doing these wicked, wicked, evil, depraved things. And so, here is a man who says, I don't want to be grieved by sin, by evil. We find a psalmist saying that he was deeply grieved because he had sinned. Psalm 51 is an expression of how he felt his guilt. We're referring to the adultery of David with Bathsheba. And he didn't gloss it over. He called it sin. I have sinned against thee and done this evil in thy sight. No question of David glossing it over. It grieved him. It lay heavy upon him, it says. Jabez says, I don't want to be grieved because of sin. Oh, what an ugly, evil, wicked thing sin is. It affects the conscience. It destroys communion. It sadly affects strength and testimony for Christ and for God. Sin is a destructive thing. Jabez says, I don't want to be grieved by sin. There's a story in the Bible in 1 Corinthians of a man who was guilty of incest. This man was disciplined. He was put out from the company of believers in Corinth, and the apostle gave directions as to it. But then it's obvious that in the intervening period, this man's conscience had begun to work, and he was terribly grieved, repentant because of the sin that he had committed. And Paul wrote a second letter to the Corinthians, and he says, I want you to show grace to this man, lest he be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. He was a man who was grieved because of sin allowed in his life. Have you felt grieved because of sin? I can say before you, dear brethren, I have. Sin is a destructive thing, and the only way we can get rid of it is to repent before God, and not only repent, to make sure that we don't do the same thing again. Sin is destructive in the Christian testimony and cannot be allowed in a Christian's life. If it is, it affects him in every conceivable way. These are serious things, dear brethren. We cannot gloss over them. Jabez says, I don't want to be grieved with sin or by sin. I don't want it to come into my life. We read in the stories in the Bible what terrible havoc it caused in the lives of godly men, in the lives of a nation, in the lives of a Christian company. And Paul says, the way to cure this matter is for repentance to be operative and the grace and love of the Christian company to be shown to the person that his grief might be removed and be happily restored to the communion of the Christians. My dear friends, let us pray the prayer of Jabez, that sin might not enter into our lives or into our homes. Would I be right in saying that sometimes we are more concerned about people learning about our sin than repenting before God in relation to it? I wouldn't like the brethren to know that I've said this or done this. I wouldn't like the Christian company to know that I've been involved in this disreputable thing. And perhaps not so much concerned to get down on our knees in true repentance before God and get the matter out with him. Grieved ourselves, but also deeply concerned as to how it affects God. God hates sin, and he hates it with a perfect hatred. Dear brethren as Christians, may we pray more and more the prayer of Jabez, as he says here, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me, and God granted him that which he requested. Oh, I like that, and I'm sure you like that too. That here was a man who was honest. He was a man who could face the stern realities of living in the sight of God and was prepared to pray in this way in a straightforward manner, and God granted him his request. Oh, that when our prayer life, we might be able to say this too. God has granted our requests. Requests for enlargement. Requests in many ways. But principally in relation to the interests of God and our maintenance as individual Christians in the pathway. We're not talking now about Christian fellowship. We're talking about that which makes up Christian fellowship. Any Christian fellowship is only as strong as the individuals who form it. If they are weak individuals, it's a weak fellowship in testimony and response. If we're strong individuals, then there'll be a strong testimony and a strong response. And may we learn to be individual in this respect. Crying aloud to God in all the earnestness that we can command. No ulterior motives or platitudes or anything of that kind. The simplicity of a real request that God honors by his answer. May it be so for his name's sake. …

… The fifth address on prayer given by Frank Wallis at Basselkrell Manor in October 1986. First Thessalonians chapter 1 and we'll read from verse 1. Paul and Silvanus and Timotheus unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of God and our Father. Now chapter 3 and verse 9. For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God, night and day, praying exceedingly that we might see your face and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith. Now God himself and our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ direct our way unto you and the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another and toward all men even as we do toward you. To the end he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God even our Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. And I missed one in chapter 2. Chapter 2 and verse 13. For this cause also thank we God without ceasing because when you receive the word of God which he heard of us you received it not as the word of men but as it is in truth the work the word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe. For ye brethren became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus. For ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen even as they have of the Jews. Now lastly in chapter 5. Verse 17. Chapter 5 verse 17 pray without ceasing in everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Verse 23 and the very God of peace sanctify you wholly and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you who also will do it. Brethren pray for us. We have said in these meetings we've had together about prayer that prayer honors God and these quotations that we have read from the first epistle to the Thessalonians confirm this because Paul speaks about giving thanks to God that is all the things that he saw in the assembly at Thessalonica things that were worthwhile things that were pleasing to God they all had come from God he was the one who had arranged them planned them the one who had given them to the Thessalonians and for that reason Paul says we ought to give thanks and this is the burden that's on my heart tonight that we might understand this a little more and respond a little better in this matter of thanksgiving. Tremendous thing don't let's think that thanksgiving is a simple thing maybe a simple thing to do but it has profound connections we mentioned this already but it's worth mentioning again that when the ten lepers were cleansed only one returned and the Lord Jesus commented on this when he said only one has returned to give thanks but he didn't stop there he said this one who has returned to give thanks has glorified God so he is a very profound thing and what might seem to be a very simple matter that when we give thanks we glorify God if you like we honor God we give him the praise the honor the glory that rightly belongs to him for blessings received and enjoyed I think you will agree with me that that's something that's well worthwhile in the affairs men natural affairs simple affairs if we receive a gift or a kindness it's proper right to simply say thanks a bad thing if we're marked by this difficulty in saying thanks this hardness of heart or unresponsiveness bad enough in relation to each other much worse when it's in relation to God the gifts that we receive from each other they pass away the gifts that we receive from God they're eternal oh how wonderful it is that people such as ourselves poor souls saved by the grace of God and his wondrous mercy are able to give thanks to this great and glorious God so briefly we'll run down these verses that Paul wrote to the Thessalonians background first of all that Paul preaching and Thessalonica preaching the gospel that he knew so well and all was presented the death and resurrection of Christ resulted in a company of believers being formed together the assembly of Thessalonians in God the Father not long converted not long brought to the Lord Jesus but the Apostle wrote to them because he was deeply concerned about what they were passing through persecution arose soon afterwards after they were converted and the Apostle was concerned that this persecution might not upset them and turn them away from their faith so as a godly father a spiritual father a feeling father he wrote to them to encourage them to stand fast and notice he doesn't tell them what a poor lot they are that they should be stronger oh no he had a great deal to commend when he wrote to them and again and again and again as we've read together we see him thanking God for the positive features that existed in those believers at Thessalonica and we might say at the beginning here is a good attitude of heart for those of us who are older to appreciate what God is doing and those who are younger they have a great deal to learn as we have still a great deal to learn but if we've been on the road a few years we've gained a little experience with the Lord and that experience should be made available for those who are younger and the best way we can encourage them is to take account of the positive features of grace in them and seek to promote more and enlargement and I find this is a beautiful picture of the largeness of heart of the Apostle his unenvious attitude towards those believers he's deeply concerned for their progress and their blessing and he encourages them and he makes much of what had been formed in them good thing for us so easy to be envious jealous unresponsive unappreciative but these are the features that belong to the flesh the Apostle Paul had a heart like the Lord he made the most of things the best of things and sought to encourage it and enlarge it so he begins verse 2 as we read together we thanks to God always for you all now there's a tremendous amount in that expression we give thanks well that's the first thing giving thanks I suppose the Apostle was deeply thankful to God that his service in the gospel had met with success souls were converted they were brought together gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus that indeed was something to give thanks for and he gave God the glory in that he thanked God for what had happened he didn't count heads and say well I'm the great successful preacher this is what has happened through my preaching we give God the thanks and he says notice we give thanks to God always for those of you who like to study in the Bible and search them out just see how often Paul uses this word always there's nothing spasmodic about the Christian life of Paul he's not up one day and down the next he's in a pretty level keel and we find he uses this word quite often always just let me quote to always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal bodies then in first Philippians chapter 1 as always he says that Christ may be magnified in my body that is at every day of Paul's life there was something for the Lord Jesus Christ now here he is saying we always remember you Thessalonians we never forget you what a tremendous thing for anyone to say those who are engaged in some measure in the Lord's service whatever form that services they are profoundly thankful when people say we always remember you in our prayers at home that's a tremendous encouragement tremendous doesn't matter what form the services but to know that people are praying for you is a tremendous encouragement and I think this is what Paul is doing he's saying you Thessalonians we never forget you we always remember you now that's a challenge to my heart I'm sure it is to yours do we always remember our local brethren and heartfelt concern and prayer or other believers always well that's a challenge as we said last night our prime responsibility is where the Lord has placed us and that should be near to our heart and to pray continually for the spiritual blessing of all concerned Paul says we never forget you what a tremendous thing we give thanks unto God always he goes on to say making mention of you in our prayers now this is what he remembered remembering remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of God and our Father this came within the scope of Paul's giving of thanks he took account of this young company and their zeal their desire to spread abroad the word of the gospel their constancy of hope in relation to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and the labor that they expended in for the Lord's glory and for his name and this came within his prayer remembering before God these things that they were doing and no doubt praying that they might be maintained in this I'm sure as we view young believers we notice their zeal and energy and their desire to serve the Lord in some particular way well pray for them earnestly pray for them easy to criticize them easy to find fault with things that they do and say they're young they're immature they have a lot to learn but wherever there is zeal and energy and faith and hope encourage it pray for it and ask that they might be consolidated in the things that are worthwhile things that are true and precious I believe Paul would have a long look and say well now the time will come when I'm gone and all the other apostles they will have gone and others will have gone and these young believers they have to stand firm alone in Thessalonica they need all the hope all the help and all the encouragement that they can receive oh dear brethren don't let's be unstinted in our encouragement let us encourage wherever we can everything that is done for the name of Christ in whatever form let's encourage it by prayer and by practical encouragement just a little quiet word by the way I think this was the attitude of heart that the Apostle had it was the attitude of heart that the Lord Jesus had a bruised reed he didn't break smoking flax he didn't quench he was always ready to encourage whatever he found was pleasing to his God I find this in the prayer of the beloved Apostle remembering without ceasing praying always deeply concerned for the blessing of that company now we move over to chapter 2 now there's a reason for the Thanksgiving in verse 13 of chapter 2 for this cause also thank we God without ceasing because when you receive the Word of God which he heard of us you received it not as the word of men but as it is in truth the Word of God which he factually worketh also in you that believe here was another reason for Paul to pray to God with the Thanksgiving those people in Thessalonica had received the Word of God they received it as the Word of God they didn't receive it as if it came from man they didn't receive it because the Apostle Paul said it they accepted it as the Word of God and Paul thanked God for this it was another reason for him to bend his knees before God and thank him that this Word of God had been received and not only had been received but was working effectually in the lives of those dear Christians here is something to be deeply thankful for we're reminded in the parable of the sower that there are four conditions of hearing the Word of God can become effective in a good and honest heart but there are three other conditions where the word has no effect or a temporary effect or a passing effect but only one condition that has a lasting fruitful effect and I believe this is what Paul was praying about that this was the fourth occasion that we find in the parable good and honest hearts that the word was heard and the word was effectually working in them I don't know how you feel but after you've been on the road a few years and you think of the number of meetings that you have attended the number of addresses you've heard the number of bible readings you've attended the number of times you've read your bible yourself oh my what wonderful people we should be but are we it's one thing to hear the word it's another thing to read the word has the word become effective in us that's the whole point of all ministry and all bible readings and all reading of the word personally that the word might not only be known but effective and as the as Paul looked at those Thessalonians he rejoiced he gave thanks that that word was effective how effective had it become he goes on to say for ye brethren became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen even as they have of the Jews here I think the thrust of what Paul is saying is connected with persecution trial opposition that what they were suffering suffering in Thessalonica had also been true of other assemblies I think there is wisdom in Paul presenting this because they might have said we're believers in Jesus we've accepted him as Lord why should we be suffering and Paul is saying dear brethren you're not the only ones who have suffered other assemblies have suffered other companies of believers have suffered these assemblies in Judea they suffered from the hands of the Jews you Thessalonians you're suffering from your own people and you're really following in the same footsteps as other assemblies and that was true but I would like to present it in another way in an application that gathering to the name of the Lord Jesus they didn't adopt a local particular kind of gathering different from the ones in Judea we are in Thessalonica we are not Jews we are Gentiles we'll have our own way of gathering to the name of the Lord Jesus we'll have a different kind of discipline or a different form of function no says Paul you became imitators of the other assemblies and this I believe is a great guard against what against what we often call independency that no company of believers can say well this is our little corner we'll do as we like doesn't matter what other people do that's not Christianity that's not the truth of the one body the truth of the body means that if we gather to the name of the Lord Jesus we're governed by the same Lord we're governed by the same head we're all bound together in one bundle of life and we seek to do the same things not in a way like robots not that idea at all but governed by the same truth often be said variety and unity wonderful thing here were those believers in Thessalonica they met simply to the name of the Lord Jesus knowing no other power but the power of the spirit no other head but Christ in glory and no other authority but the word of God whatever they had in their hands and I believe this is involved in what Paul is saying you became imitators of the other assemblies good thing that this was seen more and more in the Christian testimony today instead of the multiple divisions that really is a disgrace to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ make no mistake about that absolute disgrace that there should be so much weakness and division amongst the saints of God one Lord gives one form of truth that truth is binding upon all Christians wherever they are found and an answer to it would give a more united testimony and my what thanksgiving there would be to God if that were accomplished but Paul thanked them that there was this evidence in their lives that the word of God was not only heard not only read but it was effectively operating in them that is simply they were obedient to what they heard now we move over to chapter 3 verse 9 for what thanks can we render to God again for you for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God now one feels the heart of the apostle expanding as he sees the progress that this young company is making and the solid features of truth that were being expressed in them and he was joying absolutely in rejoicing before God as he saw those features in the Thessalonian company he rejoiced now that's something to thank God for if we see Christians making progress successful in the gospel successful in truth being bound together in love all these features and many others being seen in believers thank God thank God he's the author of these things thank God that the spirit has produced this oh sectarianism is a terrible thing where because it might be in a company of believers that we are not particularly walking with then we might withhold our thanksgiving when we see positive features in them that are pleasing to God what an awful spirit no wherever we see things that are pleasing to God and believers we rejoice thank God praise God that the Lord's name is being honored that God is being worshiped oh how thankful we are for any feature at all that is the proof of the Holy Spirit's service in his people and that's what Paul did he he rejoiced for what he saw in their sakes now listen night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith think of that night and day night and day night and day these Thessalonians were in the mind of the apostle in his prayers i remember rightly in acts 20 Paul speaks about for a space of three years he warned the Christians about conditions that were rapidly approaching three years he says he warned them if you read the epistles of Paul to the different churches you'll find this attitude of prayer and thanksgiving is often mentioned by him just rapidly i looked down the concordance that i have and i counted at least 20 there might be many more but it shows the depth of feeling and interest that the apostle had in believers that he could take account of them in this way thanking God rejoicing before God night and day remembering them what a tremendous man he was worn out perhaps with his exertions worn out with his traveling and with the cares of all the assemblies that were upon him daily here was one of the burdens that rested upon his heart praying for the believers using his time to pray for the spiritual prosperity and protection of those who knew the Lord Jesus Christ then he says and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith the keen eye of the apostle would detect things that they required he wasn't speaking in an arrogant way or a presumptuous way after all he was endowed by the Lord as the apostle to the Gentiles to teach them and help them and lead them in the things of the Lord so when his eye detected that there were things lacking his earnest desire was to go and be with them and help them in that particular matter what a happy thing this is communication maintained face to face help not a long distance effort the apostle says I want to be with you I want to see you face to face I want to try and help you it's my desire indeed he might often say it's my responsibility as the apostle to the Gentiles to help you here again the great feeling of the heart of the apostle comes out thanks God for what he sees continues to ask God for help and direction that he might be a help to those who need it have we this kind of feeling or do we stand aloof oh what a terrible thing it is to stand aloof when help is required that's the attitude of the priest and the Levite as we find in the story of the good Samaritan don't want to get involved ah but we should be on our knees and look for wisdom and help and guidance so that we might be a help to those who require it spiritually he goes on to say now God himself and this is in the nature of a prayer now God himself and our father and our Lord Jesus Christ direct our way unto you here is Paul praying praying that God and the Lord Jesus Christ unitedly may direct the paths of the apostle to Thessalonica here of course he's recognizing God's sovereignty over him and the sovereignty of the Lord Jesus Christ he doesn't presume to say I'll come tomorrow or the next day I want to have direction to come at the right moment at the right time with the right help a very very important thing for those who seek to help in the things of the Lord and he says the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another and toward all men even as we do toward you well isn't that beautiful the apostle is saying brethren love one another and don't stop there love those who are unconverted and take your cue from us look what we have done for you you remember he said in an early chapter you know what manner of men we were among you for your sakes how holily and justly and boldly and justly and for you you remember he said in an early chapter you know what manner of men we were among you for your sakes how holily and justly and blamelessly we lived for your sake that was the way we lived and they were persecuted because they brought the gospel to the Thessalonians Paul says look at the love we showed towards you we want you to show that love to each other and we want that love to abound even to the unconverted very powerful thing love isn't it tremendous thing love we know that in our own selves God has loved us Christ has loved us and because of that we are kept in the pathway as Christians what a tremendous thing love is amongst the saints we've heard of people who need great deal of help dear sister Grace Taylor dear brother Basil Wolf our hearts go out to them immediately if one member suffers we all suffer if one member rejoices we all rejoice this is the love that circulates in the body of Christ the love that should be more and more abounding in the body of Christ and this is in Paul's prayer I want this to happen want this to be among you I've repeated this a few times I'm going to repeat it again and I believe it with all my heart although some might disagree with me that in our meetings and generally speaking in companies of believers the difficulty is not bad doctrine and the difficulty is not gross immorality the greatest difficulty is getting on with each other and I think most company of Christians and I think most company of Christians would confess that that is true and where love is operating where there is love for each other then all the other functions in the assembly are made much more easy oh dear brethren what a wonderful thing it is love oiling the machine you like if you like oiling the cog wheels that they may that they might run smoothly and effectively love towards each other and the apostle he uses that word love to one another just as the Lord did a new commandment I give to you that you love one another and that cuts out any partiality the tremendous thing then this is that Paul is that Paul is desiring and then he says to the end he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God even our father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints now this is not the coming for his saints it's the coming with his saints what we commonly refer to as the appearing now the apostle is indicating hang on keep going on don't give up be marked by this holiness let the work of God have its place in your lives hold on and be marked by holiness because this is the kind of thing that receives a reward at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ publicly all that's done for him in his name all the avoidance of evil and corruption and wickedness all that's preserved that's precious and holy in connection with his name will receive its adequate reward when he comes publicly and his saints will be with him oh dear friends what a tremendous thing that is Paul is showing them there's a great end in view that the suffering is a temporary thing however severe severe it might be it will pass but there's a wonderful day coming when those who suffer with him now will reign and they'll come out with him in public display and they'll have a part with him in that glorious kingdom that he will set up for the glory of God and the blessing of all concerned now we move on to chapter five first of all we'll go down to verse 23 where Paul has another prayer where he says the very God of peace sanctify you holy and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ here again the apostle is crying to God that the God of peace the God of illimitable power might bless these Thessalonians in their whole being it's often been said that man is a tripartite being body soul and spirit and Paul is saying I want that I want you to be preserved blameless no evil thing connected with you in view of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ here we believe he's referring to the rapture his coming for the church to take the church out of this scene to be with him forever a private matter something that the world will never see something is between the Lord and his own the appearing we believe is a public matter every eye shall see him all nations of the earth shall wail because of him though dear friends this is a coming that Paul desires that the saints should be in keeping with that as they are found waiting watching there might be a moral conformity to that great and wonderful expectation and he prays to the God of peace to set them apart wholly in view of that great event we've been taught and rightly so that whenever you find the expression God of peace it suggests a God of strength God of ability and power one verse can prove that you remember at the end of the epistle to the Hebrews the God of peace who raised out from amongst the dead our Lord Jesus Christ and that in the scriptures is the greatest expression of God's power Ephesians 1 the surpassing greatness of his power to us what who believe when he raised Christ out from amongst the dead wonderful thing you see God is able to do this and what the apostle is crying for is that the saints might be amenable to that teaching and power that they might be subject to it that they might be formed by in view of that tremendous moment that was about to come now Paul has two exhortations three exhortations to the Thessalonians he's been telling them that he prayed for them along with others there was fellowship in prayer in relation to the Thessalonians now he says you pray without ceasing this is what we have done for you you do this he's not particularly praying for himself in that first exhortation he's saying you as a Christian company pray without ceasing I suppose we might be amazed if we knew the amount of prayer that arises from any Christian company there is the prayer meeting which is the collective expression of prayer would that it were better attended and supported and there is the household prayer and there is individual prayer and if we're all collected together and presented to us we might be amazed at the amount of prayer that goes up week by week to God but having said that as we take account of ourselves personally we would be bound to say yes thank God for that but it could be increased and this is what Paul is saying pray without ceasing then he says in everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you very often in Bible readings when we're talking about the will of God there's very often the question how can we ascertain the will of God for us well this is a very solemn question and a challenging question but it may be the question of changing our locality changing our employment marriage and things of that nature yes may be very difficult to ascertain the will of God and in other realms too but there are scriptures which are extremely specific and this is one of them that we can say very definitely that this is the will of God and Paul says in everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you now it's easy to say that now these believers were suffering a great deal of persecution very very difficult thing when you're passing through suffering of an extreme kind to say thanks Lord and yet this is what Paul is saying so easy when things are going our way and everything's fine ah yes give thanks he's good to us but then to thank him too for his discipline and his ways with us he knows infinitely better than we do what is best for us and the things that we might think are contrary might be the very things that are best for us but in any way doesn't matter what it is any circumstance any trial any joy in everything give thanks for this is the will of God he wants us to give thanks for all that we pass through for all that we enjoy for the liberal kindness that he shows towards us and the provision he makes for us day by day so brethren if at the end of a day we go to our beds and we never thank God for things we've received we've failed in relation to the will of God that's what that verse tells us in everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you then the apostle says brethren pray for us now this is the language of a man who's not high and mighty and proud and self-sufficient here is a man who realizes the value of prayer after all this was how he began his Christian life after he got converted he got down on his knees and the disciple was sent to him or rather before the disciple was sent to him the Lord said to Ananias behold he prayeth and at the very outset of his life he realized the value of prayer now he's an active service for the Lord every day he's traveling he's preaching he's praying he's helping he's exerting his teaching not a moment is wasted all his life is now for the Lord for his master and he realizes what he requires he realizes his need he says brethren pray for us now this is an appeal coming from the heart it's not an aside it's a very definite exhortation from the heart of the apostle I value your prayers also I believe there's the indication of fellowship Paul and his companions were praying for them he desired the Thessalonians to pray for Paul and himself fellowship a reciprocal attitude in relation to prayer not one way working both ways and oh how much the Thessalonians benefited from the prayers of Paul and his companions how much the servants of the Lord have benefited from the prayers of the saints valuable contribution to the service of God valuable contribution for those who serve the Lord in any capacity whatsoever brethren pray for us so if Paul mentions the different prayers and the different attitudes that he had towards the Thessalonians in his prayers as mentioned in the Thessalonian epistle he's also large enough of heart to solicit their prayers for his service and what he did for the Lord and so brethren as we close whatever else we forget if we can remember that thanksgiving glorifies God if thanksgiving honors God that thanksgiving is binding upon us as the will of God then our meeting tonight will not have been in vain thanksgiving for blessings received temporal and spiritual the eternal every kind of blessing that we have received merits thanksgiving to God let us see to it humbly that we are what shall I say abundant in our thanksgiving oh give thanks unto God for he is good says the psalmist and as you look down the psalmist prayers and and songs this word comes through again and again and again and again thanksgiving I know that we sometimes put things in watertight compartments and we say well we give thanks for what we receive we praise God for what he's given us for what he's done for us and we worship him for who he is well that's very nice we don't complain about that at all but when we turn to the bible it says and they bowed their heads and they worshiped and they said oh God we thank thee well now if I understand that statement correct thanksgiving is a form of worship it glorifies God it honors God oh then may we all be encouraged to give him thanks more and more now can we say number 60 our thanks to God most high the father of our lord the savior God is he and be his name adored oh God thy mercy shall endure thy word abide forever sure give thanks aloud to God to God your praises bring to God upon his throne his works and glory sing his power and grace are still the same let endless praise exalt his name number 60 …

… Der sechste Vortrag von Frank Wallace am Freitag, 17. Oktober, 1986. We turn please to the first book of Chronicles, chapter 29. The first book of Chronicles, chapter 29. And we'll read from verse 10. First Chronicles, chapter 29, and verse 10. Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all the congregation, and David said, Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel, our Father, for ever and ever. Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty. For all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine. Thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come of thee, and thou reignest over all. And in thine hand is power and might, and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name. Now turn please to the Epistle of Paul to the Romans, chapter 1. We'll read from verse 24. Romans, chapter 1, and verse 24. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves, who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. The Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. Now chapter 11. We'll read from verse 32. Romans 11, verse 32. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord, or who hath been his counselor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him are all things. To whom be glory for ever. Amen. Now lastly, in chapter 16. In verse 25. Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith, to God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. During these evenings when we've been speaking about prayer, we have seen it in various aspects. Beseeching and supplicating, prayers of an individual, prayers of companies, supplications. Many features of prayer have come before us. I thought tonight it might be a good thing to finish on the note of worship. You might say, well that's not exactly prayer. But I believe it comes within the concept of prayer. Prayer is a word that has a very abrasive meaning. And if we think of prayer or worship, an approach to God through a mediator, that is Christ, then they fall in some senses into the same category. But there isn't any doubt at all that worship is the highest expression of our approach to God. And what a marvelous thing it is. And what a marvelous thing it is. That such as we are, poor mortals, failing in many ways, and yet we are privileged, like Paul, to bow our knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Worship, what an exalted thing it is. I believe the scriptures indicate to us that from the very beginning of time, man was taught how to worship God, how to honor him, how to exalt him. You remember Abel's sacrifice was accepted by God. We have the record in Hebrews 11. That sacrifice pleased God. It was an attitude of heart on the part of Abel that pleased God tremendously. And so at the very outset of time in the history of man, we find worship appreciated by God and accepted by him. I've read that portion in 1 Chronicles 29. Seems to me that it's one of the most exalted passages in the Old Testament. This by a man who's coming to the end of his life. A man who had known ups and downs, unlawful desire, subjected to the wiles of Satan and failing under them, behaving like an imbecile, the conqueror of Goliath, like a craven coward. Some other features in this great man of God that certainly were not pleasing to the God who had made him a man of God. And yet at the end of his life, such is the power of recovery and restoration. Here is a man filled with the knowledge of his God and using the most exalted expressions, indicating how the supremacy of God gripped his heart and at this juncture he was able to speak in this way. What a tremendous man he was. What a depth of knowledge he had of his God. Acquired through much experience. Acquired, no doubt, in isolation and in difficulty. Very interesting to get the Psalms of David and read the headings equally inspired with the rest of the Psalm and see the conditions under which that man of God composed his Psalms. And many of them breathing confidence in God and appreciation of his greatness. And so at the end of his life, we find this tremendous outpouring of his heart to God. We know if we read the whole portion that it's connected with material sacrifices being offered up and other material features that are quite in keeping with the dispensation in which David lived. And that has to be noted, that the worship of the Old Testament is certainly not the same as the worship of the New. The same God, the same God who is approached, but a God who fully has revealed himself in the New Testament and partially revealed in the Old Testament. There is a statement in the Psalms that says, as thy name is, so shall thy praise be. And so we believe that when God reveals himself as Father, he has the fullest, deepest and grandest response that could ever come from the heart of the creature. But having said that, I think we would acknowledge that the worship of David, this appreciation that he poured out to his God, is a remarkable one. And if it were analyzed, what a tremendous depth we would find in it, all these different things. Let me read it again. Thine, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine. Thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. There was no question at all in David's mind as to the great supremacy of his God. No matter what great powers existed, God was above them all. He was head in David's mind. Now, it seems to me that this does provide guidelines for us today because we can carry with us all these great thoughts expressed in the Old Testament and refer to God in exactly the same way, but with a fuller knowledge of how these great features are working today in the New Testament era. And now, not addressing God as Jehovah, great and wonderful as that name is, but addressing him as Father. And so I thought we could look in to the Epistle to the Romans and see another man of God and how his heart was full and how he appreciated every opportunity to ascribe greatness to God. Now, the knowledge of these things, the understanding of them, provides substance in our souls for individual worship, for home worship, and when we gather to the Lord's name. It's the knowledge of these things, the understanding of them, that, shall I say, expands our knowledge of God and helps us in our response to him. I think you will agree that there is a danger, a grave danger, of us becoming stereotype, formalized in our thoughts, and we reiterate the same things again and again. Now, there's nothing wrong with the things that we reiterate, but God desires freshness. God desires appreciation of himself, and he's so great, so infinitely great, and there is so much in the Bible that we can draw upon to help us in our expressions as we approach him in worship and in praise. And I think we'll see this, the variety of ways in which Paul understood his God and worshipped him. So we turn to the epistle to the Romans, and we read in chapter 1, very, very sad declension indeed. Paul dealing with the departure of man from himself, and all the evil things that came in, God giving man up to his evil, wicked ways because there never was any repentance in his heart. God never gives anyone up who repents. He appreciates repentance. But when there is obdurate self-will, refusal to bow and repent, then the government of God operates, and God gave them up. Three times we read that they changed things, and three times we read that God gave them up. If that condition had continued, not one of us would have been here tonight thanking God for the opportunity to worship him and praise him. But God didn't give us up completely. When we come to the third chapter, we find his great remedy for our awful condition, and he changes us. Man changed all the great things of God, and God gave them up. Now God says, I'll change them, and he does it through Christ. Tremendous work on the cross. And so in Romans chapter 3, we find the truth of the mercy seat, great meeting place between God and men, the redemption that's in Christ Jesus, and man is changed not only for time, but praise God for all eternity. Changed never to fall and fail and reject God anymore, but to be blessed in such a way and justification as to respond to God in a way that pleases him. But what I want to point out is that in the middle of writing about the failure of man, Paul breaks out into a doxology in relation to God. You'll notice that in verse 25 when he says they changed the truth of God into a lie and worshipped and served the creature more than the creator who is blessed forever. Amen. I think this indicates the tremendous spiritual worth of this man of God. Writing about the most depraved things, the most abominable things, the most awful departure from God, and yet whenever he mentions the creator, his heart responds in worship who is blessed forever. Amen. What a man. What an appreciation of God. What a joy was in his heart. Although writing about filth and departure, he's unstained by it, his spirit's unaffected by it, he can raise his heart in worship to God, the creator. I wonder how often we use this great name of God in our worship. We might think, well, that's an inferior kind of worship. Is it? I think when we come to the New Testament, we'll find it has a most important place in worship. In Revelation 4, you remember it says specifically when they worshipped God, for thy pleasure they were created. That is the world, the universe. All created by God for his pleasure. Well, surely it's a right thing to refer to him as the one who has created these things, that these things have given him pleasure because they are necessary for the working out of his eternal purpose. So the worlds were created for his pleasure. My, when we see man in his folly today, you would think that the world exists for their pleasure, that they use all the material resources that exist in the world for the gratification of their own hearts and minds. Instead, the word of God tells us that the worlds were created for his own pleasure. Now, when we come to Ephesians 3, it says precisely that he created things for the working out of his purpose. If you read the portion, you'll find that what I'm saying is true. I often think of Shakespeare's words, how near he was to the truth when he says all the world is a stage and all the men and women merely players. Now, I'm perfectly sure he didn't understand anything about the truth of God, but that's exactly what Ephesians tells us, that the world was created in order that it might be a platform for the unfolding of his varied wisdom and that expressed in the church and heavenly intelligences looking on at this tremendous expression of God's wisdom. Now, there is a very definite expression of God's creatorial greatness. There is the expression of his mind and will, why he created the worlds. I don't know anything about the theory of evolution. I don't know anything about these things, but I'm perfectly sure of this. If I'm wrong, correct me, that they never attempt to give a reason for why the world exists in its present form. And that's what the word of God gives us, gives us a reason why the world exists, why it was formed, the greatness of the one who formed it. And Paul, the man of God, tells us that this great creator God created the world in which we live for the unfolding of his eternal purpose and wisdom. Surely that substance in our souls to create a greater appreciation of God, how great he is. When we think of all the power and skill and wisdom and measurement involved in the creation of the universe, why only he could do that. Only God could bring it to pass. We know that Christ was the agent, I say that reverently, to bring all this to pass, by whom also he made the worlds. God made the worlds. Christ was the one who was the agent in doing it. No, dear friends, I feel that this is substance in our souls, in our appreciation of our great God. A simple thing, like giving thanks for our food. If you read 1 Timothy chapter 4 in Mr. Darby's footnote, you'll see what a tremendous matter it is in giving thanks for our food. It's not a hurried technical expression that the sooner we get it over with the better and let's get on with the task of eating our food. That would be a poor thing indeed. Giving of thanks, according to Paul, is a matter of freely addressing God and all the reverence that is necessary in worshipping, in praying and supplicating is just as important in giving thanks for the food. It was a creator God that supplied it. You might see fancy tins and fancy wrappers and saying it was processed here or there, basically it all came from the earth. Basically, God created all that we eat and that's a very, very good reason for giving him thanks. What a poor state we would be in if he withheld his creatorial hand in relation to what is supplied to us in the way of food. There will come a day when starvation will sweep across Europe. Terrible thing to consider in the judgments that will sweep across the scene after the church is gone. But we're not thinking of that. We're thinking of the creator who opens his hand to every living thing. It's his prerogative. It's one of his glories. No one else can do that. The sun, the moon, all the seasons, all that's provided in rain and whatever is necessary for the feeding of mankind comes from the creator hand of God. Ought we not to worship him for that? Ought not this to be in our minds, in our deep appreciation of one who is so infinitely great? And when we speak about the creator God, we go right back to the beginning when God created man and the woman. The Lord Jesus tells us in Matthew 18 that that's the basis for marriage. God began marriage, one man, one woman. And that's God's order. The Lord Jesus says what God has joined together, let not man put asunder. It wasn't something that man imagined or man drew up. It was God who made man, God who made woman. From the beginning, the Lord Jesus said, this is one of the creatorial acts of God and how thankful we are for this tremendous blessing that has come from his hand. How wise he was to provide a man and a woman to be with each other. And what blessing and joy there is even in the creatorial realm when it's worked out in the fear of God. How infinitely greater when husband and wife belong to the Lord and give to the Lord the greatness that belongs to him and the appreciation. So these are just a few thoughts connected with the creator God. Just close with one that we've spoken about already and it's worth repeating that in Acts chapter 4 when the saints in that day were faced with tremendous opposition, it was the creator God that they appealed to to give them strength, to give them boldness to continue their testimony. Why? I believe because that act is the act of power, tremendous power and that power operative on behalf of the saints. Indeed, if you look through the Old Testament you'll find again and again God is invoked in this way as the one who created the heavens and the earth, the one who can come to the help of his people when they're beleaguered and in trouble. So Paul, he blessed the creator God. That's why I chose that hymn that we sang a few moments ago and that hymn expresses the God, the sovereign God, the creator God who works things according to his own will. Now we move over to chapter 11. I suppose when you're reading the Epistle to the Romans and you come to chapters 9, 10 and 11 there's a tendency to say well, let's pass over that as quick as possible. Something like reading the book of Revelation from chapter 6 up to chapter 18. The sooner you get through those chapters the better. Well, there's a great deal to be learned about the greatness of God in chapters 9, 10 and 11 of Romans. Indeed, it's the consideration of all that transpired in God's dealings with Israel and with the Gentile nations that creates this tremendous outburst of praise and worship on the part of the apostle. It was a natural thing for Christians, Jews who had become Christians or even Gentiles who were Christians to ask Paul, all right Paul, you're telling us that something new and wonderful has happened in God's dealings? He's no longer dealing with men on the basis of the law demanding something of them. He's dealing with them in grace. Unmerited grace. But Paul, what about all those promises that were made in the Old Testament? What about the covenant that was made with Abraham and was made with David? Are these finished? Is the Jew finished forever as a nation? And Paul in chapters 9, 10 and 11 shows that that is not so. That the Jew will have his place in the future. That the covenants will be fulfilled to the letter in the future. But God in his dealings with the nation set them aside in order that the Gentile might be blessed. And when the Gentile proves unfruitful, he will be set aside and the Jewish nation will be brought back again. And so when Paul considers the complexity of this and the righteousness of God in his dealings with both Jew and Gentile, he bursts out into this tremendous ascription of praise to God and how wonderful it is. Oh, the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God. How unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out. Paul as one brought up at the feet of Gamaliel and intimately connected with all the traditions and knowledge of the Jews was in a position to understand how in the past God had dealt with his favored nation. He also had eyes to see how now the Gentiles were being brought in and blessed by God. When formerly the Gentiles were told to be, they're told to keep away, dogs of the Gentiles. They had no part with Israel. Israel was the head. Israel was a favored nation. And now Paul could see that they were being blessed by God. Their lives changed. An appreciation of God. He could see this. And he could see the wonder of God's dealings with them. But Paul, inspired by the Spirit, could look on to a day when all this would come to an end as far as the Gentiles' opportunity was concerned. And we must keep in our minds that Paul is not dealing with salvation in this chapter. He's dealing with testimony maintained in the earth. People might get the idea, oh, I'll be cut out. I'll be judged. I won't enjoy salvation. It will be taken away from me. No, the chapters don't say that at all. The chapters are indicating the distinction between the blessing to the Jews, the blessing to the Gentiles, their failure or their faithfulness, whatever may be concerned. Their failure or their faithfulness, whatever may be concerned. And what Paul is stressing at the end of this chapter 11 is the greatness and wisdom of God in His ways with both Jew and Gentile. The part that I like is at the end where it says, Of Him, through Him, and to Him or for Him are all things to whom be glory forever. Amen. If I understand it right, when Paul says, Of Him, it means that He is the originator of every movement towards Jew and Gentile. He sets things in motion for their blessing or for their government. Everything is of God. God is never in a crisis. God is never pushed into doing things. He takes His own time. He has His own plan. He has His own will. He has His own way. Of Him are all things. And then it says, Through Him are all things. His is the agency whereby things are brought to pass. He can create the circumstances that cause men to go in a certain direction in His government and will with them. He is behind it. Let me quote one passage to prove what I'm saying. You remember, in the kingdom, there was a division. Sad division after Solomon died. And there were efforts made to heal the division. And the prophet was told, This thing is from me. God was the originator of it. God was the agent of it. He brought the circumstances to pass that created the division. He willed it, and it came to pass. Oh, thank God. He also brought about partial restoration of that division in the days of one of the kings when the couriers went out and invited them all to come to Jerusalem for the Passover. There was God originating, blessing, and restoration. Thank God that He moves the scenes. I just forget the exact quotation. He's behind the scenes and moves all the scenes that He is behind. I think that's Mr. Darby's statement. And it's a wonderful God we have in wisdom and skill, dealing with the complexity of matters that would cause us all to throw up our hands in despair. He sees everything in His great will, in His wisdom, and in His discernment. And then it says, for Him, while He is working and operating for the blessing of men, thank God He is. Oh, how wonderful that through all this there is a return to Himself. And that's what there always should be, that as we see the working of God in our lives individually, in companies, then the return is for God. And then it says, to whom be glory forever. That is the object of our worship, our praise. Whatever way that worship takes, in whatever form it takes, it is God who is the object of it. Oh, how seldom we reach this, beloved brethren. How often in our approach to God we're thinking about the wonderful blessings that we have and make no mistake about it, it's wonderful to consider those blessings. The more we know them, the more we enjoy them, the more substance will be created in our hearts in appreciation of God. But the blessings themselves should not be our end in view. It's the blesser that's in view. As we sung at the outset, Father, spring and source of blessing. He is the one who planned the blessings and made them available for each of us. So that when we do get on our knees and we do thank God for the greatness of the blessings we have, not only material, they'll soon pass away, but infinitely greater blessings, the blessings that we have in Christ Jesus, make sure each of us that we praise and worship the God who created the blessings and made them available for us in Christ. And it's a happy service. It's a happy service to worship God and thank him as the blesser. He is the object, the great object of our praise and worship. Now in this last portion in the Epistle to the Romans, we have another ascription of worship on the part of Paul to the only wise God. That's in verse 27. Now he's talking about my gospel. My gospel. Does that mean that Paul had a particular gospel that was different from Peter's or John's or James' or Philip the Evangelist? And basically, no. That the substance of the gospel was Christ. But a special aspect of that gospel belonged to Paul. That didn't belong to Peter or John or James or any other preacher. That to Paul uniquely was given the understanding, the revelation of this great truth never known before, not revealed in the Old Testament, neither in type or in shadow nor by suggestion in any way whatsoever, that there is a living man in the glory of God and every believer on earth is united to him. The truth of the one body, that every believer is a member of the one body and is united to Christ in glory. Now search where you will in the Old Testament and you'll find no allusion to it, no type or shadow of it. It was something that was hidden God and was revealed to his servant Paul. This is what Paul describes as my gospel. And what a tremendous truth it is. This, bound up in the heart of God from all eternity, made known when Christ came here and died and rose again and ascended to God's right hand. Or should I say, these were the means that God employed to bring to light this tremendous truth. And what a truth it is. And Paul says that this was according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret since the world began but now is made manifest and by the scriptures of the prophets according to the commandment of the everlasting God. Here Paul links other prophets with himself in the understanding of this tremendous truth but I think you will agree with me that it is in the writings of Paul, however much it was made known to others, it is in the writings of Paul that we find the great revelation of these truths that were never known before in the Old Testament. A particular revelation, a particular truth, my gospel. And at the center of it, of course, is Christ and it says to the only wise God be glory. This wonderful truth, this tremendous truth brought forth from the heart of the apostle this note of worship to his God. Marvelous thing. You see, the knowledge of this, the enjoyment of it, produced in the heart of the apostle a note of worship. Well, you haven't been going to our meetings for a number of years without knowing something about the truth of the body. It's something that has been ministered again and again and again. And if you haven't heard that there's a living man in the glory, well, there's something wrong with your ears because that has been ministered again and again and again by able teachers of the world in past years. But what we want to ask ourselves is, is it enjoyed by us? Is it appreciated by us? And does it govern our thinking? Does it govern our activities, both individual and collective? Because truth, if it is worthwhile, must have an appeal to our hearts and consciences and correct us and adjust us in any way that is pleasing to God. It was with Paul. Oh, how this truth operated in his heart. He loved all the saints, all the saints. Why? Because they were all members of the body of Christ. I don't know what you do because you haven't told me, but I will say humbly that when Minnie and I kneel together in prayer, this is one of the things that we do in relation to all believers in our little town of Port Seton. We cannot pray for them all individually by name, neither do we know all their circumstances, but we do respect them tremendously that they are members of the body of Christ. And this is something that God has done. God has formed this bond, and that bond will last for all eternity, unbroken by unfaithfulness or division or sectarianism or anything else. This is something that we have a tremendous basis, a tremendous affinity in our approach and consideration of believers, members of the body of Christ, involved in this tremendous truth that created worship in the heart of Paul. And notice, he says, it's the everlasting God. Satan does his best to instill doubts into our minds, and I don't think there is any believer that is immune from this. Continually, the enemy would seek to put doubts into one's mind. The Bible and the power of the Holy Spirit are the means given to us to put away all doubts and get our minds and hearts firmly based in the everlasting God. What a tremendous God He is. And this God purposed in eternity, before our worlds were created, that the truths that we are enjoying should be a concrete reality. Dear brethren, may we enjoy them more and more. The Creator God, the God of infinite wisdom in His ways and His dealings with men, the God of purpose, the God of eternity is our God. We couldn't possibly close a meeting like this without reference to John 4. And what a passage that was when the Lord Jesus spoke to the woman at the well, revealed to her her condition, and then set her on her way rejoicing, and spoke to her the most wonderful things, that the Father sought worshippers, and those who worshipped Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth. Not in the sectarianism of Samaria, or in the dead formalism of Jerusalem, but in spirit and in truth. The truth that He would reveal, the inward feelings governed by the Spirit in relation to God, so that true and proper feelings belonging to the position that we have before our Father should be expressed towards Him. What a tremendous thing that is. And so I think it's right and proper that we should show clearly the difference between the old form of worship and the new form of worship. The old form of worship in the Old Testament was a material form. The temple at Jerusalem, the tabernacle in its different movements, material. The form of worship was a material one. Incense, sacrifices, vestments, all material. And when we come to the New Testament, not a word about these things. No material place, a person. We approach God through a person, our Lord Jesus Christ. We worship God in the Spirit, by the Spirit. Tremendous truth to get hold of, infinitely greater than any tangible form of worship. Music in the Old Testament, no music in the New Testament. Various forms of worship employed in the Old Testament that we find no mention of in the New Testament. A distinct cleavage, clear to see, that the Spirit and truth are to govern our worship of the Father. And what a tremendous thing that is. But first of all, we have to understand how infinitely great He is, the Father. I think we mentioned a little about this one other night. The Father, this distinctive way in which God has revealed Himself in this eternal and great revelation of Himself. I think I'm right in saying that over 250 times in the New Testament we get the term Father employed. God Almighty, a term that's often on the lips of people in relation to God, only mentioned ten times. Once in the second epistle to the Corinthians, and nine times in the book of Revelation. We're not surprised that we find it in the book of Revelation because God is dealing in judgment upon the nations and upon apostate Israel. So the Almighty God is the one who is competent to deal with these things. But Father, oh what a tremendous name. The name of love, the name of relationship, the name of resource, the name of origin. Didn't Paul bow his knees to the Father of whom are all things. Everything has sprung from the Father. And so you, myself, every other Christian, we are privileged to worship in this great way, in this knowledge of the Father. But don't let's confine it to that. I say that reverently, that while that is the distinctive name by which we worship God, the greatest name by which we worship God, let us never forget that he is the creator. He is that to Israel, he is that to the church. And also in his ways, he was that to Israel, he is that to the church. And too is the everlasting God, the God who purposed an eternity. Thank God he is that to us because all the great things that we enjoy were centered in Christ long before time began, but are now available for us. Well then, these are just a few thoughts very, very scanty in relation to this great matter of worship, which we believe is the highest form of our addressing ourselves to God. Nothing like it. It might be right to say before we close that what is applicable to God, the Father, is also applicable to God, the Son. Two scriptures we can quote to prove this. In Revelation chapter 1, John, the one who leaned on the bosom of the Son, he says, unto him who loves us and goes on to indicate the tremendous description of glory and praise to him. And Paul too, in 2 Timothy chapter 4 says, the Lord, the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and shall preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. An inscription of glory to the Lord Jesus Christ. And others too can be found in the Word of God. And you say, what about the Holy Spirit? Do we worship him? No evidence in the Word of God that we worship the Holy Spirit. Is he then excluded from this great matter? No, not for one bit. The distinctive glory of the Holy Spirit is that he alone is the power to help us to worship the Father and to worship the Son. That is his distinctive glory. Infinite place that he has. Wondrous place. Glorious place. Not an inferior place. There can be no true worship to the Father if the Spirit does not empower us. There can be no true worship to the Son unless the Spirit empowers us. So we see his distinctive place in this great economy of worship and approach. The Father, the Son, definite scriptures that tell us they are worshipped and worshipped in the Spirit's power. May the Lord help us then to respond to these great and glorious things for his name's sake. Now can we sing together 265 265 O God of grace, our Father, we bless thy holy name. We who enjoy thy favour made holy without blame. In love which sought and found us and brought us nigh to thee and won the rest of glory our heavenly home shall be. 265 265 O God of grace, our Father, we bless thy holy name. We who enjoy thy favour made holy without blame. In love which sought and found us and brought us nigh to thee and won the rest of glory our heavenly home shall be. Thy eternal counsel chose us in Christ the Son. Before the earth's foundation our time had yet begun that we might all the nearness of the beloved know. And brought to thee as children our children's praises flow. We worship thee, our Father, soon shall thy children be. At home in heavenly glory thy house their home shall be. We worship thee, our Father, and praise thy perfect love. Soon shall we chant thy glory in better strains of love. Our God and Father, we thank thee for that day that is soon to dawn. We believe it is very near indeed when all thy ransomed hosts shall be caught up to be in thy presence and the presence of Christ forever. There will be no lack of understanding then, our God and Father. There will be no hindrances then, no limitations then. We thank thee that in glorified bodies we shall be set free from every encumbrance and free to pour out our hearts eternally to thyself and thy dear Son, and we thank thee through the Holy Spirit. O God and Father, what will be true then, what in some measure to be true of us now. We often sing this, that eternity has begun, and we pray that we may give ourselves more and more to understanding of how great thou art in all the varied ways in which thou hast worked in the past and the present and filled with this knowledge respond to thee accordingly. O that we might be more diligent in our acquiring knowledge concerning thyself and thy precious Holy Word, how full it is of thyself and thy Son and the Holy Spirit. And so we pray that more and more we might understand, enjoy these precious things and respond to thee accordingly. So we commit us to thee how we praise thee for thy goodness to us this week. Thank thee again for all the work of our dear brother David and his wife and Dorothy. They've done so much to make this a happy week for us and we thank thee for it. Thank thee for all that they have done so unselfishly. Thank thee for what thou has done for us too and granting us such beautiful weather. We praise thee for this our God, the creator God. We thank thee too for all the enjoyment we've had and relaxation and the fellowship we've enjoyed with each other. Our God and Father how sweet and precious it has been. And we thank thee too for gathering to the name of the Lord Jesus and opening thy precious word and having thy voice speaking to us and telling us about things that are blessed indeed. And we pray that these things may have an abiding place in all our hearts. So we worship thee our God and we give thee our thanks in the name of the Lord Jesus. Amen. …