The Weekly Prayer Meeting

Christian prayer is evidence of faith in Christ. We pray from a position of weakness, as one who is in need. We ask God the Father to do what only God can do, as is promised in God’s Word. God is able and we are not, and this we believe when we call upon the name of the Lord (Joel 2:32; Rom 10:13).

Christians pray in the name of Jesus Christ, the righteous (1 Jn 2:1), because we are positioned before God the Father in Christ, that is, in Christ’s righteousness. In other words, Jesus has permanent right standing at the Father’s right hand (the right hand of Majesty). From this position Jesus ever lives to make intercession for His holy nation (Heb 7:25; 1 Pet 2:9), working as our advocate with the Father (1 Jn 2:1), in the office of sole Mediator between God and man (1 Tim 2:5).

Jesus Christ is the one way of approach to the holy God (Jn 14:6). As our great High Priest (Heb 4:14), the God-man is seated in heavenly places (Eph 1:20; 2:6), in the greater more perfect tabernacle (Heb 9:11), at the center of the throne of God (Rev 7:17). All power in heaven and on earth are His, along with all authority (Mt 28:18).

It is an act of worship to pray to God through Jesus’ Mediation. Thus, our prayers are uttered in Spirit and truth (Jn 4:24). The truth is revealed in God’s Word (Ps 119:160; Jn 17:17), so our prayers are in alignment with God’s Word of truth. We are asking for God’s will to be done.

God is glorified when He and His perfect attributes are acknowledged. The Christian honors God the Father by honoring God’s Son, Jesus Christ. By remembering the Person and works of Jesus, in prayer, we are strengthened in our walk of faith. A Christian’s faith increases as the knowledge of Christ increases. The believer’s confidence in self decreases, while trust in the Lord increases. It is reasonable for the saints to pray, “Increase our faith.”

The world is marked by chaos, confusion, and lies. Again, the child of God prays for the Spirit to grant discernment. The ability to judge rightly, in matters of life in this world, is God’s grace as a work in the Spirit. The way of righteousness is always the path of truth. It is the Spirit who leads God’s children to walk in truth, that is, in a manner worthy of their calling.

God’s faithful ones pray and one’s prayers evidence one’s faithfulness. Faith is a product of grace, and grace is God’s work in the sanctified life of His holy nation of people (1 Pet 2:9). Thus, we see that prayer is the result of the Holy Spirit’s work. The Christian is said to pray, “in the Spirit.” It is the Spirit who ever prompts us with, “Let us pray.”

True believers love to pray to the Father, in the name of the Son, and in the power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Like other Christian works, prayer is a labor of love. It can be formal or informal, written or ejaculatory. The soldier of the cross is sartorially dressed in readiness. He is instant in prayer (Rom 12:12), ever-clothed in Christ’s righteousness. Hence, he is praying without ceasing (1 Thess 5:17).

Prayer is open communication with High command. What do you need for the fight of faith, beloved? Ask and you shall receive, not for lustful consumption, but for every good work prepared beforehand for you to perform (2 Cor 9:8–11; Eph 2:10). Unsure of your task or how to perform? Ask. Watch and see how God performs His will and good pleasure in and through you (Phil 2:13).

It is always wise to remember what God has already done. This is cause for praise. We give thanks to God for His works. They bring Him glory. Every good thing in our lives warrants our gratitude. This includes those things that do not appear to be good to us. His promise remains. He will work it all for good for His beloved (Rom 8:28).

Because God’s good pleasure is eternally decreed, all things are predetermined by Him and have come from Him (Acts 2:23; Rom 11:36). One may ask why we then pray to God. God does not need our prayers, but He has ordained them. In this, we participate, and it is our joy to do so.

Prayer benefits the one who prays. We cast all our cares upon Him who cares for us (1 Pet 5:7), with His everlasting love as His motive toward us. It is God’s prerogative to have us pray our prayers to align us to His purposes. Spirit-inspired prayer has the fragrance of God’s Word in it.

Those who have gone before us have deposited their prayers in the written Word. From the prayers in the Bible, we learn to pray. Even when we cannot find the right words to say, the Spirit makes intercession with groanings beyond words (Rom 8:26). There is remarkable comfort in this revelation.

So Christian, if that is your title and calling, then why do you neglect your brothers and sisters who gather in the local church to pray? We have been praying at our weekly prayer meeting, along with other praying saints around the world that you would join us!

Surely, it is the will of God for you to be with us in this ministry afforded to every saint. Brethren, confirm your calling. Prove your faith. Enjoy the intimacy of the body to which you belong and to which you serve and sacrifice. Join us as we enter the joy of the Lord in the Spirit. You have privileged access to His throne of grace and even that is better together. Welcome to the weekly prayer meeting!

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

May 24, 2021