Worship - The Prayer of Faith

The following notes apply to Chapter 16 of Batsell Barrett Baxter's book, The Family of God.  This chapter covers prayer as a part of Christian worship.

If we took an empty blackboard and started a list of things we want to be sure to do in worship, speaking to our Creator to express our thoughts and feelings seems like an indispensable element.  The New Testament is filled with examples of Christians praying in the worship assembly and at other times.  Therefore, we know there is something important about it.

Baxter mentions that in worship, Christians are inspired and encouraged to do the things the Lord wants done.  If we think about the things Jesus asked His followers to do, prayer is certainly on the list.  Baxter adds that prayer is essential to Christian living, even though some Christians do not make use of prayer as God intended.  He says that maybe some people have not been taught to pray.  We want to worship God fully, and we search for a basis for prayer in our lives.  It makes us think about how we are taught at home and how valuable it is to see the example of our parents and know that they believe in prayer.

Several examples in our lesson show that Jesus believed in prayer.  Right up to His time on the cross, he prayed often and with purpose.  Jesus' followers believed in prayer.  Mary believed in prayer.  The early church members believed in prayer and got the church started in a prayerful manner.  Then they continued steadfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and prayers (Acts 2:42).

Baxter calls attention to the fact that mature adult men who were followers of Jesus, after a full life of religious teaching in the Old Testament law, would ask Jesus to teach them how to pray.  Jesus then told them what not to do (Matthew 6:5-8) and some things they could do (6:9-13, the model prayer).  From that example, Baxter notes in particular that Jesus' prayer was rather short but still covered both physical and spiritual needs.  It was simple and direct, specific and vivid, not vague and indefinite.  It was addressed to God, and its simplicity gave it beauty and power.

Several characteristics of prayer for Christians become evident.  Prayers should be addressed to God through Christ.  They should contain both praise to God and thanksgiving.  They should include confession of sins and requests for forgiveness.  Also, they should include requests to God for things we need, be they spiritual or physical.

Prayers should be prayed in faith.  They should be prayed by someone who is obedient to God.  They should be prayed with the understanding that God's will is the most important thing.

A passage in James 5 is filled with information about effective prayer.  From it we can see that individual prayer is important, as well as united prayer.  Believing prayer is needed.  Prayer that intercedes for others is important.  Prayer that is intense or fervent, specific, and repeated in more than one session are effective.

Finally, Baxter deals with questions about whether prayers are answered.  If someone studied Christ, the apostles, and the Lord's church in the Bible, they would come away with rock solid assurance that prayers are answered.  Baxter uses a really good phrase to describe the effect of prayer, saying that God has promised that when faithful Christians pray, things will happen that otherwise would not have happened.  This helps us to see how, in God's infinite wisdom, He doesn't always send a "yes" answer, but He answers every prayer.