June 2002
Archive
Without Ceasing
W. Clyde Martin
I Thessalonians 5: 16,17,18 "Rejoice evermore, Pray without ceasing,
In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus
concerning you."
Since setting my mind to give full study to my text,
I have come to a truthful realization that I do not know
how to pray without ceasing! However, I have also reached
a conclusion that a child of God can achieve such a desirable level of
prayer but only as the Holy Spirit reveals the proper interpretation of
this verse and gives grace of achievement to the child of God who indeed
strives for such a humanly impossible task.
I confess that I have not as
yet learned to pray without ceasing but I am most encouraged to
believe that I shall. I have not as yet arrived but I am convinced
that some have, and I wish to be among those of you who have.
IS IT POSSIBLE?
Paul told the Colossian saints that he prayed "always" for them.
(Col. 3:1). Can we accept the fact that Paul means that
he prayed all the time for the saints of God?
Samuel prayed up a storm!
Such a mighty storm that it captured the attention of a rebellious people
who begged him to pray for God's mercy to be upon them. Samuel then stated
that it would be a sin "....if he ceased to pray for them."
Therefore, we gather that Samuel "prayed without ceasing".
Is it possible that
a child of God can pray without ceasing? To cease is to put a stop to;
to discontinue. To be ceaseless is to do a thing without stopping.
The human heart beats without ceasing. The human lung breathes without
ceasing. The blood flows throughout the circulatory system without ceasing.
Can the human pray without ceasing?
If prayer is but an attitude;
can a Christian be always in an attitude of prayer? Does to pray mean
that we cease doing everything else in order to pray? Perhaps there are
times when we cease other activities to engage in prayer, yet can it be
that we "cease not" to pray while engaged in other activities?
It stands
to reason that prayer is more than an attitude. Prayer is communication.
Prayer is speaking and listening to God. Prayer is fellowship with God and
fellowship with God is joy and rejoicing is an act that can be done without
ceasing.
According to my text there are three habitual reactions to being saved and
filled with the Holy Spirit; Rejoice, pray and give thanks. All of these
reactions to the indwelling Holy Spirit are to be performed without ceasing.
In the light of this truth, perhaps the question "Can one pray without ceasing",
should be changed to ask, "who can pray without ceasing?"
Who can pray without ceasing? Who can do such a thing? Where is the man
or woman who can do anything without ceasing? Prayer is not an automatic
normal function. There are natural functions of a healthy human body.
The heart beats naturally. The eyelids blink naturally. The lungs breathe
naturally. Just as the healthy natural life has natural functions,
the born again spiritual life has supernatural functions. Praying is a
supernatural function and in a transformed, spirit-filled life, prayer
without ceasing is made possible.
In a sense, prayer may be something
a born again Christian allows rather than something we do. Prayer may
be a supernatural function that flows constantly unless hindered by sin
which breaks the line of communication.
"Pray without ceasing" is a command from God. It is indeed an accomplishment
of the Holy Spirit and therefore possible for God's born again child.
A THING TO LEARN
Like all other levels of prayer, praying without ceasing is a thing to learn.
To pray unceasingly we must be taught. It is an act of progressive
sanctification (a setting apart). How does one learn to pray without
ceasing? As with the learning of everything and anything, we must go at it.
How does one learn to ride a bicycle? We go at it!
By renewing (retraining)
the mind, we follow the reasonable instruction of God's Word to consecrate
our life to do the complete will of God. (Romans 12:2) We must relearn some
things we have been taught. Things that we were taught in sincerity as a young
Christian are often discovered to be wrong and must be corrected, which in
turn calls for learning to do the thing anew.
Paul says, "Be not conformed but
be transformed to the doing of God's perfect will." The perfect will of God
is an unceasing fellowship with Him. By the grace of God, a transformed
heart, can with a renewed mind have and maintain an unbroken line of
communication with heaven. Prayer is the pulse of the spiritual life.
Prayer is that constant beat of the new heart. Ezekiel prophesied of a
new seat of emotions that is to control the new life in Christ. ( Ez. 18:31 )
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
Paul exhorts,, "Pray without ceasing." What does this inspired command mean?
Does to unceasingly pray mean a continual, unhindered act of prayer in which
we persevere each moment of the day? Or, can I interpret this verse to mean
a spirit of prayerfulness; an attitude just waiting to spring into action
when a need develops? Andrew Murray in his plea for praying without ceasing
taught, "the very pattern of our Lord's lifestyle suggests that this verse
teaches both."
There is closet prayer ( Matt. 6:6 ) , when we for a period of
time hide ourselves in secret behind a closed door that separates us from
the other tasks of life. Closet prayer is that special time of being alone
with God. In the closet we persevere in prayer. In the closet we "draw nigh
unto Him and He draws nigh unto us" and we become intimate with the creator
of the world. But, there comes the time when we must open the door and allow
the world to enter into our lives. Outside the closet we must walk among men,
yet with our minds set on things above. ( Col, 3:1 )
To pray without ceasing
we must pray both inside and outside the closet. In the closet we build a
Divine intimacy with our Lord that continues after we come out into the worldly
turmoil of these days of terror. Without entering into the closet in secret,
our prayer life becomes weak and mundane and praying without ceasing becomes
unsuccessful.
Most recently I have begun a new practice of prayer; I no
longer close my prayers with an "amen". When I am forced to leave my closet,
I simply get up and leave in a spirit of prayer. Of course, in times of
collective worship an "amen" seems necessary in order for the congregation
to know that we are moving on to another act of worship, such as singing, etc.
In my private time of praying I find it hard to close the door on God with
an "amen."
Praying without ceasing most certainly means to continue in prayer
all the time. In our walk with God we must put forth constant contact and
continual communication with the Father in heaven.
In closing I wish to give
you one additional interpretive thought on my text. When Paul wrote, "Pray
without ceasing" , he was writing to the Church at Thessalonica. He said
to the Church; "this is the will of God concerning you." The exhortation was
to a congregation of many members who should by arrangement see that some
group or some individual was praying at all hours of the day. There was
to be a watchman in the tower. Never was prayer to cease in the Church.
New Testament Churches of our day should heed this exhortation to the
Church at Thessalonica. Many of our ministries are fruitless because they
are not constantly saturated in prayer.
While Paul's charge to the local
church was to pray without ceasing, He also insistently urged persistent
personal, individual praying. "Continue in prayer and watch in the same"
was the constant exhortation to believers. "Praying always with all prayer
and supplication" was the way he pressed prayer upon the individual child of
God. Paul's word to Timothy on prayer is God's Word to us: "I exhort,
therefore, that first of all, supplication, prayer, intercessions and thanks
be made for all men."
Can we believe that these words are but a mere challenge
to a young preacher or must we accept this first command of Paul, given to
Timothy, to be for all believers of all times? We must remember that Paul
wrote under the direction of the Holy Spirit, Who empowered him against error
and fortified him with truth, therefore making this exhortation (as well
as all his epistles) a part of the divine inspired Holy Bible.
With Paul's
exhortation we are commanded by God to "pray without ceasing"; we are
challenged to pray everywhere at all times, about everything. We are to
constantly continue in prayer without stopping.
In this message I have spoken directly to the born again saints of God and
I now climax with this alarming truth; There is no prayer life for the lost,
unconverted sinner. Only one prayer can the non-saved sinner pray. The
lost soul can only pray, "God have mercy upon my soul and forgive me of my
sin and save my soul. I now accept You as my personal Saviour." For
simple instructions read How To Become A Christian.
spa The
When and Where
spacer of The Master's Prayer Life
by Mark Martin
It is an unseasonbly warm, balmy night here on the mountain. The wind is strong and steady, and the full moon illuminates the whole landscape around and below us. I am thinking how Jesus must have loved nights such as this as He walked the earth. Surely many sweet conversations in prayer with the Heavenly Father blessed the wilderness...."a long while before day." No doubt it was from times like this that The Master drew so many lessons for us about the prayer life.
IMPORTANT EXAMPLE
The Lord prayed often and on all kinds of occasions, from blessing little children to bringing His friend Lazarus back from the dead. But look with me at the most important example Christ gave us in His prayer life...His secret time alone with the Heavenly Father! Think on these two questions briefly: Simply, when and where?
As to the matter of time of day, the evening (Matthew 14:23,24), night (Matthew 26:34) in Gethsemane and early morning (Mark 1:35....a great while before day.") as specifically indicated. I don't think it's accidental that the Scriptures speak of the Lord Jesus in earnest times of prayer in connection with notable occasions. If you look closely you will find these precious prayer times of the Saviour between great events in His ministry.
Consider the feeding of the five thousand and the walk Jesus took on the water. Both Matthew and Mark specifically speak of Him going up into a mountain apart to pray alone. (Matthew 14:23, Mark 6:46). And there are other particular instances of that quiet time (it almost seems trivial to speak of the Great Saviour's prayer time as "quiet time", doesn't it?); before He preaches, before arriving in a town to minister and before important conversations with His disciples. The agonizing sessions of prayer our Lord had in the garden of Gethsemane reveal a great deal under scrutiny. The time - night-time; the occasion - His betrayal and arrest.
WHERE THE MASTER PRAYED
Concerning our remaining question of where? There are wonderful passages from the Word available to us which answer. Matthew 14:23 "...He went up into a mountain apart to pray." Matthew 26:36 In Gethsemane Jesus said, "Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder." Then in verse 39, "and He went a little further, and fell on His face and prayed..." Mark 1:35 "...He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed." Look deeper into the passage in verses 36-37, His disciples had to search for Him to find Him because He had retreated to the secret place!
QUITE BEAUTIFUL PLACES OF PRAYER
Also I would have you notice that these places of prayer, set apart, were probably quite beautiful. The Creator who became flesh, surely knew the loveliest places on the planet. I think He chose His favorites that were close and secluded for special places at secret prayer with the Father. Remember how Jesus seemed to go to the mountains to pray? And surely it was no coincidence that the last place He chose to be before the horrors of His trial and execution was a garden.
Make your first appointment every day with your Heavenly Father. The rest of the day's appointments will hinge on this one. And see to it that you meet the Lord in that special, secluded, solitary, secret place. Just you and Him alone....with no intrusions.
Andrew Murray
The Apostle Of Abiding Love
"One day I was talking with a missionary," writes Andrew Murray,
"and he said to me, 'Brother, remember that when God puts a desire into
your heart, He will fulfill it.' That helped me; I thought of it a hundred
times. I want to say the same to you who are plunging about and struggling
in the quagmire of helplessness and doubt. The desire that God puts into
your heart He will fulfill.
"If any are saying that God has not a place for them, let them trust
God, and wait, and He will help you and show you what is your place.
"I have learnt to place myself before God every day, as a vessel to
be filled with His Holy Spirit. He has filled me with the blessed assurance
that He, as the everlasting God, has guaranteed His work in me. If there
is one lesson that I am learning day by day, it is this; that it is God who
worketh all in all. Oh, that I could help any brother or sister to realize
this!"
One of four children born to Andrew, Sr. and Maria Murray, Andrew Murray
was raised in what was considered then the most remote corner of the world -
Graaff-Reinet (near the Cape), South Africa. It was here, after his formal
education in Scotland and three years of theological study in college in
Holland, that Andrew Murray returned as a missionary and minister.
Murray's first appointment was to Bloemfontein, a remote and unattractive
territory of nearly 50,000 square miles and 12,000 people beyond the Orange
River. Even at this early stage of ministry, he already showed signs of
becoming a noted author. The "deeper Christian life" was a favorite subject
for Murray. He told how God was committed to revealing more of Himself to
those who would seek Him.
As a preacher, he consistently drew large crowds and led many to trust
Christ as their Savior. But Murray's life was not without testing. As a young
man, an enduring sickness left him weak and exhausted. Later at the prime of
his ministry, a severe illness resulted in his absence from the pulpit for
two years. But God used each trial to remove all that hindered his devotion
to Christ.
Murray wrote, "That awful pride and self complacency which have hither
to ruled in my heart." He fought an insidious battle with pride, but God had
the victory.
"I had never learnt with all my theology that obedience was possible,"
writes Murray. "My justification was as clear as noonday. I knew the hour in
which I received from God the joy of pardon. I remember in my little room at
Bloemfontein how I used to sit and think, What is the matter? Here I am,
knowing that God has justified me in the blood of Christ, but I have no power
for service. My thoughts, my words, my actions, my unfaithfulness - everything
troubled me."
Murray's daughter wrote of her father, "It was after the 'time of silence'
[in sickness] when God came so near to father and he saw more clearly the
meaning of a life of full surrender and simple faith. He began to show in
all relationships that constant tenderness and unruffled lovingkindness and
unselfish thought for others which increasingly characterized his life from
that point. At the same time he lost nothing of his strength and
determination."
When revival came to Cape Town, Andrew Murray was hesitant. He didn't
want to be swept away in the heart of emotion. But Murray quickly realized
that God was working in South Africa the same way He was in America. The
result was an even deeper knowledge of the things of God.
He writes in The Secret Of Adoration, "Take time. Give God time to reveal
Himself to you. Give yourself time to be silent and quiet before Him, waiting
to receive, through the Spirit, the assurance of His presence with you, His
power working in you.
"Take time to read His Word as in His presence, that from it you may know
what He asks of you and what He promises you. Let the Word create around you,
create within you a holy atmosphere, a holy heavenly light, in which your soul
will be refreshed and strengthened for the work of daily life."
Friends share how the Murray home was always filled with activity. He
and his wife, Emma, had nine children, and there was an endless stream of
visitors and friends. In 1873, Andrew helped to establish the Huguenot
Seminary, a school where young women could be trained for educational work.
Girls from all over the country began arriving. When classes opened, the
building was too small for all who had enrolled and a wing had to be added.
He also served as the first president of the Young Men's Christian
Fellowship (YMCA). Not only was he the author of over 240 books, he was also
a man of great prayer. Through his private devotion with the Savior, he learned
that laughter and fellowship were two of life's most important activities.
He often prayed, "May not a single moment of my life be spent outside the
light, love, and joy of God's presence and may not a moment without the entire
surrender of my self as a vessel for Him to fill full of His Spirit and His
love."
Abiding in Christ was the cornerstone to Andrew Murray's life and ministry. He
writes: "Abide in Jesus: your life in Him will lead you to that fellowship
with God in which the only true knowledge of God is to be had. His love, His
power, His infinite glory will, as you abide in Jesus, be so revealed as it
hath not entered into the heart of man to conceive."
Used by permission from "In Touch Ministries"
Outside The Closet
By W. Clyde Martin
I Thessalonians 5: 16,17,18
SPACE"Rejoice evermore, Pray without ceasing, In everything give thanks:
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
While flying high above the waters of the Caribbean Sea at 20,000 feet,
I suddenly felt the discomfort of being outside my prayer closet. On my way
to a strange land to preach the gospel in a strange pulpit before people I
had never met, I felt the uneasiness of being in the world of which I am not
a part.
Reminding myself that I am but a pilgrim passing through this world,
I let the words of Jesus pass through my mind .... "Let not your heart be
troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are
many mansions: if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare
a place for you." Before the entire passage was complete in my mind, I
felt the peace and warmth of His presence even as I do when I am in my closet.
Not always are we in the closet of secret prayer. When we are not in the
closet, prayer must be as real for the prayer warrior as when we are alone
with God.
I read recently an account of C. H. Spurgeon, that he went from
laughter to prayer with ease. With Spurgeon it is said that the habit of
spontaneous prayer was free and unhindered by circumstances.
Not always
are we in the closet or else we could not carry out the command to go into
all the world and preach. Prayer must be as spontaneous as the changing
of circumstances. I remember this attitude of prayer in the life of
Robert G. Lee. ( It was my privilege to serve as assistant to this great
Pastor in Memphis). Once when we had just finished 18 holes of golf, he
with gleeful laughter said, "Boy, didn't we have fun!" And in the next
breath prayed a very boisterous yet sincere prayer for God's mercy upon
a pressing situation awaiting him back at his office. This should be the
attitude of all praying children of God. In the course of a day, prayer
must be the unhindered flow of talking and listening to God. Such praying
gives directional obedience at all times.
In the closet with the door shut;
where God talks with His own, there is a sweet, almost indescribable
intimacy that influences our personal pleas with the warmth of His presence.
This same warmth must continue outside the closet where we find ourselves
in the thick of battle raging in a hostile world. It is certain that the
holy boldness to witness for our Lord in a gainsaying world is first found
in the closet.
There must be closet praying! It is in the closet that we
establish the beautiful habit of spontaneous praying on every occasion.
When we are fresh out of the closet we are quick to pray about every turn
of events. Unceasing prayer is God's avenue for His children to react to
all happenings.
As a child of God we have a direct line of communication
to Him and the calamities of daily living demands us to stay in constant
contact. How consoling it is to know that we have the ear of God at all
times. There is value of entering into the closet at first light of the
day. These early hours equip us with His grace and power to face changing
circumstances in the hours ahead. So whether we be inside or outside the
closet of prayer; we must pray with faith and feel the presence of Christ
our Lord.
The Preacher's Wife
Comments and Poems
By Ruth R. Martin
Many times through the years, we have seen glorious revival break forth
in our church. When the Spirit of the Lord has freedom to move hearts
to repentance, surrender and service, a congregation is revitalized and
energized and burdened to new zeal and fervor to reach their community
for the Lord. Saints are revived and sinners are converted. This is revival!
During one such time we were thrilled at the tremendous response to the
altar calls. Service after service, the altar was filled with weeping
penitents of all ages, especially older teens and young adults. As time
passed however, we could not help notice that many of the same individuals
were coming to the altar week after week but there seemed to be no evidence
of change in their lives, no joy or victory. It all seemed so
"going-through-the-motions", so meaningless and empty, no sacrificial
surrender of self. Thus came this poem, Empty Altars. Sadly, the same
attitude is still seen too often today. We go to the altar; we kneel;
we pray; we weep; we rise up; we return to our seat - - and leave behind
us an empty altar. No genuine surrender and sacrifice of self on God's
altar has been made ... nothing has been left on the altar, and so we have
no peace, joy or victory.
Scripture makes it clear that God is not
pleased with empty altars. After all, isn't that what an altar is for,
a place to make a sacrifice? The Cross became the ultimate altar, when
the Lord Jesus poured out His blood for our sins. The sacrifices God
desires of us today are those of a pure heart, of righteousness, joy,
faith, praise, service, mercy, obedience, love ... these are the sacrifices
that please Him and are acceptable to Him. Paul said it so well;
"Present your bodies a LIVING sacrifice." Let there be no more empty
altars.
Empty Altars
We kneel before empty altars
And pledge Him our meaningless vows.
The prayers that we make are hollow,
On bended knees we bow.
No sacrifice do we bring Him
No gift worthy of His love;
No life yielded to His service;
No heart fit for Heaven above.
The Lord stands by empty altars,
And yearns for a heart that is true;
for a humble and contrite spirit
That will serve Him a whole life through.
Let there be no more empty altars.
The vows that we make, let us do.
Let prayers rise from hearts overflowing,
and give Him a life that is true.
Prayer Paragraphs for Pastors
Andrew Murray wrote, " A much-praying minister will receive an entrance
into God's will he would otherwise know nothing of; will be brought before
praying people where he does not expect them; will receive blessings above
all he asks or thinks. The teaching and the power of the Holy Ghost are
alike unalterably linked to prayer. This power is given to the men who say:
" We will give ourselves to more prayer."
TO PRAY ... THAT IS THE SECRET
It is the continuous, persevering, God honoring daily praying that moves
the mighty hand of God to pour upon His people the blessings of His grace
in such rich abundance; and if ever you should ask the secret of God's current
spiritual prosperity upon your life, the answer is your prayer life.
You have not because you ask not. We must pray or else things do not happen. I am constantly amazed over the fact that God only moves in answer to prayer. The desire of our heart must be put to prayer. Ask and you shall receive; ask not and you receive not. Therefore, we must pray the desires of our heart. The petitions we offer unto God by the Holy Spirit in the name of Christ receive immediate attention. The fact that almighty God is quick to act when we pray also leaves me amazed. I am in awe when I receive an immediate grant to my petition.
SHOWDOWN PRAYER
Often we pray week after week and sometimes year after year about a certain
thing. There are some things that we feel we should pray about repeatedly.
However, there comes a time when our heart cries out to God in desperate
terms for some indication of action on His part. I call this "praying at
the crossroads." Elijah was at a crossroads in his ministry. Israel was
at a crossroads as a nation. King Ahab and the notorious Queen Jezebel were
determined to wipe out all worship of the true God Jehovah. Something had
to be done! There must be a showdown; either Jehovah or Baal was God. The
only prophet God had left in the kingdom was Elijah.
Elijah was one of the
most colorful of all Israel's prophets. He suffered bouts of depression and
self-doubt like many of us, but during times of crisis he was a courageous,
faithful prophet of God. The Mount Carmel show down is high in drama and
can best be received by reading the entire 18th chapter of I Kings.
THE URGENT MODE
Perhaps you are as I was recently in the "urgent mode" of prayer. I prayed,
"God something has to be done! It's time for a showdown in this matter."
Hearing such words coming out of my mouth I felt somewhat ashamed that I
would speak to God in such a manner. However, He immediately honored my
urgent request.