SOME THINGS THA T PRAYER WILL NOT DO
Prayer is found 331 times in the Bible. It has been a part of man's contact with God in all dispensations. In the New Testament Christians are told to "Pray without ceasing" and in everything to give thanks (I Thessalonians 5:17, 18). Also Christians are told to "Continue in prayer (Colossians 4:2), and "always to pray and not to faint" (Luke 18:1). As important as it is to pray still there are some things that prayer will not do.
1. Prayer is no substitute for obeying the gospel. There are many people teaching that the alien sinner needs to pray the sinner's prayer and so be saved from his sins. There is no Biblical basis for this teaching. According to the Great Commission as given by Christ, the sinner is to hear the gospel, believe on Christ, repent of sins, and be baptized to be saved (Matthew 28:19, 20; Mark 16;15, 16; Luke 24;46, 47). Sin separates a person from God so that He will not hear his prayers (Isaiah 59:1, 2; I Peter 3:12). We must obey the gospel to have our sins forgiven so that we will be on praying terms with the lord. Someone might ask about God hearing the prayer of Cornelius (Acts 10). This did not exempt him from having to obey the gospel. Acts 10:43 shows he had to believe; and Acts 10:47,48 shows he had to be baptized. We must remember that his was a special case, because he was the first un circumcised Gentile to have the gospel preached to him.
God had to intervene miraculously to get the sinner and the preacher together so he could hear the gospel, then God baptized him with the Holy Spirit to prove that the Gentiles had a right to the gospel. We have need of neither of these things because we have the gospel in completed form and it is fully recognized now that all have a right to it. The lord told us not to call out "Lord, Lord," but to do the will of the Father to be accepted of him (Matthew 7:21-23).
2. Prayer is not a substituted for studying the Scriptures. The Lord is not going to directly put His message into our hearts in answer to our prayers but has commanded us to study to show ourselves approved (2 Timothy 2:15). It is true that we are to pray for wisdom (James 1:5), but that no more teaches that we will have miraculous wisdom than to pray for daily bread would mean that our bread would be supplied miraculously (Matthew 6:11). We must study to understand the scriptures (2 Timothy 2:15). Paul told Timothy to give attendance to reading, to exhortation, and to doctrine (I Timothy 4:13). The Psalmist said the man was blessed who delights in the law of the Lord and who meditates therein day and night (Psalms 1: 1-6). We need to ask God for wisdom then study with all our ability to learn the will of God. His Word is a lamp to our feet and a light unto our pathway (Psalms 119:105). The entrance of that word into our hearts gives light and understanding (Psalms 119:130). Timothy was blessed because that from a child he had known the Holy Scriptures which made him wise to salvation through faith in Christ (2 Timothy 3:15).
3. Prayer will not bring any miracles today. God hears and answers prayer in harmony with the laws of nature and through men. During the formation of the church and the scriptures were being given, miracles and signs were done. But once the word of God was completed miracles ceased (I Corinthians 13:8-10; Ephesians 4:11). We do not have any prayers of men being answered by miracles today though many are claiming the same. The dead are not being raised, the lame are not being healed, the deaf are not made to hear, the blind are not being made to see, nor any of the other miracles that Jesus and the Apostles performed are not being done today. We are to pray for the sick but we are also to provide whatever assistance we can to help them to recover. God has answered many prayers through the skillful hand of the Physician, and critically ill people have recovered. No miracle was involved because they took weeks and some even years in recovery. Had it been a miracle there would have been instantaneous healing.
4. Prayer will not bring the Holy Spirit upon you in a direct leading. In Luke 11:13 it is stated that the heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him. Some have interpreted this to mean that the direct power of the Holy Spirit is available for the asking. What they need to do is to notice the parallel scripture of this same statement in Matthew 7:11 where it is stated that the Heavenly Father will give "good things" to them that ask Him. So the promise is that the good things of the Spirit will be given and the direct power of the Spirit. The good things of the Spirit are in the gospel. We have to ask by study as well as by prayer for an understanding of these good things that are promised. The direct guidance of the Spirit was never given in answer to prayer but by the laying on of an apostle's hands (Acts 8:18; 19:6). Simon tried to buy the power to give it but he was told he had neither part nor lot in that matter. By trying to obtain this power he sinned and was told to repent and pray to God for forgiveness. No man has that power today. The apostles are all dead and the power ceased. C. D.