We come now to the fourth of our obvious (or not-so-obvious) reasons to pray. It is this: prayer is a major way we accomplish God’s work in the world.
Here is a major accelerator to my motivation to pray, and it stems from one of the most unbelievable (literally) statements Jesus ever made. It is found in John 14:12-14. It would be good to turn there because you’ve got to see it to believe it.
We have come back to the night of the Last Supper. Judas has left to betray Jesus. His leaving allows Christ to pass on some of the most sublime of His earthly teachings to the remaining faithful. In the context, He is discussing His deity, His union with the Father, and the works of God in the world. Suddenly, He makes this statement: “Truly, truly ... he who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father.”
Look at that statement. Savor it. Regard it. Peruse it. Study it. Imbibe it. If it is true!!
“He shall do.” Jesus did not say, “they shall do.” He did not say, “the corporate body all combined together will do.” He used a singular pronoun meaning one person. “The very works that I do and greater than these” is His statement.
What works did our Lord do on earth? Oh, just a few simple ones: cleansed the lepers, healed the sick, proclaimed release to the captives, taught tens of thousands, led thousands to salvation, raised the dead, healed those born blind.
Piece of cake! We might say that one Christian in a hundred thousand or a million could do those things. Perhaps a Billy Graham, a Bill Bright, one gifted in healing, a Chuck Swindoll, a James Dobson could do at least some of those works; but not me — not Joe or Betty “ordinary” Christian.
And even then, how will the Grahams, Swindolls, Dobsons, and Brights do greater works than our Lord? Yet the plain fact of Jesus’ statement is that the only qualifier to doing such works is “[the one] who believes in ME.” How?
That brings us to verses 13 and 14. These are often misplaced in the context, yet they obviously relate directly to verse 12. “And whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” And, since He knew they wouldn’t get it the first time (and neither would we), He repeats it: “If you ask Me anything in My Name, I will do it.”
Shout it from the housetops! Prayer is the way His greater works get done! True, most of us will not be worldwide evangelists, though a few will be. Most of us will not be gifted in healing, though some will be. Most of us will not be great preachers and teachers, though some reading this will be.
But every one of us can kneel down and pray. Every one of us can touch the lost masses of earth and help snatch them from eternal darkness to eternal life. Every one of us can participate in Christ’s healing power spreading both medically and miraculously across the earth. Every one of us can put up our hands and stop the forces of moral degeneracy that threatens to engulf the depth of the human spirit. Every one of us can do these things through our prayers!
Today, if I will, I can spend 15 minutes behind the Kremlin walls with the Supreme Soviet, influencing them for God and for good. Today, I can spend 20 minutes touching the entrenched Muslim minds of the Mullah’s of Saudia Arabia or the ascetic Bhuddist Monks of Nepal. Today, I can stand against pornography and rape and incest and child abuse in the far-flung towns of this country.
Because, when I talk to God in my living room, or office, or church, He is the same God who reaches into families, into Nepal, into Arabia, into the Kremlin, into homes. I participate with Him, not only through my efforts and works in my geographic location, but also throughout the world in accomplishing His works through my prayers.
It matters not what type of gifts, talent, or personality I have; it matters only that I take this time to cooperate with Him in my prayers. And that is all that matters for you, too. May we “get it” before much more time passes.
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