A Godly Man is a Praying Man – Part 2
Use 1: Is a godly man of a praying spirit? Then this excludes from being godly:
1. Those who do not pray at all. Their houses are unhallowed houses. It is made the note of a reprobate that “he does not call upon God” (Psalm 14:4). Does that poor creature who never asks for alms, think that he will receive any? Do those who never seek mercy from God, think that they will receive it? Truly, then God should befriend them more than he did his own Son. “He offered up prayers and supplications with strong cries” (Heb. 5:7). None of God’s children are tongue-tied. “Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father” (Gal. 4:6). Creatures by the instinct of nature cry to God: “the young ravens which cry” (Psalm 147:9). “The lions seek their meat from God” (Psalm 104:21). Not to cry to God, is worse than brutish.
2. Others pray—but it is seldom. Like that profane atheist of whom Heylin speaks, who told God that “he was no common beggar; he had never troubled him before and if he would hear him now, he would never trouble him again.”
3. Others pray—but not “in the Holy Spirit” (Jude 20). They are more like parrots, than weeping doves. Their hearts do not melt in prayer: they exercise their tongues more than their hearts and affections.
Use 2: As you would prove the new birth, cry “Abba, Father”; be men of prayer. Pray at least twice a day. In the temple there was the morning and evening sacrifice. Daniel prayed three times a day. No, he so loved prayer that he would not neglect prayer to save his life (Dan. 6:10). Luther spent three hours every day in prayer.
Objection: But what need is there of prayer, when God has made so many promises of blessings?
Answer: Prayer is the condition annexed to the promise. Promises turn upon the hinge of prayer: “I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel” (Ezek. 36:37). A king promises a pardon—but it must be sued for. David had a promise that God would build him a house—but he sues for the promise by prayer (2 Sam. 7:25). Christ himself had all the promises made sure to him—yet he prayed and spent whole nights in prayer.
Therefore if you would be counted godly, be given to prayer. Prayer sanctifies your mercies (1 Tim. 4:5). Prayer weeds out sin. Prayer waters grace.
That I may encourage Christians and hold up their heads in prayer, as Aaron and Hur held up Moses” hands (Exod. 17:12), let me propound these few considerations:
1. Prayer is a seed sown in God’s ear. Other seed sown in the ground may be picked up by the birds—but this seed (especially if watered with tears) is too precious to lose.
2. Consider the power of prayer. The apostle, having set out the whole armor of a Christian, brings in prayer as the chief part (Eph. 6:18). Without this (says Zanchius), all the rest are of little value. By prayer, Moses divided the Red Sea. . By prayer, Joshua stopped the course of the sun and made it stand still (Josh. 10: 13). More, prayer made the Sun of righteousness stand still: “and Jesus stood still” (Luke 18:40). Prayer is the entrance to all blessings, spiritual and temporal. Prayer has a power in it to destroy the insolent enemies of the church. We read that “the two witnesses” have a flame on their lips—fire proceeds out of their mouths which devours their enemies (Rev. 11:3,5). This fire is certainly to be interpreted of their prayers. David prayed, “Lord, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness” (2 Sam. 15:31). This prayer made Ahithophel hang himself. Moses’ prayer against Amalek, did more than Joshua’s sword. Prayer has a kind of omnipotency in it; it has raised the dead, overcome angels, cast out devils. It has influence upon God himself (Exod. 32:10). Jacob’s prayer held God: “I will not let you go, except you bless me” (Gen. 32:26). Prayer finds God free—but leaves him bound.
3. Jesus Christ prays our prayers over again. He takes the dross out, and presents nothing but pure gold to his Father. Christ mingles his sweet fragrances, with the prayers of the saints (Rev. 5:8). Think of the dignity of his person—he is God; and the sweetness of his relationship—he is a Son. Oh then, what encouragement there is here for us to pray! Our prayers are put in the hands of a Mediator. Though, as they come from us, they are weak and imperfect—yet as they come from Christ, they are mighty and powerful.
4. The sweet promises which God has made to prayer. “He will be very gracious unto you at the voice of your cry” (Isaiah 30:19). “Then shall you go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And you shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart” (Jer. 29:12,13); and “before they call, I will
answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24). These promises keep the head of prayer above water. God is bound with his own promises, as Samson was bound with his own hair. Let us, then, close ranks and with our Savior pray yet more earnestly (Luke 22:44). Let us be importunate suitors, and resolve with Bernard that we will not come away from God without God. Prayer is a bomb which bursts heaven’s gates open.
Question: How shall we go about praying aright?
Answer: Implore the Spirit of God: “praying in the Holy Spirit” (Jude 20). The Holy Spirit both originates prayer and inflames it. God understands no other language, but that of his Spirit. Pray for the Holy Spirit that you may pray in the Holy Spirit.
This Excerpt has been taken from Thomas Watson’s, The Godly Man’s Picture, https://www.monergism.com/godly-mans-picture-ebook.
