A Peculiar Feature of Prayer by William Myette

Adult Sunday SchoolDecember 5, 2010

A PECULIAR FEATURE OF PRAYER

(NUMBERS 21:1-8)

In the Old testament we can read of the confidence of backslidden men, that God would answer the prayers of praying men that particular day. These men of sin knew certain men were “men of prayer” who believed God.These men also knew that they were favored by God, and who prayed to God.

Something to consider: Some of those backslidden men still recognized the value of prayer as God's agency, or way of, saving men. They pleaded to the men who prayed to intercede with the Lord for them.They knew God answered a righteous man's prayers.

AN OLD TESTAMENT PARADOX

(SEEMINGLY ABSURD, YET TRUE IN FACT)

While people departed from God, going into grievous sin, they did not become “atheists” or unbelievers, to the reality and existence of a prayer answering Savior or God.

Some even had a fast belief in the power of prayer to obtain pardon and forgiveness from sin.

Some even dared to hold on to believing for a deliverance from the wrath of an All Mighty God!

There are a number of scriptural incidences that stand out in the Old Testament on the peculiar feature(s) of prayer.

(Num 21:5-8) Moses prayed for the people. God answered his prayer.

A TENDENCY OF SOME SINNERS

This tendency is to involuntarily turn to praying men for help and refuge when trouble was upon them. The stammering request for prayers for deliverance was and still is today, “PRAY FOR ME, PLEASE”

THE READINESS OF PRAYING MEN

It is worthy to note, rather, it is meaningful when a remorseful sinner, under the burden and pressure of sin, and a profound sense of their guilt, come to an altar and say,

“Pastor, pray for me, please pray for me!' I know you are a praying man. I know your a man of God. You've always helped me.

God's church need to understand the full impact and appreciate the significance of prayer.

It is going to happen again: The multitudes who have left serving God.

The scores of people who have harbored bitterness, and unforgiveness against a man of God or God's church.

They are not going to forget there are true God fearing leaders who do have influence with God in prayer.

It is going to happen again: They are not going to forget that true men of God, through prayer, can avert or “turn” destruction and see deliverance given to them.

Consider King Jeroboam: He was the first King of the ten tribes when the kingdom was divided.

This king became “Infamous” for his departure from God.

It is often referred to in later history of Israel as “The sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat

who made Israel to sin”..... (2 Kings 10:29)

Yet this man, despite his great wickedness, he recognized the powerful effectiveness of prayer. He knew God acted as a result of a Holy praying man.

(1Ki 13:1) And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.

Jeroboam presumes to serve the altar as a high priest.

A man of God cries against the altar:

(1Ki 13:3) And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the LORD hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.

Now we read of Jeroboam's reaction to the man of God. He saw it as an open rebuke for him because it was unlawful to Levitical law to assume the office of God's priest. He says from the altar, “lay hold on him”

Immediately God smote the king with leprosy, so he could not pull his hand back again.

Jeroboam cries out to the man of God....

(1Ki 13:6) And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Intreat now the face of the LORD thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the LORD, and the king's hand was restored him again, and became as it was before.

Praying men were always in the spirit of prayer, and always ready to seek the Lord for His reply.

THE INFLUENCE OF PRAYING MEN.

(2Ki 5:1-3) 3) And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.

“Would to God!” Is that not the very same cry today? “would to God” I could get free from this bondage”or, “I can't take the pressure of living like this anymore!” “Lord, I need to be healed!”

(2Ki 5:8) And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel. 9) So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. 10) And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.

May we understand that still today that those who are without the Lord, can still believe that prayer brings results.

Prayer, more than ever, must take it's prominent place in the hearts of believers.

Born again children of God, must “prize” prayer so they may carry a reputation, and one that travels, as praying men.

Truly, prayer had a very preeminent place in Old Testament history, when not only men of God were noted for getting answers to prayer, but even unfaithful, sinful men testified to the virtues of prayer.

(Luk 21:36) Watch ye therefore, and pray always…

Luk 18:1 …men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

1Th 5:17 Pray without ceasing.