Troublesome Topic: BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF FAVORS AND TRUE PRAYER

Abraham was given a test, and he passed it. God told him that He would destroy all of Sodom and Gomorrah for their sins. Abraham pleaded for mercy on behalf of the righteous in that city. The number probably reflects righteous men and their families, not righteous individuals. God agreed because He is both holy and merciful. Abraham kept pleading with God for mercy based on an ever-decreasing number of righteous that might be in those cities, and God kept showing that He would be merciful on everyone for the sake of just a few righteous. However, there came a point when it was obvious to Abraham that judgment must come, so he stopped pleading with God.

This is an example of true prayer because it is based on God’s own character. He was asking God to show what He is really like. This would bring God glory and teach people the character of God. Abraham did not change God’s mind or alter God’s purpose; this was a test for Abraham, one which he passed.

God tested Moses several times by telling Moses that He would destroy all the children of Israel except him. In each case Moses did not argue that the people did not deserve punishment, for they did. However, Moses did show that he understood the character of God. He reminded God of the balance between His holiness and His mercy. In each case, I believe there were six such occasions, God “relented” from punishing everyone and only punished a few, not because Moses changed God’s mind and His purpose, for God had planned all along to reveal His holiness and Mercy at the same time. He “relented” from his spoken statement, which was only a test; He did not change His original purpose.

Elijah, Peter and Paul were used by God to raise dead people back to life. Their request was answered because it gave glory to God. I think that in each case, these men sensed that God wanted to do something special, or they perceived that a miracle at that moment would be fitting. They were in tune with God enough to be thinking what He was thinking. So they asked for Him to raise the dead person to life again, and in each case, God did it.

Hannah was barren, but asked God for a son and God gave her one. She was asking God for a favor, but he granted it because He is a loving father that blesses us with good things as much as possible without spoiling us.

Nehemiah 1:5-11 – his prayer reminded God of what He had already said. That is true prayer.

Zachariah and Elizabeth had prayed for children for a long time. It was a request for a favor, but God finally answered and granted that favor after they thought it was too late.

Paul’s prayers recorded in his epistles are focused on God’s work in and through His people. Paul prays for their growth, maturity, unity, and witness. These are all things that God has committed Himself to.

All Israel was asking for deliverance from Egypt and from Rome.  This was a favor. God did deliver them from Egypt, but not from Rome. That’s the way it is when we ask God for favors.

THE EARLY CHURCH’S RESPONSE TO PERSECUTION AND THREATS

It is worthwhile to take a look at how the disciples prayed in Acts 4, after Peter and John had been imprisoned, beaten and then released.

Having heard this, they lifted their voice with one accord to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, You made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything that is in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:

‘Why do the nations rage

and the peoples devise vain plans?

The kings of the earth take their stand,

and the rulers band together

against the Lord

and against Christ, his anointed one.

Indeed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city [to conspire] against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, to do what your hand and your purpose had determined beforehand should happen. And now, Lord, consider their threats and grant to your servants [the ability] to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus” (Acts 4:24-30).

Notice that, although they had gotten into a tight spot, they kept their focus on God, not on their situation. They concluded their prayer by saying, in essence, “and Lord, you know those things we did that got us into trouble the first time? Help us do them again, just better!” They had this attitude because those things that brought hardship on them had brought glory to God, and that was the main priority. They knew it wasn’t about them.

Oh, that we would respond to our problems with such an emphasis on God’s glory!

THE PRAYER JESUS TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES

In Luke 11 the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Teach us to pray.” When speaking about true prayer this means, “Teach us to think like you think.” True prayer requires that we think God’s thoughts.

The prayer we call “The Lord’s Prayer” is a prayer that seeks God’s name to be lifted up and held in high regard; it seeks God’s will and God’s kingdom, which are His authoritative reign, to be evident on this earth; it asks for forgiveness; it asks for protection and deliverance from the tempter and his temptations; it also asks for God to show Himself to be the provider of physical needs—“Give us today, today’s bread.” Is the request for bread a favor rather than true prayer? In one way it is just a favor because God is not obligated to answer it and He has not always answered it for everyone down through history, although He usually does provide for our needs. He will always provide for our spiritual needs, but not always provide for material needs. In another way it is deeper than just a favor. First it shows us that God does not mind us asking for material things as long as that is not the only thing we do, as long as we express proper trust in Him, and as long as we know the difference between favors and true prayer. In this prayer the request for bread is combined with trust—“Give us today, today’s bread,” not food for a week or a month. That is as much a statement of trust as it is a request. So in one way this is asking for a favor, which is okay, and in another way it is deeper than that because it is not just about us, it is a statement of trust. Remember, however, that the rest of the prayer focuses on God’s glory, His will and His authority.