Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s biography, fittingly entitled “Bonhoeffer,”
tells of an occasion in 1928, when Dietrich Bonhoeffer visited a church in
France. Making note of how there were so
many “heavily burdened people,” and how they were naturally devoted to prayer, he
remarked: "Nothing is so at odds with prayer as vanity." Indeed, prayer
is for the needy.
It is the realization of our needs that drives us to our
knees. Jesus told a parable of a Pharisee and a Publican. The self-righteous
Pharisee prayed, not to God, but to himself, as he trumpeted his own
superiority. But the Publican cried out to God, "God, be merciful to me,
the sinner!" (Luke 18:9-14). The Pharisee erroneously supposed he had no
needs and did not pray to God. Very much
aware of his needy estate, the Publican cried out to God for mercy.
God knows we are needy creatures. His many exhortations to us
to pray speak to this: "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of
God" (James 1:5); "Let us therefore draw near...that we...may find
grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:5); "casting all your
anxiety (anxiety=worry about needs) upon Him, because He cares for you" (1
Peter 5:6).
It is quite possible for any of us to be misled regarding our
true condition. The Laodicean church wrongly assumed themselves to be in
"need of nothing" (Rev. 3:17). They would not have been a praying
church. James chided the proud, "You do not have, because you do not
ask" (James 4:2). A spirit of humility is essential to prayer. Humility is
honestly assessing ourselves in view of God’s holiness and our own sinfulness.
In humility we realize that God is perfect in all of His attributes and that we
“fall short.” In humility we esteem
ourselves needy before Him and needy of Him.
Humility is not native to the sin-proud hearts of rebel
sinners. It is by the Spirit alone that we are brought to the point of humble
trust in Christ for salvation. It is by the Spirit that we now recognize our
total dependence on Him. The believer in Christ is “already” perfect with
regards to his position (Colossians 2:10), but “not yet”—and far from it—with
regards to his practice (Philippians 3:12). An awareness of the dichotomy
between the "already" and "not yet" is reason enough for us
to pray. A Spirit-borne passion for growth in Christlikeness burdens our hearts
and instructs our prayers (Romans 8:26-29; Philippians 1:9-11). A Spirit-borne
compassion for others causes us to intercede on their behalf (Colossians 1:28;
Romans 10:1; 2 Timothy 2:1-4).
Needs of every kind surround us and threaten--at times--to
overwhelm us. We are needier than we think that we are. The depth and tenacious nature of the sin
problem is greater than we first realized (Romans 7:24-25). The spiritual
opposition we face is stronger than we suppose (Ephesians 6:10-18). God’s
purpose and plan for us in Christ is “exceeding abundantly” beyond all that we
can imagine (Ephesians 3:19-21). Prayer is for the humble inasmuch as they
alone appreciate the gravity and miraculous nature of the task at hand. They
know that the things that need to be, cannot be, apart from God’s intervention
(John 15:5).
Prayer is for the needy and for those having faith in God.
"Faith is the assurance of things of things hoped for" (Hebrews
11:1). Prayer exercised in faith trusts in God and His readiness and ability to
respond to our need. God says, "Ask and it shall be given to you"
(Matthew 7:7). Asking is such a simple thing--a person in need asks of someone
who is able to meet the need. God is able, more than able. The angel declared
to Mary, “Nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37). God is indeed able
"to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask" (Ephesians 3:20).
He is well-pleased to respond to the requests of His grace-needy children (Romans
8:32). He is glorified in His abundant provision providing both “strength for
today and bright hope for tomorrow.”
God exhorts us to "draw near with confidence to the
throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time
of need" (Hebrews 4:16). Needy souls need look no further. God is on the
throne—and it is a throne of grace! He knows all about our troubles. He bids us
to bring them to His throne—to cast them upon Him (1 Peter 5:7). From His presence,
He freely dispenses both mercy and grace. His provision flows from His
inexhaustible storehouse of grace and mercy—it can never be exhausted. He will
not turn His children away (James 1:5). We have the freedom to come at any time
in any place with requests both great and small.
I have it in my mind that the throne of grace—like a mighty
river flowing through a well-populated desert region--ought to be well-attended
by countless grace-thirsty souls. But in pride, the thirsty refuse to go. They
wander about frantically searching for some other source of refreshment. It is
sinful pride that keeps them from the obvious. But it is the Spirit who humbles
them and drives them back. And they find, in Him, “rivers of living water” to
satisfy their innermost longings and needs. Are you needy? If so, prayer is for
you!
Pastor Jerry
