PRAYER by G. V. Kilgore

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 24, 1878

PRAYER

By G. V. Kilgore

Prayer is to the child of God as food is to the hungry, and none can live a godly life without it. If we neglect to pray, or even grow careless about praying, we soon grow cold and lifeless in the cause of God. Therefore prayer is a very important duty, and one which is frequently enjoined in the Bible. It is also a very great privilege to those who hunger and thirst after righteousness. But there are some who never pray, because they think that if God knows what we need before we pray, if he notices the sparrow, and numbers the hairs of our heads, he will also see to our wants without being told what to do, or asked for favors. Those who reason in this way do not look at the subject in the right light. The Bible tells us to “pray without ceasing,” and declares that “the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous man availeth much.” If this is the truth, then all who do not pray are losing “much” that they will wish they had when that kingdom comes for which Christ teaches us to pray (Matt. 6), when all who never prayed before will “cry there bitterly,” calling to rocks and mountains instead of God, to whom they might have prayed and been saved.

Why does God require us to pray to him? Is it for his own benefit, to have his mind attracted to things he would fail to notice without it? Here is the trouble with those above mentioned. They cannot see what use God makes of our feeble prayers. But if they would turn their minds to man’s position, they could see more light on the question. It is for man’s benefit that prayer is required—for man’s good, and not for God’s convenience.

Man is wholly dependent on God for life and its blessings, and he can never be saved without the grace of God. But he must feel that he is thus dependent before God can bestow special favors on him without injuring him. If the Lord would bless people as much when they do not pray, thus acknowledging their dependence, as he does when they call upon him in truth, they would soon feel that their wisdom and power brought such blessings. They would then trust in the arm of flesh, which can never save, or in riches, that will not be able to deliver them in the day of wrath. Ps. 49:6–8; Zeph. 1:18. But God will not thus lead man to ruin. It is not his will that any should perish; therefore he cannot pour out his rich blessings on those who do not call on his name. He will have them realize and acknowledge the truth that they are entirely dependent on him, that they are lost without him. But as soon as men feel that this is their condition, they will most assuredly want to cry to him for help. And God has given men the privilege of praying to him. He has promised to hear their cry, and save them. Ps. 145:18, 19. Isaiah says, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee; because he trusteth in Thee.” Yes; it is because men trust in God that they are blessed of him. “Trust

ye in the Lord forever; for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.”

Are all that pray to God in a fit condition to receive answers to their prayers? By no means. “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of Heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven,” says Christ. Obedience is the grand condition to be fulfilled before prayer can be answered. If the Lord should answer the willful transgressor as well as the obedient child, the transgressor would be encouraged in his transgression. This would also lead men to ruin; for the wages of sin is death. Therefore, the Lord cannot pour spiritual blessings upon those who willfully violate his law, which violation is sin. “Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you,” says the Lord. “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me,” said the psalmist. Isaiah said: “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” Sin is the only thing that will keep back God’s blessings. We must stop sinning, if we want our prayers answered. “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.” Prov. 28:9.

It would lead men to disregard God’s government, if the prayers of those who willfully sin were answered, as well as the prayers of the sincere. This is seen very plainly by the course taken by people who oppose the Sabbath of God’s law. They talk as follows: “Our fathers were good people, and God heard their prayers, and blessed them; but they never kept the Sabbath. If we do as they did, God will hear our prayers, and bless us. The Sabbath does not amount to much,” etc. They never look at the difference between them and their fathers. Their fathers obeyed God to the best of their knowledge (if they were honest); but these willfully violate a plain command. They will see how God will bless them when the Judgment comes. And if they were awake to the times, they could see now why the Spirit of God has been withdrawn from the popular churches; why the churches are so much like the world; and why it has to be proclaimed that “Babylon is fallen.” It is not because men have neglected to pray, but because they have rejected God’s truth for this time, and violated his holy law. But these people do not see this condition of things, so they think God blessed men who did not keep the fourth commandment; and therefore they argue that “the Sabbath doesn’t amount to much.” Thus would all of God’s law be treated, if the prayers of willful transgressors were really answered. But the Lord will not thus lead men to disobey him. He said by the mouth of Samuel of old, “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice;” and through Jeremiah, he declared that incense and sweet cane, burnt offerings and sacrifices, were to no purpose when his law was rejected. 1 Sam. 15:22; Jer. 6:19, 20. He is the same God to-day, and all that would receive his blessings must obey him. All that want their prayers answered, must do his will.

Prayer is necessary to prepare man for the kingdom. When God required man to pray, he required the performance of an act that cannot be done without a knowledge of God. That knowledge comes by studying the Bible (for faith comes by hearing the word of God; Rom. 10:17); and the study of the Bible will purify the thoughts of men, and fit them for Heaven.

Prayer demands faith in God. “He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Heb. 11:6. “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?”

Seeing all the conditions that must be complied with to secure answers to our prayers, should we doubt, if we fail to see them answered? No; but we should let that very failure lead us to examine our lives more closely, and put away sin. How precious, then, when the weights of sin are cut loose, and the clear conscience can appear before God, to commune with him. O, the sweet seasons of prayer! What would we be without them? We need them till the coming King shall change our vile bodies, and fashion them like unto his glorious body—till the carnal mind is wholly taken from us, and God’s law is indelibly written in our hearts. Then, and not till then, can the Christian live without prayer.

G. V. Kilgore.