From the Prayers of the Apostles

Tip! Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Much has been written on what is usually called "the Lord's Prayer" (which I prefer to term "the Family Prayer") and much on the high priestly prayer of Christ in John 17, but very little about the prayers of the apostles. Personally I know of no book devoted to the apostolic prayers, and except for a booklet on the two prayers of Ephesians 1 and 3 have been scarcely any separate exposition of them.

It is not easy to explain this oversight. One would think that the apostolic prayers are so filled with important doctrine and practical value for believers that they should have attracted the attention of those who write on devotional subjects. While many of us very much deprecate the efforts of those who would have us believe that the prayers of the Old Testament are obsolete and inappropriate for the saints of this Gospel age, it seems to me that even Dispensational teachers should recognize and appreciate.

The peculiar suitability to Christians is the prayers recorded in the Epistles and the Book of Revelation. With the exception of the prayers of our Redeemer, only in the Apostolic prayers are praises and petitions specifically addressed to "the Father." Of all the prayers of Scripture, only these are offered in the name of the Mediator. Furthermore, in these prayers alone we will find the full breathings of the Spirit of adoption.

Tip! -Approach God in prayer and ask Him to show you His will for you. - Live how the Holy Bible teaches you to live and your body will be healed if you believe.

How blessed it is to hear some elderly saint, who has long walked with God and enjoyed intimate communion with Him, pouring out his heart before the Lord in adoration and supplication. But how much more blessed would we have esteemed ourselves had we had the privilege of listening to the God-ward praises and appeals of those who had walked with Christ during the days of His teaching among men!

If one of the apostles were still here on earth, what a high privilege we would deem it to hear him engage in prayer! Such a high one, I think, that most of us would be quite willing to go to considerable inconvenience and to travel a long distance in order to be so favored. And if our desire were granted, how closely would we listen to his words, how diligently would we seek to treasure them up in our memories.

Tip! It opens the door for salvations. (Act 2:42) "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers".

Well, no such inconvenience, no such journey, is required. It has pleased the Holy Spirit to record a number of the apostolic prayers for our instruction and satisfaction. Do we support our appreciation of such a benefit? Have we ever made a list of them and meditated on their significance? I don't think so!

We will start a series on the prayers of the apostles. I hope you will follow along and join in with your own comments and share with all of us what the Holy Spirit has shown you from the prayers of the apostles.