The Prayers of the Prodigal: Part I

Tip! What is God's will about prayer? First of all, it is God's will that we pray. Jesus Christ "spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint"

I wish to share with you some of the thoughts suggested by reading once more the story of the prodigal son as told by Luke in the fifteenth chapter of his Gospel. This incident makes rich appeal to almost anybody, good or bad, rich or poor, old or young, experienced or otherwise, purely on the basis of its very human and natural elements. It is colorful and intensely dramatic; perhaps that is the reason it so interests the minds of young people.

I am sure we have all heard messages based upon this narrative, and are familiar with the usual interpretation and application of truth and the salutary moral lessons deduced. Tonight, I do not wish to trace the lines of thought from the usual points, but rather share with you the bread of truth as I have found it tucked away in the story--fully as suggestive and instructive as the stereotyped lessons often drawn.

I have already suggested the theme for this meditation in the subject, "The Prayers of the Prodigal." At once we stop at the thought of prayer in connection with the prodigal, for one does not usually think of the prodigal praying. As a rule he is held up as an example in all the shame of his weakness and sin, but never do we picture him praying and that twice.

Shall we review together the account and familiarize our minds with the general structure of it, so we may more fully appreciate why and for what he prays? We find here a typical home. It need not be only the one mentioned here, but may be duplicated a thousand times over our countryside. The characters and conduct are essentially the same there or here, then or now.

We do not know how long these two brothers have lived happily together, sharing the common blessings of the home and enjoying the fellowship of each member. But the time is reached (sooner or later by all) when the discovery of self-expression comes, with a keen desire to venture out on life, to experiment and try out many potentialities of being. The thrill of a new step and the responsibility and joy of being on one's own, as we say, captivates this younger brother.

Let us here be tolerant. The two boys are evidently of very different temperament and disposition. Life appeals to each from very different angles. And surely there is nothing wrong in this. If the older son is satisfied to remain at home, continue in the general routine and perhaps mundane life (at least to the younger son), let him stay. He is no doubt contented to go and come, come and go, and live out the life for which he seems fitted. Perhaps his gifts and callings are lodged in that field, and he would prove a great misfit did he try to adapt himself to a realm or condition for which he has neither capacity nor experience.

Nor shall we condemn the younger son. I am neither defending him nor excusing him. I do want to be fair and understand him. He may have been spoiled because he was the younger, as sometimes happens. That, however, would be the fault of the parents. At any rate he has quite a different make-up from his brother, and for this he cannot be blamed. He begins to find within and ever pushing through to manifestation in life, a thousand unsatisfied desires and promptings. He may have been, shall I say blessed or cursed, with an imagination? I will leave that for you to settle. At least he feels certain desires stirring; the Spirit of romance and adventure common to youth give him a sense of being cramped; and a great hunger fills his heart to get out, out, out--ever out.

The Prayers of the Prodigal: Part II

Tip! Prayer is always and everywhere an immediate and confiding approach to, and a request of, God the Father.

The younger (prodigal) son dislikes the confines of the natural environment and its limitations. The robust, visionary, throbbing life wants to try its wings. He feels the pull of the free, sunny air; he sees the blue sky of youth, the distant hills, green and luscious. Yes, they are green (just as green as inexperienced youth). But the dear lad does not know that. And do not try to tell him unless you wish to have war and trouble.

If you wish to help him, I trust God may give you grace, love, understanding and sound judgment. Try to see from his viewpoint. He has no background of experience as yet to help him, and so he is not capable of very sound judgment on many issues. He has not yet learned (as a Christian) the difference between possibility and probability. It takes some people a long, long time to learn this. Some seem never to learn it.

Do not quarrel with nature. Meet the condition as it is, honestly, and help the boy make the decisions necessary from his own heart, because he wants to do so. Do not buy him and worse still, do not force him to do the right, because you think if he does not he will break your heart. Never mind your heart. It is his heart you are after.

A most interesting question of motives comes in here, and I am tempted to talk on that line but must not. If you are older than he then try to retrace your steps, remembering your costly experiences, until you come to his level of understanding. He has not lived long enough to appreciate your good advice. He may listen out of respect, but it is most difficult for him to see how in any way, his present condition and mood could be helped by what you are telling him. He cannot feature himself facing results which you suggest. "You cannot put old heads on young shoulders." Use tact and find the approach to "where he lives," and work from that angle. Ask God for wisdom to discover the motive of appeal, and always remember it is a most delicate and sacred ministry. Drench it with prayer and intense love for his soul and well being.

Let us look again at this lad. The everyday going and coming, the humdrum life of Dad and the home folks nearly kill him. He thinks his brother is perfectly stupid, and all the rest of the world, to him, seems asleep. Oh if he could only once do something different, something he wanted to do! And what does he not think and feel he could do!

Perhaps he is still in High School (this is, of course, all imaginary). I have to say this because some people are so unimaginative and literal they would probably ask me for a "proof text" that he ever went to school! Maybe he has finished college and is quite sophisticated, and has acquired that bored air so many young folks have. Life is slow and he has to endure so much from the "whole unenlightened universe." Even a college graduate may have a technical knowledge of many points of learning, but there is one thing that a diploma can never give you, and that is the good sense and judgment that come from experience.

Now be patient, you older folk; he is not yet to be blamed. His whole attitude is a part of his nature and outlook. Perhaps he has fought down some foes with which you were never asked to contend. Sometimes people are praised for victory when, after all, it is not victory; for the person praised was too great a coward and too weak to be trusted with a real battle. I think we many times look into the eyes of dear souls who bravely meet enemies we are never asked to face. Be tolerant! The lad is not to be condemned, judged, and criticized--he needs help! He needs someone to help direct the fire and desire, someone to understandingly assist him, put these fine qualities to use and great blessing. Shall I be frank with you? I like this lad very much. And I like very much every girl and every boy today clothed once more with his temperament and rich possibilities. I also must say he reminds me of myself at that age and now of my son too.

The Prayers of the Prodigal: Part III

Tip! Prayer is always and everywhere an immediate and confiding approach to, and a request of, God the Father.

I cannot stay here to consider why the younger (prodigal) son goes to his father, etc. The whole field is fertile, suggestive and real. He can stand the cramping no longer, so he asks of his father his share of goods--"Give me the portion of goods that falleth to me." And here we can find no sin. It was not wrong that he should have what lawfully belonged to him. It was coming to him, and no doubt since he was of age the father consents at once to give him his portion.

Now we come to a field for speculation. It has been a great pleasure for some to let their imagination run on full leash, to sniff all the possible trails of discovery as to how he spent, where he spent, why he spent, and when he spent his goods in riotous living. But after all, the detail is not so necessary. At least God thinks so; I am sure He could have told us were it for our good. The point is, he wasted it in riotous living.

Now we find the fault, the sin which brought the younger son to the pigpen. All the different things he did, and the many ways he wasted his substance, are surely wrong. But the chief sin was the self-will of inexperienced youth. Self-will is, after all, the root sin of the human race. All the manifestations of sin as we see them in their out-working are in the last analysis the fruit of self-will. All this young man did was to have his own way. Let that be what it may, it landed him in the place of defeat, failure, tragedy and loss. It always does.

All you have to do to land in hell is to have your own way in all the thousand patterns it may trace on your map of life. The self-will of some people does not make so ugly a picture, but it will keep them away from God and truth fully as well as the self-will of another appearing in more picturesque and colorful trappings.

Tip! What is God's will about prayer? First of all, it is God's will that we pray. Jesus Christ "spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint"

Who knows but the self-will of the older brother at home may have been as nasty, in some ways, as that of the younger brother. At least he did not show a very happy and thankful spirit when his brother returned. I am afraid there was something "awful good" and perhaps smug about that older son. I don't seem to feel I would like his general personality very much. "Awful good" folks bother me sometimes. Do not mistake me--goodness in itself never bothers me, for it is like God, and I love God. But "folks" goodness does. Do you see the difference?

So now we see our young friend reduced to the level of a pigpen. He has had, as people say, his fling in life. He has tried out all the experiments and thrills he feels he was made for; he has had the tremulous excitement of venturing out on the thin ice of personal freedom. He has come at last with tired heart and weary feet to the green hills only to find them decked with the brush of human experience thousands of years old. All those wise and subtle suggestions of his mind have been swallowed up in a vortex of human philosophy as old as the human race. How many, many things he has come to in his thrilling, bold adventure. He has come to wealth and he has spent it; to beauty and he has marred it; to truth and he has ignored it; to life and he has dissipated it.

The Prayers of the Prodigal: Part IV

Tip! Prayer, as taught by Jesus in its principal expression, enters into all the relations of life. It purifies fellowship.

And now the story says that, he came to himself. My! My! What a revelation and what a discovery! Thank God he met himself. This is the revelation for which he was made. Only it is sad that he should have to travel so rough a road, and have to have this auspicious meeting in so un-poetical and crude a place. But never mind the pigpen; it is the place of discovery and revelation for him. Let us think of that and not the pigs. The pen is not the end; it is the first step out and up. Where was your pigpen? To what level of the human and sinful failure did you move before you, too, came to yourself? Perhaps your pen had a few straggling morning glories over it to hide its real character, but it takes more than a morning glory to hide it. Let us leave the pen. It is God's glory that hides us. Thank His wonderful Name!

The youth's restless heart has climbed the hill and now makes friends with himself.

Have you, too, come to yourself and sat down to think through to such a revelation? Life (real life) is not a matter of the material world nor to be valued in the common terms used to appraise its worth. Jesus said, "For a man's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses." I am glad that He used the word things. That is so inclusive, comprehensive and limitless. Material things, of course, come first to mind--money, houses, lands, etc.; but things may be otherwise--fame, name, honor, power, intellect, gifts, position, etc. These are also often mistaken for life. So one may have an abundance of these and not have life or know life.

This young man discovers that life consists not in the abundance of things possessed. It is not things, but life, which is of supreme importance.

Tip! God is so concerned that people pray that He has promised to answer prayer. He has not promised to do something general if we pray, but He has promised to do the very thing for which we pray.

Also the lad finds that he is more than the body in which he lives. Man is essentially spirit. The body with all its sensations, acquisitions and functioning is but the vehicle of expression. The invisible, evasive, almost unknown personality is the living reality, and will outlive the poor, perishing body. He came to see these simple, fundamental truths.

There also were the principles and laws of being to be considered, and here the prodigal came on a field of dynamic truth and power. The temporal, material world is not the world for which he was created. He discovers some of the first, hidden, potential values of character building and spiritual culture. How it thrills him! Pigpen or no pigpen, he cannot remain here. Life means more than things, gifts, or all the material age. So he does the right and only important thing-he goes home, confesses his sin and rests at the feet of his father.

I know this story is intensely colorful and dramatic, l want it to be so; and do not let us miss the heart attitudes because of the bodily postures. "But when he was yet a great way out his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him." Is that not wonderful? The father does not stand still and wait until the son comes and falls at his feet and begs. The heart attitude of the Father is never that way. He ran to meet him. Oh, the deep and unfathomable love of a God like that! God running to meet a sinner, a poor, self-willed fool. How can you keep away from a God like this? I can't half see the robe, the ring and the fatted calf for seeing the anxious, loving heart of the Father. And did he not know the entire story? Do not worry--He knows everything only too well.

The Prayers of the Prodigal: Part V

Tip! Prayer is no little thing, no selfish and small matter. It does not concern the selfish insignificant interests of one person. The littlest prayer expands out by the will of God till it touches all words, preserves all interests, and develops man's greatest wealth, and God's greatest good.

Now some of you are asking, "What about the prodigal's prayers?" We will come to them soon, but in order to appreciate his prayers let us review a little. What was the character of his first prayer? Was it not, "Give me"? Prayer is a sincere desire of the heart which causes one to focus all his forces toward the realization of that desire. It may not always be expressed in words; it may be the actuating and dominating force in your innermost being causing you to bring to play all your powers for its material gratification.

As a lad at home the younger son was "eaten up", as we say, with the desire to hold in his own hands the powers of his life. It became a prayer--"Give me the portion of goods that falleth to me." He wanted material things and got them. He misused his powers and gifts in life. He exhausted them, and discovered that they could not and did not serve to satisfy the deep-seated desire for life.

So the revelation of the spiritual side of life and its meaning and the vision of growth and development of the real being and personality he found himself to be, roused him to a new prayer. "I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants." How righteous and glorious is such a prayer! Now the father can take a hand in the matter and can make him into the desire of his heart.

The Christian character which God desires to manifest through us is not like a gift or an isolated experience which may be realized in a moment. The new birth is that and so is the Baptism of the Spirit. Both are spoken of as gifts--and gifts may be received and possessed immediately. But Christian character comes by a process, building, growth, and continual development. The new birth is unto and the Baptism of the Spirit is unto the eternal purpose of conformity to the divine. Listen to these wonderful words which back up this truth:

"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son."

"And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one even as we are one."

"But we all, with open face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."

"Till we all come in. the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."

Tip! The entire principle of Bible teaching is to illustrate the great truth that God hears and answers prayer. One of the great purposes of God in His book is to impress on us permanently the great importance, the priceless value, and the absolute necessity of asking God for the things that we need for our time on earth and eternity.

We are born of the Spirit and so become partakers of the divine nature which gives us the basic, potential material for the ideal. We are also baptized in the Holy Spirit which gives us the power for the mighty transformation and accomplishment of His purpose: making us witnesses to that image. You will remember Jesus said, "But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witness unto me..." Note He does not say, "Ye shall become servants unto me." We serve by means of gifts and callings, divine and supernatural qualifications. He says, witnesses--the word really means martyr. It suggests the whole life as a living testimony rather than the restricted meaning usually taught--such as to testify, speak, serve or minister for Him. Of course, to testify or speak for Him is included, but is only a fragmentary aspect of this mighty witnessing wrought by the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. The whole life witnesses (even unto martyrdom) to His name, character, nature, conduct, likeness and image.

Tip! God is so concerned that people pray that He has promised to answer prayer. He has not promised to do something general if we pray, but He has promised to do the very thing for which we pray.

We also receive gifts of the Spirit. This is the equipment for service. We are to occupy until He comes. The gifts thus exercised become channels and means of expression for the life of Christ within.

So you see, my dear, young friends, we are greatly privileged in having in our hearts and working through us the sweet and at the same time powerful Spirit of God. He has come to make us. Perhaps you, too, prayed, "Give me, give me," and God gave you the gift of the Spirit (the portion of goods that falleth to you). Is He now making you?

The Prayers of the Prodigal: Part VI

Tip! Prayer, as taught by Jesus in its principal expression, enters into all the relations of life. It purifies fellowship.

Life is primarily for the glory of God. "...Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." Any spending of life or using of life's gifts or the gifts of the Spirit for selfish or ignoble purposes is wasting your substance in riotous living. You must know there is much riotous living aside from the night-clubs, road-houses, amusement halls and such places. The misuse or abuse of the gifts of life or the Spirit makes riotous living in an Assembly, home or the private life of a Christian. So let us look out and mind our step and don't feel too smug--take a little inventory now before you begin to smell a pigpen.

I never saw the possibility of such an experience befalling a Christian until one day in my study the Lord directed me to Paul's letter to the Corinthian Church. Time will not allow me to make a study of this situation and to run, as it were, an analogy between the prodigal son and the Corinthian. Nevertheless, by a few suggestions you may detect it. This church, too, had prayed, "Give me, give me." And God had given her the portion of goods that befell her. She had the testimony that she came behind in no gift. But with all her gifts and power we find her in great need and difficulty until Paul has to write this corrective epistle to her.

What was the matter? The church at Corinth was wasting her substance in riotous living and had not prayed the second prayer, "Make me, make me." The building of Christian character had not kept up with the display of gifts. And that is very possible. We know this from the word Paul uses in the l5th chapter, "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels," etc. The word though throws the whole matter into possibility. And Paul saw that was just what the matter was. The motives hack of the use and display of the gifts were wrong. The gifts were right and were of God but the way was selfish and not to God's glory. They had power--plenty of power and gifts--but the motive, love (born of true Christian character) was missing.

Tip! Prayer is no little thing, no selfish and small matter. It does not concern the selfish insignificant interests of one person. The littlest prayer expands out by the will of God till it touches all words, preserves all interests, and develops man's greatest wealth, and God's greatest good.

Therefore there were present in the church, unkindness. envy, vaunting, puffed-up spirits, unseemly conduct, provoked spirits, evil surmising, etc., etc., and yet there were gifts and manifestations wonderful to behold. Yes, there was plenty of riotous living and wasting of substance, so Paul shows them a better way. The thirteenth chapter is the better way, or law for the operation of the gifts. They were to have lives backed up by the transforming power of the Spirit. When the church learned to pray the second prayer, "Make me, make me," she became a glorious testimony and witness unto God.

Dear young people, for what are you praying? Are you still wanting things, things, thing -- Even the gifts of the Spirit merely for the sake of having them? Listen, I want you to have gifts, God wants you to have gifts (He even says to pray for them) but with all that, do remember to pray, "Make me, make me." Shall we not all afresh yield our hearts and lives more fully to His wonderful will that He may make us the witnesses He desires in this needy, perishing world?

How God Answered My Prayer for $900

Tip! God is so concerned that people pray that He has promised to answer prayer. He has not promised to do something general if we pray, but He has promised to do the very thing for which we pray.

I was in debt. I owed the large sum (large for a poor home missionary) of $900.00. Expecting soon to be called on for the payment of it, and not seeing any way to meet it, I went to the Lord in prayer.

Early in life I had made this resolution: that no person whom I was owing should ever ask me for the money, and I not pay them; but now, I could see no way out; and if, as I expected, it should be demanded of me, I was not in a condition to meet it.

Such was my condition when, on a certain day, the demand did come. I took the letter from the office at noon. What now was to be done? Again I took the case in prayer to the Lord, and asked Him to help me pay it, so that my word need not fail, or His causes suffer criticism.

I first determined to pay a part of it; but, because a letter could not be sent out that day, I awaited for the results of the following day's mail. From the mail, which first arrived, a letter containing an unexpected check of $500 to my wife, from parties whom we did not know, and had never seen, nor they us. Within twenty minutes more I was presented with a surprise of $400, from some people where I had preached for the last six months. Here was my $900, and, before the mail went out, I had my letter written and the check in the mail. Both were as unexpected as if they had come from heaven directly.

Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow!

Have You Prayer about Your Approach to Ministry?

How To Pray - A FREE Collection of eBooks and More Now You Can Learn to pray Powerfully And Inspiring Prayers and Profit from them. Free Downloads.

"But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." (2 Corinthians 4:2 NKJV)

God has made all of us His servants under the new covenant of grace. "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life". (2 Corinthians 3:5-6 NKJV). Those of us who desire to serve the Lord by grace have a very distinctive approach to ministry. "We have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully."

It is so sad that the many ministry approaches in the church world include motives and organized systems that are kept hidden, because their true character is shameful. Some of these dishonorable approaches involve "walking in craftiness" (such as, manipulating people through lustful enticements based on feelings). Others involve "handling the word of God deceitfully" (such as, preaching what people want to hear, instead of what the scriptures actually say). If we are going to serve God by grace, we must reject such tactics.

Instead, we want to serve God "by manifestation of the truth." We minister by a truthful statement of God's truth from His Word (Holy Bible), not by a deceptive process of human tricks. Also, we desire that our lives be an example of our message, not a contradiction of it: "commending ourselves to every man's conscience." As we proclaim God's truth, we humbly ask God to impact our lives by that truth, in order to become an example of what we preach. The Lord will use this to touch others deep in their consciences.

Tip! If we, God's people expect to carry out the works of Christ that will glorify our Father, then we must believe in Him for the very work's sake, and pray fervently in His Name.

It is God's will that our ministries impact more than people's minds (which can be reached by mere ideas, concepts, or systems). It is His intention that our testimonies reach beyond their emotions (which can be touched by exciting stories, condemning insinuations, or inspiring ideals). He certainly does not want us to appeal to people's pride ("let God make you someone others will envy") or to their covetousness ("give to our ministry, and God will give you ten-fold in return"). BUT rather, God desires to reach their consciences, that the "image-of-God" will be an imprint that convicts people of sin and of their need for God: "who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them" (Romans 2:15 NKJV).

Prayer:

O God of truth and holiness, I long to serve You by grace. I want to reject manipulating people and the distorting of Your holy Word. Make my life a vessel of honor that confirms Your truth. As I minister to others (friends, family and co-workers), touch them deep in their hearts, by the power of Your grace, stirring them to seek after You only, and not after what feels good or sounds good. I pray that You will get all the glory, In Jesus" name, Amen.

The Prayer for the Exceedingly Abundant Ability of God

Tip! An effective prayer life can have a huge impact on not only our own individual life, but on the lives of those around us. Through prayer we can have an impact on our local community, our country and the world.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

(Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV)

In light of God being our sufficiency for the development of godly characteristics, this benedictory prayer in Ephesians 3 becomes an appropriate and instructive response.

It begins with the most critical issue for living the Christian life: the ability of God: "Now to Him who is able." Natural religious thinking would consider the ability of man as the most vital matter in developing a godly life. Such an approach would leave us striving vainly under the law, attempting to live up to God's perfect standards by our own inadequate resources. Praise be to God, there is a heavenly, effective option: relying upon God's ability.

Think of the immeasurable ability of the Lord. "Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You" (Jer_32:17). He created the entire universe. Certainly, by His power He is able to strengthen us. "Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me? " (Jer_32:27). Our Lord rules over all of humanity. Surely, He is able to manage our lives. Actually, our God is "able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think." Everything we could ask concerning His will, He is able to do far beyond that. Whatever we might contemplate but hesitate to ask, He is able to surpass that.

The most amazing aspect of God exercising His ability on our behalf is that He unleashes His power within our lives: "according to the power that works in us." This is exactly how the Lord wants to develop godliness in our lives. He Himself desires to work by the power of His grace deep within our hearts. "For it is good that the heart be established by grace" (Heb_13:9).

Again, the Christian life is not affected from the outside in, hoping to modify our behavior by external religious pressures. Rather, it involves a true change of character within, affected by God Himself. This is how God is ultimately glorified in the lives of His people: "to Him be glory in the church." He works a genuine transformation of life in and through us. Then, we give Him the glory for His exceedingly abundant ability.

Prayer:

Lord God of exceeding abundance, I worship You as the one who is able to do all things well. Forgive me for repeatedly turning to my ability. Lord, as I seek You in Your word, build my faith. Unleash the powerful life of Your Son within my heart, making me what You want me to be, through Christ I pray, Amen.