1 Thessalonians 5:17 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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1 Thessalonians 5:17

Comments

Only God’s people can truly and effectively pray. Of course it is open to Almighty God to hear the prayer of anyone if he chooses, saved or unsaved, but as a general rule prayer is a facility which God provides for his own. Prayer is the chief expression of faith. No prayer, no faith. Our spiritual standing is directly connected with prayer. Our assurance depends upon prayer. Small prayer means small assurance; complacency takes its place. Why without ceasing? Well it warns you that there is depth in prayer and a range to prayer. If you must be praying all times, clearly there are many different kinds of prayer that we are to pray. Broadly speaking, prayer is divided into two parts – the love or worship department, and the asking department, the petitions, the supplications. In the love department, adoration comes first, adoration of God, his attributes, his mighty being. Then there is thanksgiving, in which we actually thank him, not only for what he is but for what he has done in creation, in salvation, in saving us personally. Then there is affirmation. Every day in our personal prayers, we choose at least one doctrine, and we praise him and thank him for it, and affirm it. And then we have the asking, and we begin the asking with repentance; we ask for forgiveness. We repent of our sin, and then we dedicate ourselves afresh to him. There are also the petitions: all our needs, and the needs of other people, and the needs of the church and the messengers of Calvary. Then there is intercession and everyone needs a list, either in their minds or kept in the back of his Bible.

Application

Prayer must surmount obstacles. Prayer is not easy. As I go to seriously pray before the Lord, I face all kinds of distraction to dissuade me from prayer. Other obstacles are forgetfulness, tiredness, and sometimes anxiety. Fix a time if you possibly can and keep to it. If it is a problem of concentration, break up the prayers by reading a verse of Scripture in between. Prayer must have faith; that is a condition for prayer. It means that you believe in God’s power to do it. If he chooses, if it is his will, then he can do it so easily. Do not ask hopelessly. Try recalling your history of prayer and how the Lord wonderfully helped me. Tell him you trust him. That often helps you to consciously trust him. Pray repeatedly to show that you trust him. That is one of the reasons for repeated prayer. It consolidates our trust. And prayer must have patience, In one situation God may hear your prayer soon, and yet in another situation you may have to pray over for a long period. Prayer has submission too; we wait for him. Prayer must have holiness. David says, ‘If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.’ Prayer must be sincere. There must be no pretence in prayers, no mechanical praying, the same prayer every day, so that you wind the handle and out it comes before the Lord. It is vain repetition. Pre-think the prayer. I am going to prayer about such-and-such a thing, then I will think about it for a few moments. Prayer must be watchful and thankful. What prayers have been answered this week? What has the Lord done? How has he helped? Prayer is particularly vital in trials. That is what trials are chiefly for. Prayer has obligations which so often we do not keep. When did we last pray for labourers to be sent into the harvest? Do you ever join in corporate prayer at the church prayer meeting? Those are some of the obligations in prayer and its vital components.

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1 Thessalonians 5:17 Commentary and Bible Study