A Few Short Notes on "Why Pray?"

Prayer is essential to build the church throughout the world because, in redemption, God alone, in the Holy Spirit, applies Christ’s work to men for His glory in redeemed lives.

Prayer acknowledges that what we want most dearly — God’s glory and pleasure in salvation of men and women — is something we are powerless to effect.

Prayer acknowledges that God saves sinners completely (justifies, adopts, sanctifies, will glorify), and that God has chosen the prayers of His people as a means to that great end.

Prayer is not just a worthwhile support for church planting. Prayer is necessary. If the church is to be effective in evangelizing and edifying the community it serves, it must first commit to pray that the hearts of people will receive and grow in the gospel message.

The man who mobilizes the Christian Church to pray will make the greatest contribution to world evangelization.   — A. Murray.

We have hope by prayer to receive everything good according to God’s will

Mark 11:22-26 .  .  . whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. [Matthew 21:22]

Luke 11:8-13 .  .  . If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who [persistenly] ask Him!”

John 14:12-18 whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. .  .  .  . 16:27 Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

I John 5:14-15 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.