Prayer is privileged communication with God. It is an inter-dispensational principle, in that men of all ages were exhorted and privileged to pray. However, dispensationally, all do not pray for the same reasons nor have cause to expect the same results. Men in all dispensations pray but they do so in accordance with the instructions given to them for their particular dispensation. examples. Prayer of Jabez and the Lord's Prayer ).

The bible teaches that before the canon of scripture was completed and in previous dispensations God spoke through His prophets and used signs, and miracles to convey His word to the people. Unfortunately, some continue to believe that God is still utilizing these methods of communication, not realizing that prayer will always function in accordance to the dispensational sphere one is in. Unlike previous dispensations, the dispensation of grace is spiritual in nature, thus the focus of our prayers should be on the spiritual rather than the natural.

Paul being the apostle to the Gentiles, the one to whom the dispensation of the Grace of God was given, would certainly be the one to whom we as the body of Christ should follow in our approach to prayer as well as in our daily walk in grace.

From the Greek text

From the Greek text

What then are the instructions that were given for the grace dispensation through the apostle Paul? In answering this question , we will consider the pattern found in his epistles written to us the body of Christ. These letters certainly do answer the question as to why we should pray. The answer being because we are instructed to do so, as our example, Paul prayed constantly , as a matter of fact he states:

From the Greek

Unceasingly pray.

The Greek word for prayer in this verse is proseuchomai pros-yoo'-khom-ahee) ;which denotes the act of praying. Thus we are to communicate with God at all times.

Paul began his epistles with adoration or thanksgiving unto God. Example taken from Ephesians; Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ . The Greek word. eulogeo (yoo-log-eh'-o) means to bless or to speak well of. It is the same word we get the English word eulogy from., thus when someone is eulogizd,they are spoken well of. Paul continually blesses God, the Father of Jesus Christ.

The fundamental purpose of Pauline prayer is not to make our physical lives easier, but rather to set us at peace with God's will, whatever it may be. Contrary to what many believe, prayer is not to conform the will of God to our will, but rather for our will to be conformed to His. In the dispensation of grace the will of God is executed through His Word working in the inner man . The first issue, therefore, in prayer is communion with God over what His Word says and how it applies to the various situations we face. Based on this it becomes evident why it is so important to study the Word of God rightly divided. This will allow us to align our prayers according to our dispensation.

In searching the scriptures we note that Paul's requests were based upon the edifying and building up of the body of Christ. Though he found himself in many

precarious situations, Paul never prayed for his own personal safety, wealth or happiness. The focus of his prayers was always for the body of Christ.

Example:

From the Greek

From the Greek

From the Greek;

Paul's requests were always in relationship to the members of the body of Christ becoming more knowledgeable, established and empowered in the spiritual things of God. Our heavenly Father has replaced and given us something far better than the physical program of healing and prosperity of former days.

A common thread, which runs through Paul's epistles regarding prayer is thanksgiving, Paul taught that we are to pray with thanksgiving.

We reference Philippians 4:6

Now from the Greek text

From the Greek

From the Greek text

These verses affirm to us as members of the body of Christ, the instructions which are specific for us. We are indeed instructed to let our requests be known unto God by the means of prayer, doing so with thanksgiving. In fact, it is the will of God that we thank Him for all things and it is through the understanding of who we are in Christ and what we possess as members of His body that can allow us to be anxious for nothing, but instead to offer praise and thanksgiving for all things.

When we pray "in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Eph 5:20, Col 3:17) we are doing far more than simply tacking a phrase to the end of our prayers. This is actually an expression of a vital understanding: that we are acknowledging that there is nothing in and of ourselves by which we can approach God but that we are able to do so based solely upon our position in Christ. This is the source of our confidence in speaking to our heavenly Father; this is the basis of our prayer.

This brings us to a popular practice today in Christendom, the topic of intercessory prayer. The concept of intercessory prayer, as practiced in some evangelical churches is steeped heavily in the doctrine of synergism (the belief that God needs man to effectuate a task, i.e. salvation, healing ect). The failure to rightly divide the word of God, dispensationally will lead to a misapprehension of what intercessory prayer is.. As previously mentioned, prayer will always function in accordance to the dispensational realm that one is in.

What is Intercessory prayer?

The definition of intercession is defined as a prayer for others. This in and of itself is a true principle, which has been echoed throughout every dispensation. If one views intercession as praying for others then intercessory prayer is correct for the dispensation of Grace. The Apostle Paul refers to this in 1 Timothy 2:1

When one takes the definition found in the dictionary and applies it to the biblical principle of prayer in the grace dispensation, a problem arises.

Back to Bible Studies              Praying in the Grace Dispensation Part 3