Prayer & The Holy Spirit

Part 4

 

Personal Qualifications

If we should have the opportunity and access to speak to Royalty or the President, what qualifications would we need to meet, in order to be seen and attended to? Our Father in Heaven and His Son is both Lord and King over the entire universe; therefore, not just anyone can come before Him and be heard. This fact poses a great problem for non-Christians and Christians too. We can’t rely solely upon our own position in Christ in order to be heard and attended to. The New Testament speaks very clearly about qualifications in having our prayers heard, much less answered.

First let us look at a Non-Christian’s prayer.
In the New Testament, there is only one recorded example of a Non-Christian praying and actually being heard. Acts 10:1-8. Here is what we know about him and his prayers. He was trying to live a Godly life. His prayers were persistent and his actions were charitable, this shows sincerity, understanding, love and faith in being heard.
He was humble. His only request that was answered was his need for forgiveness. He obviously viewed himself as a sinner. Notice: Cornelius had seven characteristics which Christians must have, which are noted in Scriptures before us. The most important fact is this: God did not require Cornelius to have a certain amount of faith, sincerity, understanding, love, persistence and humility in order to be living a Godly life. It was just a fact that Cornelius was trying! Which got his greatest need answered.

If a person who is not a Christian, attains these attitudes in prayer. We KNOW God can hear and answer the one and only most important request. How can I be forgiven?  With sin in the sinner, we cannot be acceptable, nor can God reward us for all the sacrifices or charitable deeds we do. Because they are not sanctified, and nor are we. Sanctification, holiness is inextricably linked with purity in the forgiveness of our sins.

Why do you think Cornelius, is the only recorded example in the New Testament of a Non-Christian being heard by God?

An interesting word is used by God to describe the prayers of Cornelius, “memorial”, v4. Gk- mnemosunon, meaning; “anything which brings someone or something to remembrance”. The word is used twice elsewhere in the New Testament to describe one important event, which every gospel preacher should teach upon. That is the woman who broke her alabaster jar of perfume and anointed Jesus, Matthew 26:13 & Mark 14:9. In other words, in all the prayers Cornelius prayed, and in all things he prayed for and in all the gifts he gave, they all culminated into one thing before God. A memorial. He was not verbally heard, his details were not understood, but his greatest need was. Forgive me! Heaven must have heard Cornelius like an alarm clock, going off, to bring God’s attention to someone wanting adoption into His family.

What does the Bible say about these qualifying attitudes for prayer?

1. Faith. Matthew 21:21, Mark 11:24.

2. Sincerity. Matthew 6:5-6, Mt. 15:8-9.

3. Humility. Luke 18:9-14, James 4:6-10,
 1st John 5:14-15.

4. Persistency. Luke 11:5-13, 18:1-8,
1st Ths. 5:17.

5. Understanding. 1st Cor. 14:13-19,
Mt. 6:7-8.

6. Godly Living. 1st Pet. 3:7, James 5:16.

7. Love which includes thankfulness.
Romans 10:1, 2nd Tim. 4:8,
1st Ths. 5:18.

The Holy Spirit of Christ is our intercessor and mediator of our feelings and words which we cannot find in prayer. He has a love for us, which may never be felt, unless we share with him our feelings of gratitude, humility and love, Romans 15:30.