Romans 12:12 — Doc Greenway

Continuing Instant in Prayer

Well, as you know, we have been looking at Romans chapter 12, and we've been in verse 12 for some little time now. And I felt that tonight it would be perhaps a fitting subject to take the latter part of that 12th verse, continuing instant in prayer, especially as this is our last meeting for the year.

And we're looking forward, I know, with great anticipation to the days to come. But in the meantime, well, what better than continuing instant in prayer? The only thing that lies outside the range of prayer is that which lies outside the will of God.

And that, I think, is a very comprehensive range, is it not? The only thing that lies outside the range of prayer is that which lies outside the will of God. So that in this comprehensive ministry, we have a tremendous scope.

There is nothing excluded, except that which we know, instinctively, is not the will of God. Not only is it comprehensive in the sense of having a wide scope of subject, but it's comprehensive in the fact that everybody can enter into this particular ministry.

And whether or not we are public speakers, or whether we have any service in the public eye, it makes no difference. We are all called to pray. And every one of us, without exception, at some time or other, if not regularly, and as a habit of life, will be found in prayer.

Because you know, and I know, there are times when there is no other place to which you can turn, except at the throne of grace. And nothing else that will meet the need, except to bow in prayer before him.

So when I thought about this, I began to see how real the whole question of prayer is in the Bible. And how dramatically, in the Old Testament and in the New Testament, the Holy Spirit picks out particular choice, words and terms that he can use to express what prayer really is.

You know, this is an amazing thing. That in the Old Testament, before the coming of the Messiah, before Jesus was born, before they had a certain hope such as we have now, they were looking forward in anticipation to the time when Jehovah would manifest his presence in some new way.

And so they were so dependent upon prayer, so completely dependent upon this approach to God. In the New Testament, after Jesus was born, here again looking back upon that event, realizing his consummation, there is still this sense of the importance of prayer that comes to light again and again.

There are twelve words in Hebrew, in the Hebrew Old Testament for prayer. And there are seven words in the Greek New Testament for prayer. And they all give us various aspects of prayer. I'm not going to talk about all of these tonight because there isn't time and that isn't the purpose.

But just as a point of interest, and I may mention one or two of these in a moment. But think of what the Apostle says to begin with. Let's look at the words themselves in the text. Continuing instant in prayer.

Now those two words, continuing instant, are one word in the Greek. Proskaterio. It means to be strong towards something. Continually being strong towards a certain object. This isn't something you can dismiss lightly, in other words.

This continuing instant means that your whole being is being drawn out in an effort, a sustained effort, strong toward this particular thing. What particular thing? Well, prayer. Continuing instant in prayer.

Here is one of the words in the New Testament which I think is distinctive for prayer. It's the word prosyche. And it means intense intercession or supplication which has about it a sort of inner fire.

That's in that word yuki. The inness of prayer, the inwardness of the fire that blazes in the heart of the person who is strong toward continuing constantly in this direction. So when the apostle exhorts his friend, continuing instant in prayer, it's far more behind this in the picture that he uses than appears in the authorized version for him.

Being strong toward something. To such an extent that your inward being is aflame with desire, with longing, with yearning, this is involved. There's nothing peremptory about this, there's nothing that is taken as a habit of life merely or something that we do because it's customary.

But in this kind of prayer, there's far more involved, far more that lies beneath the surface. So I feel that we need to look at this subject tonight. Look at it perhaps not in the depth that we should because we haven't the time.

This isn't the opportunity to do that. But at least we can see some of the prevailing principles that will enable us, will help us to fulfill this exhortation in our own personal lives and to do exactly what the apostle is exhorting people to do, continuing instant in prayer.

Asking, Seeking, and Knocking

The first scripture passage I would like to turn to is in Matthew chapter 7. Because you know, we are really exhorted to pray. Way back in the Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 16 and 11, you read these words, Seek the Lord and his strength.

Seek his face continually. There at the beginning of time, as it were, in the Old Testament days, here is this exhortation coming as strongly as it comes from the heart of the apostle in New Testament days.

Seek the Lord, seek his face, do this continually. Same idea, continuing instant in prayer. But in the 7th verse of this chapter, Matthew 7, you know this occurs in the Sermon on the Mount, doesn't it?

You read of Jesus saying, Ask and it shall be given unto you. Seek and ye shall find. Knock and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh, receiveth, and he that seeketh, findeth. Unto him that knocketh, it shall be opened.

Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If he then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Therefore all things whatsoever he would that men should do to you, do he even so to them. For this is the law and the prophet. Verse 11, when it says, Your Father which is in heaven will give good things to them that ask him.

The parallel passage in the Gospel of Luke is, How much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those that ask him? But notice in verse 7 the approach.

Ask, seek, knock.

Now these expressions don't all mean the same thing. Asking, seeking, knocking. They represent stages in our approach to God. Asking with the humility of a beggar because we deserve nothing at all. That's one phase of prayer.

This asking, deesis, is the approach of an inferior to a superior. Someone with a sense of need coming to someone whom he knows can supply that need. And isn't this a common experience in prayer with all of us without exception?

Aren't we deeply conscious that again and again we have turned to God and we have besought him because we have felt and sensed the depth and intensity and reality of our need. And praise the Lord we have felt and sensed also the reality of his supply.

We know that somehow faith is able to bridge the gap between the depth of our need and the greatness of his supply. And so we come asking with the humility of a beggar. Ah, but that's only one phase of prayer, isn't it?

Again, you know as well as I do that there are times in our lives when asking isn't enough. Seeking, this is what we read a moment ago, seek the Lord. Seek his face continually. If we are to ask with the humility of a beggar, we must seek with the diligence of a servant.

And this seeking goes far beyond the ordinary asking of the everyday experience of the prayerful believer. Seeking means you've got some positive objective in need. Seeking means you lay hold and you're not going to let go.

Seeking means that you've seen something, that faith has beheld something. And what faith has beheld, faith would appropriate. This is the seeking. And I'm sure that many of God's people fail in the area of prayer because they give up the seeking too soon.

They haunt a stone's throw away from the blessing. They've asked and asked and asked and there's no answer. And they've sought and sought and sought again and there seems to be no reply. But the idea behind the seeking is the seeking of diligence, a persistency, a refusal to let go.

So here is another stage in prayer. Not simply asking with the humility of a beggar, but seeking with the diligence of a servant. And then as though this were not enough, the Lord goes a step further still.

Not. If we are to ask with the humility of a beggar and to seek with the diligence of a servant, there comes a point in the area of our prayer life where we can knock with the confidence of a friend. But you don't reach that point at once.

It is through prolonged asking, it is through determined seeking, that at last you come to the point where you know instinctively you can knock with the confidence of a friend because God has heard and praised his name, God has answered.

Do you know there are times in your lives, you've experienced this as much as I have I'm sure, when you have known that the knocking is so effective that the time for praying and seeking and knocking is past and it's time now for praising and thanking and giving him the glory because the answer is there.

I'm sure you've experienced this many times. I know I have. Times without number when I've come to the point where I've realized that there's no longer any need for asking, God has heard, God has answered.

Persevering Prayer and Answered Supplication

I remember testifying to this some time ago when we were having our meetings across the 21 Karaka Road. But I think you will bear repeating, and if some of you have heard me say this before, well, I trust you will bear with me for the sake of those who haven't.

But it's something that I feel bears out what I'm saying here. A man came from Japan, a servant of God, who had been there for 25 years at the time that I knew him. And he was so impressed with New Zealand, with the country, that he felt that he would like to have young people from this country go out to Japan.

He was the principal of a Bible school in central Japan. And have them trained so that they could reach out to this great land of the rising sun. And for some reason or other, he felt that I could be of some help and blessing in this particular venture.

And so, after prayer, I agreed that I would go out to Japan. But it was the tail end of the Depression in this country. And no one had any money. It was wonderful going to services in those days. Nobody had any money, but there was tons of glory about it.

Because everybody was in the same position, you know. You had to really depend upon God. And God used to come and meet you in the evening. Well, I had said I was going to Japan. I didn't let anybody know about this, except my wife, my first wife, my wife.

One day, one morning, on a Wednesday morning at 11 o 'clock in the morning, I remember the time because the clock was striking. Not the time. We'd been praying. We were on our knees. I turned to my wife and said, I've suddenly realized God has heard my prayer about Japan.

I'm not praying about this anymore. I said, I'm going to start thanking Him for the answer. I said, He's going to provide the means. And right away, I began to praise Him. The next Sunday morning, a lady in the congregation, who was not a member of my particular church where I was ministering, came to me and asked if she could have an interview.

I said, well, I can arrange this this afternoon. I'll tell you what, I'll come back to the church and we'll meet in the vestry. We did this, and the first thing she asked me was, are you going to Japan?

I said, yes. And she began to weep. Well, I've learned by experience, when a woman begins to weep, it's best to let her get her weeping over. I mean, you can't get anywhere until that's all finished. So when it was all over and she had sort of dried her eyes, I said, now then, what is all this about?

She said, have you got the money? I said, I haven't got it in my hand, I said, in actual fact, but I know that I've got it. And this started the whole thing all over again. I said, now look, I said, you've cried enough.

I said, now, let's begin from there, you know. I said, now tell me the story. And she said, well, she said, last Wednesday morning at 11 o 'clock in the morning, I was busy sleeping in the kitchen, and a voice said to me, give my servant the money that he might go to Japan.

And she said, I didn't know a thing about it. So she said, I've come today to ask, are you going to Japan? Do you need the money? If you do, it's here. I've got it for you. Well, that was remarkable. We had a prayer session right on the spot, of course.

And then she said, now, what would it cost? So I quoted her a single fare to Japan. She said, well, that won't get you back again, will it? I said, oh no, well, what's the use of that? And she said, are you quoting me the fare for yourself only?

I said, well, naturally. Well, she said, what's the use of your going unless your wife is with you? She said, you'd be like a bird with one wing. Well, I agree with that, of course. And so I quoted the whole thing then.

Now she said, I want you to come to New Plymouth. She said, will you speak at the evening service? And then she said, I've got the money in the post office. I'll bring it to you. I don't want anyone to know a thing about this.

I said, all right, we'll do that. So at the end of the service, she gave me an envelope. I went home. I counted the money. There was far more there than I needed. And I couldn't sleep all night. I went back.

By breakfast time the next morning, I said, excuse me, but you'll give me far more than I have. Yes, she said, but you'll need equipment. She didn't know that I had only one suit and one pair of shoes.

She didn't know, and this is no exaggeration, my wife had one prop that she could put on. When she had to wash it, I had to put it on the line and wait until it dried. And then she could iron it before she could be seen in public.

Now, no one knew that. These were days of depression. No one knew this. But God knew. And there at that identical moment, on our knees, when God was speaking to me and saying, I have heard your cry, there's no need to ask or seek or knock any longer, but only to receive.

God was speaking to her away in New Plymouth. I was in Wellington. She was in New Plymouth. And telling her what was necessary to do. And I'm sure, as I say, that many of us have had like experiences.

So here it is. This is how Jesus expresses it. Ask, seek, knock. Ask with the humility of a beggar. Seek with the diligence of a servant. Knock with the confidence of a friend. And these, as I say, are stages and degrees in the area of our prayer life.

But notice what he goes on to say further. How he described the approach that we have. Think now of the action that he mentions. Verse 8. For everyone that asketh, receiveth. And he that seeketh, findeth.

And to him that knocketh, it shall be opened. Now, you don't get the force of this in the Authorized Version. What Jesus actually said was this. For everyone who keeps on asking, keeps on receiving. And everyone who keeps on seeking, keeps on finding.

And everyone who keeps on knocking, to him the door keeps on being opened. So it's a continuing incident in prayer that is behind it. A keeping on. Not a giving up, a giving over. But a keeping on. A continuing attitude and approach to God in this action of prayer.

And notice the appeal in verses 9 and 10. How encouraging the Lord is. He's reminding these people that even on a human level, an earthly father will not deceive his own son by giving him a wrong thing.

Well, how much more will your heavenly father, he says, give you those things which you need. Or as we have in the Gospel of Luke, as I mentioned, how much more will your heavenly father give the Holy Spirit to those that ask him.

He won't give them a serpent, he won't give them a stone, but he will give the Holy Spirit to those that keep on asking. And it's in this strong, continuing attitude that the answer comes. This proskaterio, this strength to the Lord within.

This having a positive objective and sticking to it. It's to this end that the Lord is speaking, and to this purpose that he presents them with this picture. But in verse 11, he has the argument here, and I think it's a strong one.

If he then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your father which is in heaven give good things to them that keep on asking him. Prayer is a wonderful thing because it includes, as I said, in its comprehensiveness, every one of us.

We begin our Christian life with prayer, Lord save me. And we end our life with prayer, Lord into thy hands I commend my spirit. And all the way through from our new birth until we see the Lord face to face, our lives are maintained and sustained by prayer.

This, I'm sure, is something we have to understand and comprehend. It's not something you can take on or leave off, or something you can accept or reject, something you can reason about or else you can analyze.

It's something which is basic and fundamental in the life of every believer. You can live without many things in this world, but you cannot live without prayer. It's impossible. And how beautifully Jesus speaks about this.

Agreement in Prayer

Matthew 19 and verse 19. You don't have to turn to it, I'll read it to you. Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my father which is in heaven.

Isn't that a lovely thing? But you begin to break it up a little bit. Get beneath the surface. Think of what he actually said. Again I say unto you, that's the highest possible authority. You can't go higher than this.

He said it. That if two of you, that's the smallest possible company. You can't have less than two in a company, can you? Shall agree. That's the plainest possible condition. Ask touching anything. That's the widest possible scope.

That they shall ask, that's the simplest possible action. For even a child can ask. It shall be done for them of my father which is in heaven. That's the strongest possible guarantee. Now you read that verse again.

Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree, ask touching anything, that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my father which is in heaven. Isn't this a tremendous area into which God has introduced us?

Right. Now I mentioned at the very beginning that there were some words in the Hebrew language which have a bearing on prayer. I just mentioned. I think they're very beautiful. The word shal. Shal. It means the request for prayer.

Positive request. The word ana, which means entreated in prayer. The word kanan, which means the attitude that we shall have in prayer. The word ata, perfume, the incense of prayer, if you like. The word paga, the insistence of prayer.

We've been talking about this, keeping on. The word pala, the habit of prayer. Something which goes on moment by moment as the natural world of the spiritual person. The word sela, which is humility in prayer.

The word sia, which is thoughtfulness or meditation in prayer. The word kala, which is pleading in prayer. The word lakash, which is the whisper of prayer. And the word bia, which is fervency in prayer.

Sometimes translated baha, which means the boil, an inner flame of prayer. And this is the word, of course, the equivalent in the Greek is prosythe. Euthy has to do with the inness of things, with the fire of things.

Pros is a preposition which strengthens it, and so makes it intensely strong. So you have this idea of strong intercession or supplication which has taken fire. And the equivalent in the Hebrew is this word bia.

Prayer as a Persistent Christian Calling

Now I won't go into the Greek words because I've touched on these at various times and I hope, God willing, in the future to touch on them again. But now, having looked at the fact that we are exalted to pray and that we are encouraged to pray by the Lord Jesus, let us remember that we are expected to pray.

You have it in Luke 18 and verse 1. And, of course, in the parable which follows. And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray and not to think. Now this word pray, what is it?

Diasis? The asking of a beggar? No. It's the same word, prosythomania, prosythia, intense intercession on fire. Men are always to pray in this way. You have the like expression in the epistle of James.

The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man that they have met with God. This is the thought behind it. This effectual, fervent prayer is prayer which has caught fire. And this is how Jesus said, men ought always to pray.

And if you pray like this, then you are not going to faint. The idea behind this word faint, of course, is loosing away, letting go. Tell me. Don't tell me, you tell the Lord. Isn't it true? That again and again you've lost your grip because you've forgotten to pray.

Isn't it true? That this accounts for so much slackness in our spiritual life as Christians. Our inability in the area of prayer. But you say, I don't know how to pray. If you have a need, you'll know how to pray.

If you have a sense of dependence on God, you'll know how to pray. Yes, but I can't pray like so and so. God doesn't expect you to pray like so and so. God expects you to pray like yourself. How many times have I heard people say this word, I'd love to pray, but I haven't got the language.

When a child wants something, a child doesn't bother about whether it's got language or not. It finds a way of expressing its need. And isn't this true of mere concern? How much we need to learn this lesson that Jesus is teaching here.

Men ought always to pray. Always ought to be at the boiling pitch, if you like. That fire of prayer in their very being. Because this is the only way in which they will never let go and so lose the vital glow in their lives.

This is the only way to prevent a spiritual fainting fit, is this intense intercession on fire. But you say, how can it be maintained? Well, I'm sure it's maintained because of our sense of need. How much do you need of God?

What are you saying to him from the depths of your being? Are you really saying, like the psalmist, my soul thirsteth for God? Are you really saying, I hunger and thirst after righteousness? Are you really putting God in his proper position?

Are you giving him the first place? If you are, then believe me, you'll find that this idea of maintaining a life of prayer is something which is spontaneous. The depth and degree and extent of our own longing and yearning for God will always determine the quality of the prayer life that we have as believers.

Persistence Illustrated by the Unjust Judge

So Jesus makes it very clear here that we are expected to pray. And the whole substance of what follows in the story that he told, you remember, of the unjust judge. You know, it's a very interesting story, isn't it?

He said there was in a city a judge which feared not God, neither regarded men. There was no time for God and there was no time for men. And there was a widow in that city. She came unto him saying, avenge me of mine adversary.

And he would not for a while. But afterward he said to himself, though I fear not God, nor regard men. Well, this widow is something else. She's something altogether different. Yet because this widow troubled me, I will avenge her, lest by a continual coming, she weary me.

And the Lord said, hear what the unjust judge said. And shall not God avenge his own elect which cry day and night unto him, though he bear wrong with him? Don't you see? He didn't fear God, had no respect for man.

But here's this widow determined, persistent, importunate. She's going to get what she wants. And she's going to keep on until she gets it. In the end she wins through. Now said Jesus, if an unjust judge will do that, how much more will your Father in heaven listen to your cry, if you keep on crying to him, but not if you pray fast and loose in the area and realm of prayer.

And I was a boy in Wales, especially in the winter time, you know, the nights come on very quickly. We used to have a favorite trick. We would tie a long string onto someone's door knocker, because every door has a knocker, it's the rule in the old country.

Then we would take the string and pull it down over the street and hide behind someone's wall. And then one of us would just pull on the string and go rat-tat-tat, rat-tat-tat, and away. Sure enough, before very long, you'd have to pay off the string before the door would be open.

And the person was there looking and wondering, well, who on earth was knocking at the door? Who was the door? Give them ten minutes, rat-tat-tat, rat-tat-tat. Once again, the same procedure. Couldn't understand.

And we'd keep this up for about half an hour. You know, knowing, of course, that curiosity would cause that person to come out and have a look to see who was around, until sometimes they would discover the string, then the game was up, naturally.

How many times did we play this sort of game with God? Rat-tat-tat. The very gates of heaven. When he comes to look to see who's there, who's gone? Who disappeared? Can't be found. He didn't really mean it.

He didn't have any real business to transact at all. That is the thought behind what Jesus is saying. You're a heavenly father. He is not unjust. He will listen if you're prepared to do what he wants you to do, and that is to keep on coming to him.

The Whole Armor of God

But if we are encouraged to pray and expected to pray, thank God we're all so equipped to pray. Now turn to Ephesians 6, verses 10 to 12. I'll look at my time. Yes, we've got a little time left. Ephesians chapter 6.

We are equipped. Verse 10. Pray always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints, and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, to which I am an ambassador in bond, that therein I may speak boldly as I always speak.

Praying always, being instant in prayer, never failing. How is it possible? Well, thank God he hasn't left us to our own devices, but here's the equipment that will enable us to pray in the way that has been suggested here.

What is the equipment that we are to wear? Mentioned in verse 11, put on the whole armor of God. Mentioned again in verse 13, wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God. Mentioned again in verse 14, stand therefore having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, above all taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked, and take the helm of the salvation and the soul of the spirit, which is the word of God.

Here's the equipment. Proudly, my brethren, be strong in the Lord. This word, strong, is the same as the basis of the word dynamite. Strong in the Lord and in the power, same word again, dynamite, of his might, clatter, his inherent strength.

It cannot fail. How can we be strong in the Lord? How can we stand in the power of his might? By putting on the whole armor of God. No one will do this for you. It's something you have to do for yourself.

Put on. Take up. Put on the piece by piece armor of God. For this panoply or this equipment was that of the Roman soldiers. Then notice, we do this that we might be able to withstand in the evil day. Then if that attack is over, still able to stand, ready waiting for the next attack.

And when that is done, well stand therefore. How wonderfully the apostle makes it clear that this is what we are called to do. Stand fast. Where God wants you to be. It's no use looking for marching orders when God says stand still.

But you can't stand still and you can't stand fast and you can't withstand until and unless you put on the whole armor of God. Now look at this army. Loins gird about the truth. The belt of truth first of all.

And this is the basis of it all. Truth. You can have false emotions. You can have false enthusiasm. I suppose you can have false love. It seems to be a lot of it in Hollywood. But you can't have false truth.

And so the first essential is this belt of truth. This soldier wore for a purpose. He bound his flowing garments together for one thing and stopped him from being tripped up. So this belt of truth. Put this on.

And having on the breastplate of righteousness. This word used to be spelled right-wiseness. The breastplate of righteousness is the breastplate of equity. You're going to put on the belt of truth. You can't put on the belt of half-truth and expect to get bound.

There are some people who talk about truth in a very loose sort of a way. They talk for instance about business lines and about white lines and social lines as though there are any differences where God is concerned.

The trouble with people who are always talking about white lines is that they get color blind. And then every sort of a lie has the same sort of a hue. But the belt of truth like the breastplate of righteousness there's no playing around with this.

It means what it says. Right-wiseness. There is no right way of doing a wrong thing. And if we're going to put on the breastplate of righteousness we have to accept the fact that there's equity in you.

It cannot be disguised and cannot be dispensed with to suit anybody. Breastplate of righteousness. And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. This preparation of the gospel of peace and having your feet shod in this way it literally means firm footedness.

The sandals of the Roman soldier were studded with nails spikes so that he could stand fast on the battlefield. You can't hope to stand fast in slippery places. And therefore you have to accept the fact that the sandals of the gospel are needed and how beautiful are the feet of those that publish this diary.

Well, have we got the sandals on? Above all, taking the shield of faith and this is the heavy shield of the infantry. It measured four feet six by two feet one. And therefore it was something really substantial.

Usually made either of metal or of leather. But it was an effective shield. The shield of faith wherewith he shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. You can look at it in a moment. And the helmet of salvation for the thought life is protected here too.

And the sword of the spirit which is the word of God. It's not your sword. It's the spirit's sword. And only he can use it. It's when we try to use it that trouble begins. When we think we've got all the answers as long as we've got half a dozen proof texts and we can ram these down the throats of people and expect that if they take this medicine everything is going to be fine.

Not at all. The sword of the spirit which is the word of God. It is always the Holy Spirit's sword and he alone can use it properly. For only he can bring them victory. Jesus said this. So you see we have all this armor for defense but we have this for offense.

The shield of faith. The sword of the spirit which is the word of God. Now what about the engagement that we have to face? Look for instance in verse 11 that he may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.