Reading: Seven Final Questions (Dr.

Roels)
Introduction
In this final Lesson we will consider seven important questions related to prayer and the believer. Since
sincere and thoughtful believers may have different answers to some of these questions, the
information presented here may help you reflect thoughtfully and prayerfully on what the Bible
teaches about each subject.

QUESTION 1: TO WHOM SHOULD WE PRAY?

According to the Bible, we should pray to God and God alone. No one else has the power to help us,
save us, or answer us. No one else knows our minds and hearts as He does, and no one else has the
wisdom and power that He has. No one else can forgive our sins, give us power to overcome our
weaknesses, heal our bodies, protect us from evil, or provide us with wisdom and guidance the way He
can.
The Bible, therefore, never suggests in any way that we should pray to anyone other than the Triune
God.

Though many people may be able to help us in various ways while they are here on earth, we never
find any indication in the Bible that those who have died, no matter how sincere or faithful or holy they
may have been, have either the power or the knowledge or the ability to help us.
There is only one true God who is able to answer our prayers.
Most religions have gods of one kind or another and many of them emphasize the importance of ritual
or formal prayers. However, most of them do not teach that there is a living, loving, omnipotent God
who is able and eager to hear the prayers of His people and is willing to respond to their petitions and
requests. Some religions teach that there are thousands or even millions of gods, each of whom has
control over some aspect of life, but the Bible teaches that there is only one sovereign, personal,
loving, and forgiving God who is in control of all things.
Only the one true God hears and answers the prayers of His people, provides for their needs, forgives
their sins, and grants them an eternal life with Him in glory. And the Bible assures believers that they
are able to pray to this sovereign God with confidence, courage, and boldness because Jesus, God's
Son, has opened the way for them into His presence.

Scripture References

"Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in
glorious deeds, doing wonders?” Exodus15:11

"And if you forget the Lord your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I
solemnly warn you today that you shall surely perish.” Deuteronomy 8:19

"They have no knowledge who carry about their wooden idols and keep on praying to a god that
cannot save.” Isaiah 45:20

When some people looked upon Paul and Barnabas as "gods” and started to worship them, they
said:
 "'Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we
bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made
the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.'” Acts 14:15

QUESTION 2: WHY SHOULD WE PRAY IN THE NAME OF JESUS?

Jesus is the divinely-appointed Mediator between God and man. Jesus has already demonstrated His
great love for us by giving His life for us, so we are confident that He will graciously hear and answer
our prayers as He promised He would.
Jesus has opened the way for us to come to God in prayer whenever we wish, wherever we are, and
whatever we need.

When we pray to someone else or pray in any name other than the name of Jesus, we dishonor both
the Father and the Son.
Scripture References
Jesus said, "'All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son
is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to
reveal him.'” Luke 10:22

Jesus said, "'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through
me.'” John 14:6

"For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 1
Timothy 2:5

Jesus said, "'Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the
Son. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.'” John 14:13-14

The Authority of Jesus

After He died and rose again, Jesus was given a position of authority and power over all other powers
or rulers in heaven and on earth. Since all authority has been given to the resurrected and glorified
Jesus, we can come to the Father in His name in the confidence and assurance that He will hear us and
answer us.
Scripture References

Jesus said, "'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.'” Matthew 28:18

God raised Christ from the dead and "seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far
above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not
only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as
head over all things to the church.” Ephesians 1:20-22
"Therefore God has highly exalted him [Jesus] and bestowed on him the name that is above every
name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the
earth.” Philippians 2:9-10

Jesus has died for us and opened the way for us to come to the Father as His children. Jesus is seated in
glory at the right hand of the Father with power over everything and everyone. He loves us perfectly
and with an everlasting love. No one has more power or authority or love for us than Jesus does!
Why, then, would we seek to come to the Father through anyone other than Jesus?
When we offer our prayers "In Jesus' name” or pray "for Jesus' sake,” we are bringing our prayers to
the Father in the name of His Son, confident that we can come boldly to the Father because of Jesus'
grace and merits on our behalf.

QUESTION 3: IS IT APPROPRIATE FOR US TO PRAY TO THE SON AND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT AS WELL AS
TO THE FATHER?
According to the Bible, there is only one true God who has revealed Himself as Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit. When we pray either to the Father or to the Son or to the Holy Spirit, therefore, we are praying
to God.
Although the majority of the prayers recorded in Acts and the Epistles are addressed to God the Father
(e.g., Ephesians 2:18; 3:14; 5:20) or simply to God (e.g., Romans 10:1-2; Philippians 1:3), some prayers
are also addressed directly to Jesus.
Stephen, the first Christian martyr, prayed just before his death, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And
then, as Stephen prayed for those who were putting him to death, he added, "Lord, do not hold this sin
against them” (Acts 7:59-60).
The disciples were probably praying directly to Jesus in Acts 1:24 when they prayed for wisdom. Paul
likely addressed Jesus in Acts 9:5 when he prayed, "Who are you, Lord?” Ananias also seemed to pray
directly to Jesus in his prayer recorded in Acts 9:10-15. And in 1 Timothy 1:12, Paul wrote, "I thank him
who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his
service.”
On the basis of these passages and Jesus' own teaching in John 14:14 ("'If you ask anything in my name,
I will do it.'”), it is clearly appropriate to pray directly to Jesus as well as to pray to the Father in Jesus'
name.

Since the Holy Spirit is truly God, it is also appropriate for us to address Him directly in our prayers.
However, we are not commanded to do so and there are very few (if any) examples of prayers directed
specifically to the Holy Spirit in the Bible. Though Paul does not teach us directly to pray to the Holy
Spirit, he does emphasize that we should always pray "at all times in the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:18).
Besides, there are times when our minds and hearts seem to focus particularly on the Holy Spirit and in
those times it would seem perfectly appropriate to address our prayers directly to Him.

It is interesting to note in this connection that many of the songs in our church hymnals are really
prayers which are sung directly to Jesus or to the Holy Spirit. Examples of such hymns are the
following: Dwell in me, O Blessed Spirit; Spirit of the Living God; Eternal Spirit, God of Truth; Holy Spirit,
Light Divine; Spirit of God, Dwell Thou Within My Heart; Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus; Jesus I Come;
Jesus the Very Thought of Thee; and many others.
So, even if we do not address the Son or the Holy Spirit directly in our spoken prayers, most of us do
"sing our prayers” to both the Son and the Holy Spirit as well as to the Father.

QUESTION 4: HOW SHOULD WE APPROACH GOD WHEN WE PRAY?

When we pray, we should always come to God with humility, confidence, reverence, and with deep
respect. We should never address God casually or thoughtlessly. Though God is truly our Father and we
may think of Him and address Him as our Father, we should never forget that He is also highly exalted,
infinitely holy, and glorious in majesty. We should never think of Him or address Him simply as a casual
acquaintance or "buddy” or refer to Him as the "man upstairs” or in some other disrespectful way.
Scripture References
"The Lord, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth.” Psalm 47:2

"For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord? Who among the heavenly beings is like the
Lord, a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones, and awesome above all who are
around him? O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O Lord, with your faithfulness all
around you?” Psalm 89:6-8

Approaching God as our Father

On two occasions in the New Testament, Paul refers to God as "Abba” (Romans 8:15 and Galatians
4:16). This word was apparently used by children to address their earthly fathers as their "daddy,”
someone whom they deeply loved and someone who deeply cared about them.
The use of the word "Abba” therefore suggests that we may have a warm, loving, personal relationship
with God because of His eternal love for us in His Son Jesus. And because of this relationship we may
approach God with a sense of intimacy, joy, expectation, and delight.

At the same time, however, we should remember that the word "Abba” does not intend to take
anything away from the awesomeness of God or the reverence we owe Him. Though God is truly our
loving Father, He is also the infinite, eternal, exalted Creator of heaven and earth, and we must never
forget that.
Scripture References
"For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit
of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "'Abba! Father.'” Romans 8:15

"And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba!
Father!'” Galatians 4:6

See also Mark 14:36 where Jesus addresses His heavenly Father as "Abba.”

Approaching God with Confidence

Even though God is highly exalted and is infinitely greater than we are, we may still approach Him with
confidence and assurance. Since Jesus has opened the way for us into God's presence, we do not have
to wonder whether or not He will hear us or whether He is willing to answer us. He will hear us and He
will answer us--not because of any merit or worthiness on our part, but because we come to Him in the
name of Jesus and on the basis of His merits.
Scripture References
"Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and
find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

"In [Christ] we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.” Ephesians
3:12

QUESTION 5: WHY SHOULD WE PRAY FOR OUR ENEMIES?

In His Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, "'Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so
that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the
good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.'” Matthew 5:44-45
The disciples may have wondered why Jesus told them to pray for their enemies, since in Old
Testament times people often prayed that God would punish or destroy their enemies. (See, for
example, Psalms 58, 59 and 69:19-28.) The enemies who are referred to in these Psalms, however,
were not simply personal enemies who were making life difficult for others.
These were enemies of God who defied God and opposed Him and enticed His followers to depart
from Him. As long as these enemies continued to fight against the Lord and His people in this way,
believers prayed that they would be punished or destroyed.

The New Testament clearly teaches that those who persist in their opposition to God and who continue
in their sin will surely be punished. The Apostle Paul also indicated that the Lord would deal
appropriately with those who opposed him and his work for the Lord (2 Timothy 4:14-15).
However, when we encounter those who seek to do us harm, we should not return evil for evil, but we
should seek their good and leave appropriate retribution up to the Lord. (See Romans 12:17-21; 1 Peter
2:19-23 and Proverbs 25:21-22.) Jesus sincerely taught His followers to love their enemies, to forgive
them, and to help them find life and salvation through faith in Himself.
In the Sermon on the Mount, He taught His followers to pray,"'And forgive us our debts as we also have
forgiven our debtors'” (Matthew 6:12).

When Jesus explained what this meant, He said, "'For if you forgive others their trespasses, your
heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your
Father forgive your trespasses'” (Matthew 6:14-15).
Jesus practiced what He preached when He prayed for His enemies while dying on the cross. He
said, "'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do'” (Luke 23:34). Later, Stephen, the first
Christian martyr, prayed for those who were stoning him to death, "And falling to his knees he cried out
with a loud voice, 'Lord, do not hold this sin against them'” (Acts 7:60).
As believers we will be able to pray for our enemies only when we remember how much God has
forgiven us and when we recall the tremendous price that Jesus paid so that we might be forgiven and
accepted by our Father in heaven.
"When [Jesus] was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but
continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23).

By following the example of Jesus and living according to His teaching, we will be able to live as
children of our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:45).
Scripture References
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you
will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with
good.” Romans 12:20-21

"You were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable
things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without
blemish or spot.” 1 Peter 1:18-19

"Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were
called, that you may obtain a blessing.” 1 Peter 3:9

So, how should we pray for our enemies? We should pray that those who oppose us or persecute us
will repent of their sins, turn from their evil ways, and come to faith in Jesus Christ. We should pray
that they will become fellow heirs with us through the mercy of God and the grace of the Lord Jesus, so
that instead of being our enemies they will become our brothers and sisters in Christ. And if they refuse
to repent and believe, we pray that we will have the patience, courage, and wisdom to leave
appropriate retribution in the hands of God.

QUESTION 6: SHOULD CHRISTIANS FAST AND PRAY?

In biblical times, sincere prayers were often accompanied by fasting. People abstained from taking food
and drink while they focused on praying to God. Both Elijah and Moses in the Old Testament and Jesus
in the New Testament fasted for forty days at one time! There are also many other examples of fasting
in the Old Testament when people acknowledged and confessed their sins or when they presented the
Lord with special needs or requests.
Old Testament References
Moses
fasted because the people had sinned grievously against the Lord. He said, "I lay prostrate before the
Lord as before, forty days and forty nights. I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all the sin
that you had committed.” Deuteronomy 9:9,18
David
fasted as he prayed earnestly to the Lord for the health of his child. "And the Lord afflicted the child
that Uriah's wife bore to David, and he became sick. David therefore sought God on behalf of the child.
And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.” 2 Samuel 12:15-16
Ezra
"proclaimed a fast there . . . that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe
journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods.” Ezra 8:21
Nehemiah
"sat down and wept and mourned for days, and . . . continued fasting and praying before the God of
heaven.” Nehemiah 1:4
Daniel
"turned [his] face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth
and ashes.” Daniel 9:3
On other occasions people fasted when they experienced great sorrow or special need (I Samuel 1:3-
7) or when they prayed for healing (2 Samuel 12:15-18), for wisdom, for guidance or for some other
special blessing (Daniel 6:18; 10:2-3).
New Testament References
Specific references to fasting in the New Testament are less common than in the Old Testament.
However, it is likely that the people fasted rather frequently-just as faithful and sincere believers did in
Old Testament times.
"Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting
forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.” Matthew 4:1-2

Jesus said, "'When you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be
seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward
you.'” Matthew 6:16-18

"[Anna] did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.” Luke
2:37
 "While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas
and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' Then after fasting and praying they laid their
hands on them and sent them off.” Acts 13:2-3

"And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they
committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.” Acts 14:23

There is no specific command or requirement in the New Testament that God's people should fast and
pray. However, in Matthew 6:16-18, Jesus seemed to assume that His followers would fast (even as
many people did in Old Testament times). He also indicated that His disciples would fast after He was
gone (Luke 5:35).
In the Book of Acts we read about two or three special occasions when people fasted and prayed,
indicating that at that time fasting was still practiced by sincere believers--especially at important times
in their lives (Acts 13:2-3, 14:23).

Proper Motives for Fasting

Though fasting is usually presented in a very favorable light in the Bible, fasting can become a formal or
routine ritual without true repentance and without genuine concern for learning and doing the will of
God. When that happens, people fast when they think it is their duty to fast (Luke 18:12) or when they
want to impress others by fasting (Matthew 6:16-18). On some occasions people fasted because they
felt that fasting would somehow "obligate” God to give them a special blessing (Isaiah 58:2). However
God made it very clear to them that fasting with wrong motives was of no value whatsoever and was
very highly displeasing to Him.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

Since much has been accomplished through fasting and prayer both in biblical times and in church
history, we should not quickly or lightly declare that fasting for spiritual purposes is no longer desirable
for us today. Even if we choose not to fast ourselves, it is still profitable to learn what the Bible teaches
about fasting and to learn about the blessings that others have experienced through fasting. At the
same time, we should not quickly condemn those who do not fast as if they are violating a clear and
direct command of the Lord.
If we fast with wrong motives, or if fasting interferes in some way with our praying or with our
Christian living and service, or if it causes us to focus more on fasting itself than on sincere and
thoughtful praying, then fasting becomes more of a hindrance than a blessing.
However, if fasting helps us become more aware of the seriousness of our sins, if it helps us pray more
earnestly and sincerely, if it helps us pray with fewer distractions and with greater spiritual power, or if
it helps us to focus our attention on the Lord and spiritual things rather than on ourselves and material
things, then fasting can be a great blessing in our prayer life.

QUESTION 7: SHOULD CHRISTIANS PRAY IN "TONGUES”?

Speaking and praying in tongues or unknown languages is very common among some Christians. Other
Christians, equally devout and sincere, do not speak in tongues themselves and believe that the era of
"speaking in tongues” was intended only for the early church.
The first occasion of speaking in tongues in the New Testament took place on Pentecost, just a few
weeks after Jesus returned to His Father in heaven (Acts 2:1-4). The people who were present on that
occasion were amazed to find that the Holy Spirit gave the disciples the ability to speak in languages
they had never studied or learned. Peter, speaking for all the others, indicated that their ability to
speak in these languages was a fulfillment of a prophecy made by Joel hundreds of years before. (See
Acts 2:17-21).
Since some believers spoke or prayed in tongues while others did not, Paul wrote to the church in
Corinth about the proper use of this special gift and urged people not to misuse it or abuse it (1
Corinthians chapters 12-14).
Paul not only was able to speak and pray in tongues himself, but he also thanked God for the fact that
he spoke in tongues more than others did (1 Corinthians 14:18). However, he also indicated that he
would rather speak five words in a language that others understood than to speak ten thousand words
which they did not understand (1 Corinthians 14:19).

Paul also wrote that having the gift of being able to speak in "tongues” was worth nothing if a person
did not demonstrate true love for God and for others (1 Corinthians 13:1). Finally, he taught that the
"gift” of tongues was given by the Holy Spirit only to some believers and not to all of them (1
Corinthians 12:10-11 and 12:30).
Paul wrote to the believers in Corinth that they should not forbid speaking in tongues (1 Corinthians
14:39). However, he also warned against the misuse or inappropriate use of this gift since speaking in
tongues, even if "genuine,” can be done with wrong motives or at inappropriate times or in ways that
are not edifying. He also emphasized the importance of praying in a way that others can understand
what is being said (either because they understand the language or because someone is able to
translate the message for them). This is especially important when a person prays or speaks in tongues
in public so that others are not wondering what is being said or prayed. (See Paul's careful teaching on
these matters in 1 Corinthians 14.)
Summary and Conclusion
Those who do not speak or pray in tongues and do not desire to do so should be very careful not to
condemn any genuine work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of others. And those who claim to have the
gift of praying in "tongues” should humbly seek to use their gift in a way that truly glorifies God and
edifies both themselves and others.

A FINAL WORD ON THE BLESSING OF PRAYER

After we have been believers for some time, we may tend to forget what a tremendous privilege it is
for us to be able to pray to a loving, gracious, and all-powerful God who promises to hear and answer
us.
Moses reminded the people of Israel of that truth long ago when he said to them, "For what great
nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon
him?” Deuteronomy 4:7
David wrote: "Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be
found.” Psalm 32:6
And Paul reminded us to "Pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of
God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit . . . but test everything; hold fast what is good. . . .
May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely . . . He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do
it. Brothers, pray for us.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17-26

HOW, THEN, SHOULD WE PRAY?

Let us pray humbly, recognizing that God owes us nothing but grants us all the blessings we enjoy only
because of His mercy and His grace.
Let us pray confidently, believing that God is willing to forgive every sin we confess and will meet every
need we express and will strengthen and encourage us in every situation we experience.
Let us pray persistently without quickly concluding that God has chosen not to answer our prayers.
Let us pray continually, remembering that God's ears are open every moment of every day to every
prayer we offer.
Let us pray wisely, seeking not first of all a life of comfort and ease for ourselves but praying that our
lives will significantly promote the kingdom of God.
Let us pray unselfishly, being concerned about the physical and spiritual needs of others as well as our
own.
Let us pray thoughtfully asking the Lord to teach us how to pray, even as His disciples did.
Let us pray reverently, remembering that though God is our loving heavenly Father, He is also the Lord
of the universe and the King of kings.
Let us pray joyfully, giving thanks and praise to the One who has saved us and is preparing a home for
us in glory.
And let us continue to pray faithfully that people around the world may soon come to know Jesus as
Savior and as Lord.
To God be all the glory for granting us the Blessing of Prayer! May all His children join together in
giving thanks and praise to the triune God both now and forever.

Reading: Pray Without Ceasing (Slides)

Pray without ceasing? I can't even get started!
Pray without ceasing? How would I get anything done?

God's Word through Paul

 Pray without ceasing (1 Thess 5:17)

 In everything by prayer (Philippians 4:6)
 Be constant in prayer (Romans 12:12)
 Continue steadfastly in prayer (Col 4:2)
 Praying at all times in the Spirit (Eph 6:18)

Pray without ceasing

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is
the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. (1 Thessalonians
5:16-19)

In everything by prayer
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be
known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in
everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made
known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will
guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7)

Constant in prayer
You have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!”
... Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray
for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for
words...Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. (Romans
8:15,26; 12:12)

Continue steadfastly in prayer

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.(Colossians
4:2).

Praying at all times

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole
armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the
devil....praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end
keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints (Ephesians
6:10-11, 18).

Why pray without stopping?

 You never stop needing help.

o Prayer brings God's pardon, provision, peace.
 Demons never stop attacking.
o Prayer gets God's intelligence and firepower.
 God never stops being wonderful.
o Prayer seeks, savors, and thanks Jesus.
 The Spirit never stops prompting.
o Join His prayer, or you quench Him.

Walls that block prayer

 You never stop needing help.

o Walls: a. self-reliance b. unbelief
 Demons never stop attacking.
o Walls: a. cluelessness b. softness
 God never stops being wonderful.
o Walls: a. worldliness b. coldness
 The Spirit never stops prompting.
o Walls: a. busyness b. shallowness

Occasions for prayer

 You never stop needing help.

o Pray every time you want something.
 Demons never stop attacking.
o Pray every time you see evil advancing.
 God never stops being wonderful.
o Praise Him every time you taste joy.
 The Spirit never stops prompting.
o Discuss everything with your Friend.

Charles Hodge's childhood

As far back as I can remember, I had the habit of thanking God for everything I
received, and asking him for anything I wanted. If I lost a book, or any of my
playthings, I prayed that I might find it. I prayed walking along the streets, in school
and out of school, whether playing or studying. It seemed natural. I thought of God
as an everywhere-present Being, full of kindness and love, who would not be
offended if children talked to him.

Ask, and you will receive.

 Therapy by prayer: Pray for inner change.

 Marriage by prayer: Pray for spouse.
 Parenting by prayer: Pray for kids.
 Work by prayer: Pray for each task.
 Finance by prayer: Pray about money.
 Conflict by prayer: Pray for enemies.
 Politics by prayer: Pray for rulers.
 Church by prayer: Pray for congregation.
 Mission by prayer: Pray for unsaved.
 Waiting by prayer: Pray in line and in traffic.

Give thanks in all circumstances

 Pray with your eyes open: notice each good gift from God and thank Him.
 Pray with your feelings honest: tell God your complaints and thank Him for hearing.
 Pray with your heart warm: practice the presence of God and rejoice always in Him.
 Pray with your mind clear: eternal life is reason to rejoice, even amid troubles.

Thanks as a way of life

"Not in a specified time or selected temple or on certain festivals or days, but
during one's entire life, the Christian in every place acknowledges his gratitude for
the knowledge of the way to live. We cultivate the fields praising; we sail the seas
hymning.” (Clement of Alexandria)

A Praying Life
"If God is sovereign, then he is in control of all the details of my life. If he is loving,
then he is going to be shaping the details of my life for my good. If he is all-wise,
then he's not going to do everything I want because I don't know what I need. If he
is patient, then he is going to take time to do all this.” (Paul Miller, A Praying Life)

Is disciplined prayer at set times useless or even wrong?

 Prayer at set times each day gives regular opportunity for special closeness.
 A prayerful attitude spills over into the rest of the day, and you live more and more with
a sense of God's presence.
 Prayer at set times each day is a launching pad toward a growing habit of prayer, until
you pray without ceasing.

Pray without ceasing

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is
the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. (1 Thessalonians
5:16-19)

Reading: Never Give Up (Dr. Feddes)

Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. Luke 18:1
Judge Harold Harding glanced at his watch. He had been in the courtroom for hours, and he was
eager to leave and play golf. Judge Harding was a fanatical golfer. It was a beautiful day, and it would be
a shame not to play. He looked at his schedule: just one case left. If he finished it quickly, he'd be plenty
early to play eighteen holes with his pals. Then he'd enjoy steak and some wine and spend the night with
the woman he'd been seeing lately.
As it turned out, the last case took even less time than Judge Harding figured. A woman in a faded
dress stood up and started talking. She had a squeaky voice and a heavy accent. She said her name was
Gloria Gomez. The judge interrupted her: "Why are you talking? Where's your attorney?”
The woman looked at the floor. "I'm sorry, sir,” she said. "I have no job, and my husband was killed
in an accident. I do not have money to pay a lawyer.”
 The judged glanced over to the other side of the courtroom. Opposite Mrs. Gomez sat three lawyers
in expensive suits. Judge Harding knew them all. They were high-powered lawyers for a giant
corporation. The head of the corporation was someone who had golfed with the judge many times. Judge
Harding chuckled to himself. One poor woman without a lawyer against all the prestige and power of a
great corporation. This wouldn't take long.
The woman said, "Sir, this company hired me to work in their main building, vacuuming floors and
cleaning windows. I was cleaning the boss's office one day when he said something dirty and started to
grab at me. I screamed and ran out of the room. The next day I got fired. They didn't even pay me for my
last two weeks of work--just told me to leave and not come back. I want the money I earned, and I also
want my job back. If anybody should get fired, it's the man who treated me that way.”
At that point, one of the company's well-groomed lawyers stood up to say something, but before he
could say a word, Judge Harding spoke: "Lady, from the sound of it, you're just trying to grab some
money and ruin the good name of a prominent citizen. Don't bother this court unless you have a real
case.” He banged his gavel. "Court is adjourned.” With that the judge left and set out to enjoy himself on
the golf course.
He was at the first tee, just getting ready to hit the ball, when a voice squeaked, "I want justice.”
There stood Gloria Gomez, her hands on her hips, glaring at the judge. He glared back at her for a
moment, then pulled a cell phone out of his pocket and called security to escort her away.
The next day, Judge Harding was relaxing and sipping wine in his favorite restaurant when he again
heard that same, irritating voice. Mrs. Gomez was right behind him. "It's not right what happened,” she
said, "I want justice. It's your duty before God to do the right thing.”
"Hey, woman,” the judge growled. "Is this a church? I don't believe in God or care what he thinks.
Now leave me alone!”
The following night the judge was walking down the sidewalk outside his girlfriend's apartment.
Suddenly the widow Gomez was standing in front of him. "Judge, when are you going to give me a fair
hearing? I want justice. If you don't help me, then I don't think you're fit to be a judge.”
"I don't care what you think,” he said. "I don't care what anybody thinks. I'm the judge, and if you
don't like my decision, too bad! You can't do anything about it.”
But this poor, young widow wouldn't give up. She kept after Judge Harding. No matter where he
went, no matter what he did, there was Gloria Gomez, demanding justice. Judge Harding thought about
seeking a restraining order to keep her away from him, but that might raise questions. He himself might
end up getting in trouble for handling Mrs. Gomez's case so badly. Finally he said to himself, "I've got to
do something. I don't know how much more of this I can take. I guess I'll just have to give this whining
widow what she wants. Otherwise, she's going to ruin my life.”
So Judge Harding finally gave Gloria Gomez her day in court. He even went out of his way to make
sure everything was handled fairly. The widow got her job back, plus the money she was owed. The man
who assaulted her and fired her got into a lot of trouble. The rotten judge who cared about neither God
nor man, who loved golf more than justice, ended up doing the right thing in spite of himself.

A Shocking Comparison
That's my version of a story Jesus once told about an unjust judge and a widow who kept bothering
him until she got justice. Jesus' story is interesting, and it gets downright shocking when we find out how
Jesus uses it. He doesn't use it as an example of what can go wrong with the court system, or as an
inspiring story of how sometimes even an underdog can get justice. No, Jesus uses the story to
compare praying to God with seeking justice from an unjust judge! Think of it! Do you know any
preacher who would use a bad judge to teach something about God? And yet Jesus does it.
 How could Jesus make such a comparison? Well, Jesus has a knack for knowing exactly how we
think, and he knows how to put his finger right on it. Sometimes our thoughts about God are so dark, and
our fears about him run so deep, that we hardly dare to say what we're thinking. But Jesus says it for us.
Go ahead, admit it: sometimes the Lord seems like an unjust judge. He doesn't seem fair. He doesn't
seem to care. We pray for him to help us, but he doesn't do what we ask. Jesus knows how discouraging
that can be. He knows there are times when we feel like just giving up on God and not praying to him
anymore. So Jesus bends down to our level. He says that if even a rotten judge sets things right when
someone bothers him enough, then surely God will come through in the end. So always keep praying,
and never give up. Ask the Judge. Ask him again. Ask him again. And again. And again. Never, never,
never give up. As you ask, keep believing that God will indeed make things right. Keep believing. Keep
praying. God is mysterious; his ways are not our ways; his timing doesn't fit our timing. But you may be
sure that God answers prayer and that in the end he will set all things right. Listen to what the Bible says
in Luke 18.
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not
give up. He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about
men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me
justice against my adversary.'
For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or
care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so
that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!'”
And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about
justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I
tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes,
will he find faith on the earth?”
It's as if Jesus is telling us: I know you're tempted to have misgivings about God when prayers go
unanswered, when bad things happen to people who trust God, when good things happen to people who
despise God, when the promised day of justice and joy seems as far away as ever. I know it's hard, and I
take your misgivings seriously--so seriously that I'll even tell a story in which the God character is an
unjust judge.
Even a rotten judge comes through, says Jesus, if you nag him enough. If ordinary nagging can get
results, how much more the supernatural power of prayer! If even an unjust judge ends up doing the
right thing for a stranger he cares nothing about, how much more will a just and loving God do the right
thing for people who are chosen and precious to him! What a tremendous encouragement to keep
praying and never give up!

Which People? Which Prayers?

Notice that Jesus doesn't promise that every prayer of every person will get results. He says that a
particular kind of prayer from a particular kind of people will get results. The kind of people God
promises to answer are his chosen ones, and the kind of prayers God promises to answer are prayers for
justice.
Jesus doesn't promise that God will answer everybody's prayers; Jesus promises that God will
answer the prayers of his chosen ones. Who are God's chosen ones? Those God saves and adopts into his
family through faith in Jesus Christ. If you remain in rebellion against God, you can't count on God
answering your prayers. You must repent, put your faith in Jesus, commit your life to following him, and
become part of God's chosen community, the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then you can be sure that
God will answer your prayers.
 Which prayers will the Lord answer? Not all of them. Jesus doesn't say that God will answer every
prayer if only we keep bothering him. Jesus promises that God will answer every prayer for justice. We
can't be certain that God will give us every luxury we want, but we can be sure that God will do justice
and make things right in answer to our prayers. So never give up on justice. Never give up on things
turning out right in the end. Never give up on God. Believe Jesus when he says, "Will not God bring
about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell
you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly.”

God's Question
Once Jesus has made this clear, however, he still isn't finished. He has one more thing to say. When
Jesus compares prayer to nagging an unjust judge and promises that prayers for justice will be answered,
he deals with our questions about God. But he ends by asking God's question about us: "However, when
the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” There's no question at all that God will bring
justice. The only question is whether we will have faith. When Christ comes again to establish God's
ultimate justice, will we be ready? Will Christ find faith on the earth when he comes to reign?
With that question, Jesus confronts us with something he was talking about shortly before he told
the story of the unjust judge. He was talking about the day when he would come in splendor to judge the
world. Jesus warned that before that day came, his followers would face many tough times. In their
troubles they would long for his coming--and yet not see it happen. There would be a strong temptation
to fall into one of two errors: either gullibility or unbelief. Some people, in their eagerness for the
Messiah's coming, might be gullible enough to believe any rumor about a phony messiah. Others, in
their disappointment over the delay of his coming, might become unbelieving enough to think that there
is no messiah, no savior at all. Gullibility or unbelief--both are dangerous, and the only alternative to
these errors is prayerful faith in Jesus.
Gullibility is a serious danger if you're eager for someone to come and set everything right on earth.
If you're not focused on Jesus, you'll believe almost anything. You may believe a preacher who claims to
be another embodiment of Jesus, or a rabbi whose followers say he's the messiah, or a guru who is
supposedly the latest reincarnation of the Christ spirit, or a politician who claims the ability to create a
people's paradise here on earth. Don't be fooled. Jesus says in Luke 17, "Men will tell you, 'There he is!'
or 'Here he is!' Do not go running after them” (Luke 17:23).
Jesus says that when the true Messiah comes to administer justice, you won't have to wonder
whether he's for real. There will be no doubt. The returning Messiah will be as dazzling and obvious as
"lightning which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other” (Luke 17:24). Meanwhile, until
Jesus returns, keep believing, keep praying for that great day, and never give up. Don't let wishful
thinking make you fall for every cult, smooth talker, or strange event. Don't be gullible.
In avoiding gullibility, however, make sure you don't go to the opposite extreme and fall into
unbelief. In rejecting all the phony messiahs, don't reject the true Messiah. If you've heard a lot of
religious leaders and political figures make false claims, you might be tempted to be totally skeptical of
any religion and any hope for a better future. You might think that Jesus isn't coming back at all, and you
might think that prayer doesn't change anything. You might give up on God completely. Then again, you
might not reject Christ so directly, and you still claim to believe something. But though you claim to be a
Christian, if in practice you give up praying, give up seeking justice, and stop looking for the Lord to
intervene, you are living in unbelief.
Jesus warned that this would happen to many. They would focus on eating and drinking, marrying
and being given in marriage, buying and selling, planting and building--no faith, no prayer, no
expectation of Jesus to return, just the stuff of everyday life. Such a life of unbelief leaves people
completely unprepared to meet Jesus.
 It was after saying these things that Jesus told the story of the unjust judge and the persistent widow.
He did this to show us that instead of being gullible, instead of living in unbelief, we should "always
pray and not give up.” Ask the divine judge to establish justice and make all things right, and don't stop
asking until he does it.And make no mistake: he will do it. The Lord's justice is sure, and his coming will
be swift and sudden.
You may have many questions about God, but the Lord has this question for you: "When the Son of
Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” Will he find faith in you? When Jesus returns to earth in
power and glory, accompanied by his angels, will he find you praying and trusting and watching for
him? Jesus says, "Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the
anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come upon all those
who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to
escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke
21:34-36).

Thy Kingdom Come

Over and over, Jesus shows that if you have a living faith, you will look eagerly for his second
coming and you will keep praying and never give up. Maybe you've never seen the connection between
constant prayer and eagerness for Jesus' second coming. But think about it. In the Lord's Prayer that
Jesus taught as our model for praying, what are the first things Jesus tells us to ask for? "Hallowed be
thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” When will those requests
receive a full answer? Only when Jesus comes again. Only then will God's name be completely
vindicated and hallowed. Only then will God's kingdom come in its fullness. Only then will God's holy
will be done as perfectly on earth as it is in heaven. The first half of the Lord's Prayer, then, is not only a
call for God to make these things more of a reality right now, but it's a plea for God to hasten the day
when Jesus brings it all to completion.
The second half of the Lord's Prayer is also related to Jesus' second coming. How can we make it to
the final day and be ready for it? Only through God's daily care, his forgiving power, and his deliverance
from Satan's traps. That's why Jesus teaches us to pray: "Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our
debts as we also have forgiven our debtors. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one”
(Matthew 6:11-13). Provision for the day, loving forgiveness, and deliverance from evil are what we
need in order to keep going and make it safely to our destination and be strong in faith till Jesus comes.
There may be times when you say the Lord's Prayer without even thinking about it. You may just
rattle off the words. But in reality the Lord's Prayer is an urgent request for our heavenly Father and
Judge to bring history to its final destination and for him to strengthen our faith until that day comes. A
heartfelt desire for the Lord's coming and a healthy prayer life--these go together. Never give up on
Jesus' coming again, and never give up praying.

Persistent Prayer
In prayer we ask the judge to bring the final day of reckoning and re-creation, and in prayer we ask
for signs and tastes of that justice and joy even now. Until Jesus comes, some of our day-to-day prayers
will be answered, and others will go unanswered. Either way, don't give up. Don't stop praying.
If God answers a particular prayer, you might be tempted to stop praying because now you got what
you wanted. But don't stop praying just because one request was answered. Pray for even bigger things.
Pray especially for the biggest thing of all, the return of Christ and the reign of God's justice. No matter
how many of your prayers are answered, don't be fully satisfied. Be grateful, yes, but don't be satisfied,
and don't stop praying until Jesus returns and God's kingdom comes in its fullness. Answered prayer is
not a reason to stop praying; it's an encouragement to pray more than ever.
 But what about those times when God doesn't answer one of your requests? Well, don't stop praying
just because you didn't get what you wanted. Instead, redouble your prayers. Don't think unanswered
prayer means that God is unfair, or that he doesn't care, or that he's unable to help you. As Jesus said,
"Will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night?” He will
indeed. Some prayers he answers almost before you ask. Others he answers only after persistent prayer
over a long period of time. Still others he might not answer at all, perhaps because it's wrong for you or
because he has something better in mind. And then there are those prayers that he intends to answer in a
better way than you would dream possible but not right away--he is saving his ultimate answer for the
last day. God is saving the best for last, when he gives his great and final answer to all the cries for
justice and joy that have risen in the name of Christ throughout the centuries.
Until that day comes, keep on praying. Never give up. That's the point of Jesus' story of the unjust
judge. It's not that God is an unjust judge who needs to be pestered before he will help. But as a just
Judge and a loving Father, God desires the prayers of his people. If we don't pray, it means we've given
up: either we don't trust God enough to ask him, or else we don't want something enough to pray for it.
Prayer is the way we express our confidence in God and our longing for what only he can give. The Lord
hears and answers prayer even now, and when he comes again and finds you praying, he will say with
joy, "I have come, and I have indeed found faith on the earth.”

Reading: Hungry for Justice (Dr. Feddes)

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice?” (Isaiah 58:6)

Does God ever hate church? Is God ever disgusted by a worship service? Does God ever
dislike an offering? Does God ever plug his ears when people pray and sing? Does God ever
shut his eyes when people fast and perform rituals? The answer is yes--a loud, angry yes!
Listen to some of the things God says in the Bible: "I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I
cannot stand your assemblies” (Amos 5:21). "Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your
incense is detestable to me... I cannot bear your evil assemblies... Your appointed feasts my
soul hates. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. When you spread
out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not
listen” (Isaiah 1:13-15). "You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on
high” (Isaiah 58:4). "Although they fast, I will not listen to their cry... Instead, I will destroy them”
(Jeremiah 14:12). "Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors... I am not pleased with
you,” says the Lord Almighty, "and I will accept no offering from your hands” (Malachi 2:10).
No doubt about it, sometimes God hates religion. Church can anger him so much that he
wants to close it down. There are prayers he can't stand hearing, ceremonies he can't stand
watching, seasons of fasting that make him sick. God hates religion without reality, ritual
without relationship, ceremony without sincerity. God hates personal piety without social
justice. He hates all religion that is centered on self, without love for God and without love for
other people. He hates religion where people try to act like angels during special religious
moments but act more like devils the rest of the time.

Failed Fasting
This article is one in a series of article on fasting. The Bible encourages fasting, and this
series has highlighted various situations when it's fitting to fast. Fasting can be valuable, but
we must fast in a way that draws us closer to God and to other people, not in a way that
disgusts God and drives us further away from people.
Few things are more disgusting to God or more damaging to people than disregard of
justice. God says, "I, the Lord, love justice” (Isaiah 61:8). If we're not hungry for justice, then
we're not really hungry for God. If we hunger for God, we also hunger for justice, for fairness,
for the good of others, for treating them right and defending their rights.
In Zechariah 7 the Bible tells of some people who have been fasting and have a question
for God. God answers their question with a question: "Was it really for me that you fasted?”
(7:5) God says that their religious activity is too self-centered. They're thinking more about
themselves than about God's will or the welfare of other people. God tells them, "Administer
true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the
fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.” When these
people plug their ears and harden their hearts to God's call for justice, how does the Lord
respond? "When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen,' says the
LORD Almighty (Zechariah 7:9-13).
Isaiah 58 records a similar conversation of God with people who have been fasting but feel
frustrated. They seem eager to know God and want him to be close to them. They have been
fasting to get God's attention and help, but it hasn't worked. God seems as far away as ever,
and they are having more problems than blessings. They complain to God, "Why have we
fasted and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves and you have not noticed?”
(Isaiah 58:3). They are fed up with fasting, but God is even more fed up than they are. God
answers their complaint with a complaint of his own:
On the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your
fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You
cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high. Is this the kind
of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? ... Is that what you call a
fast, a day acceptable to the Lord?
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and ... set
the oppressed free...? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the
poor wanderer with shelter--when you see the naked to clothe him, and not to turn
away from your own flesh and blood?
It's possible to fast with a "look at me” attitude: "Look at me, God. See what I'm doing? Are
you impressed? Then hurry up and do what I want!” This "look at me” attitude can also be
directed at other people: "Look at me, everybody! I'm religious! I fast and I'm pious and serious.
Aren't you impressed?” The point of fasting is not to impress God or other people. The point is
to be drawn closer to God and to other people by learning to love God and others more than
we love getting our own way.
If fasting just makes us grumpier, if we bicker and fight more than ever, God is not
impressed. If we choose to go hungry for a little while but don't care about people who are
hungry and malnourished through no choice of their own, then our fasting offends God. If we
exploit employees by overworking and underpaying them, it's no wonder God doesn't send us
blessings in response to our fasting. If we ignore the plight of jobless people and refugees, we
should not be shocked when God ignores us. If we turn away even from our own flesh and
blood, if we leave our family and relatives on their own, if we deprive our children of the time
and love they need, if we abandon aged parents to institutions and uninterrupted loneliness,
we can't expect God to be our constant companion. If we're a curse to others, we can't expect
blessings for ourselves.

Fruitful Fasting
Fasting should not aim to change God but to change us. The main goal of fasting is to
bring us closer to God and more in tune with Jesus. What does it mean to be in tune with
Jesus? One thing it means is to be in tune with his priorities. In Jesus' first public speech, he
declared, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news
to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the
blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor” (Luke 4:18-19).
If we're in tune with Jesus, we will want to be good news for poor people, good news for
people with disabilities, good news for oppressed and imprisoned people. The main purpose of
fasting is to get closer to God, and when that happens, it will create in us a hunger for justice
that matches God's love of justice.
Fasting should move us to stand up for those who can't stand up for themselves. This may
mean standing up for people who don't have much money or political influence. It may mean
standing up for helpless babies who are targeted for abortion, standing up for tiny humans who
are subjected to embryo research, working and praying that God will change attitudes and laws
so that the smallest may be protected from death.
Fasting must not selfishly seek to change God and bring him in line with our wishes.
Fasting must first aim to change us and bring us in line with God's wishes, and then aim for
God to change an unjust world to be more in line with his justice. Fasting must look beyond the
personal relationship between us and God and consider our relationship to other people.
Instead of just fasting and praying for God to bless us, let's fast and pray for the poor and
oppressed. Fast and pray that God will change their situation and that he will change us who
have ignored or perhaps even helped cause their plight.
Ironically, the more my fasting centers on me, the less good it does me. But if I focus less
on myself and more on God and on people in need, I will be blessed. When we seek first God's
kingdom and his righteousness--his justice--he takes care of everything else (Matthew 6:33).
When we hunger for justice and work for the good of those in need, God promises in Isaiah 58,
Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then
your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of God will be your rear guard.
Then you will call; and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say, Here
am I...
If you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the
oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the
noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs... You will be like a
well-watered garden (58:8-11).
If you want God's light all around you, if you want his blessings showering you from above you
and bubbling up like a spring within you, then seek for things to be made right, not just for
yourself but for others who need justice.

A Secret Weapon
It's clear that fasting and justice are connected. It's bad to pursue fasting without any
concern for justice. But it's also a mistake to pursue justice without fasting. To fast without any
hunger for justice is to be a hypocritical. But to seek justice without fasting is to be ill-equipped.
Fasting can be a secret weapon in the war against injustice.
If you really love justice and want to fight for it, don't neglect one of your key weapons.
Don't neglect fasting. Church people can form social justice committees, and concerned
citizens can form political action committees. We can raise money to help the poor and
oppressed, we can march for the right to life of unborn babies, we can try to elect leaders who
will uphold justice, and these things are good. But when is the last time you fasted for justice?
God ignores phony fasting, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't fast. It means we should fast
rightly.
 When you fast for justice, your own hunger reminds you of the desperate hunger of people
in need. You feel just a tiny sample of what they feel, and you care more about them. As you
identify with people in need, your physical hunger also expresses your spiritual hunger for God
and for his justice to reign. Don't neglect this secret weapon. As you work and pray for justice,
make fasting part of your arsenal against evil.
Some champions of justice describe themselves as "speaking truth to power.” Sometimes
that can be a pompous slogan of political activists who like to complain about any policy that
doesn't suit them, but let's just suppose that it accurately describes what some people are
doing. They really are speaking truth to power. That is still not enough. Things will never
change simply by speaking truth to power. When power has gone bad, it takes more than truth
to change it. It takes powerto change power, and fasting is one way to call on the power of
Almighty God against unjust powers and policies.
For example, every abortion kills an individual human. This truth is becoming harder and
harder to deny. Even most abortion advocates have given up speaking of an unborn baby as
"a mass of tissue” or "the contents of the uterus” or "the results of conception.” They have lost
the argument about whether abortion destroys a human life. The more ultrasound images we
see, the more scientific information we have about heartbeat, brain function, and a baby
sucking its thumb in the womb, the harder it becomes to deny that abortion destroys a real
baby. Most people now accept this as truth. But facts alone do not change behavior. Many who
grant that abortion destroys a human baby still want abortion to be legal. They accept the truth
of abortion as baby-killing but still won't protect the babies. What can explain this except
bondage to spiritual forces of evil? If we truly long for justice, we must do more than speak
truth to power and prove the nature of the injustice. We must also seek God's power to defeat
the wicked prince of unjust power, Satan himself. We must seek for God to make people in
power more just or else to remove them from power altogether.
Jesus teaches us to pray, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”
(Matthew 6:10). That is a prayer for justice, for everything to be set right. When we pray for that
and work toward that, we also fast for that. Fasting adds urgency to our prayers for justice and
adds effectiveness to our efforts on behalf of justice.

Hungry For His Coming

Ultimately, if we truly hunger for justice, we hunger for nothing less that the Second
Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Only when Jesus comes again will all injustices be judged, all
wrongs be righted, all God's poor be made rich, all the oppressed be liberated, all disabilities
be healed, all tears be wiped away, all Satan's forces be banished to hell, and all the failings
that linger even in God's people be removed and our character be made perfect. That brings
us back to where we started this series on fasting: true fasting in all its forms and on all
occasions is at its deepest level a hunger for God.
We've seen in past articles that fasting is not a scheduled pattern to earn God's approval
but is first of all simply a way to pursue closer fellowship with God and to show our desire for
him. Any regular pattern of fasting should have this as its main aim. In addition to fasting for
fuller fellowship with the Lord, the Bible shows occasions when it's fitting to fast for a particular
goal: when we've sinned and are hungry for God's mercy and forgiveness; when we're hooked
on old habits and are training for more God-given freedom and self-control; when we face huge
challenges and are hungry for God's help; when we're unsure of what our next step should be
and are hungry for God's guidance; and when we see the pain and injustice around us and are
hungry for God's justice. All these hungers--for mercy, for freedom, for help, for guidance, and
for justice, as well as the hunger for the Lord himself--will be satisfied when Jesus comes again
and we see him face to face.
 When Jesus walked this earth, his disciples did not fast. When the Lord was asked why his
followers didn't fast the way other religious people fasted, Jesus answered, "How can the
guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the
bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast” (Matthew 9:15).
In calling himself "the bridegroom,” Jesus was calling himself the Lord God. The prophet
Isaiah had written, "Your Maker is your husband--the Lord Almighty is his name... As a
bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so your God will rejoice over you” (Isaiah 54:5; 62:5). A
bride doesn't fast on her wedding day when she is with the bridegroom. But if her husband
leaves and is away for a long time, she misses him.
When our Lord was on earth, it was time to feast with him, not to fast. But now that he has
gone away to heaven, fasting is fitting. When Jesus left, he sent his Holy Spirit to be with us.
The Spirit is a tremendous blessing and links us to the Savior, but what Christians experience
of the Spirit now is just a down payment, "a deposit” (Ephesians 1:14) on what we will
experience when Jesus comes again, and we see him face to face, and God is all in all.
Through the Spirit, we taste of Jesus, but we also miss him and long for him. Jesus said that
when the bridegroom was taken away, his followers would fast. Do you fast? Do you hunger
and pray for him to come again?

New Wineskins
Our fasting for Jesus to come again is different from the way Old Testament believers
fasted and hungered for God. Jesus compared fasting in the old era to old wine, and fasting in
the new era to new wine which would require new wineskins (Matthew 9:16-17). Fasting for
Jesus' coming and perfect justice is different than it used to be. Things have changed. Back
then people of faith longed for what they didn't have; now we long for more of what we do
have. We have Jesus, and we want more of him. Back then Jesus had not come; now Jesus
has come. We know him as he is, and we want him to come again. Jesus has already revealed
God's grace, has already paid the price for sin and broken Satan's grip on humanity, has
already set in motion the powers of the age to come. Pastor John Piper explains,
What's new about the fasting is that it rests on all this finished work of the Bridegroom.
The yearning that we feel for revival or awakening or deliverance from corruption is not
merely longing and aching. The first fruits of what we long for have already come. The
down payment of what we yearn for is already paid. The fullness that we are longing for
and fasting for has appeared in history and we have beheld his glory. It is not merely
future.
We have tasted the powers of the age to come, and our new fasting is not because we
are hungry for something we have not tasted, but because the new wine of Christ's
presence is so real and so satisfying. The newness of our fasting is this: its intensity
comes not because we have never tasted the wine of Christ's presence, but because
we have tasted it so wonderfully by his Spirit and cannot now be satisfied until the
consummation of joy arrives. We must have all he promised. And as much now as
possible.
We fast to have as much of Jesus and his justice as he will give us now, and we fast and
pray for him to hasten his Second Coming so that we will experience him fully and enjoy a
world where God's will is done perfectly on earth as it is in heaven. "Fasting is a physical
expression of heart hunger for the second coming of Jesus” (Piper).
Before Jesus' first coming, people longed for the promised Savior to come and to set things
right. An old widow named Anna, well over eighty years old, was a prophetess and had a
special longing for the Messiah. The Bible says that she "worshiped night and day, fasting and
praying” at God's temple in Jerusalem. After Jesus was born, his mother, Mary, and Joseph
brought the baby to the temple, and there Anna saw the one she had been fasting and praying
for all those years. "She gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking
forward to the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:37-38).
If Anna was so eager for the coming of a Savior she hardly knew, shouldn't we be even
more eager for him to come again? We know more fully who Jesus is and what he can do.
Anna met Jesus only as a baby, but we have seen his glory, the glory of his miracles and
teaching, the glory of his death and resurrection, the glory of salvation and the inner working of
the Holy Spirit. If we have truly tasted any of this, how can we not hunger for more? The
bridegroom has gone away, so let us fast and pray for him to come back, so that the taste we
have of him may be a feast, so that the partial knowledge we have of him may become full, and
so that our experience of his love may be complete.
Do you fast and pray, "Come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20)? Or are you content with
business as usual? Maybe your life seems to be going fine at the moment. The injustices that
hurt others don't really bother you, and as long as it's other people that are suffering and not
you, you're not concerned. If that's your attitude, you are in deadly peril. If you are not longing
for Jesus to return, you will not be ready for him when he does return. You will be so afraid of
facing him that you will call on the mountains to fall on you and hide you from him. But if you
know Jesus and long for his justice, you will pray without ceasing, "Come, Lord Jesus.”
Jesus says, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness [for God to make
them right and make all things right], for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6). Hunger for justice is
hunger for Jesus, and that hunger will be fully satisfied only when Jesus returns. When we say
the Lord's Prayer and ask for God's kingdom to come, we are really praying for the King to
come. To those who long for Jesus and his justice, for the King and his kingdom, the Bible
promises, "Your eyes will see the king in his beauty and view a land that stretches afar.” Unjust
officials, unfair tax gatherers, brutal police and soldiers, and cruel foreign invaders will be only
distant memories. The new Jerusalem and all God's earth will enjoy peace and prosperity, and
all will be truly right in the world. "For the Lord is our judge; the Lord is our lawgiver; the Lord is
our king; it is he who will save us” (Isaiah 33:17-22).