Introduction to Petition and Intercession

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces the third category of prayer, 'hands empty,' encompassing petition, supplication, and intercession. He highlights the immense scope of this aspect of prayer in…

Martin uses the metaphor of a hand to categorize different kinds of prayer: 'hands full' for adoration, 'hands defiled' for confession, and 'hands empty' for petition and intercession. This helps organize the vast subject of prayer.

As we continue our study and discussion of the private means of grace, we are presently concerned with the privilege and duty of secret prayer. And since we are commanded in Scripture to pray with all prayer, we have been seeking to glean what all prayer involves. And I have suggested that the various kinds of prayer set forth in the Scriptures can be collated under the figure of the hand coming in fullness to bring something to God, the hand lifted up in defilement, needing cleansing from God, and the hand empty, seeking gifts from the hand of God.

0:05 - 0:49 Read in full sermon

Driving home: But that this God should say to that creature, this sovereign eternal decreeing God, say to that fallible, that finite, that sinful creature, your cries have something to do with what I do in the world, that is indeed a …

The analogy of a parent giving a whining child something they know isn't good for them, just to teach a lesson, illustrates the danger of importunity becoming petulant insistence, leading to God granting requests that bring 'leanness to the soul.'

We read in the scriptures that God granted them their requests but sent leanness to their souls. At what point does importunity become a petulant kind of brattish insistence until God finally says, all right, you want it so badly, you can have it. And you can have the results of it. Like the parent who says to the kid who's constantly whimpering for something that the parent knows is not in his best interest and to teach him a lesson, the parent says, all right, have your way.

13:13 - 13:40 Read in full sermon

Driving home: But that this God should say to that creature, this sovereign eternal decreeing God, say to that fallible, that finite, that sinful creature, your cries have something to do with what I do in the world, that is indeed a …

Martin references the parable of the friend at midnight (Luke 11:5-8) to show how the Lord teaches importunity, where persistence leads to a request being granted, even if reluctantly.

Ten minutes later, the kid comes crying, saying, Daddy, it wasn't all I thought it would be. And you say, all right, you've learned your lesson. Now the Lord teaches us that we should be importunate. He gives us the lesson of the friend who went to his friend at midnight and kept banging on the door until he finally just said, in essence, look, you're going to drive me bananas.

13:40 - 13:58 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces the third category of prayer, 'hands empty,' encompassing petition, supplication, and intercession. He highlights the immense scope of this aspect of prayer in…

Martin references the parable of the unjust judge (Luke 18:1-8) to further illustrate biblical importunity, where the judge grants the widow's request due to her persistent coming, not out of justice.

It's exactly what it means. And then the parable of the unjust judge. The man says, look, woman, I'm not moved at all by your state as a widow. I'm not at all moved by your plight, but you're just going to bruise me.

14:07 - 14:21 Read in full sermon

The point: Continue in your study of the word of God to learn what it is to be efficient in petition, intercession, and supplication.

Martin explains that different authors on prayer (like Andrew Murray or A.W. Pink) emphasize different aspects based on their experiences and illumination, leading to potential imbalance if one reads only one author. This illustrates the vastness and complexity of prayer.

And what happens is that one servant of God, in terms of his own training, his own experiences, God's dealings with him, he sees this particular aspect of prayer with unusual clarity. The Holy Spirit sheds light upon that aspect. And then he writes his book. Hoping to be comprehensive, but everything in his book is strong on this dimension of prayer because it's a part of his own experience.

16:41 - 17:12 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin asserts that the fundamental concern in all petition and intercession must be praying according to and consistent with God's revealed will in Holy Scripture. He supports…

Martin humorously imagines someone praying for a Mercedes Benz for God's glory, arguing that it would show God's faithfulness in a crunching economy. This ridiculous example highlights the need for a scriptural basis to know what truly glorifies God.

You all pretty much agree with what's said here? All right, let me follow it up with a question that I hope will lead you to state what I have put down as the primary concern, and it's not, it's not in contradiction to this, I just think it helps to define it in a little more concreteness. How do we know what glorifies God? Suppose I get the notion that God would really be glorified if I drove up next week in a Mercedes Benz or in a, in a Rolls Royce, and I pray, Lord, give me a Mercedes for the glory of God.

33:41 - 34:17 Read in full sermon

Driving home: In all our engagement in petition and intercession, our primary concern should be that we are praying according to and consistent with the revealed will of God in Holy Scripture.

Martin quotes John Bunyan, who states that 'Prayer is only true when it is within the compass of God's word,' and that petitions unrelated to the Bible are 'blasphemy or at best vain babbling.' This quotation underscores the sermon's main point about praying according to God's revealed will.

Now this brings us back to something we touched on way at the beginning of our study on prayer. And I would simply remind you of that and I would do so and hope to whet your appetite for Bunyan's little book on prayer by reading a statement from Bunyan. Prayer is only true when it is within the compass of God's word. It is blasphemy or at best blasphemy or at best blasphemy or at best vain babbling or at best vain babbling when the petition is unrelated when the petition is unrelated to the book.

35:34 - 36:11 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin asserts that the fundamental concern in all petition and intercession must be praying according to and consistent with God's revealed will in Holy Scripture. He supports…

Martin quotes the Westminster Shorter Catechism's definition of prayer as 'an offering up of our desires unto God for things agreeable to his will.' This quotation reinforces the central theme of aligning prayer with God's revealed will.

pray in the spirit without the word it is in the word that we find the revelation of the will of God the shorter catechism has a beautiful statement in answer to the question what is prayer may I say you could do well to read the section in the larger and shorter catechism on prayer some excellent material and I went over it in preparation for the lesson this morning and found it the question what is prayer here's the answer in the shorter catechism prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God for things agreeable to his will that's the first thing

41:08 - 41:53 Read in full sermon