Prayer: The Subtlest of God's Causes

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” (John 14:12–14, ESV)

The great Scottish Presbyterian minister, Thomas Chalmers, once said, "Prayer is the subtlest of all (God's ordained) causes. We cannot see it working.  We do not understand how it works, but we ask on earth and the majesty of heaven gives.”

Reflecting on prayer and its quiet subtlety, I am reminded of Phillip Brooks’ famous carol “O Little Town of Bethlehem” and perhaps its most beautiful line, “How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given.” At the time, who would have thought Bethlehem’s little town was about to be visited by God who would be clothed in frail human flesh? Similarly, when you and I bow our knees on a cold and frosty winter’s morn, who would imagine that our feeble utterances are about to unleash a power greater than all the armies that the world has ever known? Yet this is exactly what happens. For God Himself has decreed to connect the movement of His mighty arm with the mumbling prayers of His people on earth.

In that regard, let’s consider together the remarkable words of Christ in our text. You and I, Christian, will do greater works than Christ. Can that really be possible? Greater works than the One who healed the sick, cleansed the leper, forgave the sinner, and raised the dead? Yet the One whose name is Truth proclaims this, so dare we doubt?

How on earth can man, the sinner, outwork the Son of God? How? Jesus says, “I’ll tell you how, because I am going to the Father!” It is, you see, the very ascension of Jesus above all rule, authority, power, and dominion that makes these works possible. These are Pentecostal works, energized by the outpouring of the Spirit of Christ. These works then clearly refer to the progress of the gospel, out beyond the bounds of Israel to encompass every nation, tribe, and tongue. These are greater works, indeed.

These works, furthermore, are not done by our own strength; they are carried out through the power of prayer or perhaps better, through the power that prayer unleashes. Christ’s discourse on prayer, do you see, does not stand alone. It’s not as if Christ is inserting an entirely new subject into the Upper Room discourse. No, He is telling us how these works will come into being, by means of an army marching, not on its feet but on its knees.

How this rebukes my own prayerlessness! How this reveals my powerlessness! It is no wonder that the church often languishes in human weaknesses, for she doesn’t often stop and lay hold of the power of God.

Listen to J.C. Ryle:

“These words are a direct encouragement to the simple, yet great duty of praying. Every one who kneels daily before God, and from his heart “says his prayers,” has a right to take comfort in these words. Weak and imperfect as his supplications may be, so long as they are put in Christ’s hands, and offered in Christ’s name, they shall not be in vain. We have a Friend at Court, an Advocate with the Father; and if we honor Him by sending all our petitions through Him, He pledges His word that they shall succeed. Of course it is taken for granted that the things we ask are for our souls’ good, and not mere temporal benefits. “Anything” and “whatsoever” do not include wealth, money, and worldly prosperity. These things are not always good for us, and our Lord loves us too well to let us have them. But whatever is really good for our souls, we need not doubt we shall have, if we ask in Christ’s name.”

So come this morning, dear Christian, let us bow our knees together before the  majesty of heaven. For as Bunyan says, “Prayer is the opener of the heart to God and a means whereby the soul though empty is filled.”

Have you opened your soul to God this morning? Is your soul not empty? Can you supply its needs or those of family, friends, neighbors, church, and nation on your own? Let us together draw near to God with the sure and certain confidence that as we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us.

As the hymn writer teaches:

Come, my soul, thy suit prepare,
 Jesus loves to answer pray'r.
He Himself has bid thee pray,
Rise and ask without delay.

Thou art coming to a King,
Large petitions with thee bring,
For his grace and pow'r are such,
None can ever ask too much.

In whatever condition this morning finds you, my brother and sister, let it not find you empty of prayer. For God has given you the key to His treasuries and has bid you take your fill. Let it not be said of us, “. . . that we have not, because we ask not.”