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[These are notes of an address at a meeting for ministers by G. Chewter and printed in the splendid Gospel Tidings edited by P.M. Rowell, Chapel House, Forest Fold, Crowborough, TN16 1TD.]
1. PRAYER MEETINGS CAN EASILY DEGENERATE.
Some of the reasons for this are:
1. Wrong attitude - Many may be happy to come and join in regular worship services but in regard to meeting for prayer the thought may be, 'It's only a prayer meeting'. In many churches the prayer meeting is left to the 'faithful few'. Bill Hughes, one time pastor in Glasgow had a rule that if a member did not attend the prayer meeting they were not permitted to come to the business meeting of the church. If they were not prepared to pray with the church why should they have the privilege of participating in its decisions? When things are at a low ebb in a church the prayer meeting is often first to be dropped. The story is told of a certain chapel where many years ago the people, having lost heart in public prayer meetings, decided to give them up. But one old lady strongly disagreed. So on the usual prayer meeting night, dressed in her weatherproofs, she braved the storm, unlocked the chapel and taking her usual place, sat down to pray. On the way home she decided to call at one of the members' homes. 'Where have you been on a night like this?' was the inquiry. 'I've been to the prayer meeting.' 'O, I thought they had been discontinued; were any others there?' 'Yes,' said the faithful old lady, 'there were four of us - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and me, and it was a special time.' Through the old sister's perseverance the church was shamed into gathering again at the time of prayer.
2. Excessive length of each prayer - This is an old, old problem. The spirit may be willing but the flesh is weak. Long prayers often become a weariness to the flesh, making it hard for those listening to spiritually participate and keep up concentration, especially if it is an evening meeting. This problem often has to be addressed and pastors down the years have had their own ways of dealing with persistent 'offenders'. It is reported of the late Henry Popham of Eastbourne that he would sometimes say before calling any of the brethren to the front, 'If you're too long in prayer, I will pull your coat tails!' Alternatively, he would deliberately drop a hymnbook!
Short prayers help to retain freshness. Besides, most prayers in the Scriptures are brief and to the point. 'Some pray me into the spirit and others pray me out of it by undue length,' Spurgeon complained. It has been said: 'Short prayers sink deep'. 'It is strength, not length,' said Spurgeon. 'The worth of a prayer is not gauged by its dimensions,' - M'Cheyne. Thomas Boston said: 'Lay no weight on the quantity of your prayers; that is to say, how long or how many they are. These things avail nothing with God, by whom prayers are not measured, but weighed.' To quote Spurgeon again: 'It is necessary to draw near unto God, but it is not required of you to prolong your speech till everyone is longing to hear the word "Amen"'. The only exception I believe is if a spirit of prayer and supplication is poured out upon one member in a special way. They will know, and every spiritually-minded person will know, and will lose sight of the time. J. C. Philpot's advice was that on such occasions we should make the most of it and spread the sails, as it were, to catch those heavenly breezes.
3. Formality - We are creatures of habit and routine. We all tend to have our own phrases and manner of approach to the Lord. It is therefore easy for prayer to become so predictable. Interestingly, John Newton used this observation as an argument in favour of the use of written prayers in public worship. In most extemporaneous prayers, he maintained, you recognised the beginning, could discern the middle and you knew when it was coming to an end, so why not use written ones, was his conclusion. The problem of excessive length and formality was dealt with very succinctly by D. L. Moody when he said: 'Some people's prayers need to be cut off at both ends and set on fire in the middle.'
4. Vagueness or being unspecific - Although prayer involves communion with the Lord and a worshipping frame of mind yet we are to make requests. The story is told of a prayer meeting where one brother seemed to be preaching rather than praying. One sister felt especially troubled by this, so she interrupted by calling out: 'Ask for something!'
5. Prayers that are unduly personal - very little prayer or desire may be expressed for the conversion of sinners and the furtherance of the gospel: instead, the time is spent in an introspective rehearsing of numerous personal doubts and fears. One preacher described it as 'hanging out the dirty washing for all to see'.
6. Pride - a desire to be seen and heard. The heart being uplifted at the thought of an opportunity to show others one's 'gift in prayer'. This was the downfall of the Pharisees: they wished to be seen of men. To quote the theologian, Robert Reymond: 'When you pray, remember whose attention you wish to gain.'
In these and other ways prayer meetings can easily degenerate. So what can be done?
(to be continued...)
1. PRAYER MEETINGS CAN EASILY DEGENERATE.
Some of the reasons for this are:
1. Wrong attitude - Many may be happy to come and join in regular worship services but in regard to meeting for prayer the thought may be, 'It's only a prayer meeting'. In many churches the prayer meeting is left to the 'faithful few'. Bill Hughes, one time pastor in Glasgow had a rule that if a member did not attend the prayer meeting they were not permitted to come to the business meeting of the church. If they were not prepared to pray with the church why should they have the privilege of participating in its decisions? When things are at a low ebb in a church the prayer meeting is often first to be dropped. The story is told of a certain chapel where many years ago the people, having lost heart in public prayer meetings, decided to give them up. But one old lady strongly disagreed. So on the usual prayer meeting night, dressed in her weatherproofs, she braved the storm, unlocked the chapel and taking her usual place, sat down to pray. On the way home she decided to call at one of the members' homes. 'Where have you been on a night like this?' was the inquiry. 'I've been to the prayer meeting.' 'O, I thought they had been discontinued; were any others there?' 'Yes,' said the faithful old lady, 'there were four of us - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and me, and it was a special time.' Through the old sister's perseverance the church was shamed into gathering again at the time of prayer.
2. Excessive length of each prayer - This is an old, old problem. The spirit may be willing but the flesh is weak. Long prayers often become a weariness to the flesh, making it hard for those listening to spiritually participate and keep up concentration, especially if it is an evening meeting. This problem often has to be addressed and pastors down the years have had their own ways of dealing with persistent 'offenders'. It is reported of the late Henry Popham of Eastbourne that he would sometimes say before calling any of the brethren to the front, 'If you're too long in prayer, I will pull your coat tails!' Alternatively, he would deliberately drop a hymnbook!
Short prayers help to retain freshness. Besides, most prayers in the Scriptures are brief and to the point. 'Some pray me into the spirit and others pray me out of it by undue length,' Spurgeon complained. It has been said: 'Short prayers sink deep'. 'It is strength, not length,' said Spurgeon. 'The worth of a prayer is not gauged by its dimensions,' - M'Cheyne. Thomas Boston said: 'Lay no weight on the quantity of your prayers; that is to say, how long or how many they are. These things avail nothing with God, by whom prayers are not measured, but weighed.' To quote Spurgeon again: 'It is necessary to draw near unto God, but it is not required of you to prolong your speech till everyone is longing to hear the word "Amen"'. The only exception I believe is if a spirit of prayer and supplication is poured out upon one member in a special way. They will know, and every spiritually-minded person will know, and will lose sight of the time. J. C. Philpot's advice was that on such occasions we should make the most of it and spread the sails, as it were, to catch those heavenly breezes.
3. Formality - We are creatures of habit and routine. We all tend to have our own phrases and manner of approach to the Lord. It is therefore easy for prayer to become so predictable. Interestingly, John Newton used this observation as an argument in favour of the use of written prayers in public worship. In most extemporaneous prayers, he maintained, you recognised the beginning, could discern the middle and you knew when it was coming to an end, so why not use written ones, was his conclusion. The problem of excessive length and formality was dealt with very succinctly by D. L. Moody when he said: 'Some people's prayers need to be cut off at both ends and set on fire in the middle.'
4. Vagueness or being unspecific - Although prayer involves communion with the Lord and a worshipping frame of mind yet we are to make requests. The story is told of a prayer meeting where one brother seemed to be preaching rather than praying. One sister felt especially troubled by this, so she interrupted by calling out: 'Ask for something!'
5. Prayers that are unduly personal - very little prayer or desire may be expressed for the conversion of sinners and the furtherance of the gospel: instead, the time is spent in an introspective rehearsing of numerous personal doubts and fears. One preacher described it as 'hanging out the dirty washing for all to see'.
6. Pride - a desire to be seen and heard. The heart being uplifted at the thought of an opportunity to show others one's 'gift in prayer'. This was the downfall of the Pharisees: they wished to be seen of men. To quote the theologian, Robert Reymond: 'When you pray, remember whose attention you wish to gain.'
In these and other ways prayer meetings can easily degenerate. So what can be done?
(to be continued...)
posted by john d.
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