Sixth Sunday of Easter (1905)

John 16:23-30 The Gospel and the Scriptures in general teach many things about prayer. Who can and should pray? To whom? How does one rightly pray? Why should we pray? What a glorious promise prayer has. However, an idea forces itself upon us: Why does God command us so many times to pray? It's such a high privilege to pray, and we have it as necessary. One need however not only to command beggars that they should ask; allowing is enough. Why does God command us to pray? 1. For His sake. a. It is His explicit command. ("Pray; have not prayed; pray"1) "He wants to be asked." (Second commandment) Prayer is a divine service, through which God's glory is promoted.2 God punishes the omission of prayer.3 He praises it when people pray to Him.4 b. With our prayer we praise . His majesty5; . His kingdom and His might: "Whatever you ask." Whatsoever6; . His grace and love. The great God can be approached by poor creatures in their most petty concerns.7 c. We should pray from obedience. We should render glory to Him. We should do everything to God's honor.8 Everything is created by Him.9 2. For our sake. a. It is a precarious thing for a self-chosen work.10 Always uncertain whether it pleases God.11 And this is precisely the case when praying. We should only dare.12 But God Himself "has asked us thus to pray"; therefore it is pleasing to Him. It is nothing improper, doubtful, but a pleasant divine service. b. We are slow to prayer. . We have many reservations. The devil takes advantage of it. We're not worthy, do not deserve, that we pray. Others can
John 16:23-24; Psalm 50:15, 23; Psalm 27:8. Isaiah 42:8. 3 James 4:2; Hosea 7:7; Romans 1:21; Luke 17:15. 4 Luke 17:19; Psalm 92:2-3. 5 Psalm 65:3; Psalm 147:9; Philippians 2:10-11. 6 John 16:23; Matthew 21:22; Ephesians 6:18; Romans 10:12; Philippians 4:6. 7 Psalm 102:18; 145:18; Isaiah 57:15. 8 1 Corinthians 10:31. 9 Romans 11:26; Revelation 14:7; Psalm 19;2; Ephesians 3:21; Luke 2:14; Isaiah 6:3. 10 Matthew 15:9. 11 Large Catechism, Fourth Commandment. 12 Genesis 18:27; Judges 13:22.
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pray, I cannot. But God's command is universal. Even Christ says.13 "The Father has loved you."14 I cannot pray now, I have no devotion. Thus one forgets how to pray. I have prayed for so much, may and can no longer.15 To the honor of our God, we pray confidently in spite of devil, world and flesh, call, praise, pray and give thanks for God's command. E.P.

John 16:26. John 16:27. 15 Romans 12:12; 1 Timothy 5:5; 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
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