When we consider a verse of Scripture, the entire Word of God has to be brought to bear. Scripture was not brought together by man’s will, but holy men of God were moved (carried along) by the Holy Spirit. This is the concept of the inspiration of Scripture.
As an illustration, let’s consider this verse: “Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do” (John 14:1313And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (John 14:13)). Wonderful promise! It encourages us to pray and it is unqualified. Here, the Shepherd speaks on earth, laying down a principle encouraging us to pray. But some might say, “But there’s nothing which would limit that. All you have to do is ask in His name and the Lord will do it.” Now, without taking away anything from the power of this wonderful scripture, we want to show that no part of Scripture is of private interpretation. You can’t take one scripture in isolation from other scriptures.
“This is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us” (1 John 5:1414And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: (1 John 5:14)). This “nail” was given by the same Shepherd, but now from heaven and with an additional, very important thought. Prayer is not only in His name, but according to His will. Where do we learn His will? Only in the Word of God.
“Ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts” (James 4:23).
Here it is the same Shepherd still speaking from heaven. We learn now that believing faith in prayer is necessary. Believing in praying is a wonderful thing; we all need more of it. What a searching thing when we start to pray. Are we asking for something amiss to consume it on our own lusts?
Then in Psalm 66:1818If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: (Psalm 66:18) we have another “nail.” “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” Let us be searched by these words of the one Shepherd. If I come to the Lord with some unjudged sin, I do well to think and consider this Scripture.
“I will therefore, that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting [or reasoning]” (1 Tim. 2:88I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. (1 Timothy 2:8)). This indicates that men (in contrast with women) are to pray everywhere. What an important thing prayer is! What an encouragement that it is the will of God that I should pray.
What is lifting up holy hands? It is hands that have been doing the will of the Lord. How often men tend to reason in praying. How much better to put matters in God’s hands.
The principle we have applied to scriptures about praying applies to everything that God says.
R. K. Gorgas