By Tom Savage

In the two previous articles, we have found we ought to pray (1) because Jesus prayed, (2) because that is what Jesus is doing, (3) because when we pray things happen, (4) because we are always seeking the will of God, (5) because evil forces are always out there seeking to hinder the work of God, and (6) because our Father likes hearing a good argument; a good reason to answer. For our final point in this series, we should pray …

  1. Because we are partners with God

There are many illustrations of our partnership with God. As sowers of the seed, we are partners with God. God does what only He can do when we do what He has called us to do. As witnesses, we are partners with God. In Acts 1:8 Jesus said, “You shall be my witnesses.” We cannot save; only God can save. He has called us into this partnership to be witnesses.

To show us a pattern to replicate, Jesus called the Twelve to partner with Him. He told them, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men – there’s a partnership. He also told the disciples, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” If the Lord wanted more laborers in the harvest, why did He not just call them and send them? He called for His disciples to partner with Him to pray for more partners.

There are many specific passages of Scripture that speak of our partnership with God. A few examples are, 1 Corinthians 3:9, “We are laborer’s together with God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20, “We are ambassadors for Christ.” – we go in His name on His authority. Matthew 28:18-20, “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.”

Partners communicate. They talk on a regular basis. Partners who never communicate are not dynamic partners. Imagine two people being in business together but never talking. That would not be much of a partnership.

Think about it – we are partners with a Partner who excels in power. He is the most powerful of all. Another way to grasp this partnership with God is – prayer brings together the Creator and the created one (you, me). What a powerful partnership. In prayer we are seeking our infinite, timeless God, to do something in our timebound lives and world. In prayer, we are also allowed to rise into His timelessness and see things from His perspective; in ways too huge to comprehend on our own. In the ministry of Jesus, eternal God stepped out of timelessness and entered to a time-bound world. He was here for some thirty-three years and then returned to timelessness. That is huge.

If you are a prayer warrior – keep praying. If you are a pilgrim on a pilgrimage in this matter of prayer, keep learning, keep praying, keep sharing, and keep those lines of communication open as you partner with God.

Next month, The Two Big Errors Christian people make in this matter of prayer.