Praying Globally within Chaplaincy

Here is a book review by Lindsay Johnstone, a Chaplain at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital

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I recommend:  Don Carson, A Call to Spiritual Reformation (Baker, Grand Rapids, Michigan 1992). However, some of these perspectives are mine and should not be read onto anyone else.

Everything must be bathed in prayer.

The major impact of Carson’s book is the all-pervasive need of prayer with regard to every part of our lives and ministries, its passionate commitment to unselfish compassion, and the global dimensions of prayer to a living Father who is deeply committed to us personally and also to all others of his children.

“We become fruitful by grace; we persevere by grace; we mature by grace; by grace we grow to love one another more, and by grace we cherish holiness and a deepening knowledge of God.” (p.60)

We are not left by God just to use the propositions of the Bible and our native intellect and abilities to work it all out through our programs and stereotyped impressions of what is meant by our job descriptions. In Paul, prayer “is not made up of petty petitions, isolated requests that are to be answered by a God who, rather exceptionally, intervenes in our lives and does something remarkable. We are not to think of ourselves as basically independent and on the right tack, but occasionally in need of a little input from the Deity, a little blessing called down by an appropriately formulated prayer. That sort of view is almost akin to pagan magic.”(Carson p.61)

Our prayers are central within God’s sovereignty.

We should not think that our prayers move the contingent hand of God, nor that he does not really need our prayers at all for his will to be done.

Read Genesis 15: 19-20; 2 Samuel 24; Isaiah 10: 5-19; John 6: 37-40; Philippians 2: 12-13; Acts 18: 9-10;

Acts 4: 23-40(p.150-156)

Intercession is part of the invasion of the kingdoms of this world by the Kingdom of God

Whether your institution had a Christian element in its foundation or was entirely secular, never underestimate the purposes of God within it.

Our record and experience matters nothing if the Holy Spirit accompanies us not, and we rely mainly upon our native gifting or acquired skills.

An emergency call-out is an opportunity for compassionate and penetrating intercession.

Our assistance is desired in the most dire circumstances. Travel time between receiving the call and seeing the patient can be prayer preparation time.

We are in a spiritual warfare.

Do our prayers have passion and militancy?  Do we exercise our God-given authority in our prayers? Do we believe that the Devil roams around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour? (1 Peter 1: 5), or is he just a “headless chicken”?

“Shine, Jesus shine! Blaze, Spirit blaze!”

Is it alright to direct some prayers straight to Christ or to the Holy Spirit?  Many hymns do this, but some say it is preferable not to pray direct to the Holy Spirit (and perhaps not much to Christ). The Christian is free to do whatever is not ruled out by the Scriptures. 1662 BCP contains such prayers. “Come Holy Ghost our souls inspire...” for many decades was sung daily at meetings of the Sydney Diocesan Synod.  “I believe in the Holy Spirit... who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified” (Nicene Creed)!

Fasting

Matthew 6 assumes fasting is normal. It is least appropriate when we are celebrating the presence of the Bridegroom (e.g. Holy Communion!) Fasting is most appropriate in a context where the Bridegroom is experienced as absent. It may sometimes be needed to cast out a demon, or to receive a breakthrough such as guidance and empowerment for ministry, or for the breaking of a bondage that blocks the reception of some of God’s blessings.

Non-rational prayer?

Prayer consists sometimes partly of sighing, weeping, groaning, and tongues. In private they can be expressions of inner praise or grief, a broken heart, a passionate compassion for the lost or wounded. It is a sin to discourage people from the private use of such forms of these! Also they have nothing to do with some second stage process! Some “ talk more, others less; some are constantly vocal, others cultivate silence before God as their way of adoration; some slip into glossalalia, others make a point of not slipping into it; yet we may all be praying as God wants us to. The only rules are, stay within Biblical guidelines... ” (Carson, p. 38)

All For Jesus

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3: 20 -21).

Copyright: J. H. Lindsay Johnstone