Brandt Robert L. - The Spirit Helps Us Pray: A Biblical Theology of Prayer

The Spirit Helps Us Pray

A Biblical Theology of Prayer

Robert L. Brandt and Zenas J. Bicket

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

1993 by Gospel Publishing House, 1445 N. Boonville Avenue, Springfield, Missouri 65802-1894. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwisewithout prior written permission of the copyright owner, except brief quotations used in connection with reviews in magazines or newspapers.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Brandt, Robert L.

The spirit helps us pray: a biblical theology of prayer / Robert L. Brandt, Zenas J. Bicket; Stanley M. Horton, general editor.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

ISBN

1. BiblePrayers. 2. Prayer. I. Bicket, Zenas J.

II. Horton, Stanley M. III. Title

BS680.P64B73 1993

248.32dc20

92-40276

Contents

The Spirit Helps Us Pray: A Biblical Theology of Prayer

by Stanley M. Horton

The Spirit Helps Us Pray: A Biblical Theology of Prayer

Apollos was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures (). The RSV says he taught accurately. We still have men like this today to help us in understanding the Scriptures, in this particular instance, to understand what Gods Word has to say about every aspect of prayer. For Robert L. Brandt and Zenas J. Bicket are gifts to the Church of our time as Apollos and Paul were gifts to the Church of their time.

Having been a colleague of Dr. Bicket in college teaching, administration, and especially in prayer ministries, I can echo Lukes sentiment about Apollos as I consider Dr. Bicket: He was a great help to those who by grace had believed (v. ). Bicket, a man of dedication, discipline, and strength of character, has contributed to a monumental work on prayer.

Robert L. Brandt has been a long-time acquaintance and of one of the families of the Assemblies of God who have stood like giants of character and spiritual leadership. A fearless searcher after truth, dedicated to following it whatever the price, he is, like Paul, a man of vision, and has not been disobedient to that vision.

Spiritual leadership requires a practical, working knowledge of prayer, a knowledge that has give the Word of God precedence and then been integrated into life. For prayer is what we are more than what we say. This, in the case of prayer, the medium of the message is human. And in the case of Robert L. Brandt, when he writes about prayer, he is writing about himself. To be with him makes you want to pray. We are fortunate to have leadership like this, that influences us into the presence of God! As a ministerial colleague, as a fellow member of various boards, and as a consultant on matters of the Spirit, Brother Brandt has been a model of spiritual life and leadership.

In the Lords prayer of John 17 , Jesus speaks about those you have given me to be with me where I am, a phrase that expresses the preciousness of fellowship with men like Bicket and Brandt.

From Genesis to Revelation, from Adam to John the Beloved, these authors cover the trail of revelation meaningfully and efficiently. Gods conversations with Adam, Jesus revelation to John, become patterns for a life and practice of prayer under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Layers of tradition, culture, and self-interests are stripped away and we are introduced to sublime communion with God. A deeper understanding of the work of the Holy Spirit is the result.

Perhaps the optimum contribution of this inclusive volume is in chapters 11 and 12, where the authors spotlight the ministry of the Holy Spirit in praying with and through the Spirit-filled believer. It is here that we leave the company of many traditional writers on this most blessed privilege of communion with God (who is Spirit).

With conviction the authors state, Pentecostals see room for the gift of tongues to be involved (p. 271). They talk about praying in the supernatural, that is, with tongues, as well as the need for interpretation of tongues. This special emphasis merits a serious and careful reading of this book by believers who wish to enjoy praying in the Holy Spirit.

What makes this book comprehensive is the practical instruction it offers, detailing the single manifestation in the assembly as well as the offering of public prayer. The passages in Ephesians, which deal with the individual as well as the body of which that is indicative of Early Church liturgy) Speak to one another with psalms, and hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord always giving thanks to God. This gives wide dimensions to ways of praying.

Angels and their ministry are included in this book. Though not a common aspect of prayer for many authors, Rev. Brandt and Dr. Bicket are right at home in speaking about the ministry of angels to the saints. Their specific concern is to discover how angelic intervention may occur in response to prayer.

And in support of the reader in quest of how to pray and how God answers prayer today, the authors supply contemporary stories of people who have prayed and how God gave them miraculous answers. This adds immeasurably to the value of this significant book on prayer.

Scores of books have been written on prayer, some on the Holy Spirit, but few like this on the Holy Spirit and prayer. The message of this book is decidedly Pentecostal. It is about the Holy Spirits relationship to prayer. This Pentecostal view of the topic has been long awaited. At the same time, readers should not think of this as a parochial treatment, but rather as a sound, biblically accurate interpretation.

Further, this book is skillfully written: beautiful sentences, logical structure, colorful diction. Its masterful writing adds great value to the prolific literature on this great subject of prayer. All who minister will be pleased with the indexes and bibliography, helping them make their way around in the book and on to others.

This book should be in every church, college, and home of those who want to enjoy the full blessings of praying in the Holy Spirit. It will be a gold mine for all those who seek to grow in grace and minister to others in the power of the Spirit. I use it next to my Bible.

J. ROBERT ASHCROFT

PRESIDENT EMERITUS

of BEREAN COLLEGE

The Spirit Helps Us Pray: A Biblical Theology of Prayer

This study seeks to explore, mainly from a biblical perspective, the entire scope of prayer. The goal is not merely to provide academic understanding, but the higher purpose of developing a corps of people who pray and who therefore make a difference for God in the world. As they are burdened and inspired to pursue diligently an active prayer ministry, they will enrich their own lives, impact their ministry to Christ and His Church, and consequently generate waves of spiritual influence to the ends of the earth.

We want also to encourage a distinctive Pentecostal perspective, having a twofold emphasis: (1) that all Spirit-filled believers take advantage of their access into the very throne room of God through our Savior and Mediator Jesus Christ and (2) that prayer become a power of supernatural dimensions through the help of the indwelling Holy Spirit. In this way prayer moves out of ritual and into reality. Praying in the Spirit becomes more than a biblical phrase: It becomes a conduit of divine intervention.