Theological Term of the Week: Prayer

prayer
“An offering up of our desires unto God, for things agreeable to his will, in the name of Christ, with confession of our sins, and thankful acknowledgment of his mercies.”1

• From scripture:

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior … . (1 Timothy 2:1-3 ESV)

• From the Heidelberg Catechism:

Question 116: Why is prayer necessary for Christians? 

Answer: Because prayer is the most important part of the thankfulness which God requires of us. Moreover, God will give His grace and the Holy Spirit only to those who constantly and with heartfelt longing ask Him for these gifts and thank Him for them.

Question 117: What belongs to a prayer which pleases God and is heard by Him?

Answer: First, we must from the heart call upon the one true God only, who has revealed Himself in His Word, for all that He has commanded us to pray.[1] Second, we must thoroughly know our need and misery, so that we may humble ourselves before God.[2] Third, we must rest on this firm foundation that, although we do not deserve it, God will certainly hear our prayer for the sake of Christ our Lord, as He has promised us in His Word.

Learn more:

1. Easton Bible Dictionary: Prayer
2. R. C. Sproul: The Place of Prayer
3. Derek Thomas: God-Centered Prayer
4. George Grant: Normal Prayer
5. R. C. Sproul: Prayer: A Discourse with God

Related terms:

• corporate prayer
• imprecation
• intercession of Christ
• priesthood of all believers
• worship

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Sunday Hymn: Come, Ye That Love the Lord

Come, we that love the Lord,
And let our joys be known;
Join in a song with sweet ac­cord,
Join in a song with sweet ac­cord
And thus sur­round the throne,
And thus sur­round the throne.

The sor­rows of the mind
Be ban­ished from the place;
Religion nev­er was de­signed
Religion nev­er was de­signed,
To make our plea­sures less,
To make our plea­sures less.

Let those re­fuse to sing,
Who nev­er knew our God;
But fa­vo­rites of the heav’n­ly King,
But fa­vo­rites of the heav’n­ly King
May speak their joys abroad,
May speak their joys abroad.

The God that rules on high,
And thun­ders when He please,
Who rides up­on the stor­my sky,
Who rides up­on the stor­my sky,
And man­ages the seas,
And man­ages the seas.

This aw­ful God is ours,
Our Fa­ther and our Love;
He will send down His heav’n­ly pow­ers,
He will send down His heav’n­ly pow­ers,
To car­ry us ab­ove,
To car­ry us ab­ove.

There we shall see His face,
And nev­er, nev­er sin!
There, from the riv­ers of His grace,
There, from the riv­ers of His grace,
Drink end­less plea­sures in,
Drink end­less plea­sures in.

Yea, and be­fore we rise,
To that im­mor­tal state,
The thoughts of such amaz­ing bliss,
The thoughts of such amaz­ing bliss,
Should con­stant joys cre­ate,
Should con­stant joys create.

The men of grace have found,
Glory be­gun be­low.
Celestial fruits on earth­ly ground
Celestial fruits on earth­ly ground
From faith and hope may grow,
From faith and hope may grow.

The hill of Zi­on yields
A thou­sand sac­red sweets
Before we reach the heav’n­ly fields,
Before we reach the heav’n­ly fields,
Or walk the gold­en streets,
Or walk the gold­en streets.

Then let our songs abound,
And ev­ery tear be dry;
We’re march­ing through Im­ma­nu­el’s ground,
We’re march­ing through Im­ma­nu­el’s ground,
To fair­er worlds on high,
To fair­er worlds on high.

—Isaac Watts

Theological Term of the Week: Christian Persecution

Christian persecution
hostility and ill-treatment on the basis of of someone’s Christian faith.

• From scripture:

For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake … . (Philippians 1:29 ESV)

If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. (John 15:18-19 ESV)

Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. (1 John 3:4 ESV)

You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:10-13 ESV)

• From the Heidelberg Catechism:

QUESTION 52.

What comfort is it to thee that “Christ shall come again to judge the quick and the dead”? 

Answer. That in all my sorrows and persecutions, with uplifted head I look for the very same person, who before offered himself for my sake, to the tribunal of God, and has removed all curse from me, to come as judge from heaven: who shall cast all his and my enemies into everlasting condemnation, but shall translate me with all his chosen ones to himself, into heavenly joys and glory.

Learn more:

1. Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology: Persecution
2. Tim Keesee:10 Things You Should Know About Persecution
3. Ligonier Ministries: Blessed Are the Persecuted
4. Stephen Walton: Why Were the Early Christians Persecuted?
5. Tim Challies: Christion, When Persecution Comes: Embrace It
6. Tom Schreiner: You Will Be Persecuted With Words
7. Michael A. G. Haykin: 400-Year-Old Lessons from English Baptists and Persecution

Related terms:

• diaspora
• perseverance of the saints
• progressive sanctification

Filed under Christian Life

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Do you have a a theological term you’d like to see featured as a Theological Term of the Week? Email your suggestion using the contact button in the navigation bar above. 

Clicking on the Theological Terms button above the header will take you to an alphabetical list of all the theological terms.