By "MEANS OF GRACE" we mean —that medium and method, the conduit, the channel, the vehicle, the means by which our gracious Lord conveys His blessings, His grace, His strength, His comfort, His nourishment, His peace, His joy, etc. to our souls. There is a "connection" between God's grace and power and our souls — it is communicated to us by the Spirit of God through the appointed means.
Prayer is a means of grace in this sense, when we call upon God, our heavenly Father, someone we know through Jesus Christ as we are enabled by the Holy Spirit to cry out Abba Father, God actually hears us and in His goodness, wisdom, and according to His will responds to us, and actually answers us.
Because we have an ongoing vital relationship with God through Jesus Christ (remember, Jesus gave us access to the Father), prayer connects with God. He actually hears us. What we need, the comfort, the strength, the peace, the confidence, etc. are conferred, His grace is communicated. Prayer is the means of receiving those things.
Ordinary godly prayers can bring about extraordinary supernatural changes.
A. Notice this in Cornelius and Peter.
ERGO — may I ask what would God notice about your prayers? Does he see consistency? Half-heartedness? That they are sporadic, casual? Are they impertinent and trite? Are they glorious and about heavenly things?
Would he say, "I have heard your groaning and cries, you have stormed heaven. I have heard your prayers?"
B. We notice the same in Daniel's prayer. |
