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NASB | John 11:42 "I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 11:42 "I knew that You always hear Me and listen to Me; but I have said this because of the people standing around, so that they may believe that You have sent Me [and that You have made Me Your representative]." |
Bible Question: Prayer is as important as reading the Bible. Yet I see few willing to close a Sunday Class in prayer. the same is true in other areas as well. Why are you personally reluctant to pray out loud in a church setting? If your has no issue to pray out loud please do not answer this. |
Bible Answer: Dear Justme, What a blessing it is to have you in our midst. You have persevered in the forum 14 years. Thank you for your time and patience, without regard for those who do not submit to the Scripture alone. In John 11:42, we see an example in which our Lord prayed aloud, specifically such that those around Him would hear and learn from what He said. (John 17 is the denouement of all such prayers!) Now if Jesus prayed it, then we have absolutely no doubt that such a prayer was efficacious -- for who is more righteous than our Lord Jesus a la James 5:16! We have all experienced such fear of praying aloud, and yet we have Christ's clear example. One of the best congregational prayers I have heard was a man who read many Puritan prayers. However, I don't think that he just read them: I think he prayed them, too! I would submit that the more a man prays -- and particular the more a man prayers the prayers of Scripture -- the more comfortable he becomes in praying in the midst of God's own. His mind becomes transformed from the Word, and thus he becomes more comfortable and confident to adequately bring the needs of the group to the Lord. Regardless, prayers are not efficacious because they are lovely, flowing, or perspicuous... they are efficacious because of the One to Whom they are directed. The more our Lord through His Word becomes the apple of our eye, the easier it is to just pray to Him... even without conscious thought for those around us. In Him, Doc |