The Spirit Helps Us Pray: A Biblical Theology of Prayer
Apollos was “a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures” (Acts 18:24). Goodspeed says he was “skillful in the use of the scriptures” (v. 25). 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 God’s 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 Luke’s sentiment about Apollos as I consider Dr. Bicket: “He was a great help to those who by grace had believed” (v. 27). 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 Lord’s 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. God’s 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 individual is a member, are especially pregnant with guidance. “Do not get drunk … be filled with the Spirit,” and (as some writers have concluded that Ephesians 5:19 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 Spirit’s 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