Prayer Elevating the Earthling (Genesis 18:1-33; LD 45)

Reformed & Expository Preaching

The Transition from Law to Prayer

The law of God is an invitation to examine the heart, and prayer is the heart turning to God. We need to see that prayer is our heart’s alignment with God, not simply outward behaviors, and the continuity of biblical teaching from law to intimate, honest prayer. The story of Abraham’s intercession for Sodom becomes a model, highlighting both compassionate concern for one’s neighbor and hopeful expectation when coming before the Lord.

Heavenly Membership and Divine Invitation

The beauty of our identity in the kingdom is that through redemption, believers share in a heavenly membership like Abraham, who was chosen and invited into God’s intimate counsel. Prayer is not rendered pointless by God’s sovereignty; rather, God's ordaining of all things includes the sincere, heartfelt prayers of his people. The catechism’s high view of prayer resists the caricature of Calvinism as passive, affirming that prayers are both real and ordained, and expressing that believers are privileged recipients of grace, chosen, heard, and loved by God. We are members of God’s family and part of the heavenly community.

The Humble Approach and Assurance

The catechism and Abraham’s example stress that prayer must be humble and heartfelt, not mechanical or entitled. The narrative underlines that approaching God—recognizing one’s unworthiness and God’s mercy—is central to true prayer. Abraham’s repeated, respectful pleas for Sodom illustrate persistence, humility, and a deep trust that God’s character is both just and merciful. The overall assurance to believers is that God hears and answers prayers in accordance with his good and sovereign will, and his timing, which can require patience and persistent faith.

Real Alignment and the Purpose of Prayer

True prayer, as the preacher concludes, realigns the believer’s heart and purposes with the will of God, encompassing both spiritual and physical needs. Scriptural examples—Abraham's intercession, Isaiah’s vision, and the psalms—highlight that humanity’s ultimate desire is communion with God and living in accordance with his plan. The catechism urges prayers that reflect gratitude, humility, patience, and a willingness to be shaped by God’s wisdom. Ultimately, prayer is a gift through which God provides, sanctifies, and draws believers into a deeper relationship with Himself.