Jesus Christ Taught His Followers to Pray

THE EVANGELICAL CHURCH WINNING ALL (ECWA)
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THEME: THE FOUNDATION OF PRAYER
TOPIC: JESUS CHRIST TAUGHT HIS FOLLOWERS TO PRAY
TEXT: Mark 1: 32—45

Rev. Dr. Stephen Awoniyi

by Rev. (Dr.) S. K. Awoniyi

INTRODUCTION

In reference to the Man Michael S. Houdmann, the word “Jesus Christ Taught His Followers to Pray,” could be explained in this way;

Praying in Jesus’ name means praying with His authority and asking God the Father to act upon our prayers because we come in the name of His Son, Jesus.   Praying in Jesus’ name means the same thing as praying according to the will of God.

 The Scripture narrates it in this way:

9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which[a] He has testified of His Son.  10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.  11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.  13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, [b] and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

Confidence and Compassion in Prayer

14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him (1 John 5:9-15 (NKJV).

The Gospel of John also continues with the statement that says;

Jesus Promises Another Helper

15 “If you love Me, keep[a] My commandments.  16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever.  17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.  18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

Indwelling of the Father and the Son

19 “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me.  Because I live, you will live also.  20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father and you in Me, and I in you.  21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.  And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him (John 14:15-21(NKJV).

The above narrated messages means praying in Jesus’ name is praying for things that will give glory and honor to our  almighty God.  But our inability to pray this prayer means we do not depend or trust in Him.

1. Prayer in the Believer’s Life

1. Luke 11: 5-13 (NKJV)
2. Luke 18: 1-8 (NKJV)
3. John 14: 1-12 (NKJV)

The word “Prayer,” is the means by which we can find a great powerful and successful relationship with God.  In order word, it is God’s will for every believer to experience a powerful prayer life with Him.  That is, it is God’s purpose for every Christian to fully understand and experience a dynamic prayer life.  The main emphasis will be on time alone with God and what He wants you and me to gain through effective prayer.  Again, the man Michael S. Houdmann indicated it this way;

Dear Lord Jesus, Give me both the desire and ability to move out of the shallows and into the glorious depths of relationship with You.

1. To gain a clear understanding of prayer from God’s perspective and purpose.
2. To discover a full biblical understanding of what constitutes a powerful prayer life.
3. To learn how to let Christ become the very source and power of your prayer life.
4. To experience new motivation and confidence to develop a dynamic prayer life.
5. To embrace a practical biblical pattern for developing powerful prayer and a dynamic personal relationship with Christ.

A Friend Comes at Midnight

5 And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves;6 for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’;7 and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’?8 I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.

Keep Asking, Seeking, Knocking

9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.11 If a son asks for bread[a] from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:5-13 (NKJV).

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

18 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man.3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man,5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’”

6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said.7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18: 1-8 (NKJV).

The Way, the Truth, and the Life

1.“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.2 In My Father’s house are many mansions;[a] if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.[b]3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.” 5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

The Father Revealed

7 “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”  8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?  10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.  11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.

The Answered Prayer

12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father (John 14:1-12 (NKJV).

2. The Holy Spirit, Our Helper in Prayer

1. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NKJV)
2. 1 John 5: 9-15 (NKJV)

What does the phrase “The Holy Spirit, Our Helper in Prayer,” stands for?  In reference to the Man Archbishop Trench, it could be explained thus:

THE HOLY SPIRIT OUR HELPER IN PRAYER

We must pray in the Spirit, in the Holy Ghost, if we would pray at all. Lay this, I beseech you, to heart. Do not address yourselves to prayer as to a work to be accomplished in your own natural strength. It is a work of God, of God the Holy Ghost, a work of Him in you and by you, and in which you must be fellow-workers with Him.

One of the Revelations of the New Testament concerning the Holy Spirit is that He is our helper in times of prayer.  Therefore, we have in the following incident in our Lord’s life the closer connection between the Holy Spirit’s work and prayer.

In the Epistle of 1 Corinthians, it is indicated in this way;

19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body[a] and in your spirit, which are God’s (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NKJV).

The Scripture of 1 John also continues by saying;

9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which[a] He has testified of His Son.  10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.  11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.  13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, [b] and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

Confidence and Compassion in Prayer

14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him (1 John 5:9-15 (NKJV).

CONCLUSION

Dearly Beloved, be assured that the Holy Spirit is indispensable to the prayer life of every Christian.  Understand that each one of us have an access to the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ.  And, an access to any throne is only through the strictest protocol, and admission to the throne of the universe is only available by our Lord Jesus Christ.  Also, bear in mind that our access to the Father is only available through Jesus Christ who is made real by the Spirit that lives within us.  Be aware that the spiritual prayer, the prayer that is very, very, effective, is the prayer that is led by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Brethren, how are you going to put today’s word into action and fully trust, depend, and obediently rely on the Lord?  Be assured that the Almighty God is with you always if you honestly wait and depend in Him. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ uphold, keep, and protect you the more.  Amen!