Prayer final

​We’ve been talking about prayer and what it means for Christians, as well as how to pray and prayer as a science. Today we’re looking at the culmination of these studies. For that, let’s look at the Lord’s Prayer for His Disciples in Matthew 6:5-13. This prayer should be familiar to most, if not all, Christians. This is the most quoted prayer and the most memorized passage of the scriptures with Psalm 23 being a close second. This is how Jesus taught to pray and so there must be plenty we can learn from this prayer, or rather that we have already learned. You see for the past ten weeks we’ve been studying this prayer.

​“Our Father who art in Heaven,” was studied in week 4 when we looked at incense and prayer throughout the Bible and where it culminates in Revelation. We know that our prayers last forever in Heaven and are a soothing aroma to God. We also know that we pray to God the Father specifically, who resides in Heaven. 

​Next we studied “Hallowed be thy name,” by looking at what it means when we pray in Jesus’ name. We concluded that it was as if Jesus was praying Himself. That it was stamped with His approval. Just as the Roman Centurion sent people in his name who were recorded as if he himself went, so too when we pray it should be as if we were requesting things precisely as Jesus would request and petition them. 

​“Thy kingdom come, they will be done , on earth as it is in Heaven,” was studied through the context of the Holy Spirit working within us. You see, when we walk by the Spirit we will not carry out the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). There are two options for people to be ruled by, either the flesh or the spirit. If we walk according to the flesh we will certainly sin. If we walk by the spirit, however we will do things according to God’s Will. The only time we can pray with confidence is when we pray in the spirit. If everyone were to walk according to the spirit, we would have Heaven on earth (spoiler alert: the Millenial Reign of Christ). 

​“Give us this day, our daily bread,” was studied in the context of what need both spiritually and physically. In Matthew 6 Jesus tells us not to worry about tomorrow, but to take concern for today. This should be the attitude of every believer. We are not to have worry, but to have confidence in God. He has and will continue to provide for us. This also equates to our daily knowledge and faith, just as the Israelites gathered in the Manna in the wilderness. We take as much as we need and none will be left over. All the more prescient that we read God’s Word and pray daily. 

​“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors,” was dealt with in the context of praying for others. We concluded that first we need to be walking the spirit, but also that if we are praying for someone they need to be walking in the spirit also. Our greatest and only prayer for nonbelievers then should be for their salvation. What use is it to pray for their physical well-being if their soul is on a fast-track to torment? Believers, however, should be prayed for spiritually, physically, emotionally, and psychologically. Their overall being is our concern as it is also Gods. The roadblock to all of this prayer however is sin. Sin prevents us from praying as we should. It also prevents non-believers from any prayer other than for Jesus’ mediation. Sin is pervasive and so we should pray that believers do not sin. 

​Which leads us to “and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,” as we pray that sin would not affect us or keep us from doing God’s Will. We know that God tests us for our benefit. He knows how we will respond to tests, but we don’t. Temptations, however, come from Satan, the world, and our flesh and try to get us to walk according to the flesh, not the spirit. It is while walking in the flesh that we will certainly sin. Believers should therefore pray that no one give in to temptation but rather that they should flee from them.

​It is important to realize that this prayer is expressed in the plural. Believers are not meant to be by themselves, but rather they are meant to be in a group such as a church congregation. We are not individual beings, but rather part of the Bride of Christ. In order to fully carry out God’s Will we must be in a church. 

​Hopefully this study has been informative as well as enlightening. The goal isn’t for you to solely understand prayer better, but rather that you would pray better. Knowing the functions of prayer and how it all works is important, but not as important as praying itself. Please, please pray often for all your needs and remember just how holy God is, yet His great concern for you a sinner. We owe Him much more than our prayers can afford, so we should give Him our prayers in abundance. Take a moment now to pray the Lord’s Prayer and consider its ramifications.

Prayer IX: Prayer Against Temptation

​Last week we discussed how to pray for others. While this subject is quite vast and was not exhaustively covered, we did come to one definitive point: sin is pervasive and affects both believers and unbelievers and is a significant roadblock that bars our prayers. With this in mind, continuing with our theme of prayer, there are some questions to be raised about the sin in regards to temptation and prayer: What is the difference between temptation and trials/testing? Who is behind each? How do we pray for someone undergoing temptation?

​First off, what is the difference between temptation and testing? Well surely the main point is who is behind them. With trials/testing we know that they come directly from God. Temptation, however, comes from Satan, demons, the world, and our fallen sin-nature. The origin alone should highlight drastic significance to us. Next, the purpose of temptation is to get us to revert back to walking according to the flesh, which we talked about in Week VII. If we are walking in the flesh, we will surely sin. Testing/Trials however, are meant to prove to us how we are walking. God already knows the answer, but do we? It is God’s way of showing us where we need to improve or where we are succeeding. It is to ensure us of our walk in the Spirit. Before God entrusts us with more talents, he needs us to prove that we are faithful with the ones He’s already given us. Again, God knows whether we’ll be faithful, but it is for our benefit that trials/testing occurs. 

​So then how do we pray for someone who is often afflicted by temptation? First, we pray of their certainty that through God they can overcome and avoid all temptation. 

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. I Corinthians 10:13

Go will provide a way out or through the temptation. Our initial prayer for someone is that they will have the strength to walk by the Spirit. Next our prayers during their temptation should change slightly. In this case we pray that they should flee from temptation. In the initial prayer, we pray that they will seek God fully and walk according to His Will. While that is included during their temptation, our focus is more on their immediate escape through whatever means necessary. Paul tells us to flee temptation. We want all things to work out for God’s glory, certainly, but during temptation the main prayer is to avoid sin. 

​After temptation has seized someone there are two results; the first, that someone has given in to their sin. If someone has given into temptation our prayers for them are that they would be forgiven. Immediately after sinning man’s proclivity is towards shame and guilt (Adam and Eve), our prayers, then, are towards their forgiveness and knowledge that God is greater than all of their sin combined. 

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9

After giving in to temptation the shame might compel men to continue to walk according to the flesh and continue to sin, thinking that because they have stumbled once they are defeated and so continue in sin. We should then pray that they would be restored to walking according to the Spirit and seeking God. Finally, we should pray that they would be strengthened against temptation in the future, thus turning back towards our initial prayer.

​Finally for those who resist temptation, including ourselves, we should pray first thankfulness towards God. It is through His strength and provision alone that we can resist sin. Remember unbelievers have no choice in sin; they must sin as their spirit is dead and they walk according the flesh. It is in this thanksgiving that we should remember our humility. It is certainly possible in resisting temptation to consider yourself strong, rather than God. This leads to pride and walking according to the flesh. We should pray then, that we would have humility. Lastly we pray that people who have resisted temptation would be able to guide and help others struggling with the same temptation. 

​In all of these examples people need to be in fellowship with others. Christianity cannot exist in solitude. Believers need the fellowship of others. We should be encouraging others, praying for their resisting temptation and praying for forgiveness when they succumb to it. We should also pray that believers would disciple others so that we can strengthen and encourage our future generations of believers. All this is only possible through God. He strengthens us, helps us escape temptations and tests us to prove to us how He is working in us. Prayer is at once both offensive and defensive.

But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perserverance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I Timothy 6:11-12

Prayer VIII: Praying for Others

 When it comes to praying for other people, many things come to mind. Healing, safety/security, spiritual growth, blessings, strength, and other things of this nature. Is there a difference, though, on how we pray for people? Is there a distinction between how we pray for believers vs. non-believers? How about leaders vs. lay people? What are some barriers that get in between our prayers for others? To answer these questions, let's first look at how Paul prayed.
 In Colossians 1, Paul is praying for the Spiritual well-being of the church in Colossae. His prayer isn't a simple "bless them," but rather it is more personal. For their spiritual growth and continuation in the faith. Paul speaks of them with fond affection. Paul, however, has never met these believers. He is praying for a church he has never personally been to, and he's praying fervently, personally, and not at all generically. If Paul is praying for believers he has never met with such exuberance, how much more should we, as fellow-believers in Christ, pray for other Christ-followers?
 In James 5, we are told to pray for those believers who are sick. Also, if they have committed sin, to raise them up and the sin will be forgiven them. Why does James associate illness with sin? Is all illness caused directly by sin? No, not as such. But is all illness caused by sin entering this world and causing the fall of the entire human race? Absolutely! James goes on to say that we should confess our sins to another and pray for healing. Sin is an absolute roadblock to our praying.
 Consider if you have sinned recently and try to pray for someone else. If you have not asked for forgiveness, you cannot pray as you ought. You might be feeling guilty or you may still feel as if you're walking the flesh rather than the spirit. Sin is a roadblock between us and God, but also between us and fellow believers. Also if someone else has sinned and you cannot/do not forgive them, it is also difficult for you to pray for that individual. How can you pray for someone whom you hold a sin-induced grudge over?
 Finally, consider unbelievers. How are we to pray for them when their sin isn't forgiven? When it looms over them as a death sentence waiting to be fulfilled. In I Timothy 2:1-4 we are told to pray for all leaders of men and that all men should come to the knowledge of the truth. We cannot pray for someone's physical healing until their sin is dealt with first.

If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained. John 20:23

 Forgive your brothers and sisters their sins and pray for them, and they will return forgiveness in kind. Do not let sin affect your prayer life, Lord knows it has affected your lives too much already.