True Prayer  

God Is Calling the Church to Order

Prayer!  What is it?  What does it mean ?

Society in general  has used the term prayer in a passing type of way. For example, "I will pray for you " or "I'll keep you in my prayers". These are words that are so very easy to say, but, a process that is alien to most people. Now, we know that to pray for someone generally implies that we ask, of a higher being, that they would receive something good, or that a circumstance would get better or go away, or that possibly life in general would get better or more pleasing for that individual or family. These words and actions are all very well intentioned for the good of others, but, is that truly prayer ? 

The word prayer is almost always associated with or implies a god or a higher being. This higher being is almost always thought of as something good that has power to produce good for others, and, wants good for others if we only ask. Prayer is also associated with the term religion, which includes generalities, goodness, a god, a higher being of spiritual magnitude. It all sounds quite nice, doesn't it. As a result, we have hundreds of religions all trying to capture and receive for themselves the goodness of a god or higher spiritual being. So, what we have as society are nice people that believe that there is a nice higher being that wants and has the capability to make nice people fulfilled and happy during their lifetime. Then, to make this happen, people must ask or pray so that life will be easier for them.

Now, church people are also part of this society but they look at prayer a little differently. 

Faithful and true is not dealing with all different religions in this article, but, is seeking to call the true church to order. Therefore, we will be talking to and referring to all those who claim to be part of the church. 

The church recognizes One God, namely in three persons, God the Father , God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. They recognize that God wants to commune with all society and He provided a way through the giving of His Son Jesus Christ, that whosoever believes in Him will have everlasting life. This church believes that once an individual accepts Jesus as their savior they are received into the church and have an opportunity now to pray to God. 

In this modern day, the church and its people, often pray that the devil be cast out and prevented from hindering the situations and circumstances of its members and their programs that they administer. They pray that people will be healed and jobs be provided and finances be more than enough, for they want to live a good life. They have accepted the one God and have been taught that God is love and wants good for His people. All they must do is ask or pray, and don't be afraid to pray specifically for what you want. You want a white house with a picket fence or what ever, ask and pray for it. Enter into prayer with thanksgiving, expecting God to answer your prayer. Thank Him in advance and show the amount of faith that you have.

What has just been described here? It looks like the church is a little different from society in general, but their knowledge of what prayer is and what it means to pray and how to have prayer is about the same. It appears both society and the church pray to God or a higher being for their betterment or to make life easier that they can continue to be nice people.

Prayer? What is it? What does it mean?

 God is calling the church to order.

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To learn and know what prayer is takes more than just looking the word up in a dictionary. We need to determine when man began speaking of prayer, what root words it came from and in exactly what context it was used. Seeing that we are recognizing that prayer is communing with a higher power, just how did early civilization look unto God? 

As we are effecting Gods call of the church to order, we will look to His Word, the bible. Searching first the Hebrew language and then the Greek language, we find that prayer is an INTERCESSION, and a SUPPLICATION. 

In the old testament we find that Israel was fully aware of an all powerful God in heaven. A God that would provide for them, but, a God that required much of them. They watched as God would do mighty deeds to show His presence that they might turn to Him and abide with Him.  Yet, they continually fell short of Gods desire for them and did as they willed. So Gods goal for man and mans goal towards God never seemed to arrive at one point together.

But, the people were well aware of what God wanted of them and they were well aware that God was a far superior being. They knew that God was the ultimate judge over them. Hence, INTERCESSION came from the root word to JUDGE, either officially or mentally. The people knew that all answers came from the all powerful God in heaven above. They knew that He required much and would judge them and make  judgment. 

They also knew from deep within that SUPPLICATION was a very important part of prayer. Supplication was to be a graciousness within them towards God, that allowed them to stoop or bend in kindness to God, as to their inferiority. Supplication is what makes prayer or intercession happen. Supplication is earnest prayer or serious communing with God. The people knew that they were to walk humbly before God. To receive from Him they needed to approach for a favor and petition, earnestly, sincerely and humbly. So, prayer was petitioning God, with graciousness and humility, being inferior, that they might find favor. Supplication is the key. Gratitude towards God with the desire to be pleasing unto Him. Unfortunately, the majority needed additional help and God provided that also.

Now, in the new testament we find that prayer has taken on a more deeper meaning. Worship, a pouring forth loudly or silently with earnestness. We find that to pray to God, we were to fall headlong, to alight or fly by all means unto the knowledge and greatness of God. This deeper meaning was the result of God sending His own Son to earth to teach the people. God loved the people so much that He sent His only begotten Son that the people would have a way to be pleasing unto Him. The way, was by the spirit. For Gods Son sent His Spirit as a seal and guarantee that any person who really wanted to be pleasing would be pleasing unto Him. So, we find in both the old and new testament that God wanted loving people who trusted and obeyed His commands and statutes. Now, any who truly wanted to be pleasing unto Him could be, by the spirit.

When Paul continually prayed for his converts, the church, his prayer was that they would grow ever closer to God and be pleasing in His sight. When Jesus Christ was teaching the people, they asked Him what was the greatest commandment. He answered " To love the Lord thy God, with all your heart and with all you soul and with all your might," this is the first and greatest commandment, and the second is like unto it, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." 

So, we find that pleasing God is very important both in years past and in years present. In the beginning, God gave the people the ten commandments or the Law as a guide that people would be pleasing unto God. When that failed, He sent His Son to fulfill the Law. He did not do away with the law, but, by Him and through the spirit, it is now possible to be pleasing unto Him and that's supplication.

So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. Daniel 9:3-19  Daniels remarkable prayer of confession associated himself with the sins of the people. He approaches God on the basis of Gods loyal love in His covenant  with the people , confesses  their sins, acknowledges their deserved judgment, and supplicates God for His mercy.

Supplication is recognizing the error of our ways and striving through desire, to be pleasing in Gods sight. The good news is not only that Gods son came to earth but that we now have the means by which to be pleasing unto God. 

Paul prays that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. Eph.1:18,19. 

Paul  prayed for the people to have a greater measure of  the spirit. He desired, as did Daniel that they may continue in the knowledge and love of God, and continue to be pleasing in Gods sight. Paul desired that their love of God would cause them to continue in prayer that others may come to know God and be pleasing in his sight. 

Paul again prays in Philippians 4:6, Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Prayer is a combination of spiritual attitude and action. Prayer is asking of God through a spiritual awareness of the Holiness of God. Gods word says "Be Ye Holy for I AM Holy." God commands us to be pleasing and Holy in His sight. God commands us to commune with Him daily. He wants His love to be in us that others may know Him. God calls each of us to be workers for the continuance of His kingdom .It is this spiritual awareness and zeal that we are to continually ask God. We are to continually pray (ask) with a sincere heart of spiritual awareness, which is our function, that we may continue in His love that others may find His love. THAT IS NOT ONLY A PRAYER, THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TO PRAY, THAT IS PRAYER. 

We are to walk in the spirit and live our lives through the spirit. Be Ye Holy for I AM Holy. We are to live our lives striving in the spirit to be pleasing unto God. Through that spiritual awareness we are to continually ask of God that His will be done in our lives. THAT'S PRAYER. Nowhere in Gods word does it say to ask God to take the monkey off of your back. What it does say is that we are to trust Him and obey Him. We are to be pleasing unto Him. It says that He knows our every need and will provide for each and every one of His children. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you." Matthew 6:33. 

We are to conform to the will of God by asking with a contrite heart. "But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word."  Isaiah 66:2b A contrite spirit or heart is one that has been crushed and made low to the fact that nothing is more important than Gods love for us and our desire to be pleasing unto Him. 

Prayer is our willingness to succumb to the authority of God with the intentions that we be used for the furtherance of Gods kingdom. We are commanded to love Him, trust Him and obey Him, that we may be perfected in His fullness. Prayer is knowledge and expectation of the eternal kingdom.

If someone you know asks you to pray for their finances, what do you ask God? How do you pray? 

If a co-worker indicates he has an unfriendly neighbor who plays loud music all the time, how do you pray? What do you ask God?

You see, prayer is communion with God for the furtherance of the Gospel. That is our duty and our calling. Now, if your friends financial problem is hindering the continuance of the gospel, you bind the problem and seek relief. If your co-workers neighbor was hindering the work of the gospel then you would do the same. But, if neither case had anything to do with the gospel, then you should ask God to use you that they (your friend and co-worker) may come to know God. Prayer is communion with God for the continuation of the gospel. God can answer requests of non-believers, for God is God. But, believers are to walk and talk with him and live their lives in the spiritual, that is faith, truth and justice. 

Paul speaking, "We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, knowing brethren beloved by God, His choice of you; for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake." 1 Thes. 1:2-5

Paul speaking, "Pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thes. 5:17-18

Paul speaking, "And for this reason we constantly thank God that when you received from us the word of God's  message, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe." 1 Thes. 2:13

When we receive of God, it is for the purpose of PRAYER. When we receive of God, it is for the purpose of being pleasing in his sight, forever. When we are used of God, it is for the purpose of bringing others into His kingdom. When God uses us to bring others into His kingdom, it is for the purpose of continual PRAYER.

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