Prayer can be understood in three facets, which are found in Romans 11:36- For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. Of him, through him, and to him, this is how we pray ‘in Jesus’ name’. Prayer is a means by which God changes us into the image of Christ as well as changing circumstances in accordance to his will. Salvation is Christ being manifested in us and prayer is how God’s will and our will unify- the correct understanding of faith.
1. Of him. Prayer originates with God. God authors prayer in at least 2 ways. Ordering our circumstances and pressing prayer out of us as oil and wine; and also by special revelation to our spirits.
2. Through him. Prayer is to be accomplished through Jesus Christ. That is by means of his death and his resurrection changing us into his image.
a. By his death:
His blood cleanseth us from all sin, so that God will hear us. Our body of sin is destroyed, so that we can pray and it is not amiss, to consume it upon our lusts.
b. By his resurrection:
We receive the Spirit of Christ (as individuals, and as the body of Christ), and he maketh intercession with groanings, which cannot be uttered. We having his word quicken us to his will, we have full assurance of faith.
3. To him. Prayer should be with a view to the end being to the praise of the glory of his grace.
God engages in revealing his heart and plans to his friends (Amos 3:7, Ps.25:14, Gen.18:17), as if to change us into his image, by allowing us to join in the counsel of his will, to bear burdens in a similar fashion as he (e.g. Compare Moses -Ex.32:7-14 and Jonah 4). God has 2 wills. 1 is his eternal purpose and 2 what he desires were there no sin. We will call his first will ‘his eternal purpose’, for that is based on his determinate council and foreknowledge of all things. (Acts 2:23, 15:18, Eph.1:9-11). And his second we will call the ‘will of his nature’. God loves righteousness and hates iniquity by his very nature. Yet even though he hates iniquity, he will use it to fulfill his eternal purpose. God loves all men according to his great mercy and compassion, for God is love. And God provides salvation for all men. But God will not cause all men to be saved although he may cause certain to be to fulfill his eternal purpose. He will allow men to perish in their willful rebellion against him. God holds men responsible for their actions since he has given them a free will, nevertheless he will fulfill his eternal purpose. Men also manifest apparently contrary motives, for example, the use of warfare for an ultimate goal of peace. They do not want war, yet they will engage in it for defensive purposes, to ultimately ensure peace. We see 2 wills displayed here as well, the will for no war and yet the will to war. They are not contradictory. A parent experiences two wills in the chastening of their children (Prv.19:18). They do not want to chasten their children, yet they know for both of their good they must chasten them betimes. So, people will engage in things unpleasant, and undesirable, to bring about something more pleasant and more desirable. A person may not will to labor in the field, but he wants a harvest thus he wills to farm and will not to. People have a struggle between the will of their flesh, and the will of their conscience. Also, the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus and the law of sin and death that Paul expounds upon in Romans 7-8.
Similarly, with God, except that he has no sinfulness in and of himself (Jam.1:13). His eternal purpose will be carried out despite things that arise contrary to his nature. He hates those things but will turn them and manipulate them to fulfill his eternal purpose. He allows men free will, and hates when men sin against him yet ultimately, he will turn and form these things to fulfil his eternal purpose. The greatest example of this fact is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God knew sinful men would hate him and kill him if they could, and that he hated and must judge wickedness. Yet he has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. And he “doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men”. (Lament. 3:33)
Ezekiel 18:31-32 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? [32] For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.
Acts 2:23-24 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: [24] Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
God has love and compassion for sinners; (Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.) so God became flesh and gave himself for our sins at the hands of sinners, yet all the while dying in payment for our debt to his holiness and justice. God did not desire that those who slew Christ murder an innocent man. He hates iniquity and commanded us saying “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13). Yet he knew they would. He likewise chose the delusion (Isaiah 66:4) with which they would fall, resulting in the murder of Christ. They tried to kill him multiple times and in multiple ways and places (Mt.2:16, 21:46, 26:4, Mk.3:6, Lk.4:28-30, 11:53-4, 19:47-8, Jn.5:18, 7:1, 30, 44, 8:58-9, 10:31, 39, 11:53-7)- but God decided when, where and how this would be carried out. God didn’t will Christ to be murdered according to his nature as holy; but according to his great love he desired that we be forgiven our debts. And Christ came into the world to be killed and even desiring forgiveness for those who were killing him.
Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
John 12:27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
Matthew 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
How does this evidence of God’s 2 wills affect prayer? Much every way, for if God has only one will then everything that happens is the direct result of his will, and no prayer could change this. Even if someone did pray, it would be because God willed it and the answer is not because he hearkened unto their voice. God then would be the direct author of sin and evil, which is of course contrary to what the scripture teacheth. (God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5, And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. [6] Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. [7] Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. [8] He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:5-8)
Yet if God can be petitioned and things can indeed be changed by prayer, then God must have 2 wills. For either he is not sovereign and omnipotent, and cannot actually answer prayer, or God authors sin directly, both of which are contrary to sound doctrine. It is evident however that he has two wills, his eternal will (purpose), and the will of his nature. If God did not directly author sin, yet has power over it, then he is omnipotent and has 2 wills. And it is very evident that God answers prayer:
Joshua 10:14
…the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man:
Psalm 65:2
O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come
John 9:31
Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
1 Peter 3:12
For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
Psalm 66:19-20
But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. [20] Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.
Job 34:28
So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.
Daniel 10:12
Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
2 Kings 20:1-6
In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. [2] Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the Lord, saying, [3] I beseech thee, O Lord, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. [4] And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the Lord came to him, saying, [5] Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the Lord. [6] And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.
1 Kings 17:22
And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.
James 5:16-18
The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. [18] And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
Matthew 7:7-11
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: [8] For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. [9] Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? [10] Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? [11] If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
Matthew 9:37-38
Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Matthew 21:22
And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
Acts 9:40
But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
2 Chron. 30:27
Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, even unto heaven.
James 4:2
: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
Ephes. 3:20
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
1 John 3:22
And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
1 John 5:14-15
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: [15] And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
So, we see God can be petitioned and will answer prayers. But again, some prayers God will not answer:
Deut. 1:45
And ye returned and wept before the Lord; but the Lord would not hearken to your voice, nor give ear unto you.
Deut. 3:26
But the Lord was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the Lord said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter.
1 Samuel 15:35-16:1
And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the Lord repented that he had made Saul king over Israel. [16:1] And the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel?
2 Samuel 22:42
They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the Lord, but he answered them not.
Proverbs 1:24-28
Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; [25] But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: [26] I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; [27] When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. [28] Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
Proverbs 15:8
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
Proverbs 28:9
He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
Isaiah 1:15
And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
Isaiah 59:2
But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
Jeremiah 7:16
Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee.
Jeremiah 11:14
Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble.
Jeremiah 14:11
Then said the Lord unto me, Pray not for this people for their good.
Jeremiah 15:1
Then said the Lord unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth.
James 1:6-7
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. [7] For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
James 4:3
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
The mystery of prayer is the mystery of Gods will. It is the place where Gods eternal purpose and the will of his nature meet; analogous to the waters compassed with bounds, until the day and night come to an end (Job 26:10). Where things that God desires to occur yet limiting himself to our decisions lets them fall to the wayside if we do not stand in the gap. Where God causes those things in accord with his eternal purpose to come to pass regardless of and with use of anyone’s will. One thing hard to understand about prayer is the interaction between God eternally purposing certain things, and the corresponding decisions made by freewill agents. God knows eternally everything that could happen under any given circumstance or number of circumstances and has eternally determined certain (not all) actions to occur. It almost sounds paradoxical, an eternal purpose. We understand a purpose in the context of time. That is, to pass from indecision in one moment of time to determination of a purpose with the act of volition in a subsequent moment of time. But it cannot be so with God in his eternal purpose. For he has eternally purposed this, there never has been a time in which God was indecisive concerning this. God, in one sense, would be represented in his ultimate eternal capacity, unchanging, eternally purposing certain events, which cannot be altered; thus, unapproachable in prayer concerning these things, they are unalterable.
Isaiah 14:24
The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:
Isaiah 14:27
For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?
Isaiah 46:10
Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
Daniel 4:35
And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
Proverbs 21:1
The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
Isaiah 43:13
Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?
Job 23:13
But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
Next, God humbles himself and is manifested in the dimensions of time and space in order that we might interact with him (Psalm 113:6). In these dimensions God is revealed as limiting Himself to some degree and being subject to time and space. He of course created time and space and is not ultimately subject to it nevertheless he manifests himself in it to interact with us. Some examples of this would be:
Jeremiah 19:5
They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind:
Jeremiah 32:35
And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.
Jeremiah 44:21
The incense that ye burned in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, ye, and your fathers, your kings, and your princes, and the people of the land, did not the Lord remember them, and came it not into his mind?
Here we see God revealing himself in time. Thoughts came into his mind. This means they were not there, and they moved into his sight. Not that he learned something, or acquired new knowledge, for the scripture also saith:
Isaiah 46:10
Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done
Acts 15:18
Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
Col. 2:3
In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Job 42:2
I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.
Psalm 147:5
Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.
Isaiah 41:21-23
Produce your cause, saith the Lord; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob. [22] Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come. [23] Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.
There is no contradiction between the two. God does eternally know all things, yet as he manifests himself in time to his creation, thoughts come into his mind, he remembers.
Genesis 8:1
And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged;
Exodus 2:24
And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
Genesis 30:22
And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.
Leviticus 26:42
Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land.
Psalm 25:6-7
Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old. [7] Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O Lord.
Hebrews 8:12
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Hebrews 10:17
And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
Genesis 6:5-6
And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. [6] And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
Genesis 11:5
And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.
OF HIM:
A) The first thing we should know about prayer is that God initiates prayer, both by his nature and by his eternal purpose. He desires that we pray, and bear certain burdens, having the responsibility and he will order our circumstances to press this out of us.
Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Philip. 4:6
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
2 Cor. 1:4, 9
Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
2 Cor. 4:7-12
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. [8] We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; [9] Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; [10] Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. [11] For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. [12] So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
2 Cor. 12:7-9
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. [8] For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. [9] And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Daniel 2:16-18
Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation. [17] Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: [18] That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
2 Kings 20:1-3
In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. [2] Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the Lord, saying, [3] I beseech thee, O Lord, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
2 Samuel 5:19
And David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
2 Samuel 2:1
And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the Lord said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.
1 Kings 3:7-10
And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. [8] And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. [9] Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? [10] And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
Psalm 118:5
I called upon the Lord in distress:
Jonah 2:2
And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.
Ezra 8:21
Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.
Psalm 88:2-3
Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry; [3] For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.
Judges 20: 23
(And the children of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until even, and asked counsel of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the Lord said, Go up against him.) v26-28 Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the Lord, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. And the children of Israel enquired of the Lord, (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days, And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days,) saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And the Lord said, Go up; for to morrow I will deliver them into thine hand.
So, from these examples we see that prayer was to be made under a variety of circumstances, in distress, to seek a right way, for wisdom in situations, in the face of death, in battle, in persecution, distress, perplexity. God places us in these situations, so we realize our need for him, and our own insufficiency and he can thus manifest himself in us by his Spirit.
Proverbs 20:24
Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
Proverbs 16:9
A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.
Jeremiah 10:23
O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
How many times have we been placed in situations ordered by God, for the express purpose of showing us our own helplessness or a certain weakness, only to despise the situation, and murmur and complain? Not knowing that the goodness of God ordered our steps, that we might have the life of Jesus manifested in our mortal bodies, that we might be conformed into his image. Not realizing that we should glory in tribulation knowing that tribulation worketh patience. In order that we have opportunity to be filled with the knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. That we might walk worthy of the Lord, unto all pleasing. O Lord our God, forgive us for our ungratefulness, not seeing thy love in ordering our steps, and all things working together for good to us who love thee and are the called according to thy purpose.
Deut. 8:2-3
And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. [3] And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
B) Some things God reveals to us, to direct our hearts toward him.
2 Cor. 12:1
I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 Samuel 7:27
For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.
Romans 8:26
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered
1 Cor. 2:9-10
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. [10] But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
Luke 22:41-42
And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, [42] Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
Col. 1:9
For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
Acts 21:10-14
And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. [11] And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. [12] And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. [13] Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. [14] And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
Daniel 7:28
Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.
Genesis 18:17, 20-22, 32
And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; [21] I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know. [22] And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD. And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.
Exodus 32:9-14
And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people: [10] Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation. [11] And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? [12] Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people. [13] Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever. [14] And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.
Amos 3:7
Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
Isaiah 55:6
Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
Psalm 25:14
The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.
Genesis 6:13
And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
John 15:15
Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
Jonah 4:10-11
Then said the Lord, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night: [11] And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?
THROUGH HIM:
A] We have the access to God because the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin. Our sins are what separate us from God and hide his face from our prayers.
Isaiah 59:2
But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
John 9:31
Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
1 Peter 3:12
For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
Jesus Christ is come in the flesh to shed his blood, forgive us of our sins and give us access unto the Father:
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Hebrews 10:19-22
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, [20] By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; [21] And having an high priest over the house of God; [22] Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Ephes. 3:12
In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
1 John 3:19-21
And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. [20] For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. [21] Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
Hebrews 4:14,16
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession [16] Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Col. 1:20
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself;
Hebrews 9:14
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Rev. 1:5
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Romans 3:25
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood,
Ephes. 1:7
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Hebrews 10:17
And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1 John 2:12
I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.
Col. 1:14
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Hebrews 9:12
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Hebrews 9:24
For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
1 John 2:1
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
Ephes. 2:6
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
But not only do we now have access unto the throne of God by the precious blood of Christ, we also have been set free from sin which is in our mortal bodies. So that we do not have to be hindered by the lust of the flesh corrupting and defiling our prayer! We can seek others benefit and ‘greatly long after’ others ‘in the bowels of Jesus Christ’ (Phil.1:8) with fervency even as we bear our own burdens. The love of God can dwell in us (1 Jn.3:17).
James 1:6-8
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. [7] For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. [8] A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
James 4:2-3
Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. [3] Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
Galatians 5:16-17
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. [17] For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Romans 7:14-25
For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. [15] For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. [16] If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. [17] Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. [18] For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. [19] For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. [20] Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. [21] I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. [22] For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: [23] But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. [24] O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? [25] I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Matthew 26:40-41
And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? [41] Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Romans 15:1-3
We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. [2] Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. [3] For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
Galatians 6:1-2
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. [2] Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
James 5:19-20
Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; [20] Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
1 John 5:16
If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
Jude 1:22-23
And of some have compassion, making a difference: [23] And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
1 Cor. 12:25-26
That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. [26] And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
Philip. 2:2-4
Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. [3] Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. [4] Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
The flesh which keeps us focused on our own comfort has been and can be crucified, and we can freely bear one another’s burdens having the same care for one another. Not by vainglory and pride of life looking out only for our own things but also on the things of others. This is where fasting is coupled with prayer. It is the application of the death of Christ to crucify the flesh and afflict and humble the soul.
Isaiah 58:5-6
Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord? [6] Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
Psalm 35:13
But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.
Daniel 9:3
And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
Joel 1:14
Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry unto the Lord,
Joel 2:12
Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
Mark 2:18-20
And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not? [19] And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. [20] But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
Matthew 17:21
Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
Mark 9:29
And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
1 Cor. 7:5
Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
Fasting is used in prayer for various decisions.
Acts 10:30
And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
Acts 13:2-3
As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. [3] And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
Acts 14:23
And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
Matthew 4:2
And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
Jonah 3:5
So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.
Joel 1:14
Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry unto the Lord,
Joel 2:15
Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
Fasting humbles and chastens the soul- Psa.35:13, 69:10, Dan.10:2, 12, Isa.58:3-5
B) We have access to God himself during prayer. Being one spirit with him we feel his emotions, we know his thoughts, we are changed into the same image. This is because we have been born of his Spirit by the resurrection of Christ and are partakers of his Spirit. If we abide in him and his words abide in us we can ask what we will and his ear will be open to our cry. We are filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; he is working in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure. He has made us worthy of himself; out of our belly flows rivers of living water, his love is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost. Our bowels of compassion are not shut, we greatly long and travail in the bowels of Jesus Christ, he has given unto us his holy Spirit. We impart not the gospel of God only but also our own souls, for we are the epistles of Christ ministered not with ink but with the Spirit of the Living God. We having been delivered from the body of death, quickened in our mortal bodies, the life of Jesus manifested in our mortal flesh, the inward man renewed day by day, even we can take full assurance in the hope of his calling, the word of his oath confirmed by the immutability of his counsel, which word is an anchor of the soul; both sure and stedfast. We therefore being fully persuaded that what he has promised he is able also to perform can say unto this mountain ‘Be thou removed and be thou cast into the sea’ and not doubt in our hearts, but believe that those things which we say shall come to pass. Not because we will but because of the immutability of his counsel, because of the power of his word which upholds all things; even the more sure word that created the heavens and stretched them out; and laid the foundations of the earth. Those to whose voice the Lord doth hearken and move a mountain are they who bear in their body the marks of the Lord Jesus and in whom the life also of Jesus is manifested. Not those self willed, whose God is their belly who suppose that gain is godliness, not those that seek their own but those that seek the things that are Jesus Christ’s.
Before we can speak outwardly, we must speak to the Father which seeth in secret (Mt.6:6). Before Moses instructed the priests to bless the children of Israel, "the Lord spake unto Moses"; "saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them,The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them." (Num.6:22-27) They were to speak to them the blessing of the
Lord, which God revealed. "And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them." Likewise we see Paul blessing the saints in his benediction with each epistle. How could Paul invoke peace and grace to be unto the churches unless it was from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ?
Ultimately prayer is Christ being manifested in us. His will made known to us and his desire and passion working in us. We as being made into his image love and seek God with all of our hearts, and souls, and minds, and strength. Gods will becoming our will; and we being conformed into the image of his Son. Being raised up in his power, quickened by his Spirit and understanding what the will of the Lord as we exercise ourselves in the powers of the world to come. This is similarly how the patriarchs of old prophetically blessed their sons as the Spirit of Christ was in them (Gen.27:26-30, 33-40, 48:9-22, 49:1-29). It was how Elijah called down fire upon the sacrifices (1 Kin.18:36) and fire upon the messengers of Ahaziah (2 Kin.1). How Paul cursed Elymas blind (Act.13:7-12) and Elisha had the Syrians smitten with blindness (2 Kin.6:17-18). How Jesus cursed the fig tree (Mt.21:19-21) and how Peter and John commanded the lame man to walk (Act.3:1-10). How Joshua commanded the sun and moon to stand still (Jos.10:12-14). It is how the working of miracles and gifts of healing operate.
TO HIM:
Prayer is to be unto God; that is to his purpose and glory. Faith is the unifying of our will with God’s and not a presumptuous display of self will. Sometimes these outwardly may look the same. Consider Numbers 13-14. God told the children of Israel to go and possess the land of promise. This was God’s will and they should have been fully persuaded of his power to perform what he had promised. Instead they walked by sight, became terrified of the giants of the land and determined after much murmuring to “make a captain, and let us return into Egypt”. (14:4) This tenth and final provocation (v22) almost brought destruction upon them save for Moses intercession. When God was contented that Moses had manifested the Lord’s wisdom and revelation in the earth in himself “the Lord said, I have pardoned according to thy word” (v20). However, those who rebelled this final time would not go into the land only their children; and they were bound to wander in the wilderness for forty years. “After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.” (v34) The people wept (v39) and decided they would now obey the Lord and go up to possess the land. They “rose up early in the morning, and gat them up into the top of the mountain, saying, Lo, we be here, and will go up unto the place which the Lord hath promised: for we have sinned”. (v40) Moses counselled them not to go now for the Lord would not be with them. “For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and ye shall fall by the sword: because ye are turned away from the Lord, therefore the Lord will not be with you” (v43). Notice what happens next- “But they presumed to go up unto the hill top” and were defeated (v44-5). Their presumption to go without the word of the Lord looked outwardly the same as if they were going with his word. When we act apart from God it is not faith it is presumption.
When the children of Israel went in the spirit of judgment against Benjamin because of their wickedness (Jdg.20:1-12) they went at God’s word (v18) and were defeated (v21). They went again to the Lord in prayer, weeping and were told to go up again against Benjamin (v23). They lost the battle a second time (v25). They went again to the LORD weeping and fasting (Mt.17:21) offering sacrifices and seeking guidance (v26-8). The LORD assured them that this time, the third time they would prevail and they did (v28). Sometimes acts of obedience to God look like failures, but they are not. You must be seeking the Lord’s will to establish his purpose in the earth.
There will be times when we are not certain whether this is God’s purpose that will not be altered or if it is possible that it be changed. Consider Jesus in the garden wrestling with the will of God in strong crying and tears (Heb.5:7) in effectual fervency (Jam.5:16) regarding the cup of his indignation. Mt.26:39- And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. V42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. Mark 14:35-6 And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. Luke 22:42-4 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. But when he was fully assured that there was no other way he went to his disciples in humble acquiescence – Matt.26:45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Mk.14:41 And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. When Peter tried to resist this arrest the scripture records- Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? (Jn.18:11) Matt.26:53-4 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
Even in the face of Satanic envy and wrath he accepted the death of the cross as it was the will of the Father- Lk. 22:53 When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.
Likewise did Paul accept the buffeting of persecutions and reproaches from the messenger of Satan after praying for relief from this thorn in the flesh. “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Cor.12:7-10
The principle we see here is simply taking up our cross according to the will of God and dying to ourselves and our will in prayer while having the knowledge of the will of God resurrected in our hearts and minds (Col.1:9, Prv.3:5-7). We see the same thing here- “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Rom.12:1-2
Through the power of the resurrection of Christ we are filled with understanding of what the will of the Lord is (Eph.5:17). Our lives are for God and not vain glory or following carnal lusts; let us spend and be spent according to his purpose. God has a course for us to run (Heb.12:1) and we find it when we lose our own ambitions; our own lives (Mt.10:38-9). Paul displayed this truth here- “And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:22-4
Notice Paul loved not his life unto death (Rev.12:11) that he might finish his course. Even when all others thought Paul’s life should take a different path (Acts 21:12) he was stedfast and unmoveable (1 Cor.15:57-8) knowing the will of God for his own life stating, “What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” (v13) The final submission and acquiescence to God’s will comes at the last “And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.” (v14). We must know what the Lord’s will is for us, for our lives and not expect others to tell us or try to coerce us. Even those that we love or that love us. Remember when Jesus as a child was missing on the return from Jerusalem and Mary and Joseph sought him? “And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?” Lk.2:48-9. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. (Mt.10:37) Unguided affection will destroy- Prv.19:18, 13:24, Mt.16:22-3, Lk.23:28, 1 Sam.16:6-7, Dt.13:6-10.
Paul recognized this with others as well; he did not confuse his will or desire for God’s will (1 Cor.7:6-10, 37-9). We see this humility with Apollos- “As touching our brother Apollos, I greatly desired him to come unto you with the brethren: but his will was not at all to come at this time; but he will come when he shall have convenient time.” 1 Cor.16:12 Paul would not usurp authority over others. When someone coerces another, thinking they are implementing God’s will upon another they are entering into Nicolaitanism which thing the Lord hates (Rev.2:6, 15).
However, once we are in the path of the Lord, we are unmovable (Ps.16:8, 55:22). Once we are serving under his yoke all things are possible to him that believes (Mk.9:23), for with God all things are possible (Mt.19:26).
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