For Broadcast no. 13- The Lord’s Prayer- Jesus Role in our Prayer Life:
Good Morning dear friends, Welcome again to Insights From God’s precious Word: Our session this morning is entitled, “Jesus Role in our Prayer Life”.
We have begun a series of messages on the very vital subject of Prayer and particularly on the model prayer that Jesus taught his disciples.
In our last session we talked about the goal of our series and that was to discover how we can be more effective and disciplined in our prayer life by using the model prayer Jesus taught His disciples. By using this prayer as a model our prayers are ordered according to God’s direction and as a result we are not praying without purpose or order. This also helps us to keep our minds from wandering to other things while we are praying! We also talked about when we should pray and about the importance of praying regularily, early in the morning and at all times
Shall we begin by committing this time to the Lord in prayer:
As we begin this message I would like to invite you to proclaim God’s Word together with me. Remember that God’s Word is living and very powerful and as we proclaim it preferably out loud, faith is growing in our hearts.
We read in Romans 10: 17 that “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” The more you hear yourself declaring God’s Word the more you will believe it and thus the truths you proclaim will eventually become a reality in your life. Furthermore as we proclaim God’s Word in faith it becomes a mighty weapon against the enemy.
This week we will proclaim together Eph. 2:18: I will read it first then if you so will we can proclaim it together:
“For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.”
Ephesians 2:18 NIVAll three members of the Trinity are involved in our prayer life:
It is important to know that all three members of the Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit are involved in our prayer life. Although Jesus taught us to address our prayers to the Father, In Ephesians 2:18 we see that both Jesus and the Holy Spirit are involved in our approach and prayer life with the Father:”For through him (Jesus) we both (both Jew and Gentile) have access to the Father by one Spirit.” i.e the Holy Spirit.
1. What is Jesus’ role in our prayer life and what does it mean to pray to God the Father in Jesus’ Name:
When we pray we are to address our prayers to God the Father and not to Jesus. We are invited to come to the Father in and through the Name of Jesus. We see this is repeated at least three times in the Gospel of John- First we will read from John 15:16:
“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.”John 15:16 NKJV
Secondly we will read from John 16:23-24:
““And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”John 16:23-24 NKJV
And thirdly we will read from John 16:26-27:
“In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.”John 16:26-27
Why do we pray in the Name of Jesus? Is it because we have heard others pray in this name and it has become a ritual, a routine, a habit, something that we add to the end of our prayer without knowing why?
In this lesson we want to establish some reasons as to why we should pray to the Father in the Name of Jesus!
(a) Firstly, To pray in Jesus Name means that we are have access to the Father not in our own righteousness, not our own worth, goodness or good works but through the righteousness of Jesus and therefore we are able to come in His presence with boldness and without fear, without shame, and without guilt. The devil would tempt us in making us think that we are unworthy that we failed God so many times that we do not deserve God’s mercy and fellowship, that God does not love us etc. but As we approach God in the Name of Jesus we are implying that through the blood of Jesus we are able to come with boldness into His presence:
We read in Heb. 10:19:22
“Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, 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.”Hebrews 10:19-22, NKJ
In the above verse we see that we have boldness or confidence to enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus. The holiest is the most holy place in the universe, it is the place where God The Father has His throne!
The Apostle John had a revelation of God on His throne and of His holiness. We read about this in Rev. 4:1-3, and then verses 6-8
“After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.”
“And in front of the throne there was pavement like a crystal sea of glass. Around the throne and on each side stood four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind. The first living creature resembled a lion, the second an ox, the third had a human face, and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. Each of the four living creatures had six wings, full of eyes all around and under their wings. They worshiped without ceasing, day and night, singing, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty! The Was, the Is, and the Coming!””Revelation 4:6-8 TPT
So Holy was God that day and night the living creatures worshipped Him and continually proclaimed His holiness
The prophet Isaiah also had a vision of the throne of God and God’s holiness. we read about it in Isaiah 6:1-3
“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty (Yahweh); the whole earth is full of his glory.””Isaiah 6:1-3 NIV
The Seraphims, which are known as the highest angelic order were flying around God’s throne and proclaiming to one another God’s holiness.
Thank God that in the Name of Jesus we can come with boldness into the presence of our holy but yet loving Father.
(b) Seconly, Praying in the Name of Jesus implies that we do not come as beggars into God’s presence but that we come as sons and daughters.
We read in Eph. 1:3-6
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.”Ephesians 1:3-6 NLT
We also read in Gal. 4:6-7 and I am reading from “The passion translation”
“And so that we would know for sure that we are his true children, God released the Spirit of Sonship into our hearts—moving us to cry out intimately, “My Father! You’re our true Father!” Now we’re no longer living like slaves under the law, but we enjoy being God’s very own sons and daughters! And because we’re his, we can have access to everything our Father has—for we are heirs of God through Jesus, the Messiah!”Galatians 4:6-7 TPT
Thank God we do not have to wait for weeks, months to be able to have an appointment with our loving Father. If you would request to see the King of your country this could be the case or perhaps you may never get to see him but as a child of God as a member of His family we have access into His presence continually(c) Thirdly, When we pray in Jesus Name we recognize that we have a high priest, our precious Lord Jesus Christ who is representing us, welcoming us, and pleading our case before the Father.
We read this also in Heb. 10:21-22 and I am also reading from “The passion translation”
“And since we now have a magnificent High Priest to welcome us into God’s house, we come closer to God and approach him with an open heart, fully convinced that nothing will keep us at a distance from him. For our hearts have been sprinkled with blood to remove impurity, and we have been freed from an accusing conscience. Now we are clean, unstained, and presentable to God inside and out!”Hebrews 10:21-22 TPT
We also read in 1John 2:1 that Jesus Christ is our advocate.
“My little children (believers, dear ones), I am writing you these things so that you will not sin and violate God’s law. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate [who will intercede for us] with the Father: Jesus Christ the righteous [the upright, the just One, who conforms to the Father’s will in every way—purpose, thought, and action].”1 John 2:1 AMP
An advocate is one who pleads on another’s behalf.Therefore when we pray in Jesus Name, it is as though Jesus Himself were doing the praying. He takes our place before the Father and He also makes intercession for us!
We read in Heb. 7:25:“Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” It is encouraging to know that God always hears the prayers of Jesus for
we read in John 11:41-42:
“…“Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.
(d) Fourthly, We pray to the Father in the Name of Jesus because Jesus is the only way to the Father. We read in 1Peter 3:18 “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God…”We read here that it is Jesus, God’s Son that brings us to God the Father.
We also read This stated in St.John 14:6:
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”We also read in 1Timothy 2:5:
“For there is [only] one God, and [only] one Mediator between God and mankind, the Man Christ Jesus,”
A mediator is one who stands between or stands in the middle between two parties that need to be reconcilled with each other. Jesus is the only one that can reconcile sinful man with a holy God1 Timothy 2:5 AMP
(e) Fiftly, We pray to the Father in the Name of Jesus because it was through Jesus death and sacrifice on the cross that God the Father completely and forever defeated the devil and provided us with a perfect sacrifice whereby we can be completely forgiven of all our sins and brought back into fellowship with Himself.
We read in Col. 2:13-15:
“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,Matthew 28:18-19 NKJV
Therefore when we pray in the Name of Jesus we are reminding Satan and all evil angels and demons that they are totally defeated and that we have been reconcilled with God and given authority through that Name to resist the devil in our lives, in our situation, in our home, in our circumstances and in the lives of others. We are also reminded that because of Satan’s defeat through Jesus’s death on the cross, his burial and resurrection all authority in Heaven and Earth has been given to Jesus and when Jesus said to His disciples , go therefore, He was delegating his authority to them and to us.
(f) Sixtly, When we pray to the Father in the Name of Jesus all the resources of Heaven are made available to us.
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”Romans 8:31-32 NKJV
“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.”2 Corinthians 1:20 NIV.
God says “yes“, declaring that all his promises are available to us through Christ, we respond in faith by saying “Amen”.
We read this also in Phil. 4:19:
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”(g) Seventhly, When we pray in the Name of Jesus, we are praying in the most powerful Name in the universe. We read in Phillipians 2:9-11:
“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”Philippians 2:9-11 NIV
At the Name of Jesus used with authority and reverence and with a clean heart heart and motives demons tremble the power of sickness is broken, people with evil habits and who are oppressed and possessed of the devil are set free“Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!” Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened.”Acts of the Apostles 3:4-7 NLT
Let us never underestimate the power that is in the name of Jesus! It is a name that is above every other name, all the angels of Heaven are behind that name, all the Godhead stands behind that Name. Sickness, disease, depression and demon powers must flee at that name! Miracles, signs and wonders take place through that mighty Name! All the powers of darkness and all evil angelic beings and demons must bow before that Name! The wonder of all wonders is that we who are God’s children have the great privilege and honor of asking the Father for whatever we may have need of in that Name, which includes healing, and if we ask in faith, we have the wonderful assurance that He will answer our request.-“…Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”John 16:23-24 NKJV
Shall we pray: If you are sick please lay your hand upon your body I believe that as I pray, not in my own righteousness, not because of who I am, not in my own name but in the name of Jesus disease will leave sick bodies, those oppressed by the devil will be set free, those that are bound by fear and evil habits will be set free.If you are one of those who receive a touch from the Lord in your bodies this morning please let us know!
Thank you for listening and we look forward to having another session, with insights from God’s Word, with you all again soon.
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