JESUS shows us that prayer should be SURRENDERED
4.1 INTRODUCTION - MISTAKEN VIEWS OF PRAYER
The disciple who asked, "Lord, teach us to pray" felt a need not only for himself but also for his fellow-disciples. We all need to learn from Jesus because we have many mistaken ideas about prayer. Here are some mistaken views of prayer which are very common:
4.1.1 SOME VIEW PRAYER AS A "FIRE ESCAPE"
Those who see prayer as a "fire escape" keep it handy just for emergencies. They go though life with not a thought for God's will. Only when trouble comes do they rush to the "emergency exit" called "prayer," and then they expect God to listen to them and to rescue them.
4.1.2 SOME VIEW PRAYER AS A "GOOD LUCK CHARM"
It does not matter how one lives, just as long as he mumbles off his prayers before bedtime, prayer will be his "good-luck charm" (lucky bracelet, badge or necklace, or in some countries a rabbit's foot for bringing luck). A few prayer rituals keep good fortune on one's side. It just seems to be the safe thing to do.
4.1.3 SOME VIEW PRAYER AS A "HEAVENLY A.T.M."
To some believers prayer is a kind of banking machine, a marvelous computer in the sky. If you learn how to push the right buttons with God, you get out of God exactly what you want: health, happiness, vacations, money, friends, prosperity, and more. Just use that magic machine called prayer, and you can manipulate God in almost any way you want.
4.2 WRITE YOUR OWN TICKET?
On the popular market there was a booklet entitled "How To Write Your Own Ticket With God." That is a rather unfortunate title, because it means "How To Get Your Own Way With God" (and it happens also to reflect the message of the booklet). What a totally different attitude Jesus had. Jesus said: "Not My will, but Yours be done!" In other words, "I don't want to get My own way ... I want Your way. I don't want to write My own ticket. I'll take whatever ticket You write, Father." One hears and reads a number of different statements from different groups which basically say, "If you are not in good health, and if you are not getting richer and richer, then it is sure proof that you do not know how to pray."
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> 4.3 THE POVERTY OF JESUS
I wonder what they would have said about Jesus?
" Jesus replied, 'Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.'" (Matthew 8:20).
Toward the end of Jesus' ministry He was virtually friendless and penniless, " a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." Some today would say: "Jesus, you need to take our 'Health and Happiness Plan'. You obviously do not know how to pray." One wonders what they would have said of the Apostles? Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have . . ." (Acts 3:6). Paul said, We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world (1 Corinthians 4:12-13).
Some today would say, "Peter, Paul, let me pray for you. You obviously are not in contact with the power. You have not 'plugged into' God's secret formula for financial and social success!" We wonder if these are not the kind of people, described by 1 Timothy 6:5, who "have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain." Now which is it? Is prayer a sort of "bank card"? You push it into the spiritual computer, push the right buttons, and God hands over the cash, or the health, or happiness? Or is prayer an act of submission, whereby you surrender to God's will and say, "Not My will, but Thine be done?"
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4.4 JESUS WAS SUBMISSIVE
Great power and high position often lead men to feel that they can take liberties with law - at least as it applies to themselves. Jesus enjoyed the highest position and the greatest power, yet His attitude was one of obedience to God in everything. "Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered" (Hebrews 5:8). Repeatedly Jesus emphasized that He did nothing on His own authority or initiative, but did only what the Father told Him to do (Jn. 5:19,30; 6:38; 8:28). His very food was to do God's will (Jn. 4:24)! When Jesus taught the disciples the model prayer, He said, "This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven'" (Matthew 6:9-10).
In John 12:27-28 Jesus was being troubled by thoughts of what He had to go through on the cross. He said, "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save Me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name!" We too ask, "Shall I seek what would selfishly benefit me?" If we follow in Jesus' steps, the answer must be, "No! I will seek the things that let God glorify Himself through my life (or death)!" In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed, "Abba, Father, Everything is possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will" (Mk. 14:36).
In His second prayer He said, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may Your will be done" (Mt. 26:42).
In each of these prayers we see the attitude of total surrender to God's will.
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4.5 A SECRET OF SUCCESS
This was another secret of the success of Jesus' prayers - He was in harmony with God's will. "He was heard because of His reverent submission" (Heb. 5:7). Jesus described His relationship with the Father in this way: "The One who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do what pleases Him" (Jn. 8:29). "If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you" (Jn. 15:7). "We receive from Him anything we ask, because we obey His commands, and do what pleases Him" (I John 3:22).
The promise of answered prayer is to those who are primarily going to ask responsibly with God's will uppermost in their affections. The promise is not made to those who are continually selfish, irresponsible or disobedient.
James 4:3 explains, "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend what you get on your own pleasures."
The right attitude is shown again by John. "If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us" (1 Jn. 5:14).
SO, brothers and sisters; better be careful when praying because you might only singing not knowing what you are praying for, just to show off or to be seen.
4.1 INTRODUCTION - MISTAKEN VIEWS OF PRAYER
The disciple who asked, "Lord, teach us to pray" felt a need not only for himself but also for his fellow-disciples. We all need to learn from Jesus because we have many mistaken ideas about prayer. Here are some mistaken views of prayer which are very common:
4.1.1 SOME VIEW PRAYER AS A "FIRE ESCAPE"
Those who see prayer as a "fire escape" keep it handy just for emergencies. They go though life with not a thought for God's will. Only when trouble comes do they rush to the "emergency exit" called "prayer," and then they expect God to listen to them and to rescue them.
4.1.2 SOME VIEW PRAYER AS A "GOOD LUCK CHARM"
It does not matter how one lives, just as long as he mumbles off his prayers before bedtime, prayer will be his "good-luck charm" (lucky bracelet, badge or necklace, or in some countries a rabbit's foot for bringing luck). A few prayer rituals keep good fortune on one's side. It just seems to be the safe thing to do.
4.1.3 SOME VIEW PRAYER AS A "HEAVENLY A.T.M."
To some believers prayer is a kind of banking machine, a marvelous computer in the sky. If you learn how to push the right buttons with God, you get out of God exactly what you want: health, happiness, vacations, money, friends, prosperity, and more. Just use that magic machine called prayer, and you can manipulate God in almost any way you want.
4.2 WRITE YOUR OWN TICKET?
On the popular market there was a booklet entitled "How To Write Your Own Ticket With God." That is a rather unfortunate title, because it means "How To Get Your Own Way With God" (and it happens also to reflect the message of the booklet). What a totally different attitude Jesus had. Jesus said: "Not My will, but Yours be done!" In other words, "I don't want to get My own way ... I want Your way. I don't want to write My own ticket. I'll take whatever ticket You write, Father." One hears and reads a number of different statements from different groups which basically say, "If you are not in good health, and if you are not getting richer and richer, then it is sure proof that you do not know how to pray."
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> 4.3 THE POVERTY OF JESUS
I wonder what they would have said about Jesus?
" Jesus replied, 'Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.'" (Matthew 8:20).
Toward the end of Jesus' ministry He was virtually friendless and penniless, " a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." Some today would say: "Jesus, you need to take our 'Health and Happiness Plan'. You obviously do not know how to pray." One wonders what they would have said of the Apostles? Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have . . ." (Acts 3:6). Paul said, We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world (1 Corinthians 4:12-13).
Some today would say, "Peter, Paul, let me pray for you. You obviously are not in contact with the power. You have not 'plugged into' God's secret formula for financial and social success!" We wonder if these are not the kind of people, described by 1 Timothy 6:5, who "have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain." Now which is it? Is prayer a sort of "bank card"? You push it into the spiritual computer, push the right buttons, and God hands over the cash, or the health, or happiness? Or is prayer an act of submission, whereby you surrender to God's will and say, "Not My will, but Thine be done?"
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
4.4 JESUS WAS SUBMISSIVE
Great power and high position often lead men to feel that they can take liberties with law - at least as it applies to themselves. Jesus enjoyed the highest position and the greatest power, yet His attitude was one of obedience to God in everything. "Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered" (Hebrews 5:8). Repeatedly Jesus emphasized that He did nothing on His own authority or initiative, but did only what the Father told Him to do (Jn. 5:19,30; 6:38; 8:28). His very food was to do God's will (Jn. 4:24)! When Jesus taught the disciples the model prayer, He said, "This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven'" (Matthew 6:9-10).
In John 12:27-28 Jesus was being troubled by thoughts of what He had to go through on the cross. He said, "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save Me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name!" We too ask, "Shall I seek what would selfishly benefit me?" If we follow in Jesus' steps, the answer must be, "No! I will seek the things that let God glorify Himself through my life (or death)!" In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed, "Abba, Father, Everything is possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will" (Mk. 14:36).
In His second prayer He said, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may Your will be done" (Mt. 26:42).
In each of these prayers we see the attitude of total surrender to God's will.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
4.5 A SECRET OF SUCCESS
This was another secret of the success of Jesus' prayers - He was in harmony with God's will. "He was heard because of His reverent submission" (Heb. 5:7). Jesus described His relationship with the Father in this way: "The One who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do what pleases Him" (Jn. 8:29). "If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you" (Jn. 15:7). "We receive from Him anything we ask, because we obey His commands, and do what pleases Him" (I John 3:22).
The promise of answered prayer is to those who are primarily going to ask responsibly with God's will uppermost in their affections. The promise is not made to those who are continually selfish, irresponsible or disobedient.
James 4:3 explains, "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend what you get on your own pleasures."
The right attitude is shown again by John. "If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us" (1 Jn. 5:14).
SO, brothers and sisters; better be careful when praying because you might only singing not knowing what you are praying for, just to show off or to be seen.
