Jesus’ prayer life was most impressive to those close to Him. It was
His relationship with his Father God that stood out as the most desirable
aspect of Jesus’ ministry. The disciples were more impressed with Jesus’
walk with God than with the miracles they witnessed. They wanted to be "like"
Jesus more than do what He did. Their heart cry was Lord, teach
us to pray!… I will go ahead and add my interpretation…
“so that we can be like You and do what you do.”
Folks, don’t you desire to be like Jesus? Don’t you desire to
know this wonderful Saviour intimately? I sure do! Yes, we should desire to
do His mighty works and have the Holy Spirit use us in the same way He used
Jesus. Yes we should want God’s power and anointing to flow through
us mightily. It is our Father’s will and desire for each of His children
to be blessed and fulfilled in this life. But as great as these things are
we should want “Him” more. Only when we have things in our lives
in the right order do God's benefits and blessings flow as they ought.
Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall
be added to you. Matt 6:33
This is the primary purpose of why you and I were created – to fellowship
with the Creator himself.
God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord. 1Cor 1:9
God loves people and as vast as the universe is, we just happen to be what
most of His attention is on. Our wonderful heavenly Father loves you and I
dearly and He wants to be close.
For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed
that I came forth from God. John 16:27
Yes, as faith people it is right for us to believe for God's power and blessings
because it is our Father's will. The primary purpose for our faith though
is not for these things. Faith is given to us first to love with.
We have been given faith to love God, and faith to love people... first! We
can have everything and do everything, but as the scriptures declare,
"if we don't have love we are nothing!." I don't want to get
to the end of my life and have done mighty things for God, but not know God.
How about you? Of course you don't either. Our prayer life then is not just
one of a heap of words and requests, but one of fellowship and love with God.
Jesus' prayer life with his Father was so much this way that it was mighty
attractive to His closest followers - the disciples. Lord, teach "us"
to pray...! Luke 11:1. Lets start looking at His response
to their request.
Notice the Lord's Prayer begins with Our Father in Heaven. Straight
away I see two things; relationship and intimacy. Only those that know God
as "Father" can pray this way. Only those that are born again through
excepting Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour, having their sins
washed away by His precious blood can have access to God as "Father".
This is relationship. We can come boldly to the throne room of the universe
and speak to God Almighty himself... as Father! Why? Because we are His children
in Christ Jesus. He has become our Daddy.
I am very blessed to have a wonderful loving caring earthly father. His name
is Brian. We live at a distance and I may only get to see him several times
in a year. But I look forward to our times together. We laugh and play and
enjoy each others company. The Bible says our Heavenly Father is much greater
than any earthly father. He loves us much more and has greater gifts and blessings
that He can hardly wait to shower upon us, as His dear children.
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those
who ask Him! Matt 7:11
What a privilege you and I have been given to be able to pray to our Father
who is in Heaven. Not just once in a while but as often as we need or desire.
You will notice the prayer "Our Father in Heaven" continues
with "Hallowed be your Name". This speaks of us as having
not only an intimate relationship with our Father God, but having great respect
for who He is. It speaks of us having a holy fear of His holiness. Not a fear
as in being afraid of God, for how could you have intimacy with someone you
are afraid of. But a reverential fear of who He is. This holy God requires
us to live a holy life also if we are to truly draw near to His awesome throne,
and fellowship with Him.
Our Father God is so loving and kind but we must always remember that He is
God Almighty, the awesome Creator of the universe. Jesus knew God intimately
as his Father, but also as Creator God. Next time we will look further at
what He taught us.
God bless you richly
love
David
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"In this manner therefore pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your
name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give
us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins as we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For
your is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
Matthew 6:9-13