And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
The above scripture reveals the fact that ordinary Israelites in the Old Testament were not aware of how to pray. For the first time in the Old Testament, it was St. John the baptist, who was preparing the way for the Lord, Jesus Christ, began to teach ordinary people on how to pray to God.
When the disciples of Jesus Christ wanted Him to teach them on how to pray to God, Jesus Christ gave them a model prayer, which is today known by many denominations as 'THE LORD'S PRAYER' which starts with the words "Our Father Who art in Heaven...", .
Here you go with the Lord's Prayer as mentioned in King James Version of the Holy Bible...(Luke 11:2-4)
And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
However, this model prayer was given to the disciples for them to make until they entered The New Testament with the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. That is why when Jesus was about to be crucified, He was revealing the disciples a new way of presenting their requests to God the Father.
What is this new way?(John 14:13-14)
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
Yes, you should ask everything and anything from God the Father, in the Name of His Begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
Now, again if you look at the Lord's Prayer, we can come to the conclusion that anyone who would memorize this prayer and repeat it before God is not accepted as they have not offered it in the Name of Jesus Christ. The reason for them to make this terrible mistake is the fact that the model prayer does not include these wordings anywhere therein.
Remember, we are now in a new covenant (blood covenant) with our Lord Jesus Christ. Those who are in this covenant belong to a New Testament and should come to God the Father with the following words, right at the beginning of their prayer.
'God Almighty, (you can use any other name here for God to your liking), I come to You, in the Name of Jesus Christ.'
Remember, there is no other name for you and me to come to God the Father except the Name of Jesus Christ. Why??? because of the following words Jesus Christ Himself has spoken to you and me in John 14:6.(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.
Hence, those Christians, who memorize THE LORD'S PRAYER and repeat it as it is given to the disciples who were in the Old Testament at the time this model prayer was given to them, must not forget to modify it by adding the words 'IN THE NAME OF JESUS'.
However, truly after you learn to pray in spirit, you need not memorize any prayers for making before God, as the Holy Spirit would give you the right words to speak when you are in the presence of God.
Now let's examine from the Word of God why the ordinary Israelites in the Old Testament were not aware of the way of praying to God.
The Children of Israel in the Old Testament were not asked to lead a Prayer Life. When we read the Bible, we see that God appointed special people as Prophets and Priests and wanted them to pray to God on behalf of God's people.
What is the reason for God not to give 'PRAYER' as a commandment to all individual Israelites in common?
Well, in prayer, an ordinary man in the Old Testament could not reach God for an answer because of THE BARRIER that prevailed between God and Man.
What is this barrier?
Yes, this barrier is SIN. Since the day SIN entered man, SIN itself stood between God and Man as a barrier for a direct communication between them (God & Man). Hence in the Old Testament, PRAYER was not requested from the ordinary Israelites even after they were chosen as a Nation dedicated to God.
However, as mentioned above, God appointed special people through whom God communicated to the ordinary people. God appointed them as Prophets & Priests. Prophets and Priests functioned as mediators or intercessors between God and the ordinary people.
However, God wanted His Prophets and Priests to lead a dedicated holy life as they could hear directly from God. With all this dedication, from time to time, God still wanted them to shed the blood of various animals as an atonement (covering) for the sin of them and of the ordinary people.
But, the ordinary children of Israel had been given commandments in a LAW through Moses, God's Prophet and God wanted them all to obey these commandments. In addition to obeying the commandments of God, the ordinary people were given another task similar to PRAYER in the New Testament. Guess what?
Yes, the Children of Israel were required to meditate the commandments of God and speak them with their mouth day and night.
(Joshua 1:8)
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
They were required to speak these commandments to their children. Further, they were required to be in a constant conversation with others (with their own children and with their fellow brothers and sisters) about the Mighty Works of God and all good deeds God did to their fathers. In other words, God had to be a MAIN TOPIC in their day-to-day conversations with each other.
(Deu 11:19)
And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
However, with the beginning of the New Testament, PRAYER has been given as a COMMANDMENT to every individual who has accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour, Why???
Because every individual who accepts Jesus Christ as their personal saviour has no barrier to reach God by using the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ. In other words, today, every one of us has the direct access to God the Father in the Name of Jesus Christ. We can boldly say, ' Oh, God Almighty, we come to You in the Name of Jesus Christ'.
Truly, Jesus bore our SIN in His own body on the cross and offered His Own Life as a Living Sacrifice unto God. Jesus paid the Price of SIN and bought you and me in order to bring to God the Father. (1Peter 2:24)
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Today, SIN has no power to stand as a BARRIER between God and those who believe in Jesus Christ.
Today, we do not need Prophets and Priests to intercede for us before God as our only INTERCESSOR is CHRIST.
Today, we do not need any more animal sacrifices as CHRIST sacrificed Himself for us.
Because of THE DELIVERANCE, Jesus Christ has brought to the World, PRAYER has become a new commandment given to every individual in the New Testament. We all are priests and kings in the New Testament. Hence, every one of us in the New Testament must have a constant prayer life. If not there is no difference between the people in the Old Testament and us.
If we do not pray, we become more miserable than the people in the Old Testament, as the people in the Old Testament had their intercessors - Prophets and Priests to pray to God on their behalf whereas we don't have them with us in the New Testament because of Jesus Christ, who has become the Prophet, the Priest, the Sacrifice, and in addition, the Redeemer of us. Finally, if we do not pray we are kept accountable for it as we are not using the opportunity given to us, in order to come to God the Father in the name of Jesus Christ.
IMPORTANT
However, we are not free even from what was given to the people in the Old Testament instead of PRAYER. What does this mean?
Yes, while having a constant prayer life, we must also meditate the commandments of God and speak them to others. God must be a MAIN TOPIC in our day-to-day conversations with others. When enjoying every blessing of God, including so called NATURE, we must talk about THE MIGHTY WORKS OF GOD behind these blessings.
When we operate in both areas as explained above, God becomes REAL in our lives. Then we begin to see our lives being blessed in every respect.
We begin to see our diseases fleeing away from our bodies.
We begin to see our children being blessed wherever they go.
We begin to see even our enemies becoming friends of us as never before.
We begin to see people honoring our words.
Yes, we begin to see our whole life being filled with FULL OF BLESSINGS.
But, remember, all of these things never happen OVER NIGHT. It may take some time. But God would never fail you or forsake you if you stand for God and represent Him on earth. (Psalms 34:8)
O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
Yes, my friends, taste and see that The Lord is good. We all are invited to taste and see that God is Good. Amen!
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