Is there a way to pray that will cause God to listen? Are the rote prayers of the Anglicans and Roman Catholics actually heard by God? Let’s find out!
AFTER THIS MANNER THEREFORE PRAY YE:
Our Lord gave this prayer as a model, after one of His disciples asked Him – “Lord, teach us to pray as John taught his disciples.”
MATTHEW 6:9-13
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
1. We are to pray to “Our Father which is in heaven,” because He is all-wise, all-loving and all-powerful. And we are instructed to pray in the name of Jesus. . .
JOHN 14:13-14
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If ye shall ask any thing in My name, I will do it.
. . . depending on the mediative influence of the Holy Spirit.
ROMANS 8:26-27
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.
27 And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
2. We are to pray for the coming of the Kingdom. Please note that this occurs after the Millennial Reign of Christ on earth.
MATTHEW 25:31-46
31 When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory:
32 And before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave Me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took Me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed Me: I was sick, and ye visited Me: I was in prison, and ye came unto Me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer Him, saying, Lord, when saw we Thee an hungred, and fed Thee? or thirsty, and gave Thee drink?
38 When saw we Thee a stranger, and took Thee in? or naked, and clothed Thee?
39 Or when saw we Thee sick, or in prison, and came unto Thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.
41 Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave Me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took Me not in: naked, and ye clothed Me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited Me not.
44 Then shall they also answer Him, saying, Lord, when saw we Thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto Thee?
45 Then shall He answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to Me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
4. We are to pray for daily necessities.
5. We are to pray for forgiveness, and practice forgiving others.
6. We are to pray for the leading of the LORD, and deliverance from evil.
7. We are to pray in faith.
HEBREWS 11:5-8
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
The model prayer given to us by The LORD is brief, to the point, and NOT repetitious! It is the “prayer perfect.” It is not to be recited by rote – it is an ideal example of what should flow from the believer’s heart when communing with His Creator.
AFTER THIS MANNER THEREFORE PRAY YE:
Please, please – do not use this as a rote prayer! It is to be done – “after this manner,” not recited!
Next up in the study series – Where to pray.
The Vine Vigil 