In these notes we will consider how we should approach prayer. If we want to learn about any subject, one good approach is to consult an expert in that field.
Consequently, we are going to look at what we can learn concerning prayer from the Lord Yeshua, Moses, Daniel, Paul and others.
The disciple’s prayer model.
The wisdom of consulting an expert obviously occurred to the disciple (Luke 11: 2) who approached the Lord Yeshua saying “… teach us to pray.” We can benefit from the Lord’s reply by studying Matthew 6: 5 -15.
This request led on from a conversation about charitable giving (verses 1 – 4). The Lord had explained that those who make a great public show of their giving, may receive prestige among men, but they are hypocrites! They will receive no reward from Adonai because of their improper motives.
A “hypocrite” is an unregenerated person who is self-deceiving. This accusation the Lord made principally against the scribes and Pharisees. They also made a public show over fasting; making sure that everyone knew of their self-denial. They were using their fast as a way of gaining prestige amongst men; rather than as a time away from daily concerns to serve Adonai.
However, Adonai is not fooled: Matthew 23: 31 “… woe to you scribes and Pharisees … you are witnesses against yourselves.” Adonai will see all and will “search the heart” and “test the mind” (Jeremiah 17: 10).
Hebrews 4: 13.
“And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”
So, regarding the issue of prayer, the Lord Yeshua’s first response was to issue a warning about prayer in the wrong attitude.
He talks first of making individual prayers in a very public manner; in the Temple or even on street corners.
In first century Judaism, there was generally congregational prayer in the Temple or synagogue. This was formal and quite elaborate but extremely deferential to Adonai. This kind of public prayer can indeed the basis of intimacy with Adonai where it is faith-filled and focused on the Holy One of Israel.
The Lord Yeshua criticism was for what should have been private prayer between an individual and Adonai, being made for public consumption and recognition. The key issue was the motivation of the individual.
The Lord determined that private, individual prayer should be an intimate conversation between the believer and Adonai. Therefore, he says, “go into your room” and “shut the door.” One can speak quietly. Adonai does not have a hearing problem!
Further, the Lord Yeshua (verse 7) warns against “vain repetitions” i.e., the same phrases repeated by rote which have lost their meaning. Our heavenly Father wants to hear us speak about the things that are on our hearts; sincere expressions of what we think and care about.
But this prohibition is not against repeated meaningful prayers or supplications or requests for mercy. Persistence can reflect urgency, compassion and boldness. Remember, the parable of the persistent widow, and that the Lord Himself prayed three times about what awaited Him at Golgotha.
In verse 8, the Lord explains that “… your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.” This might make one to think, “so why do we have to pray if Adonai already knows what we are likely to ask for?” But, of course, He might want to hear from us. In prayer, we acknowledge our need and dependence on Him. Prayer is the basis of our communication with Him and reflects that need. Also, Adonai does things in answer to prayer that He might not otherwise have done. He may respond in ways we had not even thought of.
James 4: 2.
“Yet you do not have because you do not ask.”
In verses 9 – 13, the Lord gives the outline model of how a disciple should approach prayer; a model to be copied and adapted as appropriate. This model, of course, should not be referred to as “the Lord’s Prayer”. He never prayed it.
Sometimes we recite it together collectively. This need not be a problem (like the synagogue prayers mentioned earlier), if we get the meaning that its various aspects convey. The Disciple’s prayer formula is notable for its brevity, its simplicity and its comprehensiveness.
The opening of the prayer formula (verse 9) is consistent with many Jewish prayers of the day; “Our Father in heaven”. Prayer must, of course, be directed to Adonai, in acknowledgment of His position as sovereign ruler of the universe.
“Hallowed be Your name”: this of course is an imperative (a command), “may Your name be hallowed”. In Ezekiel 36, Israel is taken to task for profaning the name of Adonai among the nations. So, at the beginning of prayer, we should open with worship, ascribing praise and honour to Him who is most worthy of it.
Your kingdom come”. After worship, we should pray for the advancement of Adonai’s cause; putting His interests first. Specifically, we should pray for the day when the Lord Yeshua will establish His kingdom on earth and reign in righteousness.
“Your will be done”. All prayers should submit to the purposes, plans and glory of Adonai. He alone knows what is best and we surrender to His will. As the Lord Yeshua said (Matthew 26: 39), “… not as I will, but as You will.”. The prayer formula expresses the longing to see His will acknowledged throughout the world.
“on earth as it is in heaven”. The worship of Adonai, His sovereign rule and the performance of His will are a reality in heaven. The prayer formula expresses the longing that the same situation would exist on earth.
Verses 9 and 10 have three petitions asking for the kingdom to come. They reflect the synagogue prayer known as “Kaddish” which can be translated:
“Magnified and sanctified be His great name throughout the world, which He has created according to His will, and may He establish His kingdom in your lifetime.”
The next three petitions seek Adonai’s action to meet the needs of His people until such time as His kingdom is established. It is interesting to note that these petitions all have plural phrasing; “give us”, “forgive us”, and “lead us”. It is the needs of the many that are addressed here.
“Give us this day our daily bread”. After putting the interest of Adonai first, the disciples were led to present their own needs.
Verse 11 acknowledges our dependence on Adonai for daily spiritual and physical food; like the daily provision of manna to the people in the desert.
Verse 12 “forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors”. We are talking here of spiritual debt i.e., transgressions. Sinners are “debtors” to Adonai. Sin involves violations of His law. Withholding forgiveness to others, may lead to chastening by Adonai.
This forgiveness does not concern salvation and forgiveness from the penalty of sin. That forgiveness is given through faith in the Lord Yeshua. Rather this refers to seeking parental forgiveness from God the Father. This is necessary to maintain fully our relationship with Adonai.
If believers are unwilling to forgive those who wrong them, how can they expect to be in fellowship with Adonai who has forgiven us so much.
Verse 13 “do not lead us into temptation”. Please note that Adonai does not tempt us.
James 1:13.
“… God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.”
However, He will subject us to trial that may expose us to Satan’s assaults, as we see in Job and Peter.
Luke 22: 31 and 32.
“… Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
The prayer pattern in verse 13, expresses the believer’s desire to avoid the dangers of sin altogether. Adonai knows what a person’s needs are before he asks (verse 8) and He promises that no-one will be subjected to testing beyond that which he can endure. He also promises a means of escape.
1 Corinthians 10: 13.
“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
Nevertheless, it is proper for the believer to keep himself from trouble. In so doing, it shows a healthy distrust in one’s own ability to resist temptation and to stand up under trial. It acknowledges complete dependence on the Lord for our preservation.
Verse 13. “For Your’s is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.”
All our prayers have no foundation other than Adonai alone. This doxology (an expression of praise for Adonai) derives from 1 Chronicles 29: 11 when David blessed the Lord.
“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and You are exalted as head over all.”
Prayers of the Lord Yeshua.
Having looked at the Lord’s teaching on prayer, let us look at prayers He is recorded as having made.
The best source to get an appreciation of the prayer life of the Lord Yeshua, is the gospel of Luke. Luke was intent on presenting the humanity of the Lord (the Son of Man) and to present His demeanour as the obedient Son of the Father.
Luke demonstrates Messiah’s complete dependence on Adonai by illustrating His prayers at times of great importance in His work.
Luke 3: 21 at His baptism. This of course was the inception of His earthly ministry and undoubtedly, He sought guidance for the way ahead.
Luke 5: 16 for rest. When the Lord needed rest and refreshment, He would “withdraw into the wilderness” and pray.
Luke 9: 12, 13 before choosing the apostles. He “continued in prayer all night.”
Luke 9: 16 after the feeding of the five thousand. It seems likely that this prayer reflected the importance of the lesson He wanted the disciples to learn here; that how with limited resources, their willingness to serve could produce results far beyond their imaginings.
Luke 9: 28, 29 on the Mount of Transfiguration. This meeting with Moses and Elijah marked the first step towards Golgotha and “the decrease He was about to accomplish in Jerusalem.”
Luke 10: 21 in thanksgiving to Adonai. When the seventy He had sent out returned elated that “even the demons” were “subject to them” in the Lord Yeshua’s name. This initial success, even though they were not “the wise and prudent” showed that there would be the eventual downfall of Satan. An important message for them.
Luke 22: 31, 32 for Peter’s faith. Knowing that Peter would fail temporarily, the Lord prayed that Peter would be ultimately restored and be a stalwart of the early church.
Luke 22: 42 – 44 in Gethsemane. The Lord prayed as He agonised over His approaching death and the effect of Adonai’s wrath and His temporary separation from Adonai. In His humanity He was horrified but Adonai’s response was to “strengthen Him.” Knowing that there was no other possible way to save mankind, the Lord yielded to the will of Adonai.
Luke 23: 46 on the cross at the point of death: “Father, into Your hands, I commit My spirit.”
Luke 24: 30, 31 after His resurrection. When He was with the disciples on the Emmaus Road, it was as He made a blessing over the bread that their “eyes opened”. Until then, Adonai had sovereignly kept them from recognising Him. This was an important event in the resurrection experiences, preparing the apostles for their work in the new church.
Thus, through Luke we can see how the Lord turned to Adonai in prayer at every important point in His life, and surely, we should do the same.
What can Moses, the faithful servant of Adonai, teach us about prayer?
Moses of course was the great intercessor. Three factors made him the great intercessor: his humility; his compassion for his people; and his zeal for the glory of Adonai. So, let us look at the intercessory prayers of Moses.
Even in his dispute with Pharoah (Exodus 8: 8 – 13), Moses was willing to intercede for Egypt over the matter of the plague of frogs.
In the desert, he prayed (Exodus 15: 24 and 25) for water for the thirsty nation of refugee people.
He pleaded for the people (Exodus 32: 11 –13, 31 – 34) even after their sinful actions over the golden calf.
He was willing to sacrifice himself for his people, when he called on Adonai; “blot me out of Your book which You have written.” He asked that terrible punishment to be on him, not on his people. So effective was his prayer that, “the Lord relented from the harm that He said He would do to His people.” (Exodus 32: 14).
Moses interceded with Adonai over his sister’s leprosy even though it had been inflicted on her because of her verbal attack on him. (Numbers 12: 4 – 15).
Moses asked in prayer for a successor (Numbers 27: 15 – 17) who would lead the people after his death. Adonai appointed Joshua. Moses did all he could to prepare Joshua for leadership. Moses did not ask for a dynasty for his own family. He wanted the best person to lead the people.
But even Moses did not achieve complete success in his prayers. He appealed to Adonai to allow him to enter the Promised Land with his people. But Adonai was angry with him over the incident at Kadesh.
Moses had been commanded to speak to the rock to produce water. But he struck it instead. He disobeyed because of unrighteous anger at the people, and he failed to give honour to Adonai. Even later he blamed the people and not his poor response to their complaints.
His later prayer in which he acknowledged Adonai’s holiness and power, got only a partial response. He would not enter the Promised Land, but he would be allowed to see it from a distance.
Even Moses had to keep short accounts with Adonai!
Let us move on to Daniel. What can we learn from Daniel’s great prayer of Chapter 9 verses 1 – 19?
Daniel’s prayer was based on his study of scripture especially Jeremiah chapter 25. He knew that the period of captivity for Israel was time-limited and was coming to an end. He also knew what had caused Adonai’s wrath against the people, and that He had promised restoration.
Daniel confessed of and repented over his people’s sin. Despite his personal innocence, he confessed to the numerous sins of his people, and for himself as a member of the wayward nation. This was his humble and fervent prayer, “we have sinned.”
Daniel fasted and prayed over a period. We do not know how long, but he demonstrated his remorse by wearing sackcloth and smearing himself with ashes.
Only after this period of strengthening by confession, did Daniel ask for mercy. He acknowledged his dependence on Adonai’s longsuffering mercy, and His desire to forgive.
Daniel focused on the glory of Adonai. He made his petition for what would relieve his people, but equally for what would bring glory to Adonai for His greatness, awesomeness, faithfulness, mercy and forgiveness. Daniel’s plea could only be based on the mercy of Adonai; the mercy He had previously shown to His people.
We should be clear that Daniel’s approach to Adonai was humble and sincere. This was no gimmick to manipulate Adonai but a genuine desire to see His name glorified.
Prayer must be sincere; a humble acknowledgment of our true situation before Adonai and an admission of our need for His divine help, guidance and mercy, and a desire to see His name glorified.
Adonai is completely faithful. He had given His promise and would keep it even at a time of judgment. If Israel would confess its sin, He would bring blessing again and, on that Daniel, depended.
Leviticus 26: 40 – 42.
“But if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers, with their unfaithfulness in which they were unfaithful to Me, and that they have also walked contrary to Me, and that I also have walked contrary to them and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if their uncircumcised hearts are humbled, and they accept their guilt – then I will remember My covenant with Jacob, and My covenant with Isaac and My covenant with Abraham I will remember; I will remember the land.”
What can we learn about prayer from the apostle Paul?
As one might expect, Paul wrote about his prayers for the believers at the various churches where he had been working. The focus of these prayers was moulded to the needs of each congregation.
For the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 13: 7), he wrote to them that he prayed for their good conduct and that they would do “what is honourable”.
For the Ephesians (Ephesians 1: 17), he wrote to them that he prayed that they would grow in “the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him” (the Lord Yeshua).
For the Philippians (Philippians 1: 9), he wrote to them that he prayed that they “might abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent…”
For the Thessalonians (2 Thessalonians 1:11), he wrote to them that he prayed “that our God would count you worthy of this calling.”
But Paul was not too proud to seek the prayers of the faithful people for himself. He recognized the power of such prayers.
Philippians 1: 19.
“For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ …”
And very simply in 1 Thessalonians 5: 25, he writes, “brothers pray for us.”
Paul also recognised the power of one group of believers praying for another congregation (2 Corinthians 9:14).
Paul gave advice on how to pray to those he worked with.
In Romans 12:12, he wrote “continue steadfastly in prayer”.
In Philippians 4:6, he wrote “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God …”
In Colossians 4:2, he wrote “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving …”
It is interesting to note whom Paul included in his prayers.
Although his teaching was most distasteful to unconverted Jews, his greatest desire for which he prayed was to see the Jewish nation saved.
Romans 10:1.
“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.”
Also, whilst his beloved nation was subject to Roman domination under evil emperors, he could write: –
Romans 13: 1.
“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities.”
1 Timothy 2: 1and 2.
“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority …”
Paul offers comfort to anyone who feels they struggle in their prayer life.
Romans 8: 26 and 27.
“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercessions for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercessions for the saints according to the will of God.”
Paul is saying here, “don’t worry if you struggle in prayer, the Holy Spirit will pray effectively for you.” He intercedes on our behalf before throne of God. This work of the Holy Spirit parallels the high priestly work of Lord Yeshua on behalf of believers. This is a great force working on our behalf.
Prayers by others in the Gospel of Luke.
The elderly Simeon (Luke 2: 25 –32) made of prayer of thanksgiving in the Temple that he had lived to see the newborn Messiah. Simeon knew that his life was at an end, but he was so thankful that he had lived to see the agent of salvation come to earth. It is a prayer of extraordinary faith. Simeon had received what he had been promised. The sting of death was gone, and he died contented.
We also see in the gospel of Luke, several healings of the blind and lepers (Luke 5: 17 and 18). It is notable in each case that the sufferer calls to the Lord with a messianic title – “Lord”, “Master”, or “Son of David”. Their plea to Him is for mercy and healing. They acknowledge His deity and then sought blessing, knowing that they have no right to healing but that He has the power to heal.
So, let us look at some of the lessons we can take concerning prayer.
As children of Adonai (i.e., believers), we have access to the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. We can have intimate, personal conversation with Him, our loving heavenly Father. How foolish of us not to make use of this powerful and might resource!
Whether we pray individually, with our spouse or in a group of believers, we should first and foremost recognise the loving power, majesty and mercy of Adonai. We must never enter prayer to show off how clever or spiritual we are!
Where possible we should speak in accordance with scripture as Daniel did.
Having recognised the sovereignty of Adonai and the Lord Yeshua, we can bring before the throne of grace those for whom we wish to intercede. This of course may be over their need for salvation, for restoration of health or for assistance in problems in life they are facing.
We should never run out of matters or people to pray for. We should pray for ourselves, our families, our fellowship, other believers, non-believers, our nation, for Israel, for other nations, for governments, and individual leaders.
We should not be afraid to make repeated requests which come from the heart (such as over the salvation of those we love).
We should remember to forgive anyone who has offended us.
Then we may speak of ourselves; confessing our shortcomings, seeking forgiveness and mercy and asking guidance over all important decisions we must make. Don’t worry about getting it wrong. If it’s from the heart, Paul showed us, the Holy Spirit will guide and intercede.
And, finally, don’t be too proud to ask fellow believers to pray for you in your need.
#AMEN.