How to Pray

Jesus instructed humanity on how to pray.

”But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." (Matthew 5:44)

“...when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." (Matthew 6:6)

"...when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too." (Mark 11:25)

“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” (Mark 11:25)

"...bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." (Luke 6:28)

Until humans do this, the joy and peace that comes from believing in the God of the Bible will remain an enigma. As Paul says...

"For at present we are observing by means of a mirror, in an enigma, yet then, face to face. At present I know out of an installment, yet then I shall recognize according as I am recognized also. Yet now are remaining faith, expectation, love - these three. yet the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:12-13)

Fuel For The Fire

“…be filled with the knowledge of His will…” (Colossians 1:10)

19 years ago I began to pray the above prayer for myself. Soon thereafter I began to examine my doctrinal positions.  In doing so I had to face squarely a question I had avoided for the most part - Is it really God’s WILL to separate Himself from unbelievers, keeping them alive eternally to punish and torment them? 

I was determined to be "filled with the knowledge of His will" even if it meant to embrace this doctrine which seemed to me to contradict the love of God. And for 5 years I studied Scripture, and the more I studied, the more it became obvious that this doctrine was not in the original language of His Word.

When the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar wanted to punish the people of God who had refused to worship him, he had them thrown into a furnace of fire...

“But whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire.” (Daniel 3:6)

Is our God like Nebuchadnezzar?

When Jesus’s Jewish disciples wanted to reign down fire from heaven and destroy the Samaritans Jesus told them…

"You do not know what kind of spirit you are of; for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." (Luke 9:56)

Of what spirit is the doctrine of eternal conscience torment? 

Paul had told Timothy...

"...instruct certain men not to teach false doctrines or devote themselves to myths..." (1 Timothy 1:3-4)

So how did it become a doctrine of the church?

It came by mixing the gospel of Jesus, the Savior of the world with Greek mythology, Greek philosophy and Greek theology - which has brought the institutional churches to a sorry state. Listen to one of the Saints of the Catholic church from the middle ages...

"The blessed in the kingdom of heaven will see the punishments of the damned, in order that their bliss be more delightful for them." - Saint Thomas Aquinas

And hear part of two sermons by Jonathan Edwards, a Protestant preacher whose sermons are still quoted by misguided evangelists in our modern era.

“The view of the misery of the damned will double the ardour of the love and gratitude of the saints of heaven...The sight of hell's torments will exalt the happiness of the saints forever. . .Can the believing father in Heaven be happy with his unbelieving children in Hell. . . I tell you, yea! Such will be his sense of justice that it will increase rather than diminish his bliss."

These men are insane and their words some of the most heretical blasphemy against God and Christ Jesus ever uttered. We were warned by Paul to avoid these servants of "Satan"...

"For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness." (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)

And what will be the end of Saint Thomas and Jonathan Edwards?

"Anathema Maranatha!" (1 Corinthians 16:22; Galatians 1:9)

Meaning - such men are devoted to destruction at the coming of the Lord. They will be judged and cast into the lake of fire for their unbelief (the second death is the lake of fire, not eternal conscious torment although it would be poetic justice).

Paul specifically told Timothy what to "prescribe and teach"…

“As in Adam all die, even so, in Christ, shall all be made alive...this is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…God our Savior WILLS all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who have Himself a ransom for ALL...we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of ALL mankind, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things.” (1 Corinthians 15:22; 1 Timothy 1:15; 2:3-6; 4:10)

You are not one of the "believers" if you do not teach the above, nor can people be a "believer" who teach the opposite - the myth of eternal conscious torment. 

When I finally became a "believer", it freed me from these "doctrines of demons". 

"But the Spirit explicitly says that in subsequent eras some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons." (1 Timothy 4:1)

Rejecting the "doctrines of demons" is the only way to believe the clear statements in the Bible that it is the WILL of God that all be saved and the whole world reconciled to God. Read the Bible with the goal of harmonizing all of it with that WILL.  The truth is that God will be ALL in ALL His creation…according to His grace and mercy!

“...through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross" ... "that God may be All in All.” (Colossians 1:20; 1 Corinthians 15:28)

My faith has not been received well by the institutional church and I have found it is wasting time to argue. However, I will from time to time share my thoughts on the truth they ignore, and I will pray that those who read my thoughts will "ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will"...

“…ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may have a walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him.” (Colossians 1:10)

You cannot please God by believing He will allow eternal torment. Trying to build on Jesus, our "foundation", with such teaching composed of "wood, hay and straw" will fuel the fire that will consume those false teachings when we all stand before Jesus to give an account of what we chose to believe about God.

"Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God...For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on the foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the day will bring it to light.  It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved - even though only as one escaping through the flames." (Romans 14:12; 1 Corinthians 3:12-15)

My advice is to stop fueling the fire!

When You Ask...And Nothing Happens

Jesus told his followers...

“...I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you...In that day you will not question me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in my name, He will give it to you...I am leaving the world again and going to the Father...In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:16-33)

Jesus was speaking of his return at the close of this age. Only at that time will joy be permanent and only then will we ask of the Father and it will be done.

NOTE, asking for and receiving all that we ask is for that time, NOT IN THIS AGE. He told them that in this age they will have "tribulation"...but the problems of this world and age are temporary and when all the ages are concluded John says...

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away. And He who sits on the throne said, Behold, I am making all things new. And He said, Write, for these words are faithful and true." (Revelation 21:3-5)

Eventually, at the close of the ages, death (both the first and the second) will be abolished, and God will be All in All...and all we ask "will be given".

“As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive...each in his own ORDER. Christ the firstfruits, then those who are alive at his coming, then comes the end...death is abolished...that God may be ALL IN ALL.” (1 Corinthians 5:22-28)

In this age, we are free to ask, but sometimes nothing happens...except the peace we get from turning it over to God.

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)

Making Mention of You in my Prayers

“Making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.” (Ephesians 1:16-17)

In my opinion there is nothing more needed among Christians than for this prayer of Paul to be answered…to have the “wisdom and revelation” of who and what God is like. He is far better than institutional religions have characterized Him. There are so many false ideas about Him that few people have a “knowledge of Him”. But our God “is love” and He is our “Father”…

“There is…one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6).

Except for my wife and children, I can count only a handful of others that I know personally who seem to have a “knowledge of Him” free from the religious myths associated with Him.

Nevertheless, the above prayer is what I pray for all when I am “making mention of you in my prayers”.

Jesus told those who believed in him how not to pray as well as how to pray…

"When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.” (Matthew 6:5-7)

So, those who love to pray in church and on street corners are going to get the attention of those around them….but that is all. However, those who pray privately to the Father will be rewarded. NOTE: rewarded does not mean we always get what we ask for, but rewarded for going to God privately with our prayers…

Here are some simple prayers that are recorded in the Bible…

"I thank You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth…” Jesus (Luke 10:21)

“Father forgive them…” Jesus (Luke 23:34)

“Father, glorify your name.” Jesus (John 12:28)

“God, be merciful to me, the sinner.” Tax collector (Luke 18:13)

“I bow my knees before the Father…that He would grant you…to be strengthened…that you…may be able to comprehend…and to know the love of Christ…” Paul (Ephesians 3:14-19)

“Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.” John (Revelation 22:21-22)

And Jesus prayed for all who would believe in him that they would be one with he and the Father…

"I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.” (John 17:20-21)

Pray For All People

I am confident that what God has instructed people to pray for in the Bible will come to pass. Paul tells us what to pray as follows….

“I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions…” (1 Timothy 1:1-2)

Paul even tells us why we are to pray for ALL people…

“…so that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way…and this is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior…” (1 Timothy 1:2-3)

And why does it please God to pray for ALL PEOPLE, even our enemies and Politicians?

Because it is the will of God…

“…God our Savior, who wills all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 1:2-4)

And what is the truth he is referring to?

“…there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom FOR ALL. I am telling the truth, I am not lying…” (1 Timothy 2:5-7)

Later in that same letter Paul further reminds Timothy that the salvation of ALL is the hope for mankind rather than who will become our next political leaders…

“…we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.” (4:10)

So when I pray for the Salvation of All people I can be confident it will come to pass for God has instructed us to pray for all people….regardless of the current theology that condemns most people to hell because they disagree with their particular religious group's doctrine.

“In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk! And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.” (Acts 3:6-8)

What exactly caused this man to be healed? Modern day faith healers would say it was the FAITH of Peter, John and the lame man – and/or the collective prayer of the Saints…as if prayer and faith are currency given to God in exchange for the lame man’s healing. However, it clear to me that the lame man was healed BECAUSE IT WAS GOD’S PLAN TO HEAL HIM. It had nothing to do with the purchasing power of PRAYER or FAITH. You cannot can buy stuff from God.

So why did God miraculously heal him? Well the context of Miracles in the Bible is always to confirm the word of God. So in this case it would have been to demonstrate to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. These miracles to confirm the Word of God ceased, it seems to me, when the Word of God was completed and canonized into what we now call the Bible. I do not see men with the gift of miraculous healing today. What I do see is men claiming to have that gift, failing to heal, and blaming it on the lack of Faith of those who need it.

To the extent God reveals something he is going to do, we can be certain it will happen because when it does, it will CONFIRM the Word of God. It does NOT happen because of PRAYER or FAITH that it will happen, but because God has said it is His will to do so.

Men often lie, or are deceived into believing God has spoken a promise to them when it is simply a desire of their heart…or for money in the case of modern day faith healers.

Sooo for me, I do not assume, expect or am I convicted that what men say is a Word from God…I have been disappointed too often by such men, even those with the best intentions. HOWEVER, in my personal study of the Bible I cannot recall anything I have read therein that God promised which has not already happened as promised, OR could happen in the future – like the restoration of Israel the resurrection of the dead and the salvation of all mankind.

“…the God of peace Himself sanctifies you entirely; and your spirit and soul and body are preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)

Just believe the Bible’s own definition of Faith…

“Now faith is an assumption of what is being expected, a conviction concerning matters which are not being observed.” (Hebrews 11:1 CLNT)

I have said this before but it is on my mind again this morning. Biblical FAITH is not a commodity that is manufactured and traded for stuff we ask for in prayer, including our personal Salvation.

Biblical Faith is a lifestyle of confident dependence on the promises of God as directly expressed in his Word. The writer of Hebrews defined it as follows, taken from what I consider to be the most accurate English translation of the Bible which you can access through this blog…

“Now faith is an assumption of what is being expected, a conviction concerning matters which are not being observed.” (Hebrews 11:1 CLNT)

When we have a promise from God we “assume”, “expect” and have a “conviction” that the promise will manifest itself even if at present it is not being observed. Whether the beneficiary of that promise has PRAYED about it does not change the fact that God will do what he promised. And, FAITH in a promise God has NOT MADE will not get us anything whatsoever…no matter how much prayer is offered up – even if made fervently by a righteous man (assuming there is such a man living today other than Jesus himself).

Our effort should be to determine what God has clearly promised in His completed Word, and have FAITH in those promises. Some are negative such as…

"It is necessary to pass through many troubles on our way into the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:22)

But beyond those troubles rests the promise of Jesus himself…

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 14:22)

My prayers and faith are of utmost importance to me, but not to get stuff FROM God, but to give stuff TO God that I just can no longer handle on my own. I just need peace and I get it when I do what the Scripture tells me to do when I need it…

“Don't worry about anything Robert; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you think you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your heart and mind and just keep trying to live in Christ Jesus the best you can.” (Robert’s Own Paraphrased Version of Philippians 4:6-7)

Just thinking about some prayer requests I have seen lately. Sounded like they think God is waiting around for someone to pray before he decides to get involved, like a genie in a magic lamp, or like He does not know what is going on until someone wakes Him up with a prayer request.

Somehow, I think the sovereign God knows what is going on...good and bad. And he intervenes when it serves His purpose...which purpose is always good, in my opinion.

"I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me...I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things." (Isaiah 45:5-7)

”And whatever you ask in my name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it” (John 14:13-14)

Wouldn’t that be great…or would it?

Ever prayed that your favorite football team would win the game? Well there is someone on the other team praying the same thing. Ever prayed for rain? Well there was probably someone praying it won't rain that day due to something they felt was important. And how about war…we sure want our side to win? Or how about praying for our favorite political party or politician who is going to stand up for what we believe in and want?

Get the picture?

Obviously Jesus did not mean we could ask and get anything we want. Thank goodness! What he did say was anything we ask in prayer that is in agreement with what the Father WILLS and who knows what is in our best interest, we will have it. Ask all you want but God is only going to give you want HE wants. So try praying for what HE wants……like the salvation of ALL…it is His WILL.

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for ALL MEN...For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; Who WILL have ALL MEN to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom FOR ALL, to be testified in due time. Whereunto I am ordained a preacher” (1 Timothy 2:1-7 KJV)

You can’t save anyone…but God can and will save everyone...”in due time”. As for Paul and a few of us now…

“…we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of ALL MEN…” (1 Timothy 4:10 NIV)

“…when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:5-8)

The simple prayers of those Israelites who prayed “in secret” were rewarded in accordance with what their Father God knew they needed. All other prayers were just “babbling” like pagans. It seems to me this is good advice for us as well.

“…if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15)

Those Israelites that Jesus was speaking to who did "not forgive others their sins" were not forgiven by their Father God for their own sins.

Let me ask you, does the above apply to Christians?

Well in my opinion it applies to everyone…even now!  And what is the result of sin?

“the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a),

But the cross changed everything and God added the promise of "not counting people's sins against them", and the "the free gift of eternal life" to his plan for sinners. After the cross Paul tells "the world" of sinners...

“…God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation…God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:19-21)

AND THE RESULT…

“the free gift of God is eternal life…" (Romans 6:23b)

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom EVERY family in heaven and ON EARTH derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in LOVE, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3:14-21)

1. Pray to be strengthen by His Spirit

2. Pray that we grasp and come to know the depth of the love of Christ

This is the prayer we should be praying for ourselves....and those we care about...knowing that God is in control of the rest of the stuff we normally pray about. 

When we come to know the depth of the love of Christ for sinners we will no longer believe myths framed by religious men…like a loving God torturing people for all eternity.

"God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all. Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became his counselor? Or who has first given to him that it might be paid back to him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen." (Romans 11:32-36)