Christian Living
Prayer Pattern of Jesus – ‘Pray Like This!’
How are we doing?
Let’s have a check to see how we’re doing. A disciple asks Jesus ‘teach us to pray’ (Luke 11:1). Just imagine; spending all that time with Jesus and monitored all His attributes and daily routines, then say to Him teach us to pray! It’s like this, for example, after observing and knowing your parent’s dislike about the attitudes to certain behaviour, you question their judgment regarding these behaviour.
The disciples spent nearly three years with Jesus. They observed His pattern: they saw Him prayed to His Father; they saw Him with the multitudes and saw His authority over demons, evil spirits and healing many sick people. Even Jesus’ knowledge of the Scriptures that often left religious leaders feeling demoralised and showed up their inadequacies to grasp the things of God; as He continuously taught about and lived, the Kingdom of God.
How slow were these disciples to learn; which point to our own inadequacies to sometime grasp God’s concept on certain issues. The very things they saw demonstrated before them became a secret, and they wanted to know the secret behind Jesus’ prayer life (Jesus prayer life was no secret). It became a secret when they focussed on the external, instead of the eternal values (what they saw Him do instead observing His ongoing relationship with His Father). Jesus gave the disciples principle on how to carry out three disciplines (see Matt 6:1-18).
The principle Jesus set in motion was about, praying, giving and fasting. These deeds offered to God must be done in secret and not to parade them before man, because when offered to man that’s another story. All these disciplines are to promote the kingdom of God – Jesus instructed, don’t draw attention to yourself:
• Firstly, when you pray find a secret place, shut out all distractions and pray to your Father in secret and He will reward you openly – don’t go in the synagogue or on the street corner to demonstrate your prayer life, it’s exhibitionism, remember it is to God you’re praying.
• Secondly, when you give, disguise it tightly, hold it so close in one hand that the other hand doesn’t know what the other is doing; don’t brag about it, ‘I’m a great giver, I give this or that amount,’ remember it is to God you’re giving.
• Thirdly, when you fast anoint your head, be happy, sing songs of praise to God, He knows that you’re fasting; so don’t disclose fasting in a ceremonial manner by wearing outward expression, let it be known only to your Father, He already knows that you are fasting, and it’s to Him you’re fasting. (There are exceptions for designated fast called by leaders, for church or nation and everyone knows that you’re fasting).
These are essential disciplines that should be selfless performances to God and not to man. Jesus taught the disciples the success of His prayer life, to show whatever He did brought glory to His Father. The main topic is about prayer and low attendance in some prayer gatherings, yet again whenever we deal with prayer we need to see how Jesus did it and what He had to say about it.
Prayer is one topic that can never be exhausted if we are honest; looking through the manual in comparison to our prayer life, left us feeling so far removed from the Scripture. ‘Why did prayer works whenever these men and women of the Bible prayed?’ The evidences are there in the Scriptures. We need to monitor how to pray according to the frame of references which we are given from God; and not according to our personality, educational background and culture; everything we do must line up with Scriptures because it is not about us but it’s all about God. So let’s examine a few things about the settings where Jesus prayed, and ask ourselves a few questions to point us in the right direction; beginning with our twenty-first century prayer meetings.
Are there reasons for low attendance at prayer gatherings? Does Jesus attend them? Does He agree with what take place in some of them?
As we examine the examples of the above three disciplines Jesus gave to His disciples; Jesus’ prayer life in public prayer was limited. He spent most of His prayer time alone and in secret away from the crowd. Jesus also taught about giving He gave all He had, a life dedicated to serving and giving, and finally gave Himself as a sacrifice on the cross. He also fasted, but only once it was recorded in Scripture. Jesus is our perfect example we should follow close to Him, and as we do, the fog will be lifted and what is real will appear visible by the light He gives us.
Prayer is one of those mysteries that will be revealed, that the apostle Paul talks about in Ephesians as we seek Him for answers. Praying as Christ directed is to enter our closets and shut out every distractions, this will eliminate negative competitive actions, insecurity, pride and self-importance. In secret there are no audience (except from the heavenly, and spirits of the air) to display these negative qualities, it’s just ourselves and Yahweh, the only God Almighty we’re talking to. Alone with Him we have no one to impress or to feel intimidate or inadequate; we have no one to idolise or imitate. So as Jesus recommended the secret place are where true disciples are made.
I believe there are about four or possible five instances where Jesus prayed in public, but there are numerous times mentioned where Jesus withdrew Himself after every demonstration of God’s power working through Him, to heal the sick, afflicted and demon possessed, and when He chose His disciples. The Bible says He drew aside to a lonely place and on some occasion a limited amount of His disciples joined Him.
Did Jesus attend prayer meetings? Probably with a few of His disciples I would say; but He did instruct us to pray; and He also told believers, 120 of them, to wait in the upper room for the Holy Spirit; they got together in one place and when they were absolutely unified the Spirit fell. Jesus also said when two or three assemble together and in agreement, He is in the midst.
So what might be the reason why some of our modern day prayer meeting attendances are so low in comparison to the overall attendance of that particular church? Those who don’t regularly attend prayer meetings are often labelled backslidden or not spiritual. Could there be reasons for low attendance of these gatherings? Should low attendance be viewed negatively? Let’s get to the root and maybe find out the real source of the problem, if there is one.
I knew of people who really love the Lord Jesus, they pray about everything (at home), they see many answers to prayer, they fast, have a generous spirit and share their faith; yet they are terrified to attend some church’s prayer meetings. Why? Because they are made to feel inadequate because of not adopting to the norm; Brother or Sister X who are known prayer warriors attitudes stinks, – they knowingly or unknowingly made those who do not pray as they do, to be unspiritual and the only place for such unspiritual people is to get right with God, or find the nearest hole and hide themselves. So these precious people of God don’t attend prayer meetings although they may want to. Shouldn’t we be reaching out to help and find out why, in order to help (if they need help) a brother or sister according to Scripture?
On the other hand, I knew of some people who have been made to feel exactly the same way at prayer meetings, but they rose up in sheer determination from that state of demoralisation and feelings of inadequacy, to prove that they too can pray like Brother or Sister X in order to be accepted. They have ‘now got it right, they are using Scriptures to pray like Brother or Sister X and therefore felt good about themselves.’ Don’t you think this kind of attitude only instil pride in the body of Christ; is it good or bad? How do we think Jesus feels about both scenarios?
I’m not against prayer meetings, I do attend them though not as religiously as before; I know that the Lord monitors my motives and assesses every situation, so there are times when it is not possible to go and I’m not pressured any more by popular opinions. However, I endeavour not to miss my quiet time or daily prayer times in the secret place to keep my ongoing relationship with my heavenly Father and to know His voice. In the secret place of fellowship promotes obedience.
I will reiterate I’m not anti prayer meetings. But what I do believe as the body of Christ, we need to show more care for each other and obey the two greatest commandments Jesus has left with us. There are rewards in any gathering together of God’s people. It is a good place to be as long as we are working toward being unified. It was answer to the prayer of God’s people in the book of Acts that Peter was miraculously released from prison.
But what I do believe is offensive to God is, prayer meetings that are bringing bondage to God’s people instead of releasing them into freedom. It is sad to say that many people who love God and desire to pray avoid going to prayer meetings. They are unable to adopt themselves to religious jargon in order to impress man and push God out of many assemble these times of prayer.
So what is the conclusion? I believe according to our individual experiences and gifts received, we will be able to make informed prognosis according to the teaching of Jesus. That unity and agreement is in the heart of the Godhead and that is the only way our services to the Godhead are accepted. Amazing things happen when we obey God’s pattern:
They’ll continue in the world while I return to you. Holy Father, guard them as they pursue this life that you conferred as a gift through me, so that they can be one heart and mind as we one heart and mind (John 17:11 The Message).
The Father, Son and Spirit agree as One and Jesus prays that believers should be in agreement and I believe that all Jesus prayers are answered. But we have a part to play by maintaining that unity. We must love God with our being and love our neighbour exactly as we love ourselves, without obeying these two commandments our unity will malfunction.
So whatever we do, whether prayer, giving and fasting we should let our focus be to God. Jesus also said to strengthen the weak, give food to the poor and bring healing to the afflicted. To focus more on the teachings of Jesus we would have respect for others; provisions are made for every member of His body so that no one should ever suffer abusive attitude (neglected, isolated or intimidated) from any other members of His body. How should we respond to whatever we do in word or deed it should be done for the honour and glory of God and to enhance other. Let’s try and invite Jesus in our prayer meetings, and also allow His Spirit to teach us the importance of using our particular gifts to train others, freely we have receive freely we must give.
Our aim in every prayer meeting is to encourage believers not frighten them away, so in our teaching or training, regarding any discipline be gentle. We are called to build the Kingdom not dismantle it; meeting together to pray is a good thing when our focus is to God and not ourselves.
Jesus says, ‘Pray, don’t lose heart. Pray like this,’ follow His teaching and we won’t go wrong, then our prayer meetings will become welcoming for the body to work (prayer is hard work, but praying together can become even harder) and become a joy and delight to meet together in one accord. Remembering always that when we gather together in prayer it is for God’s will to be done; also the purpose of seeing the kingdom of darkness dismantled, prison doors opened and miraculous and supernatural become common place. Since prayers are approaching our supernatural Heavenly Father, the Bible said, anything we ask in Jesus name our request will be granted, we need to examine ourselves to see whether or not we are following His pattern.
We know the time is short and everything that is to be shaken will be shaken; God has put in place a pattern let us seek to follow that pattern. No one ever run away from God’s presence they are drawn into it. So let’s all examine the part we play to attract other members to our twenty-first prayer meetings.
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I have been to prayer meetings and , i don't know how to explain it, you have to get the play time out of the way first and i have never understood why we all can't be in one accord. VERY GOOD ARTICLE !
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