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Prayer – Lesson 2: The Motivation For Prayer, God’s Glory

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LESSON 2

THE MOTIVATION FOR PRAYER – GOD’S GLORY

INTRODUCTION

Without going into the subject of God’s glory in detail, let’s try to understand it in the context of prayer.

“God saw all that He had made, and it was very good….” Genesis 1:28a (NIV).

“Good” is an abstract word. What does it mean? All the words the dictionary uses are also abstract – morally excellent, virtuous, righteous, of high quality, well-behaved etc.

In the Hebraic understanding of “good”, it meant “functional”. Everything God made was functional – in perfect working order – even man!

Now substitute “functional” for “good” in this sentence – “God is good – God is functional.”

If God is functional, what is His function? What is He supposed to do? He is supposed to put His glory on display.

God is about Himself and He always does everything for His glory. Does that sound egotistical? If God were not stuck on Himself He would not be the greatest being in the universe. There would be someone greater than He.

“For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever!” Romans 11:36 (NIV).

God said that everything He had made was good, including man. That means that man was functional. What was his function? Just like the rest of creation, his purpose was to put God’s glory on display.

“…everyone who is called by my name,

whom I created for my glory,

whom I formed and made.” Isaiah 43:7 (NIV)

God commanded Adam and Eve not to eat of the tree of the knowledgeof good (functionality) and evil (dysfunctionality). He did not want them to experience dysfuntionality because it would bring dysfunctionality into the whole cosmos. To disobey was to become dysfunctional.

Question: In the context of our discussion, what does it mean to be functional and dysfunctional?

1. WHAT IS THE GLORY OF GOD?

Moses asked God to show him His glory (Exodus 33:18). He thought  it would be something he could see.

“And the LORD said, ‘I will cause all my goodness (functionality) to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But,’ He said, ‘you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.’” Exodus 33:19-20 (NIV).

The glory of God, in essence, is His character of mercy and compassion.

“Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed His name, the LORD. And He passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, ‘The LORD, the LORD, the gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.’” Exodus 34:5-6 (NIV).

God’s glory is the motivation for our ordinary living.

Since Jesus has reconciled us to the Father and restored us to His family as His sons and daughters, our ordinary, everyday behaviour must be functional. The Apostle Paul instructs us to do everything for God’s glory – ie to put His character on display through our behaviour and attitudes.

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV).

God’s glory must be the motivation for our praying as well.

If we are to be functional in everything we do, that must include prayer.

Does the Bible teach us to pray so that God ‘s functionality is put on display?

Yes, it does.

“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask anything in my name and I will do it.” John 14:13-14. (NIV).

Prayer that is self-seeking and self-serving is not prayer “in the name of Jesus”.  The name of Jesus is not a magic formula. It regulates what we pray for according to His nature and His purpose. Prayer that does not have God’s glory in view does not qualify as prayer.

“When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with the wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” James 4:3 (NIV).

God orchestrates our needs in order to test our hearts and to display His character through the answers.

If we will allow Him , our needs are His opportunity to show us what He is like. Instead of whining, complaining or making demands, we have the opportunity to release our situations to Him and watch what He can do.

“Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commandments. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.” Deuteronomy 8:2-4 (NIV).

God was angry with His people because of their unbelief; they murmured and complained instead of trusting Him.

“Then they despised the pleasant land; they did not believe His promise. They grumbled in their tents and did not obey the LORD.” Psalm 106:24-25. (NIV).

Question: In what ways can we put God’s glory on display?

2. HOW DID JESUS PUT GOD’S GLORY ON DISPLAY?

Jesus saw every need as an opportunity to put God’s glory on display.

He directed His disciples, not to the cause of the man’s blindness but to the opportunity to put God’s glory on display.

“‘Neither this man nor His parents sinned,’ said Jesus, ‘but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.’” John 9:3 (NIV).

He saw the sickness of Lazarus, not as ending in death but as an opportunity for God to display His glory and the glory of His Son.

“When He heard this, Jesus said, ‘This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so the God’s Son may be glorified through it.”’” John 11:4 (NIV)

We put God’s glory on display by imitating the way Jesus lived, acted, spoke and treated people that mirrored the Father.

Jesus and Paul related the formation of God’s character in us to prayer.

When God answers our prayers according to His word, we bear the fruit of God’s character (Galatians 5:22,23), which reflects God’s glory in us.

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” John 15:7-8 (NIV).

Paul said that, with the help of God’s Spirit in prayer, He works for the good of those who love Him in every circumstance, remaking us into the image of His Son.

“In the same way the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And He who searches hour hearts, knows the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for the saints  in accordance with God’s will.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.” Romans 8:26- 29 (NIV).

Question: How does God develop our character through prayer?

He teaches us such things as patience, trust, perseverance, confidence and dependence as we wait on Him to do what brings Him honour. It is the fruit of character that glorifies Him (John 15:7,8)

CONCLUSION

1. God is functional – He does everything for His own glory.

2. He created man to be a reflection of Him by putting His glory on display.

3. Everything man does, including prayer, is to meant to show  off God’s character.

4. God only answers prayer according to His will and for His glory.

5. God orchestrates needs so that the answers put His glory on display.

6. Jesus used every opportunity to glorify His Father through meeting people’s needs.

7. God answers our prayers in order to shape us into the likeness of Jesus.

 

Prayer – Lesson 1: The Foundation Of Prayer – Sonship

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STUDY ON PRAYER

LESSON 1

THE FOUNDATION OF PRAYER – SONSHIP

INTRODUCTION

This study is designed to help you to base your understanding and practice of prayer on Scripture rather than on the way you have learned to pray from listening to other people. This is a dangerous and futile way to pray because it perpetuates the errors of others and takes us farther away from the truth of the Scriptures.

This is my attempt to help you get back to the Bible as the source of your prayer lives. It is my passion and my prayer that this not be just an academic exercise but a life‑changing experience if you are serious about being a disciple of Jesus.

These are not prescriptions or a formula for successful prayer. They are Biblical guidelines to help you understand what prayer is so that you can engage meaningfully with God as your Father, not to get what you want but to work with Him in His purpose for you and for His kingdom.

Although all religions claim to engage their god in pray, prayer is actually the exclusive right of believers through faith in the one true God and who approach the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Other religions use various methods to “pray”to:

1. Get their god’s attention;

2. Gain his favour;

3. Avoid his anger;

4. Get what they want.

Prayer is not based on relationship but on fear and lies because gods do not exist except in the minds of those who believe in them.

Gods are a deception of the devil and are the impersonation of demons  to gain control of people through fear.

“Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? Do I mean that a sacrifice offered to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything. No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God…” 1 Corinthians 10:18-20a.

Likewise, distortions of Christianity (sects and heresies) control and hold people through superstition and fear.

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18.

Question: Do gods exist? Where do they originate?

Gods do not exist. They are the product of human imagination inspired by the devil to draw attention away from the living God and to receive worship in the name of the false god.

1. PRAYER IS A FAMILY EXPERIENCE

True prayer can only take place within the context of a Father / son relationship. Jesus’ relationship with the Father is the model of Biblical prayer.

Question: Does God answer the prayers of unbelievers? On what basis?

Every person on earth is potentially a son or daughter of God (Acts 17:28) and has been forgiven (Luke 23:24; 2 Cor 5:19) Those who receive Him are given the right to become children of God. God responds to unbelievers through His mercy. He does not have to answer their prayers but He does in order to show them His glory.

God relates and responds to us as a Father.

He knows our needs. There is no need to explain or advise.

“But 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 the 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 6:6-8.

God responds to us as the perfect Father.

Because of His wisdom, God will always do and give the best to His children.

“If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him.” Matthew 7:11

We can approach God with confidence as His children.

Because Jesus had reconciled us to the Father:

“God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them.” 2 Corinthians 5:19a

Because He has given us the right to be His children:

“Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God…” John 1:12

Because He has given us the Spirit of sonship, not the spirit of fear:

“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself testifies that we are God’s children.” Romans 8:15,16.

Because He deals with us as sons:

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! … Dear friends, now we are the children of God…” 1 John 3:1a. 2a.

Question: If we are children of God, why does He not answer all of our prayers?

He is a wise and loving Father. He answers us in accordance with His nature and His will.

God treats us on the same level as He treats Jesus.

Jesus gave us power-of-attorney to use His name:

“In that day you will ask in my name; I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father Himself loves you because you have loved me, and have believed that I came from God.” John 16:26-27.

Jesus is our elder brother:

“Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.” Hebrews 2:11.

We are heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus:

“Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His suffering in order that we may also share in His glory.” Romans 8:17.

Question: If Jesus is perfect and we are imperfect, how can God treat us the same?

God treats us out of who He is, not out of who we are. He sees us as already perfected in Christ and does what He does to move us towards who we already are.

2. OUR ROLE AS SONS OF GOD

Sonship carries both privileges and responsibilities.

We cannot enjoy the privileges of sonship and ignore the responsibilities that go with it. As children of God we are to be partners in our Father’s business:

“For we are God’s fellow workers…” 1 Corinthians 3:9a.

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33.

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10.

Question: What is God’s business?

The business of the Son and us as sons of God is His kingdom. It is our role as followers of Jesus is to continue on earth what He began. He came to bring God’s rule into the chaos of what man has done through his rebellion and disobedience.

Characteristics of a mature son.

Jesus is the model of mature sonship:

“During the days of His life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save Him from  death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission. Although He was a son, he learned obedience from what He suffered and, once made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him,” Hebrews 5:7,8.

The Holy Spirit plays an active part in this “family” enterprise

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that cannot be expressed. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with the will of God.” Romans 8:26,27.

The business of the Son and us as sons of God is His kingdom.

Question: What are the most important qualities of a mature son?

Submission and obedience to the Father. Jesus perfectly modelled both – see Hebrews 5:7-8; Psalm 40:6-8; Hebrews 10:5 7.

CONCLUSION

1. True prayer can only be experienced on the basis of true sonship.

2.  Everything God does in us and for us is based on our relationship with Him as His children.

3. Part of our prayer experience is nurturing our Father / son / daughter relationship in order to grow our confidence in God as our Father.

4. Prayer is engaging with each person in the Trinity. We come to the Father through the Son with the help of the Holy Spirit.

 

 

Ravenously Hungry!

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RAVENOUSLY HUNGRY!

“Coming down off the mountain with them, He stood on a plain surrounded by disciples and was soon joined by a huge congregation from all over Judea and Jerusalem, even from the seaside towns of Tyre and Sidon. They had come both to hear Him and to be cured of their ailments. Those disturbed by evil spirits were healed. Everyone was trying to touch Him — so much energy surging from Him, so many people healed!” Luke 6:17-19 (The Message).

Imagine the scene: Jesus had been up the mountain all night — praying, seeking His Father’s wisdom and guidance for the choice of disciples who would best follow Him and become like Him so that they could learn and bind His yoke on people wherever they went and do what He was doing and even more. And who did He choose? Simon Peter, James, John…and Judas Iscariot!

Now He comes down, having decided exactly who would form His band of followers, and He is met by a crowd of would-be disciples and people from the length and breadth of Judea and even farther afield -Tyre and Sidon, Gentiles from Phoenicia — Jezebel’s territory! What were they doing there? Sicknesses, diseases, demons…they were as much in need of Jesus as were His own people. They came for help and they knew where they could get it.

Jesus was electric with power. Why? Was there something about that crowd that charged Him with energy to heal and deliver? We learned earlier that the people of His own hometown of Nazareth rejected Him — even tried to kill Him. When He returned some time later, He was powerless to do miracles there because of their unbelief.

So vibrant was the atmosphere in this gathering that Luke commented on it. Power flowed from Him like electricity from a generator and just a touch brought healing and relief to their troubled minds and bodies. What was the difference between these people and the people of Nazareth? They were not concerned about His pedigree or lack of it. His presence brought help and they grabbed it with both hands.

To the villagers of Nazareth He was just a local kid, Joseph and Mary’s son, no big deal. He had grown up in front of them and they thought they knew who He was. Were they aware that He was conceived by the Holy Spirit? They thought He was Mary’s illegitimate son, a bastard who had no right to be running around teaching about God as though He were somebody special.

But to the people who were thronging Him and clamouring for His help, He was a rabbi, a prophet with unusual power and an unusual connection with God. They were not concerned about His pedigree, or who His parents were or what His father did. They were full of faith and expectation that He could and would heal them and their hopes were not disappointed.

“Then He spoke: ‘You are blessed when you’re ravenously hungry. Then you’re ready for the Messianic meal'” Luke 6:20 (The Message).

Healing and deliverance were never the be-all and end-all of Jesus’ ministry. As much as they were acts of mercy and compassion to relieve people’s suffering, they were also a foretaste of what God’s kingdom was about — the restoration of all things. It was as important to minister to their hearts as to their bodies. He wanted them to understand that God had a destiny for them much bigger than comfortable lives in the here-and-now.

If we understand this from a Hebraic mind, Jesus was not talking about food; He was talking about having an appetite for God and His truth. God’s promise has always been that He will respond to those who sincerely seek after Him. “He is the rewarder of those who earnestly seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6. Really living was much more than not being sick or crippled or demon-possessed. It was about being God’s sons and daughters in a family that loves and takes care of one another.

You can be a part of it too! It depends on how hungry you are.

Did Jesus Make A Mistake?

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DID JESUS MAKE A MISTAKE?

“At about that same time He climbed a mountain to pray. He was there all night in prayer before God. The next day He summoned His disciples; from them He selected twelve He designated as apostles:

Simon whom He named Peter; Andrew, his brother; James; John ; Philip; Bartholomew; Matthew; Thomas; James, son of Alpheus; Simon called the Zealot; Judas, son of James; Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him.” Luke 6:12-16 (The Message).

Really Jesus! After praying all night, was that the best you could do?

Not a very impressive lot, I must say. From the little we know about most of them, there was not much to commend them. Simon Peter? A big-mouthed coward; Andrew? Hardly ever opened his mouth; James and John? Violent and volcanic; Philip? Bartholomew (probably the Nathaniel of John’s gospel)? Very little said about them; Matthew, a greedy, conniving tax-collector — a sell-out to Rome; Thomas? Didn’t believe in Jesus’ resurrection; James, son of Alpheus (who was Alpheus?)? Simon, called the Zealot –probably a political activist? Judas, son of James (which James?)? Know nothing about them!

And of course, bringing up the rear, Judas Iscariot! Everyone knows who he was. Why him? Did it take Jesus all night to decide to choose him?

From our point of view they all look like a bunch of losers. But Jesus saw something different in each one of them. Each one had potential — characteristics and qualities which the Holy Spirit would refine and use in future days to continue the work Jesus began and take His message to the ends of the earth with faith and courage.

Even Judas Iscariot? Even Judas Iscariot! This is where the mystery of God’s sovereignty and man’s free will meet on earth in a way that we humans will never figure out. Did Jesus give Judas the same opportunity as the others to fulfil his potential? What potential? Like every other human being, Judas had the potential for great good or great evil. It all depended on his choices.

He was exposed to the same Presence as the other disciples; he heard the same teaching; he watched Jesus do the same miracles; he preached and did miracles and cast out demons just like the others did. Nowhere in the three years he spent with Jesus was he excluded from their activities…until Jesus’ last days when Judas turned traitor.

What tipped him over the edge? We know that he loved money. John called him a thief because he pilfered the common money he was supposed to be in charge of. Why did Jesus entrust their resources to him, of all people? Was He such a bad judge of character?

Was Judas ambitious – like Brutus of “Julius Caesar” fame? Did he aspire to a high position in Jesus’ kingdom? When Jesus was slow in making His intentions know, did Judas try to force His hand? Was he ticked off with Jesus for exposing his greed when He rebuked him for his mean-spirited attitude to Mary for squandering her costly ointment on Him? Perhaps it was a combination of these things and more.

I think there were at least two reasons why Jesus chose these men. Firstly, they were some of the rejects from the Beth Talmud, “rabbi school”, and He was giving them the opportunity to become all that God created them to be…even Judas. Jesus’ choice was not ignorance or stupidity but grace! Without Him they would never amount to anything but because of Him, they would become part of the foundation of His church (Ephesians 2:20).

Secondly, He knew that the Holy Spirit would transform them into a group of powerful witnesses for Him, if they chose to follow Him. Even Judas, but Judas lost the plot. And even there Jesus knew what He was doing. It was all in God’s sovereign plan.

You can trust Him. Follow Him — He has a good plan for you!

Oh, By The Way…

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OH, BY THE WAY…

“One day in one of the villages there was a man covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus he fell down before Him in prayer and said, ‘If you want to, you can cleanse me.’ Jesus put out His hand, touched him and said, ‘I want to. Be clean.’ There and then his skin was smooth, the leprosy gone.

“Jesus instructed him, ‘Don’t talk about this all over town. Just quietly present your healed self to the priest, along with the offering ordered by Moses. Your cleansed and obedient life, not your words, will bear witness to what I have done.’

“But the man couldn’t keep it to himself, and the word got out. Soon a large crowd of people had gathered to listen and be healed of their ailments. As often as possible, Jesus withdrew to out-of-the-way places for prayer.” Luke 5:12-16 (The Message).

Luke had many stories of healings and miracles to draw from. Why did he choose this one? Of course I don’t know! But there are little hints here and there of Luke’s reason. The scholars tell us that Luke’s theme was “Jesus, the Son of Man.” He adds many touches to his story that illustrate Jesus’ humanity; His dependence on the Holy Spirit; the many references to His prayer life; little snippets like His being asleep on the boat; eating fish after His resurrection, for example, things that humans do.

In this story Jesus met a man covered with “leprosy”. He could have had any skin disease, but whatever it was, he was disfigured and, worst of all, unclean. That meant that he was not allowed human contact. Isolated! Ostracised! Untouchable! Unwanted! Probably walking on the outskirts of the village wailing his mournful plight, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’

Instead of moving away, Jesus walked right up to him. The unnamed man fell at His feet, entreating Him, ‘I’ve heard about you, Jesus. I know you can make this stinking, diseased body of mine clean…if you want to. Now it’s all up to you.’

What would Jesus do? What did this man need? Just a word would transform him but he needed more than a word. He needed a human touch. But how could Jesus touch him? He was a rabbi, a holy man who was not supposed to contaminate Himself with diseased or dead bodies. If He touched him, He would become unclean.

There was one thing about Jesus that was different from every other rabbi of His day. His touch worked the other way, made the unclean clean. He made the sick well, the dead live and set the demonised free. Wherever He went, speaking, touching, embracing, He left whole, well and free people in His wake. And it was what He wanted to do. No hesitation.

But, in spite of Jesus’ warning, the healed man could not keep his mouth shut. Would you? Of course everyone wanted to know what had happened. And of course he told them. Wouldn’t you? And of course that made Jesus even more popular, and everyone wanted Him to touch them too. And He did.

That created a problem for Him. He needed time out. He was human, remember. Why did He need time out? Of course He needed rest; He needed to eat; He needed to “chill” like we all do and oh, by the way, He needed to spend time with His Father and for that He needed solitude.

There was no solitude where there were the ever-present crowds but He knew how to find time and place to be alone — out in the wide-open spaces in the night hours when everyone else was asleep. Without time alone with the Father He had no engine and no rudder for His ship. It was in these times of intimacy alone with God that He drew strength, received direction and shared the Father’s love which energised Him for the gruelling times ahead.

And He said, ‘Learn from me.’