It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.” Luke 11:1.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God (אלהים) says:
In His conversations Jesus spoke often about prayer. He prayed constantly, He was always in communication with Me, so much so, that He would sometimes address Me directly as He was speaking with others.
Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.” When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.” The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” John 11:41-44.
“Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” So the crowd of people who stood by and heard it were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, “An angel has spoken to Him.” Jesus answered and said, “This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sakes. Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” John 12:27-32.
At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.” Luke 10:20-22.
Whether with crowds, with His disciples privately, or praying alone on a hilltop, Jesus communicated with Me constantly. This was on His initiative. And He taught you to do the same. In any situation, whether a storm, blind eyes, deaf ears, a woman brought to Him caught in adultery, or speaking with a woman by a well, Jesus was always inwardly turned towards Me to see how I would have Him speak and what I would have Him do. Why? He knew My Words had eternal life in them. He knew the POWER inherent in My Words. And He knew My Word birthed things into being.
For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.” John 12:49-50.
I am Spirit, so the way you communicate with Me is by way of prayer in the spirit, which is the prayer of faith. And faith comes by hearing, hearing My Word. So all prayer springs forth from My Word in your heart and in your mouth. Faith in Me is upon what prayer is based, for how can you talk with someone that you do not know? It is impossible to please Me without faith for to come to Me you must believe that I exist and that I reward those who seek Me, in other words that I am good and I do only good to and for you.
The greatest prayer of faith is made by one who knows and believes in My great love for him or her as manifested in what I have done for you in Jesus and who, in turn, truly love Me. That is the highest form of prayer, the prayer of faith in love, where you trust that all I do is love and your response is love. Faith works by love. There is no room for doubt, fear, or unbelief in love. If you truly know and believe in My love for YOU, you will only approach Me with joy and with the expectation of good. Blessed is the one who trusts in Me, they will see miracles come to pass as mountains move and godless kingdoms fall at your word in prayer.
The disciples watched Jesus, they saw Him praying, they found Him when they searched for Him early in the morning praying, they heard Him speak to storms, blind eyes, deaf ears, and they watched Him cure lepers, crippled, maimed, sick, and demon possessed people. And when He authorized them to do the same they rejoiced in the works accomplished at their hands as He sent them out to preach, teach, and heal the people. But they knew they did not have the relationship He had with Me, they relied on His prayers for their power to do good among the people. They wanted to know Me like He did. But what they did not realize was in seeing Him you see Me and drawing close to Him you draw close to Me. We are One.
One day as He was praying and they watched in awe how differently He prayed than they had been taught, they asked Him to teach them how to pray. They did not just want words they were looking for the relationship He had with Me. And that was what He wanted to give them, for I want all to know Me from the least to the greatest. And that is what He wants to give you as well. So come on in and join the conversation. Jesus told you to pray always and never lose heart so it is time you began an unending conversation with Me. Imitate Christ.
It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.” Luke 11:1.
This request pleased Jesus. The desire to pray is the beginning of a closer walk and relationship with Me. I look for those whose hearts are towards Me, who hear My voice when I knock and open their hearts to Me.
Jesus began to teach them how to pray by giving them a prayer, but it is not just a prayer it is a complete teaching on the order and protocol of prayer. It shows you the path of prayer that brings you to the answer, the grace, and the provision you are seeking.
It begins where all good things begin to manifest from your spiritual account in the Heaven to manifest in your physical body and circumstances—in worship. For it is there you enter the Holy of Holies with your great High Priest, Jesus.
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16.
At the time of Moses, the High Priest could only enter the Holy of Holies in a cloud of incense (representing prayer in the Spirit) from the golden altar of incense and the blood of an unblemished sacrificial lamb, bull or goat (sins forgiven to stand in My presence).
And that is why the prayer begins as “Our Father,” Jesus is with you as your brother and by faith in Him you are born again from above as My child and My heir, a joint heir with Christ.
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. Romans 8:16-17.
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13.
Jesus always called Me “Father,” and He told you to address your prayer to Me as such as well.
In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father. I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again and going to the Father.” John 16:26-28.
And when I raised Him from the dead, He told Mary Magdalene to go and tell the disciples that He would ascend to His Father and their Father, making you family.
And thus you begin by identifying who you are talking with, you come with attention and purpose to speak with Me, your Father, and you are coming into My heavenly throne room where you are already seated in the spirit with Christ at My right hand. This is the way any prayer starts, personally.
Our Father, who are in Heaven.
You are not coming to a stranger but to your forever Father. So you know who you are addressing and putting your attention upon and where I am located, Heaven. Your prayer is in the Kingdom where you are seated with Christ at My right hand. You are setting your mind above and not below. You have come to the realm where nothing is impossible.
Hallowed be Your Name.
My Name is holy and I have given you My Name and it makes you set apart as holy as well. Worship begins with My Name, the One who is, who was, and who is to come. For who I am is all wrapped up in My Name. Yahavah. My Name is a strong tower to which the righteous run and are safe, saved, and lifted high above. I lift you high, out of harm’s reach because you know My Name.
I will set him securely on high, because he has known My Name. Psalm 91:14.
Do you know My Name? I am speaking of My Covenant Promise Names.
I will bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your Name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your Word according to ALL Your Name. Psalm 138:2
Know all My Name. Deliverance in any situation comes by knowing My Name that is applicable to what you need for deliverance. You need healing? I AM the LORD your healer. Call on that Name. You need provision? I AM the LORD who sees ahead and provides. Call on that Name. You need peace? I AM the LORD your peace. You need help? I AM the LORD your helper. You need guidance and protection? I AM the LORD your shepherd. And I could go on and on. I have a Name for every need and you find them all through the Psalms and prophets. Call on Me and I will answer you and the need will be met.
Jesus also had Covenant names, such as “I AM the Bread of Life” for you to eat and never die. And “I AM the Vine,” and you are the branches. And “I AM the Light of the world,” and no follower of His will ever walk in darkness, oh no, you will have the light of life in Him. Ask and you shall receive.
Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
This is using your dominion authority to plant My Kingdom in the earth to give you days of Heaven while still on earth. This is My Will for you—that you all be saved and come to know the truth and that you prosper and be in good health even as your soul (mind, will, and emotions) prospers by walking in the truth. And when you pray according to My Will, I hear you, and you know what you have asked for is yours.
My Kingdom coming and My Will being done all comes down to walking in the truth that sets you free. Pray that truth into the earth and set things in motion for the great awaking and end time revival that sets cold hearts and despairing souls on fire with love and new life. This section of the prayer Jesus taught has to do with intercession and the prayer of faith to bring the Kingdom into the earth so that the banner over you is love.
Give us this day our daily bread.
This is physical and spiritual, all you need is there for life and godliness. But how do you get it? Like the Manna, you gather it each morning and eat it throughout the day. You do not let My Word depart from your mouth.
They all wait for You to give them their food in due season. You give to them, they gather it up; You open Your hand, they are satisfied with good. Psalm 104:27-28.
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 2 Peter 1:2-4.
I know all your needs before you ask, but you must ask to receive anything for I have given you dominion authority of the earth and I cannot enter without your permission to fix things in your life. I have the fee simple but you have the leasehold. And the landlord must give the tenants dominion of the premises to which they have a lease but He can evict them if they go too far in their destruction of his property. Selah.
And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
When you stand to pray forgive everyone and anyone, including yourself and Me, against whom you have a grievance, an offense, anger or bitterness. I forgive you only one way, by the blood of Jesus. In Him you have redemption, the forgiveness of your sins by His blood, for the life is in the blood and that is why I have given it to you to make propitiation on the altar.
That same eternal blood that pleads forgiveness, mercy and redemption for you does so for everyone. It is up to each person whether you receive or reject My forgiveness and that will determine your eternity but as far as My heart goes, I have forgiven everyone. It is your choice to receive that forgiveness or to reject it.
It is the same with salvation, I have saved everyone in Jesus, He is the ransom for all, but you must receive that to live eternally with Me. It is your choice, not Mine, where you spend your forever. It is My desire you choose eternal life with Me but that is up to you. It will grieve Me if you reject so great a salvation, but I cannot force you.
The same is true with healing, prosperity and all My benefits. I have freely given them to you but it is up to you to receive them. I have made tremendous power available to you but whether you receive that power and put it to work or leave it dormant and untouched in your life is entirely your choice. That is why it is so important you get good teaching in the faith. My people perish for lack of knowledge, but it is not because I have not made it available but because they have rejected to receive it. Hard hearts whether through rebellion, indifference, or resistance to new concepts that differ from your tradition keep you from receiving. It is not Me refusing to answer prayer, it is you rejecting or just not receiving the power that I make available to you.
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. Ephesians 1:18-19.
You have been paid in full for anything anyone has done against you and if you will not forgive you are saying the blood is not enough and the standard with which you measure must be measured back to you. That is a spiritual law. The standard with which you judge others must be the standard by which I judge you and if the blood is not enough for you to forgive yourself and others than it is not enough for Me to forgive you. It is more than enough but in your case, you have rejected it as sufficient, so that will be used back on you.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Pray that you may not be put to the test, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Once Adam gave his dominion authority to the devil and received the lies of the devil as truth, he descended to the level of the perishable flesh and the curse came into the earth from the evil. The wages of sin is death. The curse is sickness, poverty, and eternal death. These things are not from Me but from a rejection of Me for they are the opposite of who I am. If you do not choose love all that is left is hate. If you do not choose light all that is left is darkness. There is no middle ground.
The best position to take is not to allow any evil to enter you. It usually starts with just letting your guard down to small infractions against love and light but the once you let him in the devil is quick to take the advantage. You must be firm about resisting him with My Word of truth and not allowing any malice or lies to lodge in you. But he has trapped even some of My strongest believers by temptations so the best is to pray ahead of time not to get trapped. And I will answer that prayer. But you must pray it. As we discussed in a prior life lesson, it would have saved Peter a lot of grief if he had obeyed Jesus that night in the Garden of Gethsemane and prayed that he not be put to the test. Jesus shows you how important it is by including it in His teaching on prayer. This also shows you that you can avoid testing and trials if you pray about them ahead of time.
Jesus then went on in His conversation with His disciples to tell them never to give up on their prayers and requests. Just because your prayer is not answered immediately does not mean it was ineffective. Once you have sent My Word out in agreement with Me by faith, it has gone to work. It has made tremendous power available, but I cannot force others to receive and respond to the power your prayer has made available to them but if you keep standing on that power there is always another opportunity for them to get up and respond to it.
5 Then He said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and from inside he answers and says, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs.” Luke 11:5-8.
And here is the conclusion: never give up if you have My Word on a matter. It will come to pass. But this does not mean to beg and plead for the same thing over and over such as healing. I hear you the first time when you pray according to My Will, but this means to keep on standing on the manifestation of your prayer by thanksgiving and praise until you see the result come to pass according to My Word. Put on My full armor that I have made available to you and stand in the truth until you have it.
I want you to understand that if you are praying for the healing, conversion, salvation, success, freedom from addiction, etc. for another person, your prayer makes tremendous power from Me available to them, but if they reject it, I will not force them to receive it. Your prayer will keep My power moving towards them and surrounding them but if they reject it, as the people of Nazareth rejected the power I made available to them in Jesus, it will be ineffective in their lives though it is living and effective. It is not that I have failed to grant the prayer, it is the person you prayed for has not received it but rejected it.
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. Luke 11:9-10.
And Jesus then closed His conversation with the disciples on prayer for that teaching with a very important point that you must never forget when you pray, I will never give you anything or do anything in your life but good. Every good thing given and every perfect gift comes down from Me, your Father of lights, there is NO darkness in Me. I am love and that is all I can or will give you. Sickness, pain, devastation, storms, disasters, death, and any form of darkness, abuse, or malice is not from Me and I am NEVER the author of it in your life. These things are NEVER My Will so refuse to accept them. Many reject the power I make available to them but receive the evils the devil brings to them saying it is holy to do so. It is not. It is disobedient to say the least. And never welcome poverty or sickness or seek them thinking it is holy, they are NOT, I clearly define them as the curse, if you have done this it is simply ignorance and you can now reverse that curse.
Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” Luke 11:11-13.
The key to all is to ask Me to give you the gift of the Holy Spirit and He will guide you to all truth. He will not force you but He will lead you. It is up to you to follow. Not by your power or might but by My Spirit comes the true power and might. And in Jesus, I have made My Spirit not only available to you but resident in and with you forever.
I love you. You are with Me always and all I have is yours, will you not receive it? It is that simple but it all come through the conversation of prayer. Take this conversation with Jesus to heart as your own.