Prayer Lesson 2

The second step to praying is -    

Knowing the Vehicle Through which You are Praying to God.  

What is His will on how we supposed to come to God since we want to be sure He hears us?

If you wanted to speak to your mom or dad who lives with you, you might walk to their bedroom and let the air carry your voice. If they live apart from you, you might use the telephone. If you were a child, you might use one of those cups with a string.  However, speaking to God is much easier. There are no toll calls, no roaming charges, just speak, as you are and where you are, and freely.

However, to make certain the connection is clear, and that God will hear you, God does give us specific guidelines for a very successful prayer life. These directions are in God's prayer manual, the Bible.

Jesus said to them, "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Lk 13:24 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Jn 14:6 In Hebrews 4:15, it is written, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet was without sin. " That means that it is through Jesus that we come to the Father. Jesus is in the position of our High Priest, the one who carries our prayers to God the Father.

Well, how did Jesus become our High Priest? By his sacrifice of atonement, Jesus, the Lamb of God, took upon Himself all of your sins, past, present, future. Matthew tells us of Jesus' Crucifixion - About the ninth hour … when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. Matt 27:45-51 Mark tells us - With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!" Mk 15:37-39
(Show the model of the curtain.)

Now let me explain, the curtain of the temple is what separated the Holy of Holies from the people. Only the high priest who had been cleansed from his sins was able to enter.

The curtain was as thick as the width of man's hand = 8 inches thick, and was 40 feet high. No man could have ripped that heavy curtain, even standing on a chair, from the top to the bottom, all the way through. Only God could do that at the exact time of Christ's death.

God did that because the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, the atonement for sins was worthy and acceptable.

The curtain kept the people separate from God, just like sin always separates us from the Holy God. Behind the curtain was the atonement cover on the ark. God Himself appeared in a cloud over the atonement cover.

The LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron who died when they approached the LORD . The LORD said to Moses: "Tell your brother Aaron not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud over the atonement cover. Lev 16:1,2

Who was allowed to come behind the curtain and into the presence of God? Only the High Priest who had to be cleansed and purified from all sin before he entered in.

How did people get cleansed and purified from sin? By laying their hands on a perfect and unblemished lamb. As they lay their hands on it, they confessed their sins to God. Then the lamb was slaughtered/ killed with their sins on it. And thus the person who placed their sins upon that Lamb no longer had his/her sins, but the sin was gone with the Lamb. This was set up at the first Passover, which occurred in Egypt just before their flight to freedom.

Another visual way God did it was to have, once a year, the sins of the people placed by hand on a "scape goat". Then the goat was brought out far into the wilderness to never return to the Israelite camp again. This was to visibly show that as far as the east is from the west the Lord God has removed your transgressions.

God tells us in Hebrews - When Christ came as high priest … He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. The blood of Christ, cleanses our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! For Christ … entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people. (Heb 9:11-12, 14-15, 24,27-28)

In Hebrews God says -

Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said to His Father: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; 'Here I am--it is written about me in the scroll (that means Old Testament) -- I have come to do your will, O God.' " And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First He says: (This is the key to Prayer -) since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, His body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews (10:5-7,10,15-22)

When you accept God's word of Truth and apply it to your life, God promises that you are His personal child. God gives many concrete proofs of this relationship for every daughter of God. These are just three.

  1. To all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. Jn 1:12-13
  2. Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. … "unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. Jn 3:5-6; 14-18
  3. 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." Rom 8:15 (((15For the Spirit which you have now received is not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption; the Spirit producing sonship in the bliss of which we cry, Abba Father! Father! AMP )))
  4. Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." Matt 12:50

Because you are God's daughter through accepting Jesus' death on the cross for your sins, God encourages His daughters.

  1. Jesus answered, "My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and My Father are one." Jn 10:29-30
  2. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you." Deut 3:16

Since the Lord Jesus Christ took all of your sins and mine, we can enter the Holy of Holies, coming before the Holy God with our fears, heart breaks, desires, joys, sorrows, and concerns for others.

(This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Mt 26:28 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven." Lk 5:20 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His Name." Acts 10:43 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. Jn 5:24 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. Jn 10:28 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 6:23 )

(God tells us "For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance–now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant." Heb 9:15 "For there is only one God, and only one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. 1Tim 2:5 AMP )

Jesus Christ tells us "All things have been committed to Me by my Father." Lk 10:22 We would be at a loss if we didn't trust Him and ask all things through Christ Jesus. If we do not accept God's invitation, how terrible it will be for us if we "harden our hearts" to His incredible love and personal sacrifice.

So let us come in boldness to the Father through Jesus the Son with all of our concerns knowing, by faith in His Righteous Work, that we will be entering God's Presence, the Holy of Holies. God testifies in His Word, "

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, Heb 10:19 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Heb 4:16 So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" Psalm 118:6,7 ;Heb 13:6"

God confirms this and invites us, calls to us, tells us - "I have loved you with an everlasting love. Jer 31:3 What greater proof of love is there than "while we were yet sinners Jesus Christ died for us." God sacrificed His own Son on your behalf!!

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matt11:28-30 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD , "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jer 29:11

Now we know Who we are talking with and that He personally wants us to come to Him. And we know Who our connection is with God, Jesus and why He is, …

The third step to praying is  Knowing How You are to be Before The Holy God.         Bring me to Knowing How  - 

Bring me to the beginning of Prayer Lesson or to Prayer Lesson 3

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