Pray For Those Who Spitefully Use You And Persecute
You
5:43"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your
neighbor, and hate your enemy.' 5:44But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you,
do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and
persecute you, 5:45that you may be sons of your Father who is in Heaven. For he
makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and
the unjust. 5:46For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?
Don't even the tax collectors do the same? 5:47If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than
others? Don't even the tax collectors do the same? 5:48Therefore you
shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
In striving for perfection, even as the Father is perfect, we must pray for our enemies, those who spitefully use us and persecute us. In other words, we must become like our Father, putting on within us the traits possessed by our Father.
6:5"When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for
they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the
streets, that they may be seen by men. Most assuredly, I tell you, they have
received their reward. 6:6But you, when you pray, enter into your inner chamber, and
having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father
who sees in secret will reward you. 6:7In praying, don't use vain repetitions, as the Goyim do; for
they think that they will be heard for their much speaking. 6:8Therefore don't be
like them, for your Father knows what things you need, before you ask him. 6:9Pray like this. 'Our
Father, who is in Heaven, may your name be kept holy. 6:10May your kingdom
come. May your will be done, as in Heaven, so on earth. 6:11Give us this day
our daily bread. 6:12Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 6:13Bring us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, the power and
the glory forever. Amen.' 6:14For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father
will also forgive you. 6:15But if you don't forgive men their trespasses, neither will
your Father forgive your trespasses.
6:16"Moreover when you fast, don't be, as the hypocrites,
with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen by men to
be fasting. Most assuredly I tell you, they have received their reward. 6:17But you, when you
fast, anoint your head, and wash your face; 6:18that you are not seen by men to
be fasting, but by your Father who is in secret, and your Father, who sees in
secret, will reward you.
6:5-6 shows that our private prayers to the Father should remain so - private, a matter between our Father and ourselves. But if we pray publicly, that others may see that we are people of prayer, then it is for the receipt of human glory that we are so praying, rather than for the purpose suggested by the words we utter to our Father.
It is therefore implied that we should not seek human glory. For when we seek human glory we do not obtain whatever it is that we seek from the Father, seeing that it is human glory that we are really seeking. What we ought to do is seek the Father's glory, and do those things that glorify our Father's name, rather than those things that glorify ourselves.
Yah'shuah's Words In Harmony With Daniyel's Conduct
6:6 shows that Yah'shuah's instruction to pray in private is in agreement with Daniyel's conduct. For it was Daniyel's custom to pray to Yahweh three times a day, doing so in his own chamber, and facing towards Yerushalayim.
We Are Required To Pray To Yahweh For The Supply Of
Our Needs
6:7-8 implies that prayers are petitions to our Father that he may do as we petition him. And since the Father knows our needs, we need not waste time by useless repetitions, but should succinctly state to him what our requests are.
It should also be noted that it is indeed a requirement of the Father that we request from him that which we need. He already knows our needs, even when we are not aware what those needs are. And he desires to give us our needs, as he is perfect and is love. Nevertheless he still requires us to pray to him for the supply of those needs. It therefore appears that prayer humbles us. For it reminds us that without our Father we really cannot exist. We therefore exist because he sustains us.
In this regard we should also be continually thankful for the sustenance that he gives us. For without his sustenance that he provides us we would not live. We should therefore pray prayers of thanksgiving to our Father on a regular basis.
The Form Our Prayers Should Take
6:9-13 shows us the manner we ought to pray.
Kingdom, Power And Glory Belong To Yahweh
6:13 reiterates that the kingdom, the power and the glory belong to Yahweh the Father, forever. We should therefore not seek what belongs to Yahweh for ourselves. We should rather use whatever Yahweh places in our custody in the manner that Yahweh shows us we ought to use it. Therefore if and when Yahweh gives us a kingdom, power and glory, seeing that these belong to him, we ought to use whatever belongs to him in the manner that he, as the owner, commands. Implying that even when he gives us a kingdom, power and glory, we should always remember that our status is really only that of a custodian. We should therefore act as faithful custodians or servants.
Become Perfect As Even Your Father Is Perfect
6:14-15 reminds us that our forgiveness from our Father is conditional upon our forgiving our fellow brethren. It also reminds us that we must become like our Father. For just as the Father is merciful, so also must we become merciful. And just as the Father has other perfect traits, so also must be acquire these other perfect traits. We must become perfect, even as our Father is perfect.
6:16-18 against reiterates, using the example of our fasting, that we should not seek the glory of men. Rather, our worship to the Father should be done privately. Glory belongs to Yahweh, and not to us human beings. Whatever glory our Father allows to come our way is for our glorifying his name, for his name's sake.
9:35Yah'shuah
went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, and
preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every
sickness among the people. 9:36But
when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they
were weary and scattered, as sheep without a shepherd. 9:37Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest indeed is plentiful, but the laborers are
few. 9:38Pray therefore that the Master of the harvest will send forth
laborers into his harvest."
In ministering to the people, Yah'shuah perceived a need. He then commanded his disciples to pray to Yahweh, the Master of the harvest, to fulfil that need in the manner that it ought to have been fulfilled.
In this Yah'shuah teaches us that whenever we perceive the existence of a need, we should pray to our Father to fulfil the need in the manner that it ought to be done. Where the need is for more labourers into the Father's harvest, we ought to pray for those additional labourers. Where the need is for something else, we ought to pray for the other thing. We ought to pray for whatever is needed, praying to our Father to fulfil the need in the manner that it ought to be fulfilled.
Yah'shuah Abided By The Teachings He Commanded His
Disciples
14:22Immediately
he made the disciples get into the boat, and to go ahead of him to the other
side, while he sent the multitudes away. 14:23After
he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the mountain apart to pray.
When evening had come, he was there alone.
Yah'shuah indeed abided by the teachings he gave his disciples. For just as he commanded them to pray in private, not to seek glory from human beings, glory that belongs to the Father, so did he do. He prayed to the Father privately.
Pray And Fast That The Father May Fulfil Special
Needs
17:14When
they came to the multitude, there came to him a man, kneeling to him, saying, 17:15"Master, have mercy on my son, for he
is epileptic, and suffers grievously; for he often falls into the fire, and
often into the water. 17:16So I
brought him to your disciples, and they could not cure him."
17:17Yah'shuah
answered, "Faithless and perverse generation! How
long will I be with you? How long will I bear with you? Bring him here to
me." 17:18Yah'shuah
rebuked him, the demon went out of him, and the boy was cured from that hour.
17:19Then
the disciples came to Yah'shuah privately, and said, "Why couldn't we cast
it out?"
17:20He
said to them, "Because of your unbelief, for most
assuredly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will
tell this mountain, 'Move from here to yonder place,' and it will move; and
nothing will be impossible to you. 17:21But this kind doesn't go out except by prayer and
fasting."
17:21 shows that there are some needs that are only fulfilled by our Father after we have petitioned him both by prayer and fasting. In other words, fasting is a vital tool in bringing petitions to Yahweh, that Yahweh may indeed hear them.
Another such need, that is fulfilled only by prayer and fasting, is the restoration of Yisrael from the lands of their captors, and the restoration of Yerushalayim, and Yahweh's house at Yerushalayim. For so did both Daniyel and Nechemyah pray and fast to Yahweh for these.
Acquire The Humility And Meekness Of Little
Children
19:13Then
little children were brought to him, that he should lay his hands on them, and
pray; and the disciples rebuked them. 19:14But
Yah'shuah said, "Allow the little children, and
don't forbid them to come to me; for to such belongs the
Yah'shuah showed that it is appropriate to pray, even in public, for little
children. For to those of such nature belongs the
We should therefore strive to acquire the humility and meekness of little children.
21:17He
left them, and went forth out of the city to Beit-Anyah, and lodged there. 21:18Now in the morning, as he returned to the
city, he was hungry. 21:19Seeing a
fig tree by the road, he came to it, and found nothing on it but leaves. He
said to it, "Let there be no fruit from you
forever!" Immediately the fig tree withered away. 21:20When the disciples saw it, they marveled,
saying, "How did the fig tree immediately wither away?" 21:21Yah'shuah answered them, "Most assuredly I tell you, if you have faith, and don't
doubt, you will not only do what is done to the fig tree, but even if you will
tell this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' it will be done. 21:22All things,
whatever you will ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."
Yah'shuah showed that our prayers, especially when we are petitioning our Father Yahweh to do something, should be accompanied with faith - belief. In other words, if we believe that the Father will accord us the need that we ask him to accord us, he will indeed do so.
Pray To Yahweh For Relative Comfort
24:15When, therefore, you see the abomination of desolation, which
was spoken of through Daniyel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the
reader understand), 24:16then let those who are in Yahudah flee to the mountains. 24:17Let him who is on
the housetop not go down to take out things that are in his house. 24:18Let him who is in
the field not return back to take his cloak. 24:19But woe to those
who are with child and to nursing mothers in those days! 24:20Pray that your
flight will not be in the winter, nor on a Shabbat, 24:21for then will be
great oppression, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until
now, no, nor ever will be. 24:22Except those days had been shortened, no flesh would have
been saved. But for the elect's sake, those days will be shortened.
Yah'shuah had told his disciples that times were coming when his disciples in the area of Yahudah would need to flee urgently from Yahudah. In 24:20 he commanded them to pray that their flight not take place on either winter or on a Shabbat, but at a time more convenient for fleeing. In other words, if it was essential to flee on either winter or on a Shabbat, so be it. But it would be less difficult to flee at other times.
In this Yah'shuah has taught us that it is appropriate to pray to Yahweh that circumstances may be more comfortable for us than they otherwise could be. In other words, if something is to happen, we ought to pray to Yahweh that it happens in the most comfortable manner, or least painful manner. It is not inappropriate to so pray.
Yah'shuah's Prayer At Gat-Shemanim
26:36Then
Yah'shuah came with them to a place called Gat-Shemanim, and said to his
disciples, "Sit here, while I go there and
pray." 26:37He took with
him Kefa and the two sons of Zavdai, and began to be sorrowful and severely
troubled. 26:38Then he said to them,
"My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death.
Stay here, and watch with me." 26:39He
went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away
from me; nevertheless, not what I want, but what you want." 26:40He came to the disciples, and found them
sleeping, and said to Kefa, "What, couldn't you
watch with me for one hour? 26:41Watch and pray, that you not enter into temptation. The
spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." 26:42Again, a second time he went away, and
prayed, saying, "My Father, if this cup can't
pass away from me, unless I drink it, your will be done." 26:43He came again and found them sleeping, for
their eyes were heavy. 26:44He left
them again, went away, and prayed a third time, saying the same words. 26:45Then he came to his disciples, and said to
them, "Sleep on now, and take your rest. Behold,
the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 26:46Arise, let us be
going. Behold, he who betrays me is at hand."
26:39 shows that Yah'shuah fell on his face and prayed, thereby showing us that this is indeed an appropriate prayer posture - face down.
Submit Wholly To Yahweh's Will, Even When
Uncomfortable
26:39 also shows that Yah'shuah prayed that the ordeal - "this cup" - that he was about to undergo pass away from him, if it was possible for Yahweh's will to be done in some other manner. But he also submitted himself to Yahweh's will, being fully willing to go through with the ordeal if that was the only manner that the Father's will would be done.
In this Yah'shuah taught us to fully submit to the Father's will, even when it is not comfortable and is indeed painful.
He also taught us that it is not inappropriate to pray that pain we may be undergoing be alleviated from us. In other words, it is quite in order to pray to Yahweh that he removes from us pain we may be undergoing. But in this we ought to submit to Yahweh's will, for it might indeed be his will that we undergo the pain for some duration of time.
Watch And Pray To Avoid Entering Into Temptation
26:41 shows us that to avoid entering into temptation, it is important that we pray about this, and also be watchful.
When It Is Appropriate To Repeat Petitions To
Yahweh
It should be noted from 26:42 and 26:44 that Yah'shuah repeated the words that he had previously prayed to Yahweh. It is also submitted that these were not vain or useless repetitions, for Yah'shuah was praying earnestly for Yahweh's guidance and answer in this most momentous period of his entire life. It therefore appears not to be out of order to repeat prayers for guidance and alleviation of pain, if, after initially praying, we have yet to receive an answer from Yahweh.
Yahweh Refused Yah'shuah's Petition
It should also be noted that Yahweh's answer to Yah'shuah in this matter was NO! In other words, though Yah'shuah prayed that the ordeal he was about to undergo pass away from him, Yahweh did not acquiesce to Yah'shuah's prayer. For it was not Yahweh's will to allow the ordeal to pass away from Yah'shuah.
Requests Yahweh Answers In The Affirmative
It should therefore be clear to us that the only requests that Yahweh will answer in the affirmative are those that are in harmony with his will. Yah'shuah knew this. He knew he was asking a difficult thing, a thing that might not have been in Yahweh's will, for the purpose of alleviating or averting the pain he was about to undergo. But he was also fully submissive to Yahweh, ready to do Yahweh's will even unto death. And so he did, thereby setting us an example that we all should follow - being fully submissive to Yahweh, even unto death.
It should also be noted that it is not sin to make a request of Yahweh on a matter that may not be his will. It is sin when we act contrary to his will. But it is not sin to ascertain his will, or to make request of something that may not be his will. In such cases we should also ask Yahweh to show us what his will is, that we may fully submit to it and abide by it. For it is Father Yahweh who is our Master, and we are just his servants.
1:35Early
in the night, he rose up and went out, and departed into a desert place, and
there prayed. 1:36Shim`on and those
who were with him followed after him; 1:37and
they found him, and told him, "All are seeking you."
Yah'shuah prayed to the Father privately, setting us an example we ought to follow.
Watch, Keep Alert And Pray At All Times
13:28"Now from the fig tree, learn this parable. When the
branch has now become tender, and puts forth its leaves, you know that the
summer is near; 13:29even so you also, when you see these things coming to pass,
know that it is near, at the doors. 13:30Most assuredly I say to you, this race will not pass away
until all these things are accomplished. 13:31Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass
away. 13:32But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the
angels in Heaven, neither the Son, but only the Father. 13:33Watch, keep
alert, and pray; for you don't know when the time is.
13:34"It is like a man, traveling to another country, having
left his house, and given authority to his servants, and to each one his work,
and also commands the doorkeeper to keep watch. 13:35Watch therefore,
for you don't know when the master of the house is coming, whether at evening,
or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning; 13:36lest coming
suddenly he might find you sleeping. 13:37What I tell you, I tell all: Watch."
We should be praying regularly that we may be vigilant and alert and ready for the fulfilment of prophesied events, especially the return of Yah'shuah the Messiah.
Seek Out Time To Pray Privately To Yahweh
5:15But
the report concerning him spread much more, and great multitudes came together
to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities. 5:16But he withdrew himself into the desert,
and prayed.
Yah'shuah showed us, even when his schedule was busy, and he would surrounded by people, he sought time to be alone by himself, and pray to Yahweh. We should likewise seek out time, even out of very busy schedules, and pray to Yahweh in private.
5:33They
said to him, "Why do Yahchanan's disciples often fast and pray, likewise
also the disciples of the Perushim, but yours eat and drink?"
5:34He
said to them, "Can you make the friends of the
bridegroom fast, while the bridegroom is with them? 5:35But the days will
come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them. Then will they fast in
those days."
Yah'shuah showed that after his departure and return to heaven, it would be a time for his disciples, his friends, to fast. The time we currently are living in is therefore one for fasting. Yah'shuah's servants should therefore fast often.
Seek Yahweh's Guidance Prior To Making Major
Decisions
6:12It
happened in these days that he went out into the mountain to pray and he
continued all night in prayer to the Mighty One. 6:13When
it was day, he called his disciples, and from them he chose twelve, whom he
also named apostles: 6:14Shim`on,
whom he also named Kefa; And'drai, his brother; Ya`akov; Yahchanan; Pilipos;
Bar-Talmai; 6:15Mattityahu; T'oma;
Ya`akov, the son of Chalfai; Shim`on, who was called the Zealot; 6:16Yahudah the son of Ya`akov; and Yahudah
from K'riot, who also became a traitor. 6:17He
came down with them, and stood on a level place, with a crowd of his disciples,
and a great number of the people from all Yahudah and Yerushalayim, and the sea
coast of Tzor and Tzidon, who came to hear him, and to be healed of their
diseases; 6:18also those who were
troubled with unclean spirits, and they were being healed. 6:19All the multitude sought to touch him, for
power came forth from him, and healed them all.
6:12 shows us that on the night before Yah'shuah chose his disciples, he prayed privately to Yahweh, and continued all night in prayer. It is plausible that his prayer included seeking guidance in the selection of his disciples, that he may select those whom Yahweh gave him.
We should likewise follow Yah'shuah's example. When faced with momentous decisions, we should seek Yahweh's guidance prior to the making of those decisions, to facilitate our acting according to Yahweh's will.
Pray That Yahweh's Prophecies May Be Fulfilled At
Their Appointed Time
9:18It
happened, as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him, and he
asked them, "Who do the multitudes say that I
am?"
9:19They
answered, "'Yahchanan the Baptizer,' but others say, 'Eliyah,' and others,
that one of the old prophets is risen again."
9:20He
said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Kefa answered, "The Messiah of the Mighty
One."
9:21But
he warned them, and commanded them to tell this to no one, 9:22saying, "The
Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the Zakenim, chief
Kohanim, and Sofrim, and be killed, and the third day be raised up."
9:23He
said to all, "If anyone desires to come after me,
let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 9:24For whoever desires
to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake, the
same will save it. 9:25For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world,
and loses or forfeits his own self? 9:26For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words, of him
will the Son of Man be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of himself, of the
Father, and of the holy angels. 9:27But I tell you the truth: There are some of those who stand
here, who will in no way taste of death, until they see the kingdom of the
Mighty One."
9:28It
happened about eight days after these sayings, that he took with him Kefa,
Yahchanan, and Ya`akov, and went up onto the mountain to pray. 9:29As he was praying, the appearance of
his face was altered, and his clothing became white and dazzling. 9:30Behold, two men talked with him, who were
Moshe and Eliyah, 9:31who appeared
in glory, and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at
Yerushalayim.
9:32Now
Kefa and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they were
fully awake, they saw his glory, and the two men who stood with him. 9:33It happened, as they were parting from him,
that Kefa said to Yah'shuah, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let's
make three tents: one for you, and one for Moshe, and one for Eliyah," not
knowing what he said. 9:34While he
said these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as
they entered into the cloud. 9:35A
voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to
him!" 9:36When the voice came,
Yah'shuah was found alone. They were silent, and told no one in those days any
of the things that they had seen.
9:27 shows that Yah'shuah said that there were some standing who would not taste death before they saw the kingdom of the Mighty One. In other words, Yah'shuah had prophesied about a certain event affecting some of his disciples.
9:28-31 shows that it was as Yah'shuah was praying that the prophecy he spoke of in 9:27 was fulfilled. For both Moshe and Eliyah appeared before him, in glorious appearance, and spoke. Yah'shuah himself also had his face altered, and his clothing became white and dazzling.
It therefore appears that Yah'shuah needed to pray to Yahweh to fulfil the prophecy that Yah'shuah had spoken concerning some of his disciples.
It therefore appears that when servants of Yahweh have come to learn about the imminent fulfilment of one or some of Yahweh's prophecies, they should indeed pray to Yahweh to so act and fulfil those prophecies at their appointed time. For their prayer will indeed be according to Yahweh's will, and by Yahweh having given them knowledge of these prophecies, he has also given them the responsibility of praying to him about the matter of their fulfilment. Servants of Yahweh should therefore fully play their part in the fulfilment of Yahweh's prophecies. These include praying that these prophecies may be fulfilled, and also doing such additional duties that Yahweh shows them they ought to do.
Ask Your Heavenly Father To Give You His Holy
Spirit
11:5He
said to them, "Which of you, if you go to a friend
at midnight, and tell him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 11:6for a friend of
mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him,' 11:7and he from within
will answer and say, 'Don't bother me. The door is now shut, and my children
are with me in bed. I can't get up and give it to you'? 11:8I tell you,
although he will not rise and give it to him because he is his friend, yet
because of his persistence, he will get up and give him as many as he needs. 11:9I tell you, keep
asking, and it will be given you. Keep seeking, and you will find. Keep
knocking, and it will be opened to you. 11:10For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him
who knocks it will be opened. 11:11Which of you
fathers, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a
fish, he won't give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? 11:12Or if he asks for
an egg, he won't give him a scorpion, will he? 11:13If 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?"
Yah'shuah shows us that we should ask the Father in heaven to give us his Holy Spirit. We should therefore pray that Father Yahweh gives us his Holy Spirit, and he certainly will.
Always Pray To Yahweh, Never Giving Up
18:1He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray, and
not give up, 18:2saying, "A
certain judge was in a city, who didn't fear the Mighty One, and didn't respect
man. 18:3A widow was in that city, and she came often to him, saying,
'Defend me from my adversary!' 18:4He wouldn't for a while, but afterward he said to himself,
'Though I don't fear the Mighty One, nor respect man, 18:5yet because this
widow bothers me, I will defend her, or else she will wear me out by her
continual coming.'" 18:6The
Master said, "Listen to what the unrighteous judge
says. 18:7Won't the Mighty One avenge his elect, who are crying out to
him day and night, and yet he exercises patience with them? 18:8I tell you that he
will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, when
the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
We should always pray to the Mighty One, crying out to him day and night, never giving up.
18:9He
spoke also this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own
righteousness, and who despised all others. 18:10"Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a
Parush, and the other was a tax collector. 18:11The Parush stood and prayed to himself like this: 'Mighty
One, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortioners,
unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 18:12I fast twice in
the week. I give tithes of all that I get.' 18:13But the tax collector, standing
far away, wouldn't even lift up as his eyes to Heaven, but beat his breast,
saying, 'Mighty One, be merciful to me, a sinner!' 18:14I tell you, this
man went down to his house justified rather than the other, for everyone who
exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."
We should not exalt ourselves, but should humble ourselves, especially before the Mighty One in our prayers to him.
22:31The
Master said, "Shim`on, Shim`on, behold, Hasatan
asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat, 22:32but I prayed for
you, that your faith wouldn't fail. You, when once you have turned again,
establish your brothers."
Yah'shuah prayed for his disciples. We should likewise pray for our brethren, that they may be fully submissive to Yahweh and faithfully serve Yahweh in the various works that Yahweh has given them.
22:39He
came out, and went, as his custom was, to the Mount of Olives. His disciples
also followed him. 22:40When he was
at the place, he said to them, "Pray that you
don't enter into temptation."
22:41He
was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and he knelt down and prayed, 22:42saying, "Father,
if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but
yours, be done." 22:43An
angel from Heaven appeared to him, strengthening him. 22:44Being in agony he prayed more
earnestly. His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the
ground. 22:45When he rose up
from his prayer, he came to the disciples, and found them sleeping because of
grief, 22:46and said to them, "Why do you sleep? Rise and pray that you may not
enter into temptation."
22:41 shows that Yah'shuah knelt down and prayed. The accounts in Mattityahu and Mark show that his face fell to the ground and he prayed. The prayer posture that Yah'shuah therefore adopted was one whereby he both knelt down and had his face to the ground. This was the same prayer posture that Avraham's servant adopted when he went on his mission to bring Rivka as Yitzchak's wife.
Servants of Yahweh ought to follow Yah'shuah's prayer posture in their private prayers to Yahweh. They can even do so publicly, as other servants of Yahweh did, as seen in various portions of Scripture.
Petition The Father In Yah'shuah's Name
14:8Pilipos
said to him, "Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for
us."
14:9Yah'shuah
said to him, "Have I been with you such a long
time, and do you not know me, Pilipos? He who has seen me has seen the Father.
How do you say, 'Show us the Father?' 14:10Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in
me? The words that I tell you, I speak not from myself; but the Father living
in me does his works. 14:11Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me; or
else believe me for the very works' sake. 14:12Most assuredly I tell you, he who believes in me, the works
that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these will he do; because I
am going to my Father. 14:13Whatever you will ask in my name, that will I do, that the
Father may be glorified in the Son. 14:14If you will ask anything in my name, that will I do. 14:15If you love me, keep my commandments. 14:16I will pray to the
Father, and he will give you another Counselor, that he may be with you
forever, 14:17 -- the Spirit of truth, whom the world can't receive; for it
doesn't see him, neither knows him. You know him, for he lives with you, and
will be in you. 14:18I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you. 14:19Yet a little
while, and the world will see me no more; but you will see me. Because I live,
you will live also. 14:20In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in
me, and I in you. 14:21Someone who has my commandments, and keeps them, that person
is one who loves me. One who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will
love him, and will reveal myself to him."
14:13-14 shows that we ought to ask the various things that we ask Father Yahweh in the name of Yah'shuah. For by so invoking Yah'shuah's name, will Yah'shuah give us the thing that we ask, provided it is in harmony with Yahweh's will.
Petition Yahweh According To His Appointed Times
14:16-18 notes that Yah'shuah said that he would - future tense - pray to the Father that the Father gives them his Holy Spirit.
That Yah'shuah had not yet prayed that the Father give his disciples the Holy Spirit indicates that it was not yet time for them to have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. He therefore just dwelt with them, but not in them. Therefore, when it was time for the Holy Spirit to dwell in them, the time that the Father had ordained for the Holy Spirit to dwell in Yah'shuah's disciples, Yah'shuah would indeed pray that the Holy Spirit dwell in his disciples at that time.
It should therefore be noted that even when we pray according to Yahweh's will with respect to the occurrence of a particular thing, that thing will not occur until Yahweh's time for the occurrence of that thing has come. If Yahweh has revealed to us the appropriate timing for the occurrence of that thing, we should wait until that time before praying for it to occur. And when that time definitely comes, we should definitely pray for its occurrence. For in Yahweh showing or revealing to us the right time for a thing to occur, he is also giving us the responsibility and duty of praying for its occurrence at its appointed time. Therefore, when such time arrives, we should do our duty and duly pray to Yahweh to bring to pass what he had ordained to bring to pass at his appointed time.
16:19Therefore
Yah'shuah perceived that they wanted to ask him, and he said to them, "Do you inquire among yourselves concerning this, that I
said, 'A little while, and you won't see me, and again a little while, and you
will see me?' 16:20Most assuredly I tell you, that you will weep and lament, but
the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned
into joy. 16:21A woman, when she is in travail, has sorrow, because her time
has come. But when she has delivered the child, she doesn't remember the
anguish any more, for the joy that a child is born into the world. 16:22You therefore now
have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one
will take your joy away from you. 16:23In that day you will ask me no question. Most assuredly I
tell you, whatever you may ask of the Father, he will give it to you in my
name. 16:24Until now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you
will receive, that your joy may be made full.
16:25I
have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. But the time comes when I
will no more speak to you in figures of speech, but will tell you plainly about
the Father. 16:26In that day you will ask in my name; and I don't say to you,
that I will pray to the Father for you, 16:27for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me,
and have believed that I came forth from the Mighty One. 16:28I came out from the Father, and have come into the world.
Again, I leave the world, and go to the Father."
16:23-27 again reiterates that Yah'shuah's disciples ought to make request of Yahweh in Yah'shuah's name. For the Father will indeed give them that which they ask, that their joy may be made full.
Indicating that our joy is made full by our receiving from the Father what we have asked in Yah'shuah's name. There is therefore much joy in receiving from the Father.
16:26-27 shows that those whom the Father loves are those who believe Yah'shuah, those who believe the words that he gave Yah'shuah to speak. Therefore, by believing both Father Yahweh and Yah'shuah, and thereby being loved by both of them, one can indeed pray to Father Yahweh and be heard by him, praying in the name of Yah'shuah. We should heed Yah'shuah's words.
Pray For Yah'shuah's Disciples
17:1Yah'shuah
said these things, and lifting up his eyes to Heaven, he said, "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your
Son may also glorify you; 17:2even as you gave him authority over all flesh, that to all
whom you have given him, he will give eternal life. 17:3This is eternal
life, that they should know you, the only true Mighty One, and him whom you
sent, Yah'shuah the Messiah. 17:4I glorified you on the earth. I have accomplished the work
that you have given me to do. 17:5Now, Father, glorify me with your own self with the glory
which I had with you before the world existed. 17:6I revealed your
name to the people whom you have given me out of the world. They were yours,
and you have given them to me. They have kept your word. 17:7Now they know that
all things whatever you have given me are from you, 17:8for the words which
you have given me I have given to them, and they received them, and knew for
sure that I came forth from you, and they believed that you sent me. 17:9I pray for them.
I don't pray for the world, but for those whom you have given me, for they are
yours. 17:10All things that are mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I
am glorified in them. 17:11I am no more in the world, and these are in the world, and I
am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them through your name which you have given
me, that they may be one, even as we are. 17:12While I was with them in the world, I kept them in your name.
Those whom you have given me I have kept. None of them is lost, except the son
of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 17:13But now I come
to you, and I say these things in the world, that they may have my joy made
full in themselves. 17:14I have given them
your word. The world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I
am not of the world. 17:15I pray not that you would take them from the world, but that
you would keep them from the evil one. 17:16They are not of
the world even as I am not of the world. 17:17Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth. 17:18As you sent me into the world, even so I sent them into the
world. 17:19For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also
may be sanctified in truth. 17:20Neither for these only do I pray, but for those also who
believe in me through their word, 17:21that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and
I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you
sent me. 17:22The glory which you have given
me, I have given to them; that they may be one, even as we are one; 17:23I in them, and you
in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that you
sent me, and loved them, even as you loved me. 17:24Father, I desire
that they also whom you have given me be with me where I am, that they may see
my glory, which you have given me, for you loved me before the foundation of
the world. 17:25Righteous Father, the world didn't know you, but I knew you;
and these knew that you sent me. 17:26I made known to them your name, and will make it known; that
the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them."
Yah'shuah prayed for his disciples. So should we pray for Yah'shuah's disciples, our brethren.
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