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Shoulder To Shoulder #1309 -- 9/19/22 ---- "Seeking The Ancient Paths (Pt 17) -- The Pathway of the Prayer Warrior (A winning Route Past Amalek)"

#1 · September 21, 2022, 8:08 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on September 21, 2022, 8:08 pm
Posted by: rtolliver49 <rtolliver49@...>

"Standing Together, Shoulder To Shoulder, As We Fight the Good Fight of Faith"

SHOULDER TO SHOULDER is a weekly letter of encouragement Bob has written since 1997, covering many topics selected to
motivate people to be strong students of the Word and courageous witnesses of Jesus Christ. It is a personal letter of
encouragement to you, written solely to help "lift up hands that hang down".

    "The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything." -- Albert Einstein

    “There is a common, worldly kind of Christianity in this day, which many have, and think they have -- a cheap Christianity which offends nobody,
    and requires no sacrifice, which costs nothing, -- and is worth nothing.” – J. C. Ryle

Shoulder To Shoulder #1309 -- 9/19/22

Title: "Seeking The Ancient Paths (Pt 17) -- The Pathway of the Prayer Warrior (A winning Route Past Amalek)"

My Dear Friend and Co-Laborer With Christ

Well, . . . stunned I am, indeed! After a very busy week winding down our ministry here in Greer, I have discovered that last week's letter apparently never entered the internet universe. For only the second time in over 25 years, my weekly letter was never delivered. I'm certain I wrote it, but "nary a copy can be found". While there is a copy in my "sent" folder, there are none in my Inbox and none in the archives of the mailing service I use.

So, already midway through the next week, I'll rewrite with the prayer that my thoughts will be timely and enriching to you.

In all my 50+ years of preaching and 64 years of Christian ministry, I had never followed a "theme" for an entire year. I've never been one who created a preaching schedule other than when preaching through a book of the Bible or addressing a topic for a short period. However, when I began pastoring seasonal chapels in 2016, I found myself drawn that direction. Between Greer Chapel in the Summer and Chapel de Oro in the Winter, I have been inexplicably blessed to follow that paradigm for thirteen consecutive seasons.

Each seasonal theme has made its mark on my soul, but in light of all that has been happening around the world -- and especially in our country -- this one has been special. And, apparently not just to me, but to others who have been exposed to some of the teachings. As years have transpired, I am increasingly aware that I am a very tiny fish in an incredibly large pond -- contentedly so. But, thanks to the internet, I'm able on occasion to also splash around in a few other ponds scattered around the globe. It's been a delightful "splash" for a very long time.

Outside of my pastoral roles, only two primary outlets have become the vehicles for my "splashing" -- my weekly Shoulder to Shoulder letters that I've been writing since December 7, 1997 (over 1,500 of them so far), and the rather surprising use of video taping my sermons since June of 2016 and then putting them on the Greer Chapel YouTube channel. My "Shoulder to Shoulder" letters continue to be shared with several hundred subscribers in as many as 20 countries while the videos are being watched in Canada, the U.S., England, Russia, Ukraine, Colombia, and I-don't-know-how-many other countries.

That sounds like bragging points, but that's not my intent. It's just that I stand in amazement at how God has chosen to use the letters and videos to minister to others, some of whom are in far away places where I've never been, and being read or watched by people I've never met. The Chapel's YouTube channel doesn't normally get very many hits -- maybe 15 or 20 per video. So, when all of a sudden I am told that more than 100 people outside the Chapel attendance watched a particular sermon, it stuns me.

This has been the case with this particular series on "Seeking the Ancient Paths". Apart from the influence of the Holy Spirit, I believe a sense of "lostness" or "wandering" among many Christians coupled with the undeniable moral and spiritual decline we have seen in our country and around from the world have been the possible cause in increased viewership.

So, today as I rewrite this letter you were intended to receive last week -- and skipping all the "THIS 'N' THAT'S" and "QUOTES FOR THE WEEK", let's get right to it. Besides, this is a very busy week getting ready for our final service and then hoping to leave for Yuma on Monday. So, . . .

SETTING THE STAGE:

We have perhaps a dozen different denominational backgrounds represented in the two chapels -- everything from liturgical and mainline to more evangelical and Pentecostal backgrounds.   I wish I could describe to my readers who are "stuck" in the denominational segregationist rut just how liberating and joyous it is to be able to remain secure in the beliefs of my personal background while simultaneously relishing the friendship, kinship, and love I have with people who love, trust, and serve the same Jesus I do. It's like a breath of fresh mountain air to my soul every time we meet.

Here in Greer Chapel probably half of our attendees come from more liturgical churches who make it a practice of saying what we call "The Lord's Prayer" corporately during their services. I remember doing that on occasion in my own upbringing, but not as a regular part of the services. For several years our worship leader here has been a wonderful lady with a beautiful voice who has repeatedly -- but gently and patiently -- hinted that we should do say "The Lord's Prayer" together at least once month.

So, this year I've tried to remember to do that, and we have done so at least 80% of the Sundays. Every time we have done it, it has become more meaningful to everyone, and God has reminded me almost weekly of the importance of prayer -- corporate prayer included -- for daily living and for the battles along the "ancient pathways" to which God has called us to return.

Many people call "The Lord's Prayer" by a most appropriate alternate name -- "The Model Prayer" -- for that is exactly what it is. Without returning to review the scene in my last letter of God's people encountering Amalek on the way to the Promised Land, it will become pretty obvious that some of the things we looked at there from Moses' mountaintop view is also found embedded in this very concise example Jesus gave His disciples about prayer.

There is nothing particularly magical about quoting The Model Prayer as recorded in scripture. In fact, when quoted corporately, it can become a little confusing. First, it's easy to get the sequence out of order, and second it's much too distracting to get trapped in the "debts" vs. the "trespasses" versions of the prayer itself.

So, obviously, the importance of the prayer is not in the words, but rather in the sequence or format Jesus laid out for us. There is no such thing as a "coincidental sequence" in the Bible -- they are all intentional -- intentional because they were divinely inspired by the God Who breathed ("forcefully violently exhaled") them out as a permanent record in His Word.

That means, the sequence is of crucial importance -- especially if you are going to be adequately prepared for those occasions when your "Amalek" shows up during your journey along the "Ancient Paths". If you will take the time to see how frequently prayer is mentioned in the Pentateuch, the value of prayer will become more valued in your heart.

Look at what Jesus explained to His disciples. (I never cease to be amazed that the first command we find that Jesus ever made was, "Follow Me.". The first request we find that the disciples asked Jesus was, "Lord, teach us to pray." -- NOT how to pray, but TO pray.) Here's what He said:

    "When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.   But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

    "And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

    "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]'" -- (Matt 6:5-13).

Moments later, Jesus seems to emphasize the importance of praying by exhorting (note those three key commands), . . .

     "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Mat 7:8 "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. -- (Matt 7:7-8)

It is not coincidental that when Paul wrote to Timothy, he pointed out the significance of prayer regarding national prosperity and security. He stated, . . .

    " First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

    "This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time." -- (I Tim 2:1-6).

One of my favorite authors who writes biblical and meaningful truth fit for our generation is Pastor Francis Frangipane of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He is not from my denominational persuasion, but his books contain much of what I find evidenced in the Bible. In a recent blog on his website, he wrote, . . .

    “In our rapidly changing times, people are desperate to know the future – what it looks like, what it contains, how it will affect them. Barely do we adjust to the last changes when totally new realities explode into our world.”

I cannot remember a time in recent years where so many people are trying to bury their fears and misery in so many ineffective ways to suppress the facts while, at the same time, millions of other fearful, anxious, and desperate people are actually searching for answers to their questions. In such a world, people are drawn to countless “sources” to find answers they desire for both the future and how to deal with the issues of today.

Sports, entertainment, hobbies, travel, accumulation of “more”, and a wide range of occult and demonic sources are often things people go to – even Christians – to find how to deal with today’s challenges and tomorrow’s uncertainties. This is a great tragedy, for Christians, have available the two greatest resources in the world to which we can go for answers, guidance, hope, increased strength, wisdom, and courage. And yet, it may be the most neglected, challenging, and difficult thing a Christian ever does.

The secret to finding answers -- good answers -- the right answers -- is prayer. Prayer must be the foundational element in the life of the Christian; we are called to be intercessors – prayer warriors.   Prayer warriors are the most frightening, powerful, demon-chasing, world-moving beings on earth.

So, in that you and I are both committed to rediscovering and walking the "ancient paths" of old, it is appropriate that we follow up our look at Amalek and consider the Pathway of the Prayer Warrior -- it’s great importance and how to make it a priority in our personal lives. We will consider three simple ideas:
    1.    The Priority of Prayer We need to Acknowledge.
    2.    The Promises for Prayer we need to Believe.
    3.    Principles of Prayer that we need to Embrace.

First, . . .

I. THE PRIORITY OF PRAYER WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE: (as taught by Christ (Matthew 6:5-13; 7:7-8)

Francis Frangipane went on to state in his blog, . . .

“. . . God . . . has called intercessors not to wonder about the future, but to create it through the knowledge of His Living Word and prayer "

I mentioned earlier that, of all the things Jesus did and said, prayer is the first recorded thing His disciples asked Him to teach them to do. (Luke 11:1-2) In response, the Lord Jesus told us plainly how we should pray. He gave us the “model” or “blueprint” or “outline” of prayer. (Matt. 6:9-10). When He then taught them, He showed them four basic priorities of a healthy prayer life. It will do just that for us, if we understand those priorities.

1.    The Priority of Our Position with Him: (9) -- He tells us to pray like this -- "Our Father, Who is in heaven, Hollowed by Your Name."

In those ten words (as translated into English), Jesus nails down three vital things -- our Relationship with Him, the Realm of His presence, and the awe and Reverence we must always have toward Him. He is our heavenly father more real than any earthly father could ever be, He rules from his heavenly realm far above all creation that He created by the word of His mouth, and He deserves and demands that we stand in awe and reverential fear of Who He is, What He has done, and How He rules.

We could spend the rest of this letter plumbing the bottomless depth of these facts. Instead, though, let's continue and examine . . .

2.    The Priority of His Preeminence over Us: (10) -- "Your kingdom come, Your will be done, Here on earth, like it has already been done in heaven."

For most of us, there is a great divide between the visible realities we see here on this planet and the invisible "theoretical" principles we try to grasp in faith as being true when we don't see any visible evidence. In spite of the fact the Bible teaches us that the spiritual and invisible is actually more real than the temporal and visible.

Another reality is that our personal kingdoms -- in fact, all the kingdoms in this world, past, present, and future, -- have two ingredients God's kingdom doesn't have -- sin, and the time spectrum. We are bound in sin in need of being rescued, and we are trapped in an odd time warp where we think of things in terms of right and wrong, and days, months, years, and aeons. In God's kingdom, though, neither sin nor time exist. As the sinless, perfect, just, and merciful God, He always operates in an "eternal now".

So, when we think of His kingdom, we know it exists, we have experienced a taste of it, and we know there is more to come. But, seeing it actually happen in our day is beyond our grasp.

Yet, it is attainable to us -- the reality of the "eternal now" can actually be evidenced "on earth, as it has already been done in heaven."

So, think about this for a moment -- if we are asking God's kingdom to come to where we are today in the identical fashion to how it exists and has been accomplished in heaven, then what are we really asking?

Without taking the time to delve into some of the countless specifics, let's just summarize by saying that God wants us to pray that everything He has already decided, decreed, and delivered in the heavenly realm of "it's always already is", becomes living reality down here where you and I live.

So, in your case, what is there in heaven already accomplished that you would love to see become visible reality down here in your world -- and specifically the part of your world in which you find yourself at this moment? Salvation for someone? Healing? Peace? Reconciliation? Strength? Renewed faith?

If I understand what Jesus said here, it is possible to move heaven into earth -- at least in the spiritual realm. And, if it is true in the spiritual realm, then it will somehow show its presence in an evidentiary way that you can observe and/or experience yourself.

So, then, how does this happen? Once we accept our position before Him, and acknowledge His Preeminence over us, then it's time to identify . . .

3.    The Priority of Welcomed Petitions He Grants us: (11-13b) -- "Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts (sins) as we forgive our debtors (those who sin against us). And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil (the evil one)."

Whatever else we we need to understand about this Model Prayer, we must recognize that the life of prayer demands that we become pray-ers who focus on four specific and very practical areas

    1)    Daily needs (". . . our daily bread”) -- Whether they are our own needs, the needs of others, or the needs of nations, we need to ask Him to meet them.

    2)    Daily holiness (“. . . forgive us. . .”) -- God has already provided forgiveness -- for us and others. It is available, and it is offered. It is our responsibility to receive it -- to accept it. It's not a trophy, it's not a reward, and it's not a payment for "services rendered". It's a gift -- all gift.

    3)    Daily guidance (“. . . lead us not into temptation . . .") -- Jesus isn't telling us that we need to ask God to never lead us into temptation. We're not to pray, "God, don't direct me to what is wrong!" That's totally contrary to the character and nature of God. Rather, He is telling us to ask God to always guide us away from temptation -- keep us from giving in to temptation, no matter how strong they may be. We cry out to Him, "Oh, God, keep me from falling into the deceptions, directions, and diversion that will fall across my pathway!"

    4)    Daily victory in battle (“. . . deliver us from evil / the evil one . . .") -- The word for "deliver" relates to a current -- a rushing current. It's the picture of being swept away by a rushing rescue effort. It's not the idea of God just helping you out in the battle, but rather God sweeping you out from the battle. There's all the difference in the world between the two. When you find yourself wearying in the struggle, your liberator -- your emancipator -- your rescuer -- will come in and sweep you off your feet into His arms and out of harm's way.

And that brings us to the fourth priority of our praying that is imperative that we acknowledge. It is . . .

4.    The Priority of Kingdom Praise (13b)

    “Most Christians spend 90% of their praying on their petitions and almost no time praying for the advancement, authority, and coming of God’s Kingdom. It is this very imbalance that stalls His Kingdom from being manifested in their world.” -- Donte Neetu Gnomee

Sadly, you and I can get so enamored with and tied up by our own kingdoms and the kingdoms of others, that we forget that ours are temporal and His is eternal. We think ours are absolutely essential and His is merely incidental. We forget that ours will decay, dissolve, and soon pass away, but His is of the "forever" world.

With that in mind, we must always remember, . . .

    1)    The kingdom is His, not ours! (". . . Thine is the kingdom . . .") -- We are not the sovereign in His kingdom, we are mere stewards. We don't direct it, we dwell in it.

    2)    The power is His, not ours! (". . . the power . . .") -- Neither do we have the power to maintain a kingdom . . . neither ours nor His. The kingdom is His to rule, the power is His to sustain and maintain.

    3)    The glory is His, not ours! (". . . and the glory . . .") -- Finally, the glory is His, not ours. We have no glory, we create no glory, and we deserve no glory. We can take neither credit nor glory for anything. It is all about Him.

Contemplate this: -- When you think about this model Jesus taught for prayer, it begins with acknowledging that our position with Him is all about Him. His preeminence is also all about Him. We don't make Him preeminent. We have nothing whatsoever to do with His preeminence. He is preeminent because He is preeminent. We don't make Him preeminent -- even in our own lives. We don't crown Him as king, we don't establish Him as preeminent. He is already king. He is already preeminent. All we can do is acknowledge that reality.

In the same way, the model Jesus gave us as our prayer example for petitions and intercessions rests exclusively on Him. The needs we have are even by divine design. If you think about it, our needs and the things we can ask of Him are simply opportunities for God to pour out His resources upon us. You have your needs for one reason only -- so God has a place to pour out His provision. In doing so, He once again receives the glory. In our "getting" it is for His "glory".

    4)    The three are endless characteristics. (". . . forever!") -- Think about this! Even in this temporal and physical world, God's eternal and spiritual kingdom exists -- and functions . Because His kingdom is a "forever" kingdom, it has no beginning and no end. The physical, temporal, and time-bound expressions of His kingdom don't disappear; it is simply swept up into His "forever now, here and always" sphere of His vast endlessness and infinite presence.

This type of prayer priority has to have some kind of footing -- something that makes us certain that prayer must be a vital part of our lives as we journey those well-worn and well-marked paths of our predecessors. I believe that footing consists of . . .

II. THE PROMISES OF PRAYER WE MUST BELIEVE: (as found in God's Love Letter to us)

Someone has said that there are over 1,000 promises in the Bible that pertain to those who have put their faith and trust in Him and have chosen to follow and obey Him. I don't know if that's true, but I do know there are literally dozens of promises that relate to the prayer model Jesus left us.

This is my suggestion -- rather than my taking unnecessary time and space to comment on each of the eighteen I am listing, let me just give you the reference and a brief description. Then, for the next eighteen days, take one per day, read it, mull it over, contemplate it, ponder it, make notes about it, and maybe even memorize it. If you will do that, I think you will be surprised over what begins to happen to your walk of faith.

So, here we go:

1.    Matt 7:7-11 – Ask to receive, seek to find, knock to have it opened.

2.    Matt 21:22 – If you Ask as you believe, you'll receive.

3.    John 14:13-14 – When you ask, do so in Christ’s name so God is glorified, and not you. Tell God, "Jesus sent me and said I could come to You."

4.    John 15:16 – Ask in Christ’s name, and not in yours or anyone else's; ask because you were chosen to be an "asker".

5.    John 16:23-24 – Ask in Christ’s name with full assurance that someday -- either here or there -- He will answer.

6.    Psalm 91:14-16 – If we call when we're in trouble, God will answer & deliver in such ways that we know it's Him.

7.    Psalm 50:14-15 – Call on Him with a grateful heart of thanksgiving, and He will deliver you in times of trouble. Thankfulness is a key.

8.    II Chron 7:14 – If we call on Him in completely humility, He will answer, forgive, and heal.

9.    I John 3:22 – Obedience beforehand is the secret to knowing you will receive His provision. God loves obedience because it expresses true faith.

10.    Mark 11:24 – While this is a mysterious promise, if you ask in true faith and confidence, you will receive an answer. It may or may not be what you expected or asked for, but you will get an answer. Make sure you're listening.

11.    I John 5:14-15 – When you ask, you know He actually hears, and if He hears, we know He responds and we receive His provision, whatever that might be.

12.    Matt 18:18-20 – Find someone to join you in agreement over the need. That's a great filter for asking properly, When you do, the likelihood of receiving is greatly enhanced. Someone to discern your request and your motives is important.

13.    Jer 33:3 – If we call on Him, He will answer, and will give you proof through His mighty works.

14.    Isa 65:24 – Before we even call out to Him, He has already answered.

15.    Rom 8:26-27 – When we pray and can't even express what we want, the Holy Spirit acts in our behalf and brings our petitions to God.

16.    James 5:13-18 – When we have needs, pray. Whether it's suffering, praise, sickness, confession, or anything else -- praying is the way to go.

17.    Matt 6:6-8 – Because prayer is a deeply personal thing between you and God, be sure you take time to pray privately, pray simply, pray expectantly, and pray gratefully.

18.    Psalm 17:6 – If we call, He hears and answers. He never goes on vacation or takes a nap.

I would suggest you add your own prayer scriptures to the list. See if you can reach at least thirty -- and then develop the habit of praying according to each one each day, once a month every month.

III. SEVEN PRINCIPLES OF PRAYER WE NEED TO EMBRACE:

I know that I've already shared more than your mind can probably absorb, but need to finish with these seven principles I learned many years ago. Even though I've shared them in these letters before, you may need to be reminded -- or you may be one who has not seen them before. So, give them some thought:

1.    No believer’s spiritual life will ever rise higher than his personal prayer life. The absence of prayer actually means the absence of communication with God which, in turn means there is no link between you and the eternal God Who saved you. I can guarantee you that if you do not pray, you will never grow spiritually. If the Bible is God's "Food" for you, prayer is your oxygen.

2.    No believer’s personal prayer life will ever rise higher than his complete abandoned reliance on God. The frequency, quality, and content of our praying will depend exclusively on the degree to which you have laid yourself over on Him.

3.    No believer’s prayer life will be greater than the quality of his daily time alone with God and His Word. Just as you can survive only so long without either food or water, so it is with prayer and reading the Bible. It is impossible to live without both. You can live for a period of time with only one, but if you do not have both food and water, you will certainly die in a matter of days. The same is true with your Christian life. You cannot survive on water alone, nor can you live long with just food. Neither can you live long without sufficient time in both prayer and reading God's Word.

4.    The believer NEVER outgrows his need for daily time with God. The revered South African pastor Peter Lord, is well known for his pithy and insightful exhortation, “Make prayer your first choice, not your last resort”. Paul told this to Timothy when he said, "First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made . . ." (I Tim 2:1).

5.    The believer’s supreme focus must always be on God’s kingdom, and not his own agenda. It is far too easy to "aim too low" in our praying. We need to learn to "aim higher". This is one of the first lessons we should learn when we read the Model Prayer -- "Your kingdom come; Your will be done on earth . . ." (Mt 6:10).

6.    Praise is indispensable in the prayer life of the believer. For me personally, one of the best thermometers to determine the quality of my praying is to see if what I am praying is enveloped with praise. The term, "Praise the Lord" appears an amazing 43 times in the Bible, always within the framework of some kind of prayer -- the prayer of petition, the prayer of intercession, the prayer of thanksgiving, etc. Of those 43 times, 34 of them appear in the Book of Psalms, which is essentially a collection of prayers put to music. Study them, and you'll see that to be true.

7.    The only way to learn to pray ---- is to pray. For some Christians this is a frightening thought. Seldom do we really feel confident in praying. More than likely we feel ill prepared, unqualified, undeserving or linguistically inadequate to pray. All of this is because we have listened to the lies of Satan. This should not surprise us, and it most certainly should never prohibit us from coming into God's presence to pray. That's why we come to God in the Name of His Son, Jesus, and not in our own name or our own sense of skill, capability, or worthiness. That's the true genius of prayer.

FINALLY:

So, then -- think about this. Near the end of his blog, Frangipane asked, "How will tomorrow look if God actually answers the prayer Christ gave us as a template for prayer? The Gospels show us a faith picture of God's kingdom – His kingdom...for us…here...now. We are commanded to pray for Heaven's release!"

Now, when you and I follow this prayer model that Jesus gave us, the reality of God’s plan is released. When you hear from God and pray His Word, you automatically pray according to His will. The only way we can be assured to pray according to God's will, is to pray His Word back to Him. We must move from theory to spiritual reality in our praying.

Paul illustrated how we should pray by sharing one of his own prayers with the Ephesian Christians – (Eph 1:15-23). Look at what he prayed.

    "For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.

    "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.

    "These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

    "And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all."

Virtually ever aspect of the Model Prayer Christ gave is embedded in this prayer. I might add that if you want to learn how to pray more effectively, study Paul's prayers. According to www.believersportal.com, there are at least 650 prayers recorded in the Bible. Some attribute as many as 45 to Paul. Most of them are very brief, covering as little as only part of a single verse. Others, such as this one, are far more comprehensive and specific.

The key prayers that Paul prayed are in my view the one above, plus the second one he prayed for the Ephesian believers in Eph 3:14-21. A third one is in I Corinthians 1:4-9, and a fourth is found in Phil 1:4-11, and the final one I would mention is in Col 1:9-14. Do yourself a favor and contemplate these prayers carefully.

Finally, as we truly, passionately and accurately submit to Christ in prayer, the kingdom of Heaven steadily enters our now prayed-for world. Francis Frangipane knew this and reminded us, . . .

    "The devil knows that if he can keep our prayer lives silent, he keeps God’s hand distant."

In the day and world in which you and I live, my friend, we dare not -- we must not -- keep God's hand distant by our prayerless living. Prayer, confident conversation with the God of creation, anchors us in God's strength for our battles. Make it your lifestyle.

•    “…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. [So] let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy & find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb 4:15-16).

This indeed is one of the ancient pathways -- The Pathway of the Prayer warrior.

In His Bond, By His Grace, and for His Kingdom,

Bob Tolliver -- Romans 1:11

    "Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness,
    examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so." -- Dr. Luke (Acts 17:11)

    "A fire kept burning on the hearthstone of my heart, and I took up the burden of the day with fresh courage and hope." -- Charles F. McKoy

Life Unlimited Ministries
LUMglobal
[email protected]

Copyright September, 2022

    "If Jesus had preached the same message that many ministers preach today, He would never have been crucified." -- Leonard Ravenhill

    "The time will come when instead of shepherds feeding the sheep, the Church will have clowns entertaining the goats." -- Charles H. Spurgeon


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Posted by: rtolliver49 <rtolliver49@...>

"Standing Together, Shoulder To Shoulder, As We Fight the Good Fight of Faith"

SHOULDER TO SHOULDER is a weekly letter of encouragement Bob has written since 1997, covering many topics selected to
motivate people to be strong students of the Word and courageous witnesses of Jesus Christ. It is a personal letter of
encouragement to you, written solely to help "lift up hands that hang down".

"The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything." -- Albert Einstein

“There is a common, worldly kind of Christianity in this day, which many have, and think they have -- a cheap Christianity which offends nobody,
and requires no sacrifice, which costs nothing, -- and is worth nothing.” – J. C. Ryle

Shoulder To Shoulder #1309 -- 9/19/22

Title: "Seeking The Ancient Paths (Pt 17) -- The Pathway of the Prayer Warrior (A winning Route Past Amalek)"

My Dear Friend and Co-Laborer With Christ

Well, . . . stunned I am, indeed! After a very busy week winding down our ministry here in Greer, I have discovered that last week's letter apparently never entered the internet universe. For only the second time in over 25 years, my weekly letter was never delivered. I'm certain I wrote it, but "nary a copy can be found". While there is a copy in my "sent" folder, there are none in my Inbox and none in the archives of the mailing service I use.

So, already midway through the next week, I'll rewrite with the prayer that my thoughts will be timely and enriching to you.

In all my 50+ years of preaching and 64 years of Christian ministry, I had never followed a "theme" for an entire year. I've never been one who created a preaching schedule other than when preaching through a book of the Bible or addressing a topic for a short period. However, when I began pastoring seasonal chapels in 2016, I found myself drawn that direction. Between Greer Chapel in the Summer and Chapel de Oro in the Winter, I have been inexplicably blessed to follow that paradigm for thirteen consecutive seasons.

Each seasonal theme has made its mark on my soul, but in light of all that has been happening around the world -- and especially in our country -- this one has been special. And, apparently not just to me, but to others who have been exposed to some of the teachings. As years have transpired, I am increasingly aware that I am a very tiny fish in an incredibly large pond -- contentedly so. But, thanks to the internet, I'm able on occasion to also splash around in a few other ponds scattered around the globe. It's been a delightful "splash" for a very long time.

Outside of my pastoral roles, only two primary outlets have become the vehicles for my "splashing" -- my weekly Shoulder to Shoulder letters that I've been writing since December 7, 1997 (over 1,500 of them so far), and the rather surprising use of video taping my sermons since June of 2016 and then putting them on the Greer Chapel YouTube channel. My "Shoulder to Shoulder" letters continue to be shared with several hundred subscribers in as many as 20 countries while the videos are being watched in Canada, the U.S., England, Russia, Ukraine, Colombia, and I-don't-know-how-many other countries.

That sounds like bragging points, but that's not my intent. It's just that I stand in amazement at how God has chosen to use the letters and videos to minister to others, some of whom are in far away places where I've never been, and being read or watched by people I've never met. The Chapel's YouTube channel doesn't normally get very many hits -- maybe 15 or 20 per video. So, when all of a sudden I am told that more than 100 people outside the Chapel attendance watched a particular sermon, it stuns me.

This has been the case with this particular series on "Seeking the Ancient Paths". Apart from the influence of the Holy Spirit, I believe a sense of "lostness" or "wandering" among many Christians coupled with the undeniable moral and spiritual decline we have seen in our country and around from the world have been the possible cause in increased viewership.

So, today as I rewrite this letter you were intended to receive last week -- and skipping all the "THIS 'N' THAT'S" and "QUOTES FOR THE WEEK", let's get right to it. Besides, this is a very busy week getting ready for our final service and then hoping to leave for Yuma on Monday. So, . . .

SETTING THE STAGE:

We have perhaps a dozen different denominational backgrounds represented in the two chapels -- everything from liturgical and mainline to more evangelical and Pentecostal backgrounds. I wish I could describe to my readers who are "stuck" in the denominational segregationist rut just how liberating and joyous it is to be able to remain secure in the beliefs of my personal background while simultaneously relishing the friendship, kinship, and love I have with people who love, trust, and serve the same Jesus I do. It's like a breath of fresh mountain air to my soul every time we meet.

Here in Greer Chapel probably half of our attendees come from more liturgical churches who make it a practice of saying what we call "The Lord's Prayer" corporately during their services. I remember doing that on occasion in my own upbringing, but not as a regular part of the services. For several years our worship leader here has been a wonderful lady with a beautiful voice who has repeatedly -- but gently and patiently -- hinted that we should do say "The Lord's Prayer" together at least once month.

So, this year I've tried to remember to do that, and we have done so at least 80% of the Sundays. Every time we have done it, it has become more meaningful to everyone, and God has reminded me almost weekly of the importance of prayer -- corporate prayer included -- for daily living and for the battles along the "ancient pathways" to which God has called us to return.

Many people call "The Lord's Prayer" by a most appropriate alternate name -- "The Model Prayer" -- for that is exactly what it is. Without returning to review the scene in my last letter of God's people encountering Amalek on the way to the Promised Land, it will become pretty obvious that some of the things we looked at there from Moses' mountaintop view is also found embedded in this very concise example Jesus gave His disciples about prayer.

There is nothing particularly magical about quoting The Model Prayer as recorded in scripture. In fact, when quoted corporately, it can become a little confusing. First, it's easy to get the sequence out of order, and second it's much too distracting to get trapped in the "debts" vs. the "trespasses" versions of the prayer itself.

So, obviously, the importance of the prayer is not in the words, but rather in the sequence or format Jesus laid out for us. There is no such thing as a "coincidental sequence" in the Bible -- they are all intentional -- intentional because they were divinely inspired by the God Who breathed ("forcefully violently exhaled") them out as a permanent record in His Word.

That means, the sequence is of crucial importance -- especially if you are going to be adequately prepared for those occasions when your "Amalek" shows up during your journey along the "Ancient Paths". If you will take the time to see how frequently prayer is mentioned in the Pentateuch, the value of prayer will become more valued in your heart.

Look at what Jesus explained to His disciples. (I never cease to be amazed that the first command we find that Jesus ever made was, "Follow Me.". The first request we find that the disciples asked Jesus was, "Lord, teach us to pray." -- NOT how to pray, but TO pray.) Here's what He said:

"When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

"And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

"Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]'" -- (Matt 6:5-13).

Moments later, Jesus seems to emphasize the importance of praying by exhorting (note those three key commands), . . .

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Mat 7:8 "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. -- (Matt 7:7-8)

It is not coincidental that when Paul wrote to Timothy, he pointed out the significance of prayer regarding national prosperity and security. He stated, . . .

" First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

"This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time." -- (I Tim 2:1-6).

One of my favorite authors who writes biblical and meaningful truth fit for our generation is Pastor Francis Frangipane of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He is not from my denominational persuasion, but his books contain much of what I find evidenced in the Bible. In a recent blog on his website, he wrote, . . .

“In our rapidly changing times, people are desperate to know the future – what it looks like, what it contains, how it will affect them. Barely do we adjust to the last changes when totally new realities explode into our world.”

I cannot remember a time in recent years where so many people are trying to bury their fears and misery in so many ineffective ways to suppress the facts while, at the same time, millions of other fearful, anxious, and desperate people are actually searching for answers to their questions. In such a world, people are drawn to countless “sources” to find answers they desire for both the future and how to deal with the issues of today.

Sports, entertainment, hobbies, travel, accumulation of “more”, and a wide range of occult and demonic sources are often things people go to – even Christians – to find how to deal with today’s challenges and tomorrow’s uncertainties. This is a great tragedy, for Christians, have available the two greatest resources in the world to which we can go for answers, guidance, hope, increased strength, wisdom, and courage. And yet, it may be the most neglected, challenging, and difficult thing a Christian ever does.

The secret to finding answers -- good answers -- the right answers -- is prayer. Prayer must be the foundational element in the life of the Christian; we are called to be intercessors – prayer warriors. Prayer warriors are the most frightening, powerful, demon-chasing, world-moving beings on earth.

So, in that you and I are both committed to rediscovering and walking the "ancient paths" of old, it is appropriate that we follow up our look at Amalek and consider the Pathway of the Prayer Warrior -- it’s great importance and how to make it a priority in our personal lives. We will consider three simple ideas:
    1.    The Priority of Prayer We need to Acknowledge.
    2.    The Promises for Prayer we need to Believe.
    3.    Principles of Prayer that we need to Embrace.

First, . . .

I. THE PRIORITY OF PRAYER WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE: (as taught by Christ (Matthew 6:5-13; 7:7-8)

Francis Frangipane went on to state in his blog, . . .

“. . . God . . . has called intercessors not to wonder about the future, but to create it through the knowledge of His Living Word and prayer "

I mentioned earlier that, of all the things Jesus did and said, prayer is the first recorded thing His disciples asked Him to teach them to do. (Luke 11:1-2) In response, the Lord Jesus told us plainly how we should pray. He gave us the “model” or “blueprint” or “outline” of prayer. (Matt. 6:9-10). When He then taught them, He showed them four basic priorities of a healthy prayer life. It will do just that for us, if we understand those priorities.

1. The Priority of Our Position with Him: (9) -- He tells us to pray like this -- "Our Father, Who is in heaven, Hollowed by Your Name."

In those ten words (as translated into English), Jesus nails down three vital things -- our Relationship with Him, the Realm of His presence, and the awe and Reverence we must always have toward Him. He is our heavenly father more real than any earthly father could ever be, He rules from his heavenly realm far above all creation that He created by the word of His mouth, and He deserves and demands that we stand in awe and reverential fear of Who He is, What He has done, and How He rules.

We could spend the rest of this letter plumbing the bottomless depth of these facts. Instead, though, let's continue and examine . . .

2. The Priority of His Preeminence over Us: (10) -- "Your kingdom come, Your will be done, Here on earth, like it has already been done in heaven."

For most of us, there is a great divide between the visible realities we see here on this planet and the invisible "theoretical" principles we try to grasp in faith as being true when we don't see any visible evidence. In spite of the fact the Bible teaches us that the spiritual and invisible is actually more real than the temporal and visible.

Another reality is that our personal kingdoms -- in fact, all the kingdoms in this world, past, present, and future, -- have two ingredients God's kingdom doesn't have -- sin, and the time spectrum. We are bound in sin in need of being rescued, and we are trapped in an odd time warp where we think of things in terms of right and wrong, and days, months, years, and aeons. In God's kingdom, though, neither sin nor time exist. As the sinless, perfect, just, and merciful God, He always operates in an "eternal now".

So, when we think of His kingdom, we know it exists, we have experienced a taste of it, and we know there is more to come. But, seeing it actually happen in our day is beyond our grasp.

Yet, it is attainable to us -- the reality of the "eternal now" can actually be evidenced "on earth, as it has already been done in heaven."

So, think about this for a moment -- if we are asking God's kingdom to come to where we are today in the identical fashion to how it exists and has been accomplished in heaven, then what are we really asking?

Without taking the time to delve into some of the countless specifics, let's just summarize by saying that God wants us to pray that everything He has already decided, decreed, and delivered in the heavenly realm of "it's always already is", becomes living reality down here where you and I live.

So, in your case, what is there in heaven already accomplished that you would love to see become visible reality down here in your world -- and specifically the part of your world in which you find yourself at this moment? Salvation for someone? Healing? Peace? Reconciliation? Strength? Renewed faith?

If I understand what Jesus said here, it is possible to move heaven into earth -- at least in the spiritual realm. And, if it is true in the spiritual realm, then it will somehow show its presence in an evidentiary way that you can observe and/or experience yourself.

So, then, how does this happen? Once we accept our position before Him, and acknowledge His Preeminence over us, then it's time to identify . . .

3. The Priority of Welcomed Petitions He Grants us: (11-13b) -- "Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts (sins) as we forgive our debtors (those who sin against us). And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil (the evil one)."

Whatever else we we need to understand about this Model Prayer, we must recognize that the life of prayer demands that we become pray-ers who focus on four specific and very practical areas

1) Daily needs (". . . our daily bread”) -- Whether they are our own needs, the needs of others, or the needs of nations, we need to ask Him to meet them.

2) Daily holiness (“. . . forgive us. . .”) -- God has already provided forgiveness -- for us and others. It is available, and it is offered. It is our responsibility to receive it -- to accept it. It's not a trophy, it's not a reward, and it's not a payment for "services rendered". It's a gift -- all gift.

3) Daily guidance (“. . . lead us not into temptation . . .") -- Jesus isn't telling us that we need to ask God to never lead us into temptation. We're not to pray, "God, don't direct me to what is wrong!" That's totally contrary to the character and nature of God. Rather, He is telling us to ask God to always guide us away from temptation -- keep us from giving in to temptation, no matter how strong they may be. We cry out to Him, "Oh, God, keep me from falling into the deceptions, directions, and diversion that will fall across my pathway!"

4) Daily victory in battle (“. . . deliver us from evil / the evil one . . .") -- The word for "deliver" relates to a current -- a rushing current. It's the picture of being swept away by a rushing rescue effort. It's not the idea of God just helping you out in the battle, but rather God sweeping you out from the battle. There's all the difference in the world between the two. When you find yourself wearying in the struggle, your liberator -- your emancipator -- your rescuer -- will come in and sweep you off your feet into His arms and out of harm's way.

And that brings us to the fourth priority of our praying that is imperative that we acknowledge. It is . . .

4. The Priority of Kingdom Praise (13b)

“Most Christians spend 90% of their praying on their petitions and almost no time praying for the advancement, authority, and coming of God’s Kingdom. It is this very imbalance that stalls His Kingdom from being manifested in their world.” -- Donte Neetu Gnomee

Sadly, you and I can get so enamored with and tied up by our own kingdoms and the kingdoms of others, that we forget that ours are temporal and His is eternal. We think ours are absolutely essential and His is merely incidental. We forget that ours will decay, dissolve, and soon pass away, but His is of the "forever" world.

With that in mind, we must always remember, . . .

1) The kingdom is His, not ours! (". . . Thine is the kingdom . . .") -- We are not the sovereign in His kingdom, we are mere stewards. We don't direct it, we dwell in it.

2) The power is His, not ours! (". . . the power . . .") -- Neither do we have the power to maintain a kingdom . . . neither ours nor His. The kingdom is His to rule, the power is His to sustain and maintain.

3) The glory is His, not ours! (". . . and the glory . . .") -- Finally, the glory is His, not ours. We have no glory, we create no glory, and we deserve no glory. We can take neither credit nor glory for anything. It is all about Him.

Contemplate this: -- When you think about this model Jesus taught for prayer, it begins with acknowledging that our position with Him is all about Him. His preeminence is also all about Him. We don't make Him preeminent. We have nothing whatsoever to do with His preeminence. He is preeminent because He is preeminent. We don't make Him preeminent -- even in our own lives. We don't crown Him as king, we don't establish Him as preeminent. He is already king. He is already preeminent. All we can do is acknowledge that reality.

In the same way, the model Jesus gave us as our prayer example for petitions and intercessions rests exclusively on Him. The needs we have are even by divine design. If you think about it, our needs and the things we can ask of Him are simply opportunities for God to pour out His resources upon us. You have your needs for one reason only -- so God has a place to pour out His provision. In doing so, He once again receives the glory. In our "getting" it is for His "glory".

4) The three are endless characteristics. (". . . forever!") -- Think about this! Even in this temporal and physical world, God's eternal and spiritual kingdom exists -- and functions . Because His kingdom is a "forever" kingdom, it has no beginning and no end. The physical, temporal, and time-bound expressions of His kingdom don't disappear; it is simply swept up into His "forever now, here and always" sphere of His vast endlessness and infinite presence.

This type of prayer priority has to have some kind of footing -- something that makes us certain that prayer must be a vital part of our lives as we journey those well-worn and well-marked paths of our predecessors. I believe that footing consists of . . .

II. THE PROMISES OF PRAYER WE MUST BELIEVE: (as found in God's Love Letter to us)

Someone has said that there are over 1,000 promises in the Bible that pertain to those who have put their faith and trust in Him and have chosen to follow and obey Him. I don't know if that's true, but I do know there are literally dozens of promises that relate to the prayer model Jesus left us.

This is my suggestion -- rather than my taking unnecessary time and space to comment on each of the eighteen I am listing, let me just give you the reference and a brief description. Then, for the next eighteen days, take one per day, read it, mull it over, contemplate it, ponder it, make notes about it, and maybe even memorize it. If you will do that, I think you will be surprised over what begins to happen to your walk of faith.

So, here we go:

1. Matt 7:7-11 – Ask to receive, seek to find, knock to have it opened.

2. Matt 21:22 – If you Ask as you believe, you'll receive.

3. John 14:13-14 – When you ask, do so in Christ’s name so God is glorified, and not you. Tell God, "Jesus sent me and said I could come to You."

4. John 15:16 – Ask in Christ’s name, and not in yours or anyone else's; ask because you were chosen to be an "asker".

5. John 16:23-24 – Ask in Christ’s name with full assurance that someday -- either here or there -- He will answer.

6. Psalm 91:14-16 – If we call when we're in trouble, God will answer & deliver in such ways that we know it's Him.

7. Psalm 50:14-15 – Call on Him with a grateful heart of thanksgiving, and He will deliver you in times of trouble. Thankfulness is a key.

8. II Chron 7:14 – If we call on Him in completely humility, He will answer, forgive, and heal.

9. I John 3:22 – Obedience beforehand is the secret to knowing you will receive His provision. God loves obedience because it expresses true faith.

10. Mark 11:24 – While this is a mysterious promise, if you ask in true faith and confidence, you will receive an answer. It may or may not be what you expected or asked for, but you will get an answer. Make sure you're listening.

11. I John 5:14-15 – When you ask, you know He actually hears, and if He hears, we know He responds and we receive His provision, whatever that might be.

12. Matt 18:18-20 – Find someone to join you in agreement over the need. That's a great filter for asking properly, When you do, the likelihood of receiving is greatly enhanced. Someone to discern your request and your motives is important.

13. Jer 33:3 – If we call on Him, He will answer, and will give you proof through His mighty works.

14. Isa 65:24 – Before we even call out to Him, He has already answered.

15. Rom 8:26-27 – When we pray and can't even express what we want, the Holy Spirit acts in our behalf and brings our petitions to God.

16. James 5:13-18 – When we have needs, pray. Whether it's suffering, praise, sickness, confession, or anything else -- praying is the way to go.

17. Matt 6:6-8 – Because prayer is a deeply personal thing between you and God, be sure you take time to pray privately, pray simply, pray expectantly, and pray gratefully.

18. Psalm 17:6 – If we call, He hears and answers. He never goes on vacation or takes a nap.

I would suggest you add your own prayer scriptures to the list. See if you can reach at least thirty -- and then develop the habit of praying according to each one each day, once a month every month.

III. SEVEN PRINCIPLES OF PRAYER WE NEED TO EMBRACE:

I know that I've already shared more than your mind can probably absorb, but need to finish with these seven principles I learned many years ago. Even though I've shared them in these letters before, you may need to be reminded -- or you may be one who has not seen them before. So, give them some thought:

1. No believer’s spiritual life will ever rise higher than his personal prayer life. The absence of prayer actually means the absence of communication with God which, in turn means there is no link between you and the eternal God Who saved you. I can guarantee you that if you do not pray, you will never grow spiritually. If the Bible is God's "Food" for you, prayer is your oxygen.

2. No believer’s personal prayer life will ever rise higher than his complete abandoned reliance on God. The frequency, quality, and content of our praying will depend exclusively on the degree to which you have laid yourself over on Him.

3. No believer’s prayer life will be greater than the quality of his daily time alone with God and His Word. Just as you can survive only so long without either food or water, so it is with prayer and reading the Bible. It is impossible to live without both. You can live for a period of time with only one, but if you do not have both food and water, you will certainly die in a matter of days. The same is true with your Christian life. You cannot survive on water alone, nor can you live long with just food. Neither can you live long without sufficient time in both prayer and reading God's Word.

4. The believer NEVER outgrows his need for daily time with God. The revered South African pastor Peter Lord, is well known for his pithy and insightful exhortation, “Make prayer your first choice, not your last resort”. Paul told this to Timothy when he said, "First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made . . ." (I Tim 2:1).

5. The believer’s supreme focus must always be on God’s kingdom, and not his own agenda. It is far too easy to "aim too low" in our praying. We need to learn to "aim higher". This is one of the first lessons we should learn when we read the Model Prayer -- "Your kingdom come; Your will be done on earth . . ." (Mt 6:10).

6. Praise is indispensable in the prayer life of the believer. For me personally, one of the best thermometers to determine the quality of my praying is to see if what I am praying is enveloped with praise. The term, "Praise the Lord" appears an amazing 43 times in the Bible, always within the framework of some kind of prayer -- the prayer of petition, the prayer of intercession, the prayer of thanksgiving, etc. Of those 43 times, 34 of them appear in the Book of Psalms, which is essentially a collection of prayers put to music. Study them, and you'll see that to be true.

7. The only way to learn to pray ---- is to pray. For some Christians this is a frightening thought. Seldom do we really feel confident in praying. More than likely we feel ill prepared, unqualified, undeserving or linguistically inadequate to pray. All of this is because we have listened to the lies of Satan. This should not surprise us, and it most certainly should never prohibit us from coming into God's presence to pray. That's why we come to God in the Name of His Son, Jesus, and not in our own name or our own sense of skill, capability, or worthiness. That's the true genius of prayer.

FINALLY:

So, then -- think about this. Near the end of his blog, Frangipane asked, "How will tomorrow look if God actually answers the prayer Christ gave us as a template for prayer? The Gospels show us a faith picture of God's kingdom – His kingdom...for us…here...now. We are commanded to pray for Heaven's release!"

Now, when you and I follow this prayer model that Jesus gave us, the reality of God’s plan is released. When you hear from God and pray His Word, you automatically pray according to His will. The only way we can be assured to pray according to God's will, is to pray His Word back to Him. We must move from theory to spiritual reality in our praying.

Paul illustrated how we should pray by sharing one of his own prayers with the Ephesian Christians – (Eph 1:15-23). Look at what he prayed.

"For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.

    "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.

    "These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

    "And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all."

Virtually ever aspect of the Model Prayer Christ gave is embedded in this prayer. I might add that if you want to learn how to pray more effectively, study Paul's prayers. According to http://www.believersportal.com, there are at least 650 prayers recorded in the Bible. Some attribute as many as 45 to Paul. Most of them are very brief, covering as little as only part of a single verse. Others, such as this one, are far more comprehensive and specific.

The key prayers that Paul prayed are in my view the one above, plus the second one he prayed for the Ephesian believers in Eph 3:14-21. A third one is in I Corinthians 1:4-9, and a fourth is found in Phil 1:4-11, and the final one I would mention is in Col 1:9-14. Do yourself a favor and contemplate these prayers carefully.

Finally, as we truly, passionately and accurately submit to Christ in prayer, the kingdom of Heaven steadily enters our now prayed-for world. Francis Frangipane knew this and reminded us, . . .

"The devil knows that if he can keep our prayer lives silent, he keeps God’s hand distant."

In the day and world in which you and I live, my friend, we dare not -- we must not -- keep God's hand distant by our prayerless living. Prayer, confident conversation with the God of creation, anchors us in God's strength for our battles. Make it your lifestyle.

• “…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. [So] let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy & find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb 4:15-16).

This indeed is one of the ancient pathways -- The Pathway of the Prayer warrior.

In His Bond, By His Grace, and for His Kingdom,

Bob Tolliver -- Romans 1:11

"Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness,
examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so." -- Dr. Luke (Acts 17:11)

"A fire kept burning on the hearthstone of my heart, and I took up the burden of the day with fresh courage and hope." -- Charles F. McKoy

Life Unlimited Ministries
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"If Jesus had preached the same message that many ministers preach today, He would never have been crucified." -- Leonard Ravenhill

"The time will come when instead of shepherds feeding the sheep, the Church will have clowns entertaining the goats." -- Charles H. Spurgeon

If this letter has blessed you, feel free to forward it or copy from it, with proper credits, to any and all you wish.

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Bob Tolliver

Life Unlimited Ministries

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