Reasons for Prayer 1

Reasons for Prayer Part 1 Today we will begin a new study on prayer. This is one of the most essential and vitally important subjects a believer can learn and put into practice in their daily walk with the Lord. Prayer is often misconstrued as a means of manipulating God in to doing something He does not want to do. This is not what prayer is, and this mindset leads many to an erroneous conclusion for the genuine reasons we should approach the Almighty in prayer, supplication, and intercession. In this series we will begin to lay out some of the scriptural and practical reasons we should pray, and some of the types of prayer mentioned in the Bible. To begin with, what is prayer? On the most basic level it is communicating with God, partnering with God, agreeing with God, and fellowshipping with Him. It can take on many forms, such as petition, travail, supplication, intercession, thanksgiving, and praise, but is often put into the general category of prayer. Why Should We Pray? This is probably a question that has been asked by millions over the centuries. Afterall, since God is All Powerful, and All Knowing, can’t He take care of the universe without our input or involvement? Can’t He do what He wants at any time? Can’t He simply desire for something to be done and it becomes a reality? These may seem like reasonable questions, but they lack an understanding of the ways of God. You see, in the beginning, when God created the heavens and earth and created man in His own image and likeness, He gave man authority to subdue the earth and have dominion over every living thing (Genesis 1:26). This put man as the ruler of the earth. He was to rule the planet under God. Man was entrusted with this awesome responsibility, which he was perfectly capable of handling before falling into sin. However, man disobeyed God and came under the control of the evil one, Satan, and the earth was cursed. Man, no longer walked in his rightful place of authority, and now had to suffer the consequences of his disobedience. Instead of being ruler, he was being ruled by the ‘world system’ (not earth) he helped to create through his willful rebellion. Now the evil one became the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4). Centuries later, when Jesus walked the earth and fasted 40 days and nights in the wilderness, the devil tried tempting Him by offering Him the kingdoms of the ‘world.’ The devil said these kingdoms had been delivered unto him (obviously by default, through Adam’s transgression). However, Jesus did not correct him on that point but rebuked him through the scripture saying God was the only One deserving worship. "Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, 'YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND HIM ONLY YOU SHALL SERVE.' "(Luke 4:5-8) Now, for God to legally have the right to step in on man’s behalf, He had to have a plan to redeem (ransom or buy back) mankind out from under the dominion of Satan. Although the communication between God and man was tremendously marred, God, in His mercy, still gave mankind the privilege of inviting Him into the affairs of earth. Man had fallen into sin, but he still had the legal right to seek God for assistance and intervention. The earth was made for humans, not the devil or fallen spirits, so only man had a right to call on God. As we read in Genesis 3. So the LORD God said to the serpent: "Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life. And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel." Genesis 3:14-15 Here we see God revealing His plan to redeem mankind through the ‘Seed’ of the woman, which would be through a supernatural incarnation of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. This incarnation would give God access to redeem man, and to return him to his rightful place in the kingdom of God. Yes, though man had fallen into sin, he did not lose his privilege to talk to his Creator or seek His help. Therefore, prayer became the link between God and man. It was the bridge to allow God access into the affairs of earth. I realize this may seem contrary to some theologically, but it is the only reasonable conclusion we can make as to the importance, privilege, and necessity of prayer. Prayer has survived all generations and has been one of the Father’s great delights. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But the prayer of the upright is His delight. Proverbs 15:8 This truth is reiterated again in the Old and New Testament. Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices Will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations." Isaiah 56:7 And He said to them, "It is written, 'MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER,' but you have made it a 'DEN OF THIEVES.'" Matthew 21:13 Knowing this alone should compel us to pray often, and as Paul admonished, “…without ceasing” (1Thessalonians 5:17). Coming up, we will dive deeper into the importance of prayer and reasons we should pray. Until then, may God our Father richly bless and keep you! James Brown CST 08/20/2022