For Where Your Treasure Is, There Will Your Heart Be Also - Part 1763

By example, Jesus led us to pray, to the extent that those around Him desired to know how to pray. Indeed, these disciples said to Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” (Luke 11:1-4; Matthew 6:9-13; Ephesians 4:13-14) In response, Jesus calls back to them a form of the prayer already taught them in the Sermon on the Mount. This is important for several reasons. First, in Matthew’s account, Jesus warns us of those who pray to be noticed. Jesus also informs us that prayers come from the heart and are not intended to be repeated multiple times. It is for this reason that we should examine the Lord’s prayer as an example.

Further, in Matthew’s account, the prayer is part of a larger sermon that includes three chapters in our new testaments. Jesus begins with what modern day men refer to as the Beatitudes. (Matthew 5:2-11) Then Jesus tells us that we are the salt of the earth; however, if we have lost our savour, we are good for nothing. Using the example of light, Jesus shares with the multitudes that a city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Therefore, we are to let our light so shine before men, that they may see our good works and glorify our Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:12-48)

However, there are several “but” this and “but” that which follow, so that we take heed not to do your alms before men, so that we can be seen of them. It is in this context – of sounding like a hypocrite when we pray that Jesus provides us with a model prayer, as an example.

Jesus said, “And when thou pray, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men, “Verily, I say unto you – they have reward. But thou [you], when thou [you] pray, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which sees shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do; for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knows what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him.” (Matthew 6:1-8)

Then Jesus said, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done in earth, as in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever, amen.” (Matthew 6:9-13)

Luke’s account of this same prayer differs slightly, which I might suggest, is because Luke had a much more in-depth knowledge of who Jesus was, and that in Jesus, the Kingdom of God was already nigh, when he scribed these words.

And Jesus said unto them, “When ye pray, say, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us, and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.” (Luke 11:1-4)

So, what is the message here? Prayer does not just happen. Rather, prayer grows from having a personal relationship with our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ within our hearts. Having repented of our sins, and taking on His precious Name in water baptism, having an answer of a good conscience toward God our Saviour, we can receive the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38; Hebrews 6:1-2; II John 1:9; Titus 3:4-7; Romans 6:3-4; I Peter 3:20-21)

This explains why we pray “Father” because when we ask Jesus into our heart, we become a member of the body of Christ church, wherein, Christ Jesus is the Head, the Rock, Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending. (Revelation 1:8, 11) [Note that later Jesus tells His disciples, “I and My Father are ONE!” and also, “If ye have seen Me, ye have seen the Father” but this is a revelation that the disciples did not fully understand until after Jesus’ resurrection. (John 10:30; John 14:6-12)]

As well, we are to praise His Name – the precious Name of JESUS, and the only name whereby we must be saved in this current dispensation of grace. (Acts 4:12; Philippians 2:9) As we understand from scripture, which does not lie, the angel of the Lord instructed Joseph to call His Name JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins. Emmanuel, being interpreted, God with us. (Matthew 1:21-23)

It is in this context then that we acknowledge through prayer our total and absolute dependence on the Lord Jesus for our daily bread, because without Jesus in our heart, this same Jesus whom we crucified, who is both Lord and Christ, we are without. (Acts 2:36) In other words, without surrendering our hearts to the King of kings and Lord of lords, we will never understand experiencing His power in our life.

We will never understand that He – JESUS – is the living bread which came down from heaven, from which if we partake, we will never hunger again. (John 6:41, 48)

Moreover, Luke fully understood when Jesus said, “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” (Mark 1:15; Matthew 3:2; Matthew 4:17; Acts 2:36-38; Galatians 4:4-6)

Jesus went on to share a parable about a man who went to his neighbour asking for bread for a friend who had journeyed and was now staying at his house. He had nothing to serve this friend, so he went to the neighbor and asked for loaves so that he could feed him. The neighbour does not want to open the door, having gone to bed for the night, but because of the man’s persistence, he does eventually get up and give to him “as many as he needed.” (Luke 11:5-8)

Some take this parable to mean that Jesus wants us to become parrots, praying repeatedly the same request, as if our God and Saviour would be hard of hearing. That is not the case. The point is that the real power of prayer is found in boldly coming to the throne of grace with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength, knowing that He will provide. He will open the door when we knock. That he/she who seeks the Lord will find the answer. The “stand in the offering plate” heart response, rather than parroting words on a page. After all, effective communication should be evident in any relationship, but even more so when it comes to our Lord God and Saviour.

Just in case, there are some who still miss the point of this parable, let me reiterate that Jesus wants to give His people the Kingdom, and we need to understand the breadth and depth of His love for us, when we come to Him in prayer. Perhaps, this explains why we are instructed to “Rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing … in everything, give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (I Thessalonians 5:16-18)

To confirm this latter point, Jesus said, “If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children; how much more shall your heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask Him?” (Luke 11:9-13)

But Jesus is saying so much more here. Jesus is telling us that His desire is to give those who believe in Jesus the Christ by faith, and go on in His Word, the gift of His Spirit – the Spirit of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ – the Holy Ghost “regenerated” after Jesus had been taken up (Acts 1:2-3; Titus 3:4-7), which is the ultimate, supreme gift for man. Therefore, if the same God who created us, and willingly planned to become our Saviour – “Behold the Lamb of God” -- is so willing to give us so great a spiritual gift, then why would we even think that He would not give us our innermost heart desires? (Acts 1:2)

Thus, the message here is that if we are faithful in prayer, and in His Word, we will be filled with the Holy Ghost who will lead and guide us into all truth. The same Holy Ghost who overshadowed Mary so that she could bring forth a son. (Luke 1:35) The same Holy Ghost which revealed to Simeon that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. (Luke 1:25-26) The same Holy Ghost which revealed unto John the Baptist/baptizer that he would know Him not, except he would “see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, the same is He which baptizes with the Holy Ghost.” (John 1:33) The same Holy Ghost which revealed to Zacharias – “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for He hath visited and redeemed His people.” (Luke 1:69)

The same Holy Ghost who wants us to desire spiritual gifts – diversities of gifts, differences of administrations, diversities of operations, wherein the manifestation of the Spirit (after we understand that Jesus is Lord) can be given to every man to profit withal. (I Corinthians 12:1-11)

“For by ONE SPIRIT are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free, and have been made to drink into ONE SPIRIT.” (I Corinthians 12:13)

And we understand this, as the first 3,000 souls saved on the day of Pentecost did, when we recognize (as Peter, standing with the eleven said, “Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.” (Acts 2:36)

“Through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:78-79)

Stand in the offering plate.