Coming before God in prayer should be approached in an acceptable manner. What I mean is this. If we had an appointment to meet the Queen of England, would we not be trained in correct etiquette (the rules and conventions governing polite behaviour) by her entourage before entering her quarters? We would also prepare ourselves in advance with a plan of the reasons for our meeting with her? How much more should we be prepared in etiquette and a plan when approaching God in prayer. This blog is on the scriptural way of coming before God in prayer.
Through Jesus
Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. Noone comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6) This scripture tells us that to pray to God we must pray through the Lord Jesus. For He is the way to God, the Truth of God and the Life of God.
By the Blood of Jesus
[Read about the Most Holy Place Hebrew 9:1-15 and discuss.]
“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:19-22) When we pray we enter the Most Holy Place.
Jesus Christ has opened up a way for us to enter the Most Holy Place by His blood. To enter this place we must be cleansed by His blood, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience. We are told to sprinkle our hearts spiritually with the blood of Christ. We do this by repentance in the name of and by the blood of Jesus.
In the Holy Spirit
We must also pray in the Spirit. “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” (Ephesians 6:18) The Holy Spirit is also called the Holy Counsellor (John 14:16-17) and He is our guide when we pray. No-one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. (1Corinthians 12:3) You cannot believe in Jesus without the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the fact that you believe proves that you have the Holy Spirit.
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price.” (1Corinthias 6:19-20) Now that we believe in Christ, we are a temple of the Holy Spirit, therefore the Holy Spirit lives within us.
Fellowship with the Holy Spirit
“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” (2Corinthians 13:14) This tells us we are to have fellowship with the Holy Spirit. Fellowship means to have friendly association with someone. To have friendly associations with the Holy Spirit we pray and communicate with Him. For the Holy Spirit is as God as Jesus is God.
The early Church did not have a new testament to guide them as we do, they had the Holy Spirit. Jesus had deposited in the early disciples the words of life. The thing to understand here is, the Holy Spirit was given at Pentecost and He directed the prayers and every word and deed of the early Church.
The Bible and the Spirit
Today we have the New Testament + the Old. The New however is composed of the letters and accounts of Jesus life written by the early disciples and by Christian Historians of the first century. When we combine the Bible and the Holy Spirit we can recognize the work of the Holy Spirit in us and trust Him as He guides us in our life.
The Holy Spirit comes to guide us in all things. He is the perfect companion as we pray before God. “But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26) As we pray with the Holy Spirits guidance, we must trust in Him to give us burdens for souls or places in the world the Lord wants to touch.
THE LORDS PRAYER
“This, then, is how you should pray: `Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” (Matthew 6:9-13)
In Summary
We come to God in prayer through Jesus Christ, having been cleansed by His blood in repentance. We can believe and we can pray because we have the Holy Spirit within us and the Bible to guide us.
In Christ
Robert Cartledge
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