I’m not entirely sure that we understand prayer.
I have heard a lot of ‘personal’ supplicating to God, especially fear based DESPERATE praying– but I’m not sure we have a developed a good picture, model and demonstration of the caliber of prayer– that our brethren who have gone before us– demonstrated, in wholehearted posture of PRAISE and HONOR before our Lord.
Nor recalling in remembrances [for our good] of WHO GOD IS, WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR US, or just ‘how’ WORTHY TO BE HONORED and PRAISED he is.
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H8605 – Prayer
Hebrew: תּפלּה
Transliteration: tephillâh
Pronunciation: tef-il-law'
Definition: From H6419; INTERCESSION SUPPLICATION– by implication a HYMN.
H7881 – Prayer
Hebrew: שׂיחה
Transliteration: ώîychâh
Pronunciation: see-khaw'
Definition: Feminine of H7879; REFLECTION– by extension MEDITATIVE DEVOTION.
H6279 – Prayer
Hebrew: עתר
Transliteration: ‛âthar
Pronunciation: aw-thar'
Definition: A primitive root (rather denominative from H6281); to BURNING INCENSE {a sweet smelling savor} in INTERCESSORY WORSHIP– to ENTREAT.
{When Jesus said–
“This one goes not out– but by prayer and fasting–” and, when he said…
“My house shall be a house of prayer–” and…
“Whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing– you shall have it.”
It is literally defined as the definition of the word ‘PRAYER–’ from G4335, below– WORSHIP.
Are we??
Are we WORSHIPING– MORE SO– than we are making a list of things we want ‘changed?’}
G4335 – Prayer
Greek: προσευχή
Transliteration: proseuchē
Pronunciation: pros-yoo-khay'
Definition: From G4336; WORSHIP; by implication an ORATORY EARNEST [prayer].
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1 Kings, chapter 8
“10 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord,
11 So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord.”
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Priests are WHOLLY and HOLY unto the Lord God– they live strictly in adherence and obedience to the Lord, they are dedicated [consecrated] unto the Lord, and when they worship God– it’s full, it’s clean, and it’s wholehearted– in addition; we were all given, and called to– the priesthood of Melchizedek– when Jesus left this earth plane bodily: he made us ALL– PRIESTS and kings.
I think most recall the ‘authority’ role of KINGS, but many, MANY– disregard the call to be WHOLLY, HOLY– as he is the High Holy One– in whom we are under in authority and leadership, and IN WHOM, we are ‘in’ Spirit and MARRIED to [meaning ‘joined’ with– grafted into].
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A great example of the magnitude of prayer, the caliber of prayer demonstrated in whole-heartedness, true love and worship, honoring our God– can be found in 1 Kings chapter 8, and in, and through– Solomon.
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1 Kings 8:22-62
“And Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven:
[First, note the posture– ‘before the congregations of Israel–’ they were joined together to worship and honor the Lord– and raised his hands, signifying– a reaching out toward God, bodily– but it first started within the HEART of this man.]
23 And he said–
Lord God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above, or on earth beneath– who keeps covenant and mercy with your servants that walk before you with all their heart:
{Who ‘keeps covenant and mercy’ with his servants, ‘who walk before him, with their whole hearts;’ we ought to think upon that– WHOLEHEARTED, people that SERVE GOD, not just yak at him, or list off things– who KEEPS CONTRACT (covenant) with his people, walking in MERCY.
If ever we need something to be thankful for– that verse tells us the basics; if ever we forget who we are to ‘be–’ it’s whole-hearted SERVANTS, contracted in covenant to him.
That’s what a marriage is– a contract– wherewith we forgo all others in our lives on that level of intimacy and partnership– adhere to only ONE– and HONOR them, in faithfulness to them: joined as ONE now.}
24 Who has kept with your servant David– my father– that you promised him: you spoke also with your mouth, and have fulfilled it with your hand– as it is this day [as well].
{Prayer is ‘bringing things into perspective, in remembrance–’ as much as it is anything else; we sing out in cries, as the definition above stated, to our God– in praise and remembrances, and honor to him– for all he is, and all he does with, and for us: and we recall God is faithful, not slack, as men are slack.}
25 Therefore now, Lord God of Israel– keep with your servant David my father that you promised him, saying– There shall not fail you a man in my sight, to sit on the throne of Israel; so that your children take heed to their way– that they walk before me as you have walked before me.
{Here Solomon reminds God– or rather, we REITERATE to God, he does not need recall– we do– that God made promises to the lineage of David, and that all the children will be raised up– IN THE WAYS OF GOD; we ought to think about that heavily.
Are we raising up the children of our future, God’s children– in our lineage lines– in the same ways of God, that he has established to live?
Have we dedicated ourselves, like the Priests we are to be– and are we living holy, and raising our young to do, and be so, as well– in the ways of the Lord??
I digress, we ought to take God seriously in our hearts and deeds; God takes, and took us seriously in times past– in all he has done throughout scripture, and time– for us: especially in giving us HIS SON.}
26 And now, O God of Israel– let your word, I pray you– be verified, which you spoke unto your servant David my father.
27 But– will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold– the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have builded?
{Again, he honors God by recalling within himself– the magnitude of the Almighty, and also speaks of humility– as he reiterates from his heart– ‘how ever you could manage it, we invite you to this humble, small to your size, earth building.’ How beautiful of a heart posture.}
28 Yet you have respect unto the prayer of your servant, and to his supplication– O Lord my God– to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer– which your servant prays before you today:
29 That your eyes may be open toward this house night and day– toward the place of which you have said– My name shall be there: that you may hearken unto the prayer which your servant shall make toward this place.
{Solomon mentions God not taking his gaze away from this place, or its people– because in times past, God withdrew himself, his presence and gaze– from a wayward people.}
30 And hearken to the supplication of your servant, and of your people Israel– when they shall pray toward this place: and hear– in heaven– your dwelling place: and when you hear– forgive.
{Solomon is not remiss to ask God for FORGIVENESS, when he asks and supplicates his needs for the house of Israel; do we ask God to forgive us for our trespasses [infractions against God’s nature] today??
He asked us to do this, when he gave an example of the way to pray– in the Lord’s prayer; I think we often forget we are guilty of sinning [because they are forgiven, if we are IN HIM] and we do not remind ourselves– that it is God that is perfect– and only through him– do we attain FORGIVENESS and JUSTIFICATION.
If we would recall our trespasses, or infractions against God and his Way– he is faithful to forgive them [dismiss them], but if we are not thinking on the ways we are transgressing his character and nature– then we are not mindful of our own character and deeds– playing out in this realm.
We are to be KEEPING OUR GARMENTS CLEAN– in order to do that– we have to daily analyze them– and ‘garments’ are our character and nature we exhibit daily: Godly and holy, sanctified and disciplined, or not.}
31 If any man trespass against his neighbor [infractions/sin], and an oath is laid upon him to cause him to swear, and the oath comes before your altar in this house:
32 Then hear in heaven, and do, and judge your servants– condemning the wicked– to bring his way upon his head; and justifying the righteous– to give him according to his righteousness.
{Here Solomon asks for justice– what one sowed, let him reap– wicked or righteous; do we pray for justice, or do we supplicate for what we ‘desire?’}
33 When your people, Israel, be smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against you, and shall turn again to you, and confess your name, and pray, and make supplication unto you in this house:
34 THEN– hear in heaven– and forgive the sin of your people Israel– and bring them again unto the land which you gave to their fathers.
{Do we know why Solomon prays for JUSTICE, for folks to ‘get what they sow?’
Because without people seeing what their errors were– they will repeat them; here, Solomon is reiterating to God– BUT– when they repent, confess to you, and face you again to reconcile– THEN, you will hear them out, and forgive them, and restore them.
If we never reap what we have sown– we never learn to sow anything differently– to gain a better, and positive, harvest [future].}
35 When heaven is shut up– and there is no rain– BECAUSE THEY HAVE SINNED AGAINST YOU; if they pray toward this place, and confess your name– and turn from their sin– when thou afflict them:
36 THEN– you will hear in heaven– and forgive the sin of your servants, and of your people Israel– that you teach them THE GOOD WAY IN WHICH THEY SHOULD WALK– and give rain upon your land, which you have given to your people for an inheritance.
{We ought to recall this for when the famines come, and when it is hard pressed all about us– that REPENTANCE, and seeking God’s face– turning from the way of sin that was enacted and participated in– IS KEY.}
37 If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust, or if there be caterpillar; if their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness there be;
38 What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all your people, Israel– EVERY MAN SHALL KNOW THE PLAGUE OF HIS OWN HEART– and spread forth his hands toward this house:
{Did we catch that?? Here Solomon explains a not so subtle mystery to us– PLAGUES and PESTILENCES and FAMINE, come upon the men of earth– FOR WICKED HEARTS and LIFESTYLES lived– that fall CONTRARY to God holy and his ways, and they FALL OUT OF RELATIONSHIP with him.
And in recognizing that– Solomon tells us all what we are to do, when we recognize– we have fallen short of honoring and praising God holy, and have fallen away from him and his ways– we are to HUMBLE OURSELVES, REPENT, FACE GOD– and RECONCILE.}
39 Then you will hear in heaven– your dwelling place– and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways {according to his WAYS– that’s sow, and reap}, WHOSE HEART– YOU KNOW; (for you, even you only– know the hearts of all the children of men;)
40 That they may fear [honor] you, all the days that they live in the land, which you gave to our fathers.
41 Moreover concerning a stranger– that is not of your people, Israel– but comes out of a far country for your name's sake; [These are they who come from far away, not part of God’s flock of Israel– but wish to honor him]
42 (For they shall hear of your great name, and of your strong hand, and of your stretched out arm;) when he shall come and pray toward this house;
43 You will hear in heaven– your dwelling place– and do according to all that the stranger calls to you for [our God loves even those of the other tribes, and even the gentile– that seeks him with a full heart]: that all people of the earth may know your name– and fear thee– as do your people– Israel; and that they may know that this house, which I have builded– is called by your name.
{Here Solomon is asking God to honor even the strange sheep that come forthwith to honor and worship his God– that they will come, and leave, KNOWING THE GOD OF ISRAEL; do we pray for those that visit our churches, or homes– with such vigor and care for the LOST and WAYWARD SOULS??}
44 If your people go out to battle against their enemy, whithersoever you shall send them, and shall pray to the Lord– toward the city which you have chosen, and toward the house that I have built for your name:
45 Then hear in heaven their prayer, and their supplication– and maintain their cause.
{Again, Solomon is crying unto God, that he would honor the folk from another place, even the wayward, and guide them in their lives as well– who come seeking God holy– and THAT– is intercessory prayer for the Lost.}
46 If they sin against you, (for there is no man that does not sin,) and you are angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near;
47 Yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they were carried captives, AND REPENT, and make supplication unto you in the land of them that carried them captives, saying– We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have committed wickedness;
48 And so then– return unto you with all their heart, and with all their soul– in the land of their enemies, which led them away captive– and pray unto you toward their land, which you gave to their fathers– in the city which you have chosen, and the house which I have built for your name:
49 THEN– hear their prayer and their supplication in heaven– your dwelling place– and maintain their cause,
50 And forgive your people that have sinned against you, and all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against you, and give them compassion before them who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them:
{Note– how often have you heard Solomon– PRAY FOR HIMSELF??
True intercessory prayer is done OVER OTHERS– as God has knowledge of all ‘our’ needs– already.
If we were to return to a people that prayed for our neighbor– MORE THAN for self– I wonder how many mountains we could move?
Especially if we did it JOINTLY FIT TOGETHER, in congregational prayer unto God, and FOR– our neighbors and brothers.}
51 For they be your people, and your inheritance, which you brought forth out of Egypt– from the midst of the furnace of iron:
52 That your eyes may be open to the supplication of your servant, and unto the supplication of your people– Israel– and to hearken unto them in all that they call for of you.
53 For you did separate them from among all the people of the earth– to be your inheritance– as you spoke by the hand of Moses, your servant– when you brought our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord God.
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54 And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying– all this prayer and supplication unto the Lord– that he arose from before the altar of the Lord, and from kneeling on his knees [signifying a humble stance before God] with his hands spread up to heaven.
55 He stood, and BLESSED ALL THE CONGREGATION of Israel with, a loud voice, saying–
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56 Blessed be the Lord, that has given rest to his people Israel– according to all that he promised: there has not failed one word of all his good promise– which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.
{Again, remembrance and honor unto God, for all God has supplied from days of old– until now; and as well– reminding everyone, and thanking God– that he has given his people REST, ‘in him’ and all he does to take care for them: WORSHIP.}
57 The Lord our God be with us– as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us:
58 That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers.
59 And let these, my words, wherewith I have made supplication before the Lord– be nigh unto the Lord our God day and night– and that he maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people, Israel, at all times– as the matter shall require:
{Solomon again reminds us that we will ALWAYS BE IN NEED OF GOD, to keep his gaze upon us– as WE KEEP OUR GAZE UPON HIM [which is remembrance, thoughtful of each other] –for in this, our ‘cause,’ or our provision, is cared for.
As long as we are mindful to KEEP OUR HEARTS STAYED UPON HIM [genuinely, not feigned] and KEEP HIS WAYS, COMMANDS, JUDGMENTS and STATUTES; we may not be ‘beholden’ to the old laws by ‘penalties’ of not doing them perfectly– but we DO HAVE COMMANDS, STATUTES and JUDGMENTS of GOD’S WAYS– even in the New Covenant Testament of Christ– that we are to uphold.
I don’t believe many honor him in his ways like this, or follow his commands– for they do not have him as their GOD– which means ‘leader of all that is me,’ and ‘He who CONFORMS ME TO HIS IMAGE;’ and in that– we have many transgressors of God in Christ Jesus.
It is why we have a judgment harvest coming in that will rock this earth like never before– for we have dishonored God in the HYPER GRACE movement– that teaches men of the earth, that we need not lead holy lives, nor WALK WITH GOD LITERALLY, SPIRITUALLY– joined as One in a CONTRACTED COVENANT; even though, our God– is the Holy One of Israel, and he is the HIGH PRIEST over us all, and he said HIS PEOPLE– will be a peculiar people of KINGS and PRIESTS [those are holy living folk, like him].}
60 That all the people of the earth may know that the Lord is God– and that there is none else.
61 Let your heart therefore be perfect [whole, clean] with the Lord our God– to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments– as on this day.
62 And the king– and all Israel with him– offered sacrifice before the Lord.”
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We ought to be mindful, and have HEARTS full of remembrances and praise to, and of, our God.
We are to supplicate, or petition God– but if we do not have ‘houses’ of true prayer [which we can see is MUCH more than lists of petitions and supplications]– we have ‘self centered’ communion and pleadings– with God.
And we ought to be having a TWO-WAY conversation with God, where we are reminded of WHO HE IS, and he reminds us of WHO WE ARE TO HIM; and as we do that, we will stand strong and firm in him– because we KNOW OUR IDENTITIES, and we know he is faithful, as we recall him being so in times past– with his other children.
{We DO HEAR HIM, after all, in our hearts– and KNOW HIS VOICE, if we are his sheep; he said so.}
And as we do that– we will bring him into remembrance, and simultaneously lose fear that God cannot hear us, or has not compassion toward us– or that he actually is the ‘author’ of all that is, and will happen to us, and for us– as he works all things together for our ‘good.’
Have you ever noticed that AUTHOR, and AUTHORITY have the same root word??
Don’t forget he is the Almighty One in AUTHORITY– and THAT GUY– is writing your story; just PARTNER with him in it!!
BUT– true partners– SEE EACH OTHER CLEARLY; so go– pray and recall who God is– SEE HIM CLEARLY– and PRAISE him and THANK him– for all he did for the ones before us, and for our very own lives.
When we lose sight of GRATITUDE, we become negative, fearful, and critical– and we lose hope and get weary; even though– GOD NEVER CHANGED– but our perspective, our lens, our attitude and viewpoint– did.
Let us return to true praying– which is WORSHIP, in INTERCESSIVE [bridging] supplications and petition; but first and foremost– it’s WORSHIP– by God’s definition.
For I see need of God’s ‘churches–’ his HOUSES– to return to HOUSES OF PRAYER– which is first and foremost, HOUSES OF WORSHIP, HONOR, PRAISE and GRATITUDE– unto God; secondly– it is a house of supplications, petitions and lists of desires and needs to be brought forth– for he has knowledge of all our needs already.
Matthew 6:8
“Be not like unto them [hypocritical, vain repetition, petitioners mentioned in verse before this]: for YOUR FATHER KNOWS WHAT YOU HAVE NEED OF– before you ask him.”
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Philippians 4:6
“Be careful [anxious] for nothing; but in everything– by prayer [worship] and supplication [petitioning], with thanksgiving [gratitude]– let your requests be made known to God.”
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May we help the ‘church’ of the Lord’s people– return to true WORSHIP– which is FAR MORE THAN MUSIC PLAYED BY INSTRUMENTS and SINGING; he told us in the beginning→ in the Strong’s definition of PRAYER…
That TRUE PRAYER→ is SINGING OUT FROM THE HEART– a cry of WORSHIP unto God.
True prayer is not a LIST OF petitions alone, it is bringing into remembrance ALL GOD IS, ALL HE’S DONE, ALL HE CONTINUES TO DO– and it is also– PRAYING INTERCESSIVELY FOR OUR NEIGHBORS and BRETHREN.
It is NOT– asking for ourselves, or our churches, for ‘things material’ in this realm ‘only,’ or continuously; he knows what we have need of already: ask for it, and stand for it– but it need not be over, and over and over again– he is not remiss, or forgetful.
Bring into remembrance that he DID FULFILL, to all he said he would, of those who came before us; and remind yourself– as you pray– that GOD WILL FULFILL ALL FOR YOUR LIFE TOO.
He’s looking into your heart to see what you gaze upon, and concern yourself with– your focus; is it on HIM and your NEIGHBOR, and HIS DESIRES, and your NEIGHBOR’S NEEDS??
Or– are we still in the churches, and in our private closets– praying for ‘self,’ and remaining self focused– and looking at ‘the material world’ and its ‘cares’ thereof?
Because if we are– WE HAVE NEED TO RETURN TO A TRUE HOUSE OF PRAYER– in our public, and private– God Centers.
Solomon knew what he was doing, and how to honor God in HIS HOUSE– which now, since Christ– is US, in our temples, within the hearts of man.
When we get the hearts of men cleaned up, and truly praying properly– THEN– we come together, assemble and unite in unity of the faith– WHAT MOUNTAINS, we and our God– WILL MOVE; as we recall each other: we– to our GOD, for ALL HE IS→ and HE to us– IN ALL WE ARE TO HIM.
HONOR EACH OTHER, both us to our God, and us to our neighbors– and God will MAINTAIN OUR CAUSE; both in our private lives, and in our public houses of worship.
May we return to the ‘model’ you set before us Lord; and may we REVAMP our HOUSES OF WORSHIP/PRAYER, and honor you in them: may we make it less about us, and more about you.
May we BALANCE– The Word [the truth preached & taught of the bible] and The Prayer Worship, as we sing out from our hearts in remembrance of all you are, and HONOR YOU– in wholeheartedness and gratitude– with less emphasis on what ‘we need–’ and more emphasis on YOU, and our BRETHREN→ and their needs.
May we recall– we are here– to meet our brethren’s needs; and that begins, in pleading their cause to our Lord, to move mountains– and in doing so, YOU– will fill our needs, as you are a GOOD FATHER.
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May we remember that in Matthew 6, the Lord’s prayer starts out with– “After this manner– pray– Our Father…”
May we recall we are to address the Holy One in HONOR, first and foremost– “Hallowed be your name–” that is to say HOLY and HONORED– are you.
Your kingdom– let it come unto us, and YOUR WILL– let it be done in our earth– as your will is ALWAYS carried out– in heaven; and you give us daily– the bread we need, in YOU– to sustain us.
Father– forgive us our debts [trespasses/sins], as we forgive our debtors– as we admit our shortcomings to you, in our confessions and communion.
And, you– who does not lead us into temptation– but you who delivers us from evil– yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever– TRUTHFULLY.
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May we honor you more, praise you often– and TRULY WORSHIP YOU– more than our own lives, in supplications and pleadings of petitions: may we LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS, as YOU LOVE US: and may your ‘churches–’ return to HOUSES OF WORSHIP/prayer.
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