THE PURPOSES OF PRAYER --- PART 1

If I told you that you were going to have the opportunity to talk with Yeshua Moshiach for 15 minutes at this moment and you could make one request to Him, what would your request be? If you could ask Him anything, would you ask for protection, a new job, or money? What would you ask for? Once Yeshua’ disciples had this opportunity: Luke 11:1 -- tells us that they came to Yeshua one day and they had a request. Adonai, teach us to pray… Why, of all the things they could have asked, did they ask this question? I think it was because they saw the results of prayer in Yeshua’ life. They saw Him pray and they saw what happened. The disciples had watched Yeshua preach the greatest sermons ever, they had been there while he performed miracles, but never once did they say: Adonai, teach us to preach or Adonai, teach us to do miracles or Adonai, teach us to raise the dead. Instead, they said: Teach us how to pray. From watching the example of Yeshua, these men knew that prayer was the key to what they needed in life.

1 – In Prayer I declare My Dependence on YHVH:

When I pray, I am saying to YHVH: I need You. For some reason, many of us have a problem admitting this. Perhaps it’s a part of the world mindset, we value independence, hard work and making it on our own. While that can be a good thing, if you learn anything when you come to Yeshua Moshiach, it is that you don’t have the ability to make it spiritually on your own. The reason why a lot of people don't pray is because it costs! It costs honesty! [Adonai, I admit I am inadequate; I am helpless; I need Your help in this situation.] As long as you think you are self-sufficient, prayer can have no meaning for you. John 15:5-7: -- Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing. Anyone who parts from Me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you stay joined to Me and My Words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted. He says: If you really place your dependence in Me, you can ask whatever you will and I will give it. That is an unbelievable promise in prayer! We need to notice that the promise is for those who are dependent not only on Moshiach, but have His Words within them. This type of person is in touch with YHVH and His Will and prays accordingly. It's like a branch and vine, Yeshua said; the branch is connected to the vine, so if you cut the branch off, it loses all its strength. If you cut a believer off from YHVH, he withers. Years ago there was a TV documentary about deep-sea divers. They had recovered some gold from a sunken ship in the North Atlantic. They talked about how they let a diving bell down, 800 feet under the water. The only link between the people 800 feet below the water and those on the boat was the air hose. The hose was the lifeline, the support system, the connection between those above and those below. Prayer is our support system. You cut it off and you run out of spiritual air. Until we realize the depth of our need for YHVH, we can't pray.

2 – In Prayer, I Grow in my Relationship With YHVH:

When I first got out of high school I had a boss named Jan. After working together for some time, the relationship I had with my boss began to change. While he remained the boss, he began to confide in me on a different level. We would spend time together outside of work and found we had a number of things in common. We moved from a boss / employee relationship, to a friend / friend relationship. The more time you spend with YHVH you will find that the nature of your relationship will change. You will not become more saved, more attractive, or get you more stuff. But your relationship will change from that of Master / servant, to Master / friend. John 15:15-16: -- I no longer call you servants, because a master doesn’t confide in his servants. Now you are My friends, since I have told you everything the Father told Me. You didn’t choose Me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using My Name. Prior to this passage, Yeshua had been confiding in His disciples concerning His impending death. He had brought the relationship to a whole new level. He now was sharing with them as confidants, not as servants and He promised them something very interesting here. Notice that intimacy in prayer does not lead to the production of fruit; rather, the opposite is true; producing fruit leads to intimacy. I build my relationship with YHVH by becoming like Him through a life of righteousness and dedication to His Kingdom agenda. As I produce lasting fruit, YHVH Promises to grant what? Whatever we ask, as we ask it by the authority of Yeshua Moshiach. And what happens to our relationship? I live for YHVH, I pray to Him, He grants whatever I ask by the authority of Yeshua Moshiach, and I live for YHVH. It is a relationship based on friendship, understanding and mutual purpose. As I live for YHVH, I understand His will and our relationship grows. He speaks to me, not only through His Word and through Ruach HaKodesh, but through answering the requests I ask of Him. I think it is important to note that YHVH does not invite us to call Him [friend], but He feels free to address us in this way. Why is that? It is because YHVH is always YHVH; He is always the Creator, Sustainer, the Holy One… but through His Son He invites us to approach Him, not as servants, but as His friends. He remains the Master, but we move from servant to friend.

A truthful witness saves souls, but one who breathes out lies is deceitful.
#proverbs 14:25

"Soul" here doesn't mean spirit. It's referring to the whole person, spiritual, physical, and mental. This is primarily talking about a truthful witness that rescues people from false witnesses. As metaphor, it also applies to what evangelicals call "soul winning".

Is it really a bad idea for a nation to select a foreigner as their leader? Yes, it is. That's why not only the Bible, but the US Constitution and the basic laws of many nations forbid foreigners from taking office as ruler or head of state. So how does that apply to the Kingdom of Heaven?

https://thebarkingfox.com/2023..../08/19/about-that-fo

 

thebarkingfox.com

About That Foreign King - The Barking Fox

Is it really a bad idea for a nation to select a foreigner as their leader? Yes, it is. That’s why not only the Bible, but the US Constitution and the basic laws of many nations forbid foreigners from taking office as ruler or head of state. So

Prayer has evolved. Matthew 6:10, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” This was how Yeshua/Jesus taught people to pray. The evolution from Your will be done to a nothing more than list of demands from Him displays a lack of respect, honor and glory that only the Creator deserves.

Does anyone know where I got the idea that causing someone else to sin is twice the sin on my head?

New moon sighted in the Pacific Northwest
https://youtube.com/live/_qck-R1rUFo?feature=share

Thought for Today: Shabbat August 19:

You already know that YHVH Elohiym is everywhere... And where He is, there is heaven – Heaven – where His Majesty Most High, reigns in glory.

Daily Prayer

Blessed are You Holy Abba. To You be all the praise and glory forever and ever, for You are our Light and our Salvation, hallelujah! You created light out of darkness and have brought Your Light to our lives through the birth of Your Son, our Saviour and Redeemer, Yeshua Moshiach. Blessed are You our YHVH. As our Adonai was brought into the Temple, we ask Your blessing upon Your people throughout this world. May we all share in the mission of our Moshiach and show that His Light is for all people and nations. We pray for all who are being baptised and all who are seeking to dedicate their lives in and to Your service. We pray for all Your faithful people, that Your light may shine through them and that they may be lights in the world. Abba, we pray for the time when all the kingdoms of this world may become the Kingdom of Moshiach our Adonai. We ask Your blessing on all leaders, rulers of nations and governments. Adonai, give wisdom to all who are in authority. We pray for all who influence our minds through the press and the media. As Joseph and Mary presented Yeshua in the Temple, we present all our young people to You and ask Your blessing over them, that they may be taught in Your ways and learn to love You. We pray for our own homes, our loved ones, schools, colleges and all universities. We pray for those who walk in darkness, those who are fearful, those who are anxious and all those who are depressed. We ask Your blessing on all people who are poor, all the people who are persecuted for Your sake, those who are hungry, the refugees, the homeless, those who are ill and all those whose lives are in danger. We rejoice in the fellowship of all Your people and ask Your blessing on all our loved ones and our friends. May they rejoice in Your light and in the fullness of life eternal. Hear our prayer Abba as we pray in the Name of our Saviour Yeshua Moshiach, amen.

"If any man love me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and will dwell with him."

Jn 14