Let Us Pray

Prayer is a very important aspect of the Christian life. Simply put, prayer is communication or communing with God. The Bible reveal various types of prayer, prayers, supplication, intercession and thanksgiving. Each type has its own place, but we should always expect our prayers to be heard and answered anytime we pray . The Apostle John tells us, "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him." (1 John 5:14-15) God's Word is His will, so to be effective in prayer, we should decide what we are going to pray and then pray according to His Will (Word).

The Apostle James also tells us, "But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." (James 1:6-8) There are two main ideas that we should glean from this. First, we must always pray in faith. To pray in faith is to be fully convinced that what God's Word says is absolutely true and then act upon it even when the circumstances are completely contrary. You must resist doubt and believe that you have God's answer. Next, we need to have our mind made up as to what we desire from God. We must be decisive and not waver. James tells us that when a person wavers they are double minded and unstable in ALL his ways, (ouch), and should not expect to have the prayer(s) answered.   

Jesus gives us an important key that unlocks the doors of heaven and grants our every need. "And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." (John 16:23-24) Jesus is the believers Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5), Intercessor (Hebrews 7:25), Advocate (1 John 2:2) and He is Lord (Philippians 2:10). He stands between us and the Father. Therefore if we want to be sure our prayers reach the Father's ears we must prayer according to the conditions that we find in His Word.

When Jesus said, "And in that day you will ask Me nothing" He was referring to the day when He would be seated at the right hand of God as our Mediator, Intercessor and Advocate. It is from this position that believers are to ask the Father in the Name of Jesus. Also notice that Jesus says, "Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." So, can believers be filled with joy when they have a financial burden lurking over them or some other need that needs to be met? Well, according to Jesus if we ask the Father in His name "you will receive, that your joy may be full." Let us remember that we must also exercise faith when asking and ask according to God's Will.

The Father's desire is to meet every need of His children because He wants them to be full of joy. However, if we are going to worry or fret over the situation, we will find ourselves hindering God from helping us and be rob of the joy He wants for us. The Apostle Peter tells us, "casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7) The Apostle Paul tells us, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7) The fact is, if we are going to worry instead of letting the Lord have the problem, it will do little good to pray because we will not be praying in faith. 

There are many things to pray about, but in our prayers let us not forget to pray for Israel and especially, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem..." (Psalm 122:6) As we apply the principle shown hereon to our prayers do not be surprised when you are filled with the joy of the Lord even when the circumstances look mountainous. So do not lose heart, for Nehemiah said, "Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10) PTL

Enter The Throne Room

Probably the greatest revivalist in American history was Charles Finney. Finney was convinced, through many years of Revival ministry, that God intended the church to live continually in a Revival state. He believed that this was the “normal” state of the church. Quite frankly, so do I. He was also convinced that if the church would just meet the basic conditions for revival, that is, deep repentance and heartfelt, agonizing prayer for the outpouring of God’s Spirit, then Revival would always result.  He likened it to a field of wheat and said it this way, "If a farmer tills the soil and provides the right seed and conditions, then a great crop will always result. This is normal and expected. Revival is no more a miracle than a crop of wheat. Revival comes from heaven when heroic souls enter the conflict determined to win or die or if need be, to win and die! The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force." John Wesley was of a similar mind when he said, “Have you any days of fasting and prayer?  Storm the throne of grace and persevere therein, and mercy will come down.”

God spoke to Ezekiel and said, Ezekiel 22:30 "So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one." (Ezekiel 22:30) Although this was a message of judgment on Jerusalem we cannot look at the state of the USA and brush away a statement like this and say that it does not apply to the church today. Statistically, corporate prayer is the least attended ministry in the church today and yet it is one of the most important. 

There is nothing in Scripture to suggest that corporate prayers are more powerful than individual prayers, but when we look at the early church, we can see that it was an important principle that they practiced continually, "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers." (Acts 2:42)  After Peter and John were released from custody for preaching and teaching in the Name of Jesus they immediately gathered with a number of other believers to pray, "And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: "Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of Your servant David have said, why did the nations rage, and the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the LORD and against His Christ.'  "For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus." And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness." (Acts 4:23-31) 

The apostle Paul tells us through the Holy Spirit, "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all..." (1 Timothy 2:1-6) 

All believers are called to pray for all men. This implies that before we pray for ourselves and our families that we should be praying for others, especially those who are in authority so that there will be peace in our nation and that the preaching of the gospel go unhindered. "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.(2 Thessalonians 3:1-2) This is why we pray for those in authority, so that the Word of the Lord may run swiftly, be unhindered, and be glorified. 

"Whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. (2 Corinthians 4:4) Satan plans are to try and stop the work of God from going forth. It is up to the church, that is, every individual believer as to whether or not the devil succeeds in his plans."And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it...And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. (John 14:13-14, 16:23-24) 

Believers have authority to ask and pray to the Father in Jesus’ Name. When believers pray God's will (His Word) they are not only reminding Him of His promises (Isaiah 43:26) but they give Him permission to move and rule over the situation no matter what it is. In these passage, two times, Jesus directs us on how to ask and what to expect. When believers stand on God’s Word, in the delegated authority that has been given to them, asking in the name of Jesus, God can do great things such as bringing many lost into His Kingdom. However, we must remember that pray or asking is only the preparation of the soil. A sower must still go out and sow the seed. For believers, the seed we are to sow is God's Word. (Mark 4:13-20) 

A farmer can pray for a crop all year long, but if he doesn’t prepare the soil and sow seed there will be no harvest. We can and should pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest, but if no one ever sows the Word there will be no harvest of souls. (Romans 10:14-15) So, let us "make a wall, and stand in the gap before God on behalf of the land," our nation is depending on us.

Touching Heaven

Prayer is a vital part of the believers life. In his book, E.M. Bounds on Prayer, Bounds states, “Prayer is the medium of divine revelation. It is through prayer that God reveals Himself to the spiritual soul today, just as in the Old Testament days He made His revelations to the people who prayed. God shows Himself to the person who prays.” The Lord desires, not only to have His children pray to Him, but have communion with Him through prayer. Prayer has many meanings such as: to ask; to beseech; to call to one’s aid; communicating with God; an act of communion with God.

The act of communion with God involves more than just praying in a general sense. In fact Jesus tells us what ineffective prayer is, "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words." (Matthew 6:7) He also tells us how to pray effectively, "For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them." (Mark 11:23-24)

The apostle John reveals a very important key for us when it comes to asking the Lord for anything, "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him."(1 John 5:14-15) So how can we know that what we ask Him is according to His will? How can we move from hoping that He will answer our request to having assured confidence that He will answer?

Peter says it this way, "Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue." (2 Peter 1:2-3) and the writer of Hebrews says, "Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high." (Hebrews 1:3)

Take notice to two important things here. First we see that "His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue." So, when we pray we must believe that He has given us "all things that pertain to life and godliness." But how do we acquire "all things that pertain to life and godliness?" Through having knowledge of Jesus Christ. This is not sense knowledge, that which we understand in our minds, but revelation knowledge, that which is conceived in our heart, the recreated spirit. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

The other thing that we must understand is, upholding all things by the word of His power.  Notice that it does not say that power of His word. Literally, actually, factually, God's Word is His power or His power is manifest by His Word(s). A great example of this is in creation, "Then God said...and it was so." (Genesis 1). So, if His power is in His Word(s) (which it is) and His power has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Christ, (which He has) then praying the Word of God is the way that we can, as John said, "...that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him." His Word is His Will and His Will is His Word.

So, let us no longer just talk at the Lord with many words, but pray His word knowing, "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11) God's Word get results every time if, one, "does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them..." (Mark 11:23-24) In short, we pray His Word, believing that we have already received the petitions that we have asked of Him and His promise is, you will have them. PTL...

Prayer Wariors

The most wonderful and most moving prayer spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ was in the Garden of Gethsemane. After celebrating the Passover, Jesus and His disciples, minus Judas Iscariot, sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives. (Matthew 26:30) Jesus' earthly ministry as the Son of Man is winding down. He knew why He had come from God and He knows what is about to happen. He takes His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray, which He did often. He then takes Peter, John and James a little further into the garden to pray and says to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me." (Matthew 26:38) Jesus then leaves Peter, John and James, goes a little farther into the garden, falls on His face and begins to pray. These men have seen Jesus pray many times but something was different. They must have noticed the sorrow and distress that was upon Him. What they didn’t know, was Jesus was facing the fact that He would soon be made sin. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us…” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Next, "Jesus came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?  Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:40-41)  He warns them to watch, literally, to abstain from sleep; to be vigilant, to guard against danger, and pray that they do not enter into temptation. He knew the danger that was coming and how the flesh might possibly give in to temptation. He knew that He was about to take the place of every human being and endure the punishment that was required to meet man’s greatest need, redemption.

In the incarnation, deity and humanity coming together, Jesus was not mortal or immortal, but a perfect human being as Adam was before the fall. However, as man’s substitute, He would become mortal the moment sin was placed upon Him in the same way that Adam became mortal when he sinned. Jesus knew that the moment He would be made sin, He would experience what Adam experience when he himself sinned. He would spiritually die, be forsaken by the Father and then physically die. He knew that as Adam’s sin made him subject to Satan, it would be the same for Him. He knew that He would suffer in hell until the entire debt that humanity owed justice was paid in full.

Some may have trouble comprehending these things, but they are facts, "And they made His grave with the wicked, but with the rich at His death, because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand." (Isaiah 53:9-10)  The word death is plural in the original Hebrew and like Adam, Jesus died twice, spiritually and physically. Isaiah also tells us, "He has put Him to grief…" The word grief here means, to make sick, to be diseased, to afflict. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul tells us, "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.) (Galatians 3:13) We see that Jesus was made sin with our sin, was made sick with our sicknesses and a curse.

This should gives us a greater understanding as to what Jesus was going through in the Garden. "Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground." (Luke 22:43-44)  He alone must pay the penalty for humanity or humanity would be eternally lost. Did you ever notice that angels never came and ministered to Him while He was on the cross. I believe there was more spiritual agony here than there was on the cross. Three times He prayed a prayer of dedication and consecration, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." (Luke 22:42) A more literal rendering: “If it be possible, take this cup from Me, not my will, but yours be carried through to completion and save humanity.”

After Jesus finishes praying, "He came to His disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand." (Matthew 26:45-46) As Jesus emerged from prayer He had already won the the first part of the battle. He was no longer in sorrow and distress, but He was the Conqueror. He was ready for the trial; He was ready for the scourging; He was ready for the cross; He was ready to conquer sin and death; He was ready to redeem humanity from the hands of the enemy; He was ready to destroy sin, disease, poverty and everything that was set against humanity by Satan all due to Adam's transgression. Jesus emerged from prayer as the righteous, conquering King of kings and Lord of lords.

The apostle Paul tells us, "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:37) As more than conquerors, our prayer is to be one that is rooted in the Word of God. It is based on the believer knowing that their faith in Christ has already given them the victory over the circumstances that life may bring. It is one that is conceived within the believer that gives them the confidence that in Christ they are independent of their circumstances and, in a personal sense, "can do all things through Christ who strengthens." (Philippians 4:13) It is the assured confidence that God is able to do what He said He would do. (Numbers 23:19) So, let us pray like Jesus our Conqueror, especially when we are faced with seemingly insurmountable circumstance, knowing that we can, "Cast the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully." (1 Peter 5:7) Thank you LORD...

Stand Your Post Soldier

Probably the greatest revivalist in American history was Charles Finney. Finney was convinced, through many years of Revival ministry, that God intended the church to live continually in a Revival state. He believed that this was the “normal” state of the church. Quite frankly, so do I. He was also convinced that if the church would just meet the basic conditions for revival, that is, deep repentance and heartfelt, agonizing prayer for the outpouring of God’s Spirit, then Revival would always result.  He likened it to a field of wheat and said it this way, "If a farmer tills the soil and provides the right seed and conditions, then a great crop will always result. This is normal and expected. Revival is no more a miracle than a crop of wheat. Revival comes from heaven when heroic souls enter the conflict determined to win or die or if need be, to win and die! The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force." John Wesley was of a similar mind when he said, “Have you any days of fasting and prayer?  Storm the throne of grace and persevere therein, and mercy will come down.”

God spoke to Ezekiel and said, Ezekiel 22:30 "So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one." (Ezekiel 22:30) Although this was a message of judgment on Jerusalem we cannot look at the state of the USA and brush away a statement like this and say that it does not apply to the church today. Statistically, corporate prayer is the least attended ministry in the church today and yet it is one of the most important.

There is nothing in Scripture to suggest that corporate prayers are more powerful than individual prayers, but when we look at the early church, we can see that it was an important principle that they practiced continually, "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers." (Acts 2:42)  After Peter and John were released from custody for preaching and teaching in the Name of Jesus they immediately gathered with a number of other believers to pray, "And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: "Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of Your servant David have said, why did the nations rage, and the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the LORD and against His Christ.'  "For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus." And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness." (Acts 4:23-31)

The apostle Paul tells us through the Holy Spirit, "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all..." (1 Timothy 2:1-6)

All believers are called to pray for all men. This implies that before we pray for ourselves and our families that we should be praying for others, especially those who are in authority so that there will be peace in our nation and that the preaching of the gospel go unhindered. "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.(2 Thessalonians 3:1-2) This is why we pray for those in authority, so that the Word of the Lord may run swiftly, be unhindered, and be glorified. 

"Whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. (2 Corinthians 4:4) Satan plans are to try and stop the work of God from going forth. It is up to the church, that is, every individual believer as to whether or not the devil succeeds in his plans."And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it...And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. (John 14:13-14, 16:23-24)

Believers have authority to ask and pray to the Father in Jesus’ Name. When believers pray God's will (His Word) they are not only reminding Him of His promises (Isaiah 43:26) but they give Him permission to move and rule over the situation no matter what it is. In these passage, two times, Jesus directs us on how to ask and what to expect. When believers stand on God’s Word, in the delegated authority that has been given to them, asking in the name of Jesus, God can do great things such as bringing many lost into His Kingdom. However, we must remember that pray or asking is only the preparation of the soil. A sower must still go out and sow the seed. For believers, the seed we are to sow is God's Word. (Mark 4:13-20)

A farmer can pray for a crop all year long, but if he doesn’t prepare the soil and sow seed there will be no harvest. We can and should pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest, but if no one ever sows the Word there will be no harvest of souls. (Romans 10:14-15) So, let us "make a wall, and stand in the gap before God on behalf of the land," our nation is depending on us.

A Conquerors Prayer

The most incredible and most moving prayer spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ was in the Garden of Gethsemane. After celebrating the Passover, Jesus and His disciples, minus Judas Iscariot, sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives. (Matthew 26:30) Jesus' earthly ministry as the Son of Man is winding down. He knew why He had come from God and He knows what is about to happen. He takes His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray, which He did often. He then takes Peter, John and James a little further into the garden to pray and says to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me." (Matthew 26:38) Jesus then leaves Peter, John and James, goes a little farther into the garden, falls on His face and begins to pray. These men have seen Jesus pray many times but something was different. They must have noticed the sorrow and distress that was upon Him. What they didn’t know, was Jesus was facing the fact that He would soon be made sin. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us…” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Next, "Jesus came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?  Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:40-41)  He warns them to watch, literally, to abstain from sleep; to be vigilant, to guard against danger, and pray that they do not enter into temptation. He knew the danger that was coming and how the flesh might possibly give in to temptation. He knew that He was about to take the place of every human being and endure the punishment that was required to meet man’s greatest need, redemption.

In the incarnation, deity and humanity coming together, Jesus was not mortal or immortal, but a perfect human being as Adam was before the fall. However, as man’s substitute, He would become mortal the moment sin was placed upon Him in the same way that Adam became mortal when he sinned. Jesus knew that the moment He would be made sin, He would experience what Adam experience when he himself sinned. He would spiritually die, be forsaken by the Father and then physically die. He knew that as Adam’s sin made him subject to Satan, it would be the same for Him. He knew that He would suffer in hell until the entire debt that humanity owed justice was paid in full.

Some may have trouble comprehending these things, but they are facts, "And they made His grave with the wicked, but with the rich at His death, because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand." (Isaiah 53:9-10)  The word death is plural in the original Hebrew and like Adam, Jesus died twice, spiritually and physically. Isaiah also tells us, "He has put Him to grief…" The word grief here means, to make sick, to be diseased, to afflict. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul tells us, "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.) (Galatians 3:13) We see that Jesus was made sin with our sin, was made sick with our sicknesses and a curse. 

This should gives us a greater understanding as to what Jesus was going through in the Garden. "Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground." (Luke 22:43-44)  He alone must pay the penalty for humanity or humanity would be eternally lost. Did you ever notice that angels never came and ministered to Him while He was on the cross. I believe there was more spiritual agony here than there was on the cross. Three times He prayed a prayer of dedication and consecration, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." (Luke 22:42) A more literal rendering: “If it be possible, take this cup from Me, not my will, but yours be carried through to completion and save humanity.”

After Jesus finishes praying, "He came to His disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand." (Matthew 26:45-46) As Jesus emerged from prayer He had already won the the first part of the battle. He was no longer in sorrow and distress, but He was the Conqueror. He was ready for the trial; He was ready for the scourging; He was ready for the cross; He was ready to conquer sin and death; He was ready to redeem humanity from the hands of the enemy; He was ready to destroy sin, disease, poverty and everything that was set against humanity by Satan all due to Adam's transgression. Jesus emerged from prayer as the righteous, conquering King of kings and Lord of lords.

The apostle Paul tells us, "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:37) As conquerors our prayer is to be one that is rooted in the Word of God. It is based on the believer knowing that their faith in Christ has already given them the victory over the circumstances that life may bring. It is one that is conceived within the believer that gives them the confidence that in Christ they are independent of their circumstances and, in a personal sense, "can do all things through Christ who strengthens." (Philippians 4:13) It is the assured confidence that God is able to do what He said He would do. (Numbers 23:19) So, let us pray like Jesus our Conqueror, especially when we are faced with seemingly insurmountable circumstance, knowing that we can, "Cast the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully." (1 Peter 5:7)