Worship call 0728 The Prayer Closet

be a reflection of Him! Proverbs 27:19 As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man. In Israel, the Ministry of the Interior is called Misrad Ha-Pnim, translated literally, "Office of the Faces". Those in charge of immigration and citizenship are looking into the faces of those who seek citizenship or residency within the land. Some have observed that the officials there carefully scrutinize each applicant... In this proverb, Solomon observes that the heart of a man indicates how he is perceived since the condition of your heart will be reflected...right there on your face! Our lives should be a reflection of Yeshua's love, joy, and peace … and people should be able to see it immediately upon our faces. And if our hearts are not in the right place, that will also be easily observed, because our faces somehow mirror our inward thoughts and feelings. Robert, so your walk with the Lord, and His Spirit within you will be reflected in a deepening love, joy, and peace … and others will know it and see it — there in your face! Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, & Obadiah Baltimore, Maryland

And this is another fine day in the Lord

Becca brought up the other night the idea that not praying is a sin against God.

1 Samuel 12:23 (NASB95) — 23 “Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lordby ceasing to pray for you; but I will instruct you in the good and right way.

Prayer is not an option, but an obligation before the Lord. we have been entered into the relationship with the Lord. we are partners in the divine plan.

From Dr. Bill Korver in the purpose statement of his website Metakoi Publishing that states.

Metakoi is an ancient Koine Greek Word. It is the plural form of the word metakos, which means, “to partake, to partner, to share in.” All people who believe Jesus’ promise of eternal life become sharers, Metakoi, in his life which is eternal. IN the future Jesus will personally return to rule and reign over earth and all other places. He will share His rule – delegate authority and positions in that kingdom—to His faithful servants. While all believers will be in the kingdom, only certain ones, the Metakoi, will be partners, co-rulers with King Jesus! [1]

God has a heavenly council, the Elohim (Psalm 82, 1 Kings 22:20-21)

We understand that God does not need a council but nonetheless God himself creates and brings to himself a heavenly council. He also has an earthly council among the saints. Our prayers offered to God in intercessions and petition are heard by the Sovereign king and are entered into God’s consideration.

Once more they were heard in eternity past and entered the divine decrees. That is that your prayers and mine in time are already interwoven into God’s pattern in history.

I believe heartily that in when history has been played out and we stand before the Lord it will be made known to us how our prayers impacted the course of history. How private prayers in the prayer closet turned history this way and that according to God’s divine will.

In my own thinking as it is my desire to rule with Christ and make it ambition to do so, that if one has occupied himself as a partner to God’s divine plan, including him and herself in faithful prayer in accordance to the spiritual life of a mature believer wouldn’t it be logical that the Lord would bring such a one to be a part of his future rulership council in the kingdom to come?

Matthew 6:6–8 (NASB95) — 6 “But you, when you pray,

It is not if, but when, that you are a disciple, and it is foregone conclusion that you participate in prayer. To not pray leaves on in disobedience.

go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Prayer is not to put on a show of piety so that all can see that you are a godly man or woman. Soon enough the Lord will return with his faithful one’s to set up his administration. It is then that the faithful in the Lord will be revealed. In the meantime much of our prayers are private between us and our Lord King.

7 “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. 8 “So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

The Private conversation between the Lord and His subject is a powerful thing. I was thinking this morning, how often was it mentioned that Jesus conducted public prayer. Not to advocate against public prayer. The Jews would assemble twice per day to pray in the courtyard of the temple. corporate prayer goes all the way back to Genesis

Genesis 4:26 (NASB95) — 26 To Seth, to him also a son was born; and he called his name Enosh. Then men began to call upon the name of the Lord.

This is a check on our own walk, shall we ask ourselves how often do we spend time in private prayer with the Lord? and I don’t even mean to be a conviction that you don’t do it but if we don’t might we check our spiritual lives whether we are walking with the Lord or not.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NASB95) — 14 and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Three provisions that the Lord would heal the nation of Israel

1. Humility

2. Prayer

3. Seeking after the Lord

4. Repentance

If as a principle this relates to a nation under God such as the United States of America, is Prayer the only answer we Got that is prayer without humility without seeking God without repentance?

Before we come together collectively as a nation, how do we stand or kneel as individuals before God in private prayer.

Matthew 6:6 (NASB95) — 6 “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret,

Mark 1:35–37 (NASB95) — 35 In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there. 36 Simon and his companions searched for Him; 37 they found Him, and said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.”

Where was Jesus when all the people of the town were searching for him when the Disciples finally found Him?

The Night that the Lord arrested Jesus took James, John and Peter with him to the garden. But the King did not pray with his disciples but apart from them.

Matthew 26:36–37 (NASB95) — 36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed.

If you don’t ever pray in public, well here is some good news. You don’t have to. You can find yourself a secluded place away from every one’s notice and pray to hearts content.

Matthew 6:7 (NASB95) — 7 “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.

33.88 βατταλογέωa: to speak much or extensively, with a possible added implication of meaningless words—‘to use many words, to speak for a long time[2]

The Pagans were used to pestering the God’s supposing if they would keep asking that finally they would give in so that this lowly man or woman would go away.

Seems here when it comes to the point of public prayer, the prayers should to meaning full, yes. But should be limited and not contrived and the eloquence of the prayer is not all to important.

Some of the most special prayers are heard from the mouth of babes, most are short and all so sweet and pure. If you heard a child’s prayer, you know what I mean.

For they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.[3]

This takes us back to the showdown between Elijah and the priests of Baal. When over the Sacrifice the priests sought Baal to receive the sacrifice.

1 Kings 18:26 (NASB95) — 26 Then they took the ox which was given them and they prepared it and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon saying, “O Baal, answer us.” But there was no voice and no one answered. And they leaped about the altar which they made.

But notice two things when it came to Elijah’s prayer

1 Kings 18:36–37 (NASB95) — 36 At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word. 37 “Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that You, O Lord, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again.”

1. Elijah drew near.

If we have a problem with praying it may not be that we don’t know how, or we can’t find time or any other reason than the fact that we may not be so close to God. Our walk is more according to the flesh and the world than an intimacy with God.

2. Elijah reminds God of his Covenant.

It is that covenant, a contract between two people. The contract is personal. Elijah is holding up his side of the contract. Elijah says

I have done all these things according to Your word.

Elijah did not have pray to all day to get God to answer. It was a short prayer and God heard and God answered.

Matthew 6:8 (NASB95) — 8 “So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

The Lord is omniscience. God Knows all the knowable. He even knows all the results of the coulda woulda Shoulda’s. It seems we even shut the door on great things that God has for our lives because we did not pray.

James 4:2 (NASB95) — 2 You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask.

James 4:3 (NASB95) — 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.

And it is that in Prayer closet the Lord now teaches his disciples according to a model.

The Disciples prayer.

[1] Dr. Bill F. Korver Is the president of Of the Carolina College of biblical studies [2]Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). In Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 398). United Bible Societies. [3] New American Standard Bible: 1995 update (Mt 6:7). (1995). The Lockman Foundation.

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