The Doctrine of Christ no 08
“Jesus prayed to His Father
who is God”
Brian Kocourek, Pastor
August 14th, 2011
The
7th attribute in our study of the Doctrine of Christ we find that “Jesus Prayed to his Father who is God”.
Now, there are no Scriptures where it is said that God prayed himself, for who
would God pray too if he did pray? He is God, why pray to a lesser being? But
Scripture is full of places where Jesus,
the Son of God prayed to God His Father, and this evening we will
examine these Scriptures and what William Branham vindicated prophet of God had
to say about them. We will take the New Testament Gospels to show you not only the attitude Jesus had towards prayer,
but how he developed his relationship
with his Father through the instrument we call Prayer. To do so we will
take the Scriptures chronologically just to keep ourselves from duplicating our
efforts and it will be easier for you to follow along with me in your Bibles as
we do this.
1st I would like to show you that prayer will bring about
Change: Matthew 5:44 But
I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them
that hate you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Why do we pray? There are several reasons why we pray:
1: For supplication which means, 1. To ask for humbly or earnestly, as by praying. 2. To
make a humble entreaty to; beseech. v.
intr. 1. To make a humble, earnest petition;
2: To convey worship to God, Yes,
Jesus prayed to His God. God means object of Worship and Jesus had an object of
worship and that was His Father.
3: To give thanks to God for what
he has done or what you expect him to do.
Pray in private: Matthew 6:5 And
when thou prayest, thou shalt not be
as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray
standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may
be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest,
enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father
which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee
openly. 7 But
when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that
they shall be heard for their much speaking.
There is an Order to how we must
pray: Matthew 6:8 Be
not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have
need of, before ye ask him. 9 After this manner therefore pray ye: (so there is an order to how we should pray.) Our Father which art
in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. (begin by acknowledging who it is that you are
talking to. It is your approach that brings the results, so your approach is
most important.) 10 Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (Now, after our approach, we begin to make our
requests.) 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And
forgive us our debts, as we forgive
our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: (then acknowledge God alone has
the power to give us what we have asked him for.) For thine
is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Now, then here comes
the catch. 14 For
if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses,
neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (In other words he is
saying don’t ask for what you are not willing togive yourself. Don’t be a
hypocrite. And that is exactly what he says next.)16 Moreover
when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites,
of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto
men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 17 But
thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 18 That
thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall
reward thee openly. (And now, Jesus shows
us that those things which are eternal are far more to be sought through our
prayer than those temporary things we can acquire here on earth.) 19 Lay
not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt,
and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But
lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth
corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For
where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
In your prayer be thankful: Prayer should be used to thank God for what he has
already done for you and for what he will do for you in the future. We do not
express our thanks enough to God, and it shows in our attitudes when we get
upset when we see something not going the way we want it to go. Notice Jesus
says in Matthew 11:25
At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast
hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. 26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy
sight.
Pray in private: Matthew 14:23 And
when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was
come, he was there alone.
Pray in private: Matthew 26:36 Then
cometh Jesus with them unto a place called
Our Prayer acknowledges Who
is in Control: Matthew 26:38-39 Then
saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye
here, and watch with me. 39 And he went a little
further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be
possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless
not as I will, but as thou wilt.
Prayer is a result of our
watchfulness: Matthew 26:41-44 Watch
and pray, that
ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh
is weak. 42 He went away again the second time,
and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except
I drink it, thy will be done. 43 And he came and
found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. 44 And
he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same
words.
Pray with Assurance: Matthew 26:53-54 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall
presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But
how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
Pray in private: Mark 1:35 And
in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
Pray in private: Mark 6:46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.
A result of our watchfulness: Mark 13:33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
Making Your desires known: Mark 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray,
believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. 25 And when ye stand praying,
forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven
may forgive you your trespasses.
Pray in private:
For a need: Mark 14:32 And
they came to a place which was named
Luke 3:21
Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus
also being baptized, and praying,
the heaven was opened,
Pray in private: Luke 5: 3 And
he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he
would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people
out of the ship. 16 And
he withdrew himself into the wilderness,
and prayed.
Pray in private: Luke 6:12 And
it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to
God. 28 Bless
them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
Pray in private: Luke 9:18 And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his
disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I
am? 28 And
it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John
and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. 29 And as he prayed, the fashion
of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
Making Your desires known: Luke 10:2 Therefore
said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray
ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into
his harvest.
Prayer is a learned action: Luke
11:1-13 And
it came to pass, that, as he was praying
in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also
taught his disciples. 2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, “Our Father which
art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in
heaven, so in earth. 3 Give us day by day our daily
bread. 4 And
forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And
lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.” 5 And
he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at
midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 For
a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? 7 And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me
not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise
and give thee. 8 I say unto you, Though he will not
rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he
will rise and give him as many as he needeth. 9 And
I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock,
and it shall be opened unto you. 10 For every one
that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it
shall be opened. 11 If a son shall ask bread of
any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish,
will he for a fish give him a serpent? 12 Or if he
shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If ye then, being evil, know
how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly
Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Be Dedicated in
you r prayer life: Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto
them to this end, that men ought always
to pray, and not to faint; 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the
one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
You can’t pray
enough:
Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted
worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before
the Son of man.
Why so hard to live Christian life 57-0303A
P:2 And we're thankful that you're out this
afternoon, and we feel that somehow we just can't get enough of God. And
there's something about the Gospel, and the Word of God, that we just simply
can't seem to get enough of It. You might eat too much sometimes, and you might
drink enough good cold water to make you sick, but I don't believe that a man could ever pray too much, or get too much of
the love of God in his heart. That's just one thing that just doesn't seem
to ever get enough, fill up. And I'm taught that when we eat... If we are use
to eating small portions, our stomach shrinks to that portion. And if we eat
much, our stomach stretches to that. And I think we need some spiritual
stretching, and get much of the Word. Can't be satisfied with just reading a
little verse once in awhile, or something of that manner, but stretching our
spiritual gastronomics.
Pray For Faith: Luke 22: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art
converted, strengthen thy brethren. 40 And when he was at the place, he said unto
them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. 41 And he was withdrawn from them
about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 44 And being in an agony he
prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood
falling down to the ground. 46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and
pray, lest ye enter into temptation.
Pray to Make your desires
known: John 14: 13-18 And
whatsoever ye shall ask in my name,
that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If
ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. 15 If
ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will
pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide
with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth;
whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him:
but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I
will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
Pray to make your desires
known: John 16:26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not
unto you, that I will pray the Father
for you: 27 For the Father himself loveth you,
because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. 28 I came forth from the Father, and am come into
the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. 29 His
disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. 30 Now are we sure that thou knowest all
things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that
thou camest forth from God. 31 Jesus answered
them, Do ye now believe? 32 Behold, the hour cometh,
yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall
leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. 33 These
things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye
shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Where I
think Pentecost failed 55-1111 P:14 And God will never... You can
never exhaust God's love and mercy to you. You say, "Well, I hate to
bother You so much, Father." He wants to be bothered that way. He does.
Don't never think that you could ever ask too much of God. I believe the
Scripture said, "You have not, because you ask not. And you ask not,
because you believe not." He wants us to ask and believe that our joys
would be full. He wants you to ask abundantly. Ask for big things; don't limit
your faith to some little mustard seed. Get on out here to some other kind of
faith, and move out in big things. Ask... Big things is just as easy to receive
as little things. You just have to believe; that's all. And you got faith, just
know exactly how to use it, and it'll be all right. You can put it right to
work and it'll just be fine.
James 1:5-8 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of
God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be
given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing
wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind
and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he
shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double
minded man is unstable in all his ways.
Elijah
and Elisha 54-0304 P:32 Now, when they got down to the
What it
takes to overcome all unbelief 60-0729 P:55
Some people think, "Oh, I hate to call on God
so much." That's
what He wants you to do." You
have not because you ask not. You
ask not because you believe not. Ask abundantly that your joys might be
full." That's what God wants: Ask big things. I'm asking for hundreds of
souls in this meeting. I'm asking that every sick person enters that door will
go out of here well. I'm believing it. I'm believing that till we go, that this
won't be another gathering together, but it'll be a revival in
God
commissioning Moses the prophet 53-0508 P:37 When they crossed over, got
over on the other side, he said, "Now, you've asked. Ask what
you will, and I will give it to you." Perfect type of the
Church." All right," he said, "I want a double portion of
your spirit." Amen. Don't be scared to ask. Ask abundantly. "You
have not, because you ask not. You ask not, because you believe not."
That's right. Ask, ask a whole lot. God
will give you a whole lot. Have a lot of faith. A fellow told me the other
day; he said, "He was riding an old model-T Ford, yet." Said,
"One day he happened to get some good faith and God give him a
Buick." Said, "I got a Buick faith, I'm praying for Cadillac
faith." All right. That's good. That's right. Keep on. What you believe,
hold on to it. God will give it. He's got Ford faith, so just stay with the
Ford then, that's all right. And so, Let's get a little more faith. All right.
All the
days of our life 59-0612 P:33 Whatever you have need of, just ask.
"Ask abundantly that your joys may be full. Ask and you shall receive;
seek and ye shall find; knock and it'll be opened unto you.
Pray for others: John 17:1-9 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his
eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy
Son also may glorify thee: 2 As thou hast given him
power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast
given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they
might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished
the work which thou gavest me to do. 5 And now, O
Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with
thee before the world was. 6 I have manifested thy
name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and
thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. 7 Now
they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. 8 For I have given unto them the words which thou
gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out
from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. 9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me;
for they are thine.
Pray for Prevention: John 17:13-18 And now come I to thee; and these things I
speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath
hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray
not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They
are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify
them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18 As
thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
Pray For Others: John 17:19-26 And
for their sakes I sanctify myself,
that they also might be sanctified through the truth. 20 Neither
pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through
their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou,
Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the
world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the
glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we
are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be
made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and
hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. 24 Father, I
will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they
may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the
foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, the
world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that
thou hast sent me. 26 And I have declared unto
them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me
may be in them, and I in them.
Pray with Emotion, let God
you really mean it: Hebrews 5:7-8 Who in the days of his flesh,
when he had offered up prayers and
supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save
him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 8 Though he were a Son, yet
learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;