March 18th 2018
If God Is All Knowing, Then Why Do We Have To Pray?
John 14:25-27 (NIV)
All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Peace on the earth, good will toward men. When Jesus came to this earth as a human baby, there was great expectations indicated in those Gospel writings, but has His coming brought peace on this earth? What do you think? No, really, what do you think Jesus coming to this earth has brought here? You see, the effect of Jesus on this earth is noticed in each person, as His coming was meant to be a personal experience, which was a change from the Old Testament experience, which was more of a group experience! It seems to me that the OT God was less personal, than the New Testament God, who was represented to mankind through Jesus Christ, His Son!
The Gospel writers told us about the curtain in the temple was torn from the top down, which opened the Most Holy Place to all of mankind, which before was reserved only for the High Priest and only once per year. This happened when Jesus died on the cross, and is significant of allowing followers of Jesus to commune directly with God the Father. The writer of Hebrews writes about this opening of this very holy place to all who would follow Christ. Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body. (Hebrews 10:19-20) Sorry to jump to Good Friday, but it is only to make a point about our access now directly to God.
In the selected verses we learn about the Holy Spirit, which Jesus promised would come after He left the earth as a man and returned to heaven. Notice what Jesus said about this Holy Spirit, and how He would, “Teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” By using this Holy Spirit, followers of Jesus can in fact work on becoming more Christ-like every day of their lives. Do you depend upon this Holy Spirit, or do you do your own thing? Next Jesus tells us that through this Holy Spirit, we can experience a peace in our lives. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.” Are you experiencing this peaceful attitude as you work toward becoming more Christ-like?
Jesus also gives us a clue about this separation from the worldly attitudes we need to dismiss, when He said, “I do not give to you as the world gives.” Jesus tells us that we will be able to erase our fears of this life, by depending more on Him, and less on other people, so that we can be more free and less afraid of our destination after this lifetime ends, when He said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Believing that our future is secured and our salvation assured we can be free of worry in this life, and be looking forward to the endless future we will attain.
Do you know where your immortal soul will spend eternity, when you die? Jesus promised to prepare a place for you, if you become His follower, and He will come back for you when you die to this lifetime. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (John 14:2-3) This place is prepared for you immediately when you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior! Now that should allow you to have no fears of this life, and no doubt about what will happen to your immortal soul when you die.
Does knowing where your soul will reside when you die really help you cope with the problems you may experience in this life? Is this knowledge something you have in your brain, or is it something you feel in your heart? Reading your Bible will help you gain a head knowledge of what you should believe, but does it really help you acquire a faith that these Biblical stories are really true, and that it applies to you? That is where the Holy Spirit comes into play, and you MUST have this Spirit guiding your Bible reading, and your prayer life too!
If God knows everything about you, and God gives you this Holy Spirit to guide you, then why do we need to pray, and tell God what we believe we need? James, the earthly brother of Jesus, wrote about prayer, and what praying can accomplish. One of my favorite prayer answers was written by James. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. (James 5:15) James writes that not only will you be healed physically, but your sins will also be forgiven.
James goes on to say we should also confess our sins to each other; this would be to other believers, and our prayers would be “powerful and effective.” Do you believe your prayers are powerful and effective? You should believe it! Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (James 5:16) Your righteousness is conferred on you as a follower of Jesus.
When Jesus walked this earth and He healed someone He usually asked the person what they wanted, and then He usually said something about that their faith healed them! Just one such instance is captured in Matthew’s Gospel. Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that moment. (Matthew 9:22) Therefore, it follows that that we, as followers of Jesus, could heal someone too, but only if they also believed in Jesus. God heals all those who love Him! Some He heals in this lifetime! He heals the immortal souls of all those who love Him in the life to come!
We must pray, because it is the proof that we really do believe in Jesus/God, and that our faith is needed before healing can take place! Do you believe Jesus could heal whatever you need healing from? Praying pleases God, but when we pray we must first believe God exists, or our pray will not actually please Him. The writer of Hebrews wrote about this belief requirement in order to please God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6) Come to God with extreme fellowship through prayer, but only if you really believe He will hear you, and then, answer your prayer.
If God is all knowing, then why do we have to pray? It is our honor to converse with God, and it allows us to develop a personal relationship with Him! Are you becoming more Godly every day? Jesus is the answer!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
John 14:25-27 (NIV)
All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Peace on the earth, good will toward men. When Jesus came to this earth as a human baby, there was great expectations indicated in those Gospel writings, but has His coming brought peace on this earth? What do you think? No, really, what do you think Jesus coming to this earth has brought here? You see, the effect of Jesus on this earth is noticed in each person, as His coming was meant to be a personal experience, which was a change from the Old Testament experience, which was more of a group experience! It seems to me that the OT God was less personal, than the New Testament God, who was represented to mankind through Jesus Christ, His Son!
The Gospel writers told us about the curtain in the temple was torn from the top down, which opened the Most Holy Place to all of mankind, which before was reserved only for the High Priest and only once per year. This happened when Jesus died on the cross, and is significant of allowing followers of Jesus to commune directly with God the Father. The writer of Hebrews writes about this opening of this very holy place to all who would follow Christ. Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body. (Hebrews 10:19-20) Sorry to jump to Good Friday, but it is only to make a point about our access now directly to God.
In the selected verses we learn about the Holy Spirit, which Jesus promised would come after He left the earth as a man and returned to heaven. Notice what Jesus said about this Holy Spirit, and how He would, “Teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” By using this Holy Spirit, followers of Jesus can in fact work on becoming more Christ-like every day of their lives. Do you depend upon this Holy Spirit, or do you do your own thing? Next Jesus tells us that through this Holy Spirit, we can experience a peace in our lives. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.” Are you experiencing this peaceful attitude as you work toward becoming more Christ-like?
Jesus also gives us a clue about this separation from the worldly attitudes we need to dismiss, when He said, “I do not give to you as the world gives.” Jesus tells us that we will be able to erase our fears of this life, by depending more on Him, and less on other people, so that we can be more free and less afraid of our destination after this lifetime ends, when He said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Believing that our future is secured and our salvation assured we can be free of worry in this life, and be looking forward to the endless future we will attain.
Do you know where your immortal soul will spend eternity, when you die? Jesus promised to prepare a place for you, if you become His follower, and He will come back for you when you die to this lifetime. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (John 14:2-3) This place is prepared for you immediately when you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior! Now that should allow you to have no fears of this life, and no doubt about what will happen to your immortal soul when you die.
Does knowing where your soul will reside when you die really help you cope with the problems you may experience in this life? Is this knowledge something you have in your brain, or is it something you feel in your heart? Reading your Bible will help you gain a head knowledge of what you should believe, but does it really help you acquire a faith that these Biblical stories are really true, and that it applies to you? That is where the Holy Spirit comes into play, and you MUST have this Spirit guiding your Bible reading, and your prayer life too!
If God knows everything about you, and God gives you this Holy Spirit to guide you, then why do we need to pray, and tell God what we believe we need? James, the earthly brother of Jesus, wrote about prayer, and what praying can accomplish. One of my favorite prayer answers was written by James. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. (James 5:15) James writes that not only will you be healed physically, but your sins will also be forgiven.
James goes on to say we should also confess our sins to each other; this would be to other believers, and our prayers would be “powerful and effective.” Do you believe your prayers are powerful and effective? You should believe it! Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (James 5:16) Your righteousness is conferred on you as a follower of Jesus.
When Jesus walked this earth and He healed someone He usually asked the person what they wanted, and then He usually said something about that their faith healed them! Just one such instance is captured in Matthew’s Gospel. Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that moment. (Matthew 9:22) Therefore, it follows that that we, as followers of Jesus, could heal someone too, but only if they also believed in Jesus. God heals all those who love Him! Some He heals in this lifetime! He heals the immortal souls of all those who love Him in the life to come!
We must pray, because it is the proof that we really do believe in Jesus/God, and that our faith is needed before healing can take place! Do you believe Jesus could heal whatever you need healing from? Praying pleases God, but when we pray we must first believe God exists, or our pray will not actually please Him. The writer of Hebrews wrote about this belief requirement in order to please God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6) Come to God with extreme fellowship through prayer, but only if you really believe He will hear you, and then, answer your prayer.
If God is all knowing, then why do we have to pray? It is our honor to converse with God, and it allows us to develop a personal relationship with Him! Are you becoming more Godly every day? Jesus is the answer!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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