„And it came to pass that whilst he was in a certain place, he was praying. When he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.’ But he said to them, ‘When you pray, say: Father! Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins; for we also forgive everyone who is in debt to us. And lead us not into temptation.”

As his first point, Jesus gives us a model prayer for our personal concerns. We call it „the Lord’s Prayer“. It contains just six petitions. (In the text according to Matthew, an explanation follows.) This shows that our relationship with God may well be characterised by petition.

In the first group of three petitions, God takes centre stage. He should come first in our prayers. To hallow His name means that I respect and honour God, worship Him, and enter into and nurture a close relationship with Him.

When I ask God that His will be done on earth, it reminds me of my own willingness to do what He wants. God’s will is to be realised in my life. We may even pray: „Lord, grant me always the firm resolve to be willing to do whatever You will.“ (Hebrews 13:21)

And when we pray, „Thy kingdom come“, this petition reminds us to prepare for this event and to focus our daily lives on the return of Jesus. We also want to help ensure that many others learn about this great event, so that they too can prepare for it.

The second set of three petitions concerns three important areas of our personal lives: provision, forgiveness and temptation.

1. Care: „Give us this day our daily bread.“ Here we realise once again that our lives are structured around a 24-hour day. We have noted in other reflections that this principle applies not only to the physical realm but also to the emotional and spiritual realms, for 2 Corinthians 4:16 says that the inner person is being renewed day by day.

When Jesus spoke of asking for our daily bread, he was certainly referring to our basic provision of everything we need to live.

2. Forgiveness: The next petition in this model prayer highlights our constant dependence on God’s forgiveness. At the same time, it urges us to be willing to forgive. „Forgive us, for we also forgive everyone who has wronged us.“ If someone is not willing to forgive everyone for everything, how can they expect forgiveness for themselves? Here we see very clearly that this unconditional willingness to forgive is only possible if we continually seek God’s forgiveness for ourselves and ask for his strength – the power of the Holy Spirit. We cannot possibly forgive everyone everything on our own! God’s forgiveness is the first step so that – strengthened by his love and grace – we can forgive the hurts caused by others and, time and again, lay their guilt – as well as our own share of it – at his feet. It is wonderful to live without any burden.

3. Temptation: The third petition in this group reminds us that we are constantly exposed to the temptations of evil. Yet God can and will protect us from falling into sin. Some people believe that, because we are sinners, we must continue to sin – that is, to break God’s commandments of love and to harm ourselves and others. No! Jesus is not merely a Saviour who forgives sins; he came to save his people from their sins. He wants to protect us from sinning by enabling us to live in close communion with him.

John writes: „Whoever remains in him does not sin.“ (1 John 3:6) „We know that anyone born of God does not sin (= does not continue in sin), but whoever is born of God, He keeps safe, and the evil one will not harm them.“ (1 John 5:18)

From these six petitions, we can see that we have a wonderful heavenly Father who wants to provide for us in every area of our lives. Let us bear in mind that in the Lord’s Prayer we pray for our relationship with God and for our personal needs. It is therefore entirely right for us to pray for ourselves first.

In the second key passage – Luke 11:5–8 – Jesus teaches us to intercede for others.

„And he said to them, “If any of you has a friend and goes to him at midnight and says to him: “Dear friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has come to me on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him,’ and the one inside were to answer and say, ‘Do not trouble me! The door is already locked, and my children and I are already in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even if he does not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, he will nevertheless get up because of his persistent pestering and give him as much as he needs.”

In the Middle East, people used to travel at night because it was too hot during the day. We don’t know why a guest didn’t arrive at his friend’s house until midnight. In any case, the host wasn’t prepared for the visit – how embarrassing, how embarrassing! In the Middle East, hospitality is taken very seriously!

That is why he goes to his neighbour and explains: „I have nothing to offer him.“ He is not asking his neighbour and friend for his own needs, but because he wants to entertain and look after his guest. Jesus teaches us to intercede for others. We are to ask so that we may give. In doing so, Jesus immediately raises an important point: we have nothing that we can give to those in need. But we have a friend – Jesus – who has everything that is needed.

That reminds me of the scene in 2 Chronicles 20. At that time, Jehoshaphat, a very devout king, was reigning. His country, Judah, was attacked by a mighty army. Jehoshaphat prays: „… we have no strength to face this vast army, … we do not know what to do, but our eyes are fixed on you.“ (Verse 12) In other words: we are completely helpless. We have nothing. How did God answer this prayer? „Do not be afraid or disheartened by this vast army; for it is not you who will fight, but God.“ (verse 15) And how did this war end? „… as they began to give thanks and praise, the Lord sent a ambush (against the enemies) and they were defeated.“ (verse 22)

What does Jesus teach us about intercession?

1. We cannot, on our own, put an end to this suffering, nor can we even really help.

2. We have a friend who has what we need.

Yet in the parable, this friend does not want to help at first. Of course, this does not apply to God; God wants to help. But we are to learn that our intercession is not always answered immediately. Where Luther translates that the friend finally helps because of the „insolent pestering“, the English translations use the word „persistence“ – that is, because of his tenacity and perseverance. I think this term captures the meaning better. We must by no means approach God „insolently“ in the negative sense, but rather „without false modesty“. Here, Jesus teaches us perseverance in our prayers for others. And the result of intercession is ultimately a complete success: the man in the parable receives enough food to entertain his unexpected guest. God answers our intercession and He desires our intercession. And – „The more earnestly and persistently we pray, the closer our spiritual fellowship with Christ becomes.“ The Parables of Christ, p. 109

In the book *40 Days – Devotions and Prayers in Preparation for the Second Coming of Jesus* by Dennis Smith, and in *Spirit-Filled Co-workers of Jesus* by Helmut Haubeil, it is suggested that, whilst studying during these 40 special days of prayer, we pray earnestly for five unreached people and make contact with them, so that we can exemplify the love of Jesus to them and help them begin a relationship of faith with Him. We can pray for these five dear people on our own or ask a prayer partner to join us.

So far, Jesus„ teaching has centred on our personal requests and our intercession on behalf of others. In conclusion, Jesus wishes to encourage us that we may ask for anything that is “in his name’ – that is, in accordance with his will. He explains to us in no uncertain terms that our prayers will be answered.

In the third key section and final part of Jesus’ teaching on prayer, we read Luke 11:9–13.

„And I say to you also: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; and everyone who seeks finds; and to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, would give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, would you give him a scorpion? If, then, you who are evil can give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!“

Jesus is a masterful teacher. He repeats his lesson using different images and terms. Ask, seek, knock. He then explains why it is necessary to ask in verse 10: „For everyone who asks receives.“ He does not say: „Ask just once, and it will be given to you.“ He urges us: ‘Ask!’ The Parables of Christ, p. 108

In James 4:2 we are told: „You do not have because you do not ask.“

When we pray, we do not simply recite a pre-written poem to God. Instead, we ask for specific things we need to live. And we receive them because of our requests. And if anyone is still not convinced of the necessity – and indeed the wonderful opportunity – of asking God for things, here are two examples from everyday life. If our children ask for fish, we do not give them a snake. And if a child asks for an egg, we do not place a scorpion in their hand. When our children ask us for something, they always receive something good that helps them. Parents never give their children poison or fulfil their ill-considered wishes that would harm them. And if even sinful people act in this way, how much more so does this apply to our heavenly Father.

However, there is one thing we must bear in mind when praying for others: God does not force anyone to repent, nor does He manipulate anyone. Nevertheless, in His infinite wisdom, He can lead someone to change their ways. We do not know how He does this, nor how long it will take.

And with that, Jesus has now led us to the climax of his teaching: „If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!“ (verse 13) (Greek: to ask continually, to ask daily.)

Why did Jesus choose the Holy Spirit as the culmination of his teaching? How did this manifest itself in his life? „Morning after morning, he spoke with his Father in heaven. Every day, he received a fresh baptism [fulfilment] of the Holy Spirit from him.“ The Parables of Christ, p. 103 – „Jesus wants to do the same for you if you ask him to. It is his desire to give you the Holy Spirit every morning – to prepare you for the day ahead.“ 40 Days, Dennis Smith, p. 7 Because Jesus was able to successfully face each day in the power of God – in the power of the Holy Spirit – and because he wishes to do the same for us, he made this the central theme of his teaching on prayer.

God’s greatest gift, which brings with it all other gifts, is the Holy Spirit. And if we want our prayers and intercessions to be answered, then we must be filled with the Holy Spirit when we pray. God’s Word says: „Pray in the Holy Spirit.“ (Jude 20)

It is essential that we consecrate ourselves anew to God every morning, with all that we are and have. In this way, we nurture our fundamental relationship with Jesus. This involves willingly entrusting ourselves to him once more: „Lord, I surrender myself to you with all that I am and have.“ It means that I follow and obey God in everything, and also remove all obstacles, such as unforgiven offences, resentment, self-reproach, hostility, sinful desires, etc.

And the other important daily request is that we may be filled with the Holy Spirit through faith. The best way to achieve this is through the promises in which God has promised us the Holy Spirit: for example, in Luke 11:13. This will bring about positive changes in our lives, and our prayers will be answered much more often. For through our connection with the Holy Spirit, we also come to realise what and how we should pray, and what might be hindering our prayers. I think we are grateful that Jesus has drawn our attention to these three key areas, even though we never stop learning when it comes to prayer.

Jesus teaches us that, through our prayers, we seek a connection with God and pray for our personal needs. He also teaches us to pray for others – in the certainty that our prayers will be answered by our heavenly Father if we live in a close relationship with Jesus and are filled with the Holy Spirit. „We must not only pray in the name of Christ, but also under the influence of the Holy Spirit.“ The Parables of Christ, p. 110 „The Holy Spirit wishes to reveal divine things to you and to impart them to your obedient heart as a source of life.“ Christ’s Parables, p. 112

Why do you think Jesus chose the request for the Holy Spirit as the conclusion and climax of his teaching on prayer?

The Holy Spirit is the greatest gift that the Lord Jesus could give to his disciples. It is his crowning gift, the gift of all gifts.

Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus lives within us (John 14:16–18; Ephesians 3:16–17). It is only through the Holy Spirit that the connection between Jesus and us is maintained. He desires to live out His victorious life within us through the Holy Spirit, so that we too may be overcomers. The Holy Spirit is the foundation for a joyful, attractive and fruitful life as a Christian. Ephesians 3:16 ff shows us: God strengthens us through the Holy Spirit in our inner being. Through this, Christ dwells in our hearts. He reveals His nature within us: the fruit of the Spirit. This path is the path to the fullness of God (John 10:10; Ephesians 3:19; Colossians 2:10).

I have found four great promises concerning life in the Holy Spirit and four tasks – or commands from God – to live in the Holy Spirit:

Promises concerning the Holy Spirit

• Luke 11:13: Ask for the Holy Spirit; he is a gift.
• John 7:37: If we long for the Holy Spirit, then we can drink from Jesus = he satisfies our longing for God and for happiness
• John 7:38–39: Believe in Jesus, and rivers of living water will flow from within us.
• Acts 5:32: Obeying the Holy Spirit. When we obey God, He can and will pour out blessings in abundance upon our lives.

Four commands or instructions from God

• Acts 2:38: Repent, and be baptised … and you will receive forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit.
• Galatians 5:16: Walk continually in the Spirit – then we will be kept from sin
• Ephesians 5:18: Be filled with the Spirit – The Lord desires us to grow in the Holy Spirit throughout our lives.
• Jude 20: Pray in the Holy Spirit. – This leads to a fulfilling life of prayer with many answered prayers.

What does the Lord’s command that we should live in the Holy Spirit mean?

It is said that, with His help, this is indeed possible. E. G. White says: „Whatever the Lord commands us to do can be accomplished in His strength. All His commands are at the same time sources of strength.“ (In the Service of Christ, p. 315, Adventist Publishing House). This means, therefore, that when God commands something, I can indeed do it with His help.

When God commands something, it shows that He has decreed it to be so. This reminds us of Psalm 99:4, which says of God: „You have determined what is right.“ God, the Creator, has laid down the standards. He has determined the way in which we can maintain a relationship with Him: contact is established only through the Holy Spirit. The relationship is sustained only by living continually in the Holy Spirit. This means that whenever I stray from the path that God has laid down, I lose something – damage is done!

If God commands me to live in the Holy Spirit – that is, in close union with Him – and I reject this, ignore it or simply cannot be bothered, then I am separated from God and am „sinning“! In doing so, I remove myself from God’s protective care and am in danger!

I shall conclude with a quotation from E. G. White: „Your heart must be filled with a longing for God, the living God. [If our longing is lacking, we may pray for it; if necessary, even every day (John 7:37).] The life of Christ demonstrates how much a person is capable of when they share in the divine nature. Everything that Christ received from God, we too can have. Therefore: ask and receive! Claim for yourself, too, all that God has promised, with Jacob’s unshakeable faith and Elijah’s unyielding perseverance.‘ Christ’s Parables, p. 112

To make it easier for us to trust our heavenly Father, He has given us an important aid. We call this „praying with promises“. „To remove God’s promises from His Word would be like taking the sun out of the sky. … God has placed the promises in His Word to lead us to believe in Him.“ (E. G. White, ML 338,2+3) Praying with promises is explained very clearly and practically in *Steps to Personal Revival*, Chapter 5.

Key passages for prayer based on promises

1 John 5:14–15 (MENG): „And this is the confidence we have in him (that is, in God): that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears all our requests, we know (at the same time) that the requests we have brought before him have already been granted to us.“

2 Peter 1:4: LU: „Through this [intimate relationship with Jesus], we have been given precious and most great promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world because of evil desires.“

Experience gained through praying with promises

A retired US pastor and former head of a denominational department wrote on 26 June 2017: „… I have read the book *Steps to Personal Revival* three times. I never thought I would gain such new insights into prayer – prayer based on God’s promises. Since then, God has granted me victories in my life that I never thought possible.“ F. S.

This pastor wrote again on 25 July 2017: „Ever since I began reading the book (I have read it six times, as advised in the book) and have since learnt to pray with the promises, my life has been transformed. … The Lord led me to prepare a sermon for a camp meeting on our greatest need: ‚The refreshing showers of the Spirit of God.‘ In all the years I have devoted to God’s service, I have never felt the power of the Holy Spirit as it has now moved the 3,000 attendees in this auditorium. – “My wife has noticed a complete change in me. I, too, am surprised at myself.’ F. S. (abridged)