Revolution Era

Part 2: Christ's Groundbreaking, Religion-Shattering Teachings on Prayer

This Part will be divided into two sections:

I) What Did Jesus Teach?

II) What Did Jesus Demonstrate?

What you will find below are the words of Christ Himself. The translations are taken from various versions (NIV, KJV, etc), and augmented where necessary in order to best match the Greek texts. All I provide is brief commentary for most passages, allowing you to think for yourself and draw conclusions based on Christ's words, not man-made doctrines. Enjoy!

i) What He Spoke

After The “Lord’s Prayer”*

* Why am I skipping “The Lord’s Prayer”? Because it has been taught on exhaustively. I do not feel that I have anything new to contribute.

“And when you pray (proseuchomai), do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray (proseuchomai) standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward (misthos, “dues paid for work”) in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward (apodidōmi, “to give away for one's own profit what is one's own”) you.

And when you pray, do not keep on babbling (battalogeō, “stammer, repeat the same things over and over”) like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask (aiteō, “ask, beg”) him.” Mt 6:5-8

- The “reward” (misthos) of hypocrisy is likened to a wage, or salary.
- The “reward” (apodidōmi) of honest prayer is that God gives us what is His, and it’s for His own benefit! And, obviously, we benefit as well!
- It’s interesting that Jesus, as we will read, often spent an entire night in prayer. Yet, we can logically assume that He didn’t stammer and repeat Himself over and over. Therefore, we need to understand that prolonged time spent in fellowship with God is something Jesus modeled. But I would like to suggest that, because God already knows what we need, that the CONTENT of our prayer time needs to be kept in perspective: Very little time asking and begging (aiteō), and a whole lot of time in intimate conversation and praise.
- “For they [Pagans] think they will be heard because of their many words”. We need to pray from an understanding that our Father knows us, loves us, cares for us, and wants the best for us. Paganism promoted deities that needed to be appeased, convinced, won over, and enticed (you might now a Christian or two who thinks along these lines…). “Do not be like them [Pagans]”, Jesus says.

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Shameless Audacity

“One day Jesus was praying (proseuchomai) in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples…”

Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend (kichrēmi, “lend”) me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity (anaideia, “shamelessness”) he will surely get up and give (didōmi, “give”) you as much as you need.
“So I say to you: Ask (aiteō) and it will be given (didōmi) to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks (aiteō) receives (lambanō, “takes for himself”); the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Lk 11:1, 5-10

- The need of the friend is legitimate.
- Legitimacy is often not enough (though Jesus fails to explain why). Nevertheless, it is a truth we must embrace.
- Shamelessness here is used in view of the fact that the one asking knows that he is not only breaking social convention, but exploiting the ‘friendship’ card, and foregoing politeness; indeed, to the point of inconvenience.
- “So I say to you: Ask”, says Jesus. That is to say, ask in the manner Jesus just illustrated - breaking social convention, foregoing politeness, and inconveniencing.
- The friend in the story gave (didōmi). But Jesus goes on to say that when we ask God, we literally end up “taking” what we need. For everyone who asks (aiteō) receives (lambanō).”

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Persistence Pays

“Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up (ekkakeō, “be utterly spiritless, to be wearied out, exhausted”). He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’
“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering (parechō, “to reach forth”, From ἔχω, “to have (hold)”) me, I will see that she gets justice, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’”
And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God avenge his chosen ones, who cry out (boaō, “to raise a cry, to implore his aid”) to him day and night, though he bear long (makrothymeō, “not to lose heart, persevere patiently”) with them? I tell you, he will avenge them quickly.
However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith (pistis) on the earth?” Lk 18:1-8

- The key to this passage is this: “Listen to what the unjust judge says.”
- This is what the judge said: “because this widow keeps bothering (parechō, “to reach forth”, From ἔχω, “to have (hold)”) me…” The widow kept reaching forth, trying to take hold of something she needed.
- MOREOVER, it was the thought that she wouldn’t stop coming until she got that she wanted that convinced the judge: “lest by her continual coming she weary me." THIS IS VITAL to understand.
- Sometimes, it is necessary (for reasons unbeknownst to us) to, “…cry out (boaō, “to raise a cry, to implore his aid”) to him day and night. This is a reality. So embrace it.
- As for God, Jesus says that he will “avenge”, or, “vindicate”, those who cry out to Him.
- But Jesus adds something peculiar here: “though he bear long (makrothymeō, “not to lose heart, persevere patiently”) with them”. What does this mean? Look at Luke 18:1 again. This parable was to teach them to, “always pray and not give up (ekkakeō, “be utterly spiritless, to be wearied out, exhausted”).” We are not to loose heart, because God does not loose heart. We are to always pray, because God always perseveres.

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Faith-Filled Commands

“The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. And Jesus answered (apokrinomai) and said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you ever again.” And his disciples heard him say it…
When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.
In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed (kataraomai) has withered!”
And Jesus answered, “Have faith (pistis) in God. Truly (amēn) I tell you, if anyone says (eipon, “to speak”) to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt (diakrinō, “to separate, make a distinction, to be at variance with one's self, hesitate”) in their heart but believes (pisteuō, “to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in”. Root, pistis, “faith”) that what they say will happen (ginomai, “to come into existence, be made”), whatsoever he says he shall have (esomai, Root, εἰμί, “to be, to exist, to happen, to be present”). Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask (aiteō) for in prayer (proseuchomai), believe (pisteuō) that you have received (lambanō, “takes for himself”) it, and you shall have (esomai, Root, εἰμί, “to be, to exist, to happen, to be present”).” Mk 11:12-14, 19-24

“Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said (legō, “to say”) to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.
When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.
Jesus replied, “Truly (amēn) I tell you, if you have faith (pistis) and do not doubt (diakrinō), not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done (ginomai). If you believe (pisteuō), you will receive (lambanō) whatever you ask for in prayer.” Mt 21:18-21

- When Jesus says, “not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also…” he reveals two things:
a) His heart: he wants us to do what he did, and even greater things (echoing Jn 14:12)
b) That we are supposed to operate in the same level of faith, power, and authority as He did.

“You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.
Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
He replied, “Because of your unbelief (apistia, “anti-faith, want or weakness of faith”). Truly (amēn) I tell you, if you have faith (pistis) as a grain of mustard, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible (adynateō, “not to have strength, be weak, incapable”) for you.” Mt 17:17-20

- Unbelief (apistia) is an actual condition, or state of being. It literally means, “anti-faith”, or “afaith”, kind of like “atheist”.
- The analogy of the mustard seed is ancient. At its core, the message is this: small beginnings blossom into exponentially great results. The “mustard seed” illustration does not focus on the small size of the seed; its focus is on the relatively massive plant that it eventually becomes. THE PROCESS OF GROWTH is the message.

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Ask, Expecting To Receive

“How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe (pisteuō) that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I speak not of myself. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, he does the works (ergon, “business, act, deed”). Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe me for the very works’ sake. Very (amēn) truly (amēn) I tell you, whoever believes (pisteuō) in me will do (poieō, “to make, produce, construct, form, fashion; to do”) the works I have been doing (poieō), and they will do (poieō) even greater (meizōn, “greater, larger, elder, stronger”) things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do (poieō) whatever you ask (aiteō) in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do (poieō) it.” Jn 14:9-14

- With all the passages we will read that we written by John, I suggest we do so with the following words in mind:
a) “As my Father has sent (apostellō, “one ordered to a place”) me, even so send (pempō, “to send; a) to bid a thing be done, b) to thrust, insert”) I you.” Jn 20:21
b) “To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Col 1:27
c) “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.” Rom 8:11
d) “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” Rom 8:29
- We are called to live and operate as Jesus did. This is a fact. We need to embrace this truth, and renew our minds to it, to the point that we are fully convinced, and no longer needing to observe it repeatedly – as for example, your given birth name, or your fixed address, or the date of your birth, or that that the earth spins, and orbits the sun – these are facts that are etched in the stones of our mind and heart.
- If we are ever to experience practically the fulfillment of John 14:12 in our lives, then we need to start by believing what Christ says about us, and stepping out in faith (much like Peter leaving the boat into the open waters) and look for impossible circumstances. Even if you fail, Christ is there to pick you up out of the water. Perseverance, and diligence, combined with obedience, are what I believe to be keys that will help unlock John 14:12 in our lives. We must be open, and expectant, of the impossible (yes, walking on water included - just don't ask me how).

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done (ginomai, “to come into existence, be made”) for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, so shall you be (ginomai) my disciples.” Jn 15:7-8

- How do the words of Christ remain in us? “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” Rom 10:17. We must always be reading and hearing the words of Christ, and the inspired words of his apostles. We must also commune with Jesus Christ in daily fellowship, where we allocate time for intimate prayer (Mt 6:5-8). We must in communion with Jesus so that his words will renew our minds, allowing us to prove God’s will (Rom 12:2). Being a scholar isn’t enough: “You [Pharisees] study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” Jn 5:39-40. We must realize too that we already have the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16). And, “And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” (Rom 8:29). Our mind and our spirit in aligned with the mind and Spirit of God!
- Because we know the Father’s heart, we know that we can ask confidently.
- “[That] you bear much fruit”: part of the fruit we bear (which is setting captives free and making disciples) will come as a result of answered prayers. Therefore, our answered prayers bring glory to God.

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask (aiteō) in my name the Father will give (didōmi, “of one's own accord to give one something, bestow a gift”) you.” Jn 15:16

- Prayer, first and foremost (READ: BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY) is to be purposed for the Great Commission. Jesus Christ was sent on a mission, and now we have been sent on a mission. Jesus prayed prayers that were relevant to His mission. In like manner, our primary prayers must also be relevant to the mission at hand (Mt 28:18-20; Mk 16:15-20, Acts 1:8). We have no present record of Jesus, Paul, James, Peter, John, Matthew, or anyone else discipled by Christ praying for “new toys”, or expensive luxuries, or for bigger homes. God does indeed supply our need (Mt 6:33), and He is able to give us more than we can imagine (Eph 3:20). But His constant giving goes to those who are Kingdom minded (Mt 6:33), and who’s minds are aligned to His (Jn 15:7; Rom 12:2).
- Obviously, we can pray for a host of other things as well: giving thanks, healing, direction, financial provision, favor with people, open doors, employment, etc.

“Very (amēn) truly (amēn) I tell you, my Father will give (didōmi) you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive (lambanō, “takes for himself”), and your joy will be full.” Jn 16:23-24

“Ask and it will be given (didōmi) to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives (lambanō); the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give (didōmi) good gifts (agathos, “of good constitution or nature”) to those who ask him!” Mt 7:7-11

- This literally reads, “I tell you, keep asking, and it will be given you. Keep seeking, and you will find. Keep knocking, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking, keeps on receiving. And he who keeps on seeking, keeps on finding. And to him who keeps on knocking, it shall be opened.” This is significant to realized, because it falls in line with the teachings of Jesus on persistence and boldness in prayer (Lk 18:1-8; Lk 11:5-10).
- “[How] much more will your Father in heaven give”: A revelation of the Father’s heart, one that we must renew our minds to. God is always, always, good.

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Faith That Astonishes Jesus

“There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and thoroughly heal (diasōzō) his servant. When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” And Jesus was going on with them.
He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say (eipon, “to speak, say”) a word (logos), and my servant will be healed (iaomai, “cured”). For I myself am a man under authority (exousia, “power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases, the power of rule or government”), with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great (tosoutos, “large quantity”) faith (pistis) even in Israel.” Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.” Lk 7:2-10

- Before you believe me when I say that Jesus wants you and I to operate in this level of faith and authority, all me to validate my statement with Jesus’ own words:

a) “And Jesus, having known their thoughts, said, `Why think ye evil in your hearts?
For which is easier? To say, the sins have been forgiven to thee; or to say, Rise, and walk? But, that ye may know that the Son of Man hath authority upon the earth to forgive sins - (then saith he to the paralytic) - having risen, take up thy couch, and go to thy house.' And he, having risen, went to his house, and the multitudes having seen, wondered, and glorified God, who did give such authority to mankind.” Mt 9:4-8. (For more, see this)
b) “He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” Lk 10:18-19
c) “And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Lk 22:29-30
d) “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Mt 16:19

- The soldier’s commentary about was true, since Jesus never corrected him. In fact, Jesus used it as a lesson to his audience. Therefore, we need to understand that this illustration of authority applies to us too. We need to get to the place where we command, and expect obedience. We do not give Christ orders. We give orders as people filled with Christ. We command sickness, demons, and any other ‘mountains’ to move. (See also: Mt 21:18-21; 17:17-20; Jn 14:9-14).

“Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”
Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”
He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.
He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
“Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great (megas) faith! Be it (ginomai, “to come into existence, be made”) unto you as you will.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.” Mt 15:21-28

- The woman had mega-faith. Because of this, Jesus caused something to take place ACCORDING TO HER WILL. That may have shattered a sacred cow or two (more on this later)…
- So what was it about her that Jesus observed, causing him to see mega-faith? “IT IS NOT right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs,” said Jesus. “YES IT IS, Lord,” she replied. In other words, one way or another, I’m getting my miracle. This is hard for some of you to swallow. Yet have we not read Jesus teaching this very thing? (See also: Lk 11:5-10; Lk 18:1-8; Jn 14:9-14; Jn 16:23-24; Mt 7:7-11).
- Religion teaches the opposite of what we read here. That is way for many, this is difficult to believe. But if you profess to be a follower of Jesus Christ, then why the resistance towards His own words?

ii) What He Demonstrated

“Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.” Mt 14:22-23

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Mk 1:35

“Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.” Mk 6:45-46

“Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Lk 5:15-16

“One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles.” Lk 6:12-13

Stay tuned for Part 3!