Learning

We look again at this work or mission to which the disciples have been sent. Our unwavering focus specifically deals with the disciples being singled-layered missionaries or servants of Jesus. Remember, this is being taught to us, Jesus’ disciples, in relation to prayer.

Covering this mission or the basis and foundation, the prelude if you like, to this work, is the information supplied by Mark 6: 6b. Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. However you understand this, interpret it, or desire to receive it, the fact remains that in this place, Jesus is not sending His disciples or helpers, to places He has not already been. In other words, they are not being sent to places where God has never been. God is Creator and Maker of all. He is Omnipresent. This really took me for six, I tell you, and immediately, all of me was deflated in one great, big puff. What is this doing to you in relation to our Lord’s work?

O blessed Jesus; O Holy and ever-present, ever-working Holy Ghost, there is nothing that You have called us to do, which You are not already in. Praise to You, O Divine Spirit, that even before You teach us and lead us in prayer, our prayer mission has already been covered by Jesus’ prayers. Amen!

The Holy Ghost reminds us that we are able to pray on the basis and foundation of Jesus’ prayer to Father God, on our behalf, as believers. Jesus was specific in saying that His prayer was not for the world, unbelievers. We are now reminded of just one part of Jesus’ prayer for all who believe and follow Him.

I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. John 17: 22 – 23.

Indeed, a fact which is often missed, for whatever reasons, is that when we are called to pray, when we come to pray, nothing is new territory for our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. Every prayer we utter is but a response to all that He has already given to us and done for us, in prayer. We are standing on solid, sure foundation when we pray.

Just as we are told by Mark that Jesus Himself had been throughout the place teaching people, so too, the Holy Ghost is informing us that Jesus Himself has already been throughout the places of prayer. In other words, there is no prayer to be prayed, which has not already been prayed by Jesus, our Brother.

This literally stopped me in my self-righteous and self-pitying tracks. It clearly stumped me in my self-elevating and self-deflating self. This is what I mean. Often, when I am called to pray, whether for others or myself, I so take prayer to be of me, it becomes subjected to me and my circumstances. For example, if I’m in a good mood and mode, I feel good about praying, whether in a group or not. But let me be in some pity-party mood, I begin to say that I cannot pray and don’t want to pray. Or, it may be that I’m asked to pray for strength, wisdom or good judgment for someone. These are things that are not really visible, or that which looks as if I have prayed successfully, regardless of the outcome. However, let me be asked to pray for something that will be made visible, like a sick person getting well, or an adverse decision being reversed, boy, how I shy away. The sad truth is that I do so, fully convinced that I have done the right and honourable thing in not pretending, since I do not have that kind of faith. I know this to be true, for as I discuss and speak about prayer with other believers, I am made alarmingly aware that I am not alone in my wretched responses to prayer and praying.

Rejoicing and in full submission, let us receive learning and be ever joyful to come to Father God in prayer, in the Name of Jesus, His Son and our Blessed Saviour.