Relational Prayer - Love Him Know Him
Mark 1:16-20
"As he passed alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, Simon’s brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen "Follow me," Jesus told them, "And I will make you fish for people." Immediately they left their nets and followed him. Going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat putting their nets in order. Immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him."
By whose or what authority does Jesus call these men to himself, or any of us for that matter who call ourselves his disciples?
It's kingdom power.
What does that mean?
The kingdom Jesus preaches is God’s redemptive power at work in the present. Jesus is working out salvation for those who believe AND follow him. Jesus is not after mere acclamation, but repentance and faith. He can be believed upon by demons all day long. And he silences them. But Jesus demands more from those whom he is making into fishers of men.
James 2:19
"You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror."
Just believing in God merely proves you're not a fool.
Psalm 14:1
"Only fools say in their hearts, "There is no God." They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good!"
Jesus calls his disciples into something much more significant than believing in his divine authority. He calls them into a life changing and vital relationship with Him.
The demon explodes at Jesus with hatred. There's no love for Him there. Oh, he believes Jesus is the Son of God, that's clear, he says as much. It's ironic because Jesus is teaching from, and about, his authority and it's in that moment that this demonic listener cries out.
Mark 1:24
saying, "What business do You have with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!"
The demon possessed person isn't out of his wits. In fact his statement is meant to inform Jesus that he is not aware of any obligation between them both. He's declaring that he does not wish to deal with Jesus. He's clear about their relationship. He's not saved because he recognizes Jesus for who he truly is, he's obsessed with getting out of communion with him.
The demon is not believing into a life changing experience and believing into relationship with Jesus. Faith is an active belief that produces relational fruit. It's not merely a belief in sound doctrine, or in someone's fame. It's a relationship belief. It's a belief that creates a heart of love for God. ABBA Father kind of love. Papa God love.
Mark 1:26
"The unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions, and screeching with a loud voice, came out of him."
This "believing" spirit wanted nothing to do with Jesus and despised him so much that he violently threw himself out of his presence.
Jesus casts out demons...forces them to keep quiet.
He cures the sick.
All day long he is in Simon's house healing and teaching.
One very long and fruitful day.
And so, he finishes his day by drawing strength from prayer. He's the Son of God and yet he prays.
Why does he need to pray?
He's God, why pray?
Mark 1:35
"Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left [the house], and went out to a secluded place, and was praying there."
Even though he is the second person of the Trinity and is in a constant state of eternal communion with His Father, Jesus knows that His ministry requires a devotion to time in prayer. Somehow this act of obedience to prayer is part of that coeternal relationship.
The timing is interesting. Jesus' earthly ministry is just getting started. Many are unaware of him and his authority over nature. And Jesus wants it that way. In fact, he insists that those whom he heals should not tell others about what he's done for them. I find it interesting that only the demons obey this command.
People he's healed sought to give Him premature acclaim, and in fact the lepers made it known throughout the area that Jesus performed these supernatural things. So now the word is out. Things are about to get real. The world is about to change dramatically for Jesus and his disciples. And so, Jesus prays to His Father.
Why does God need to pray?
What was he praying for?
Prayer is not only an exercise of faith; it's an exercise of obedience. Prayer is also an act of worship. But I think prayer is something more than all these things. Because all those things are "religious" things. They are things that can easily become more about law and doctrine, customs and traditions, ritual and religion. The something more that I believe Jesus is modeling for us here is that prayer is a relationship between the praying person and The Father, Papa God.
Prayer is the platform Jesus uses to commune with His heavenly Father by the ministry of the Holy Spirit. This is the full on expression of the trinity in complete harmony. And likewise we, through prayer, have full and harmonious access to a platform for communion with the triune God. It is in that relational faithful action that revelation occurs. It's in that spirit of prayer that the obedience to faith becomes relational. Prayer goes beyond obligation. Relational prayer exceeds ritual. Praying from the lap of our Papa God is an act of love and it's in that love that we find everything we need.
"If we humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord and call on Him for help, He will surely lift us up and sustain us." (1 Peter 5:6).
Jesus no doubt needed help in dealing with these fickle people and those who wanted to force him into taking up his kingship role NOW.
Among his followers was one like this. Judas wanted Jesus to take up his throne here and now. Jesus is seeing a cross as his throne, but Judas would not have thought that the cross was a good idea. Judas was too practical and pragmatic. Dying on a cross to save humanity would not have been his choice as a means for their salvation. In fact, I don't think anyone would choose that for Jesus.
So, it's not to say that Judas was wrong in what he wanted from Jesus, it's just that it wasn't how things were going to go down. And Judas couldn't accept that trip. Judas couldn't trade in that deal. Judas was not in relationship with Jesus, he was in business with selling the kingdom of The Messiah. And so wrapped up in the transaction was he, that he ultimately sells Jesus out for thirty pieces of silver.
He's like that demon when it asks, "What business do You have with us, Jesus of Nazareth?" He's not focused on the business of faith. He's thinking about doing church. He's making plans for the next big church expansion and the kinds of fundraising they'll need to get the building campaign off the ground. He's in a relationship with the business of church, not with The Father, not with Jesus the Son, and most definitely not empowered by the Holy Spirit. He's running on self.
Jesus prays for himself and for others, and especially his disciples. We can see this in detail in John's gospel chapter seventeen. And throughout the gospels we see Jesus praying in these relational prayers. Jesus has been seen praying, “God, where are You?”. Jesus prays, “Are You listening to me? Do You know what’s going on in my life?" Not in so many words, but it that spirit of love and relationship between The Father and The Son. He prays in relationship with his Papa. He's not modeling a formulaic prayer. He's modeling a conversation. He's not manipulating his Father, he's loving his Papa. He's putting himself into a position to come into union with Him.
What is Jesus modeling for us?
He comes to his Papa without any pretense or prejudice.
He adjusts his thinking about who his Father is in relation to him.
He purges his mind of anything that is unconfessed and might be blocking his vision, his ability to see clearly what his Father is doing.
And he approaches his Father as his first and foremost concern. His ultimate concern really. He admits to himself that he has others and other things on his mind, but he accepts that his Papa is his priority.
By going off by himself, focusing his attention on his Father he is in a relational prayer mode. And he's modeling for us that this prayer posture must always come before petitionary prayer. More relate than request. Not name it claim it but love Him know Him.
1 John 4:7
"Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God."
Praying from our Papa's lap is like making space in our hearts for the Holy Spirit to get in and do something. God, our real Papa, becomes more real for us, more accessible. From that place God's Word opens up to us. From there we discover new desires to please Him. We become more than just a listener, we become doers of that word.
While we're there we learn about why we follow and impress upon ourselves the kinds of things that have always caused separation from Him. We begin to understand what submission really means, and what genuine prayer is really all about. We learn about what causes divisions in the family of God and how we can adjust our approach.
James 4:1-3
"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you. You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."
Genuine relational prayer brings together what we most want and what the Father wants most to give. It's an about harmony. It's supposed to stir up in our hearts and minds a kind of value in knowing Him. Prayer is less about getting things or getting our way, and more about being in love with The Father. Praying with our Papa puts relating with God ahead of asking things from God.
The more we love Him the more we know Him, the more we become confident in Him and His purpose, and therefore the more we serve that purpose. He becomes our first thing. Praying with Papa is putting first things first.
#Prayer