Dimensions of Prayer
 
Lesson - 2
 
 
Origin of Prayer
 
Introduction
Prayer is not an option but mandatory, because we are spiritual beings created in the image of God. In this lesson, we will discuss on the origin of prayer.
 
Origin of Prayer
 
1. Essence of God
  1. God is spirit and man was created in the image of God. So man is first, a spiritual being and we are called to communicate with our source (Father) from where we came from. The mode of communication is prayer and we cannot live spiritually without connecting with our Father from whom all things come.
    1. Nahthd; 4:24. Njtd; MtpahapUf;fpwhu;> mtiuj; njhOJnfhs;Sfpwtu;fs; MtpNahLk; cz;ikNahLk; mtiuj; njhOJnfhs;sNtz;Lk; vd;whu;. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
  2. God is Spirit and God is our Father. We are dependent on our Father and no one is going to be satisfied without the relationship with the Father
    1. cghfkk; 32:6. tpNtfkpy;yhj kjpnfl;l [dq;fNs> ,g;gbah fu;j;jUf;Fg; gjpyspf;fpwPu;fs;. cd;id Ml;nfhz;lgpjh mtuy;yth? cd;id cz;lhf;fp cd;id epiyg;gLj;jpdtu; mtuy;yth?
      Do ye thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee?
 
2. God created us to Rule (take Dominion)
  1. Man was created by God take dominion on earth. The heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth was given to man so that man can take care and take dominion.
    1. 26. gpd;G Njtd;: ekJ rhayhfTk; ekJ &gj;jpd;gbNaAk; kD\id cz;lhf;FNthkhf; mtu;fs; rKj;jpuj;jpd; kr;rq;fisAk;> Mfhaj;Jg; gwitfisAk;> kpUf[Ptd;fisAk;> G+kpaidj;ijAk;> G+kpapd;Nky; CUk; rfyg; gpuhzpfisAk; Msf;fltu;fs; vd;whu;.
      And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
  2. How can we rule and carry out the purpose of God on earth without connecting to God. We must stay in prayer in order to carry out His purposes
    1. ePjpnkhopfs; 19:21. kD\Dila ,Ujaj;jpd; vz;zq;fs; mNefk;; MdhYk; fu;j;jUila NahridNa epiyepw;Fk;.
      There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.
 
3. First allusion (reference) to Prayer in the bible
  1. When humanity (righteous generation) began to reign, they naturally were inclined to relate to God the Father (Source); So they began to call on the name of the Lord.
    1. Mjpahfkk; 4:26. Nrj;Jf;Fk; xU Fkhud; gpwe;jhd;; mtDf;F VNdh]; vd;W Ngupl;lhd;; mg;nghOJ kD\u; fu;j;jUila ehkj;ijj; njhOJnfhs;s Muk;gpj;jhu;fs;.
      And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.
 
4. Prayer is the expression of Man's relationship with God.
  1. Munroe (2012) said that, "to pray means to commune with God, to become one with God. ie. union with God in purpose, thought, desire, will, reason, motive, objective and feelings". God had a relationship with Adam and Eve and communed with them in the garden.
    1. Mjpahfkk; 3:8. gfypy; Fspu;r;rpahd NtisapNy Njhl;lj;jpy; cyhTfpw Njtdhfpa fu;j;jUila rj;jj;ij mtu;fs; Nfl;lhu;fs;. mg;nghOJ MjhKk; mtd; kidtpAk; Njtdhfpa fu;j;jUila re;epjpf;F tpyfp> Njhl;lj;jpd; tpUl;rq;fSf;Fs;Ns xspj;Jf;nfhz;lhu;fs;.
      And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
    2. 9. mg;nghOJ Njtdhfpa fu;j;ju; Mjhikf; $g;gpl;L: eP vq;Nf ,Uf;fpwha; vd;whu;.
      And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
 
5. Prayer should be done in unity
  1. When we are united with God and with our brethren, we can commune with God and ask for directions to establish His purpose in our life. God promises victory in prayer, when we are united with Him and with one another.
    1. kj;NjA 18:18. G+Nyhfj;jpNy ePq;fs; vitfisf; fl;LtPu;fNsh mitfs; guNyhfj;jpYk; fl;lg;gl;bUf;Fk;; G+Nyhfj;jpNy ePq;fs; vitfisf; fl;ltpo;g;gPu;fNsh mitfs; guNyhfj;jpYk; fl;ltpo;f;fg;gLk; vd;W nka;ahfNt cq;fSf;Fr; nrhy;YfpNwd;.
      Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
    2. 19. my;yhkYk;> cq;fspy; ,uz;LNgu; jhq;fs; Ntz;bf;nfhs;sg;Nghfpw ve;jf; fhupaj;ijf;Fwpj;jhfpYk; G+kpapNy xUkdg;gl;bUe;jhy;> guNyhfj;jpypUf;fpw vd; gpjhtpdhy; mJ mtu;fSf;F cz;lhFk; vd;W cq;fSf;Fr; nrhy;YfpNwd;.
      Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
    3. 20. Vnddpy;> ,uz;L NguhtJ %d;W NguhtJ vd; ehkj;jpdhNy vq;Nf $bapUf;fpwhu;fNsh> mq;Nf mtu;fs; eLtpNy ,Uf;fpNwd; vd;whu;.
      For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
 
6. One must seek God's will in Prayer
  1. God's will is the confidence of our prayers (Munroe, 2012). We will be missing out on the results, if the prayers are not aligned to God's will.
    1. ahf;NfhG 4:3. ePq;fs; tpz;zg;gk;gz;zpAk;> cq;fs; ,r;irfis epiwNtw;Wk;gb nrytopf;fNtz;Lnkd;W jfhjtpjkha; tpz;zg;gk;gz;Zfpwgbapdhy;> ngw;Wf;nfhs;shkypUf;fpwPu;fs;.
      Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
  2. Jesus did not have his own agenda. His will was to do His Father's will. Jesus shows an example of how one should be united with the Father, considering His will and His thoughts.
    1. Nahthd; 17:10. vd;Dilaitfs; ahTk; ck;Kilaitfs;> ck;Kilaitfs; vd;Dilaitfs;; mtu;fspy; ehd; kfpikg;gl;bUf;fpNwd;>
      And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.
    2. 11. ehd; ,dp cyfj;jpypNud;> ,tu;fs; cyfj;jpypUf;fpwhu;fs;; ehd; ck;kplj;jpw;F tUfpNwd;. gupRj;j gpjhNt> ePu; vdf;Fj; je;jtu;fs; ek;ikg;Nghy xd;whapUf;Fk;gbf;F> ePu; mtu;fis ck;Kila ehkj;jpdhNy fhj;Jf;nfhs;Sk;.
      And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
  3. Jesus's food was to do His Father's will.
    1. Nahthd; 4:34. ,NaR mtu;fis Nehf;fp: ehd; vd;id mDg;gpdtUila rpj;jj;jpd;gb nra;J mtUila fpupiaia Kbg;gNj vd;Dila Ngh[dkhapUf;fpwJ.
      Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
 
7. Knowing His Will and Purpose is possible by the renewal of our mind
  1. When our prayers are aligned to his purpose, our prayers will be answered. Munroe (2012) asserted that, "prayer should not be open-minded. It should be purpose-driven, motivated by a knowledge of God's ways and intentions". We should renew our mind in order to start praying according to His will.
    1. Nuhku; 2:2. ePq;fs; ,e;jg; gpugQ;rj;jpw;F xj;j Nt\e;jupahky;> NjtDila ed;ikAk; gpupaKk; gupG+uzKkhd rpj;jk; ,d;dnjd;W gFj;jwpaj;jf;fjhf> cq;fs; kdk; GjpjhfpwjpdhNy kW&gkhFq;fs;.
      And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
 
Conclusion
Prayer is mandatory. Prayer started in Genesis, when God communicated with Adam and Eve. Men began to call on the name of the Lord since we were born of God and we are spiritual beings. In order to pray effectively, one must be aligned to God's purposes and his ways. Prayer is a necessity to fulfill God's purposes in the world and in our personal lives.
  1. kj;NjA 26:40. gpd;G> mtu; rP\u;fsplj;jpy; te;J> mtu;fs; epj;jpiugz;Zfpwijf;fz;L> NgJUit Nehf;fp: ePq;fs; xU kzp NeukhtJ vd;NdhNl$l tpopj;jpUf;ff;$lhjh?
    And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
References
Munroe, M. (2012). Understanding the Purpose and Power of Prayer. Whitaker House.

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