The Last Prayer
                                                                                             By Pastor F. M. Riley
                                                                                             November 4, 2018
     "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
     Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
     And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
     Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
     And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God:
     Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;......."  Ephesians 6:13-18.  
Introduction
     I could have used any number of Scriptures about prayer, as a text for this study, for the Bible is filled with Scriptures, Old Testament and New Testament, about the importance of God's people praying to the Lord daily and often.  This particular text is just what the Lord laid on my heart, for it is an admonition for all true believers to put on the whole armour of God that we might be able to "withstand" the evil that is all about us in this "evil day" in which we are living today.  That armour certainly includes prayer.  
      In fact, the Apostle Paul told the Lord's Church at Thessalonica to "Pray without ceasing," 1 Thessalonians 5:17.  I have had believers who do believe in prayer, ask me how this is even possible?  Does the Lord literally mean for His people to "pray without ceasing?"  My answer is, "Yes! The Lord most certainly does expect this of His children."   However, the ability to have such a prayer life with our Lord, comes with spiritual growth in the Lord, and in the knowledge of His Word.  It is not something that a new born Christian just normally does.
     If my readers haven't already figured it out, this study is about "prayer."  Read on.......
The Definition of Prayer
     What is prayer?   Different religious denominations, due to their
particular "theology,"  have different definitions of prayer.  
     What prayer is not.......Prayer is not reading, or reciting, an "officially approved" prayer out of some denominational book of written prayers.  Such doesn't even come close to prayer as set forth in God's Word.   If a reader really wants to have a prayerful relationship with the Lord God, they can begin by throwing their  book of written prayers in the trash.  
     Again, prayer is not chanting some denominationally approved  chant of words at the beginning of a church service, or during a church service, or at the end of a church service.  
     Prayer is not the singing of the Psalms, or the singing of a written prayer, for the entertainment of the congregation.  Such should never be done unless it actually edifies [builds up] the church body.  
     What prayer really is.......
     Perhaps the simpliest definition of prayer is that "prayer is the sincere desire of the heart directed to the Lord God," using whatever words come forth from one's soul to speak to God.  The Lord God searches the heart of any person attempting to speak to Him in prayer, and knows whether the prayer is sincere or just a "religious" act trying to impress others with a show of piety.  Read Jeremiah 17:10.  
     In sincere prayer, one is seeking to communicate with the Lord God Himself, whether for a need, or for worship, praise, and thanksgiving, or for just expressing one's love of the Lord.  Read Matthew 6:5-13.  As believers, we need to get it right!  
How to Pray.....
     The Lord's own disciples knew that having a prayerful relationship with God is important.  Therefore, not long after becoming disciples of the Lord, one of the Lord's disciples asked Him, ".....Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught His disciples," Luke 11:1.  
     The Lord's response to this request was to give to the disciples what is commonly referred to today as "The Lord's Prayer."  However, the Lord was not literally praying here, but was setting forth a "model" prayer for His disciples, in response to their request.  This "model" prayer is recorded in both Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4, and gives us guidelines into what we, as Christian believers, should be praying for.  Notice that the Lord did not tell His disciples to memorize and recite this prayer, as many do today.  Rather, the Lord quite plainly in Matthew's account, said, "After this manner therefore pray ye....."  Reciting the model prayer given by the Lord, should never become a substitute for one pouring out the sincere burdens and blessings in their heart to our compassionate and merciful Lord.    
     The Lord Himself believed in and practiced praying to our Heavenly Father.  There are numerous places in the inspired Gospels, where we see Christ Jesus earnestly praying.  On some occasions the Lord prayed all night long.  How many of our readers would even be willing to spend that much time in prayer?  Hello!
Notes on the Model Prayer
     Notice the Emphasis.....In both accounts of what is called the "Lord's prayer," whereby the Lord was giving His disciples a model to guide them in praying, the Lord explicitly said.....
      "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:9-10.   
     In Luke's account the prayer is worded, ".....Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name.  Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth," Luke 11:2.  
     It is obvious that even in this model prayer, the Lord was looking beyond that present time with His disciples, beyond His suffering and crucifixion , beyond even this present Dispensation of Grace,  and was looking for the time to come when the Father's Kingdom will be established on the earth, and the Father's will shall be done on the earth by redeemed mankind, even as it is now presently done in Heaven.  Praise the Lord!  
     So since the Lord Jesus Himself was looking forward to that time when God's Kingdom will be established upon the earth among men, then what should all true believers today be looking forward to?  Well...??  
     I have and do receive criticism from time to time for placing so much emphasis on Bible prophecy, the end-times, and the coming of the Lord.  According to my critics, I should be telling God's people how to live in this present world "to make it a better place" for everyone.  
      Hogwash!  I can read as well as any of my critics!  And I have eyes to see with and a brain to analyze what I see.  My Bible explicitly says and teaches that this whole system is going to "wax worse and worse" as we draw closer and closer to the end of the age, 2 Timothy 3:12-13.  
     Certainly, every true believer should be trying to help those around them, and thereby show the love of Christ to lost men and women, boys and girls, Matthew 5:16.  But even if our readers are faithful in such devotion to Christ, it is not going to change the course of the whole unbelieving world.  The world is still going to "wax worse and worse" right up until the time the Lord Jesus comes to resurrect and rapture His people to glory.  
      So God's people are being perfectly Scriptural in looking for and emphasizing.....  
The Blessed Hope
     The Apostle Paul, in writing to the young preacher, Titus, explicitly told him,
     "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
    Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and world lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world;
     Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;
     Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.  
     These things speak and exhort, and rebuke with all authority.  Let no man despise thee," Titus 2:11-15.  
     Notice in this inspired passage, that "the grace of God" has appeared "to all men."  However, it is not "all men" who are being taught.  Read 1 Corinthians 2:14-15.  The "grace of God" teaches only "us" believers who have responded to God's grace by placing their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  
     Further notice, that "the grace of God" teaches the believer to live "soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world."  
     And don't fail to notice that "the grace of God" teaches the believer to always be "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ."  So once again, even as in the model prayer, the emphasis in these instructions of Paul to Titus is on the coming of Christ.  Paul capped off his inspired instructions by telling Titus, "These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority...."     
The Reality of These End Times
     Are God's people obeying these inspired instructions today?  Are they listening to their teacher?   If so.......
     Then why have I had numerous believers complain to me that their pastors are not "feeding them" with Bible prophecy?  .....that they are starving to hear God's Word about the end-times and the coming of Christ?  Why is there so much Biblical illiteracy on this subject, especially in view of the many "signs" occurring in the world today, which the Lord Jesus Himself told His disciples to watch for?  
     Wasn't it the same Apostle Paul who instructed Titus, "These things speak.....," who also instructed the "elders" [preachers] in the church at Ephesus to "...feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood," Acts 20:28?  Every honest reader knows it was!  Then why aren't the preachers today doing it?  Why is so much social gospel, sports, politics, do good works, philosophy, and other useless drivel coming from the pulpits of America today?  Since both Christ Jesus and the Apostle Paul placed the emphasis on the "Kingdom of God," and "the glorious appearing" of the Lord Jesus Christ to establish God's Kingdom on the earth, then why aren't the pastors and preachers emphasizeing this same truth?  Well...??   
The Last Prayer
     Oh yes, this brings us back to the subject of prayer.  How many of our readers realize that the last prayer recorded in the inspired Word of God is looking to the prophetic future?  It is very short, very simple, and right to the point.  As you read this last prayer recorded in God's Word, don't fail to notice where the emphasis is placed.  The "last prayer" recorded in God's Word is found in Revelation 22:20.......
     "Even so, Come, Lord Jesus."  
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     Yes, permission is granted to reproduce this study to share with others.  Please do!   Time is running out to witness to the lost world.  
     My personal contact information:
POSTAL.......Pastor F. M. Riley, 14275 Co. Rd. 8120, Rolla, Mo. 65401
EMAIL.........francismriley34@gmail.com
PHONE.......573-202-6493
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