November 6, Into His Presence

The theology behind our prayers

Come before your God in the name of Christ and open your heart to Him in prayer.  He is waiting, for He is the one who has invited you to come.  And, He has made the way for you through His Son, Jesus.  

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

So, prayer most certainly represents something more than mere recitation or religious verbiage with lofty sounding inflections.  Prayer represents one’s entrance into the “throne room” of God.  One of the most significant demonstrations of applying good Biblical theology to one’s practice of faith is the discipline of prayer.  

So, consider the “the theology behind our prayers.” 

Prayer demonstrates what one truly believes about Jesus.

We have a high priest. He is God’s Son, Jesus.  The true praying person fully accepts this component of Christian theology. We have “one” high priest, and only one.  Because the Book of Hebrews demonstrates the way that Jesus has fulfilled all the parts and practices of the Old Testament Sacrificial system, referencing Jesus as our high priest represents more than simply an analogous expression. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus have given us complete access to the Father.  Like the Levitical priest, Jesus has offered a sacrifice for our sins.  Unlike the Levitical priest, Jesus offered Himself once and for all.  His sacrifice was perfect and is therefore permanently effectual for all who will trust in Him.  Hebrews 9:12 announces that 

He (Jesus) did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.

And now Jesus has made a way for you and for me to enter that Holy Place at this very moment through prayer:  let us approach God’s throne of grace with confidence (Hebrews 4:16).  

Do you believe Jesus is our High Priest?  Do you believe He has made the way for us right into God’s presence?  I also believe this!  So today, let’s pray.  And let’s pray according to what we believe and know to be true.  

Blessings!