Pray Or Say

Given February 19, 2007

I've been listening to some teaching lately on prayer and heard something I'd not noticed before, a revelation, if you will. Jesus is the authority on prayer, wouldn't you say? Sometimes He would pray to the Father and sometimes He would speak to the problem. Look at this.

In the famous pattern of prayer, "The Lord's Prayer" as we call it, Jesus said to pray like this; "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Matthew 6:9". Jesus said to pray to the Father. Then in "John 14:13, And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father." Jesus is saying here to pray to the Father, asking, and pray in His name. So that's what we should do, right?

Then in "Luke 4:39, And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her:" He didn't pray, He spoke to the fever and it obeyed. In many other places Jesus spoke to people, "take up your bed and walk, Matthew 9:6", demons, "And he said unto them, Go. Matthew 8:32", and fig trees, "and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. Matthew 21:19". All Jesus had to do was say the word and it was done. Now, aren't we supposed to do what Jesus did; and even more?!

This has given me a different outlook on prayer and my responsibility in the body of Christ. Sometimes I need to pray to the Father in Jesus' name and believe and not doubt and other times I can speak to a need and expect it to yeild to the Authority in me. Pray or say.