Rabbenu
A Discussion of Messianic Judaism, the Emerging Messianic Jewish Paradigm, and Related Leadership Issues from the Preoccupied Mind of Rabbi Stuart Dauermann, PhD.
All Contents ©2004-2007 Stuart Dauermann - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
On Praying "In Yeshua's Name"
One of the clichés of evangelical culture, which has become the legacy of Messianic Judaism as well, is praying in Yeshua’s Name. It is something often extolled, often practiced, but poorly understood. Rather than being some sort of bumper sticker slogan that we append to our prayers as some sort of rhetorical rabbit’s foot guaranteeing luck at the throne of heaven, praying in Yeshua’s name makes a claim upon us. Honoring that claim can be the doorway to new spiritual depth and maturation for those who take it seriously.
Of course, praying in Yeshua’s Name includes praying on the basis of His atonement and High Priestly ministry. It has everything to do with that boldness of access through faith in Him of which Paul speaks [see Ephesians 2:18; 3:12], and the writer to the Hebrews describes [Hebrews 4:14-16]. This is the general sense of the popular concept of praying in Yeshua’s Name, corrupted by some into some kind of verbal talisman guaranteeing success.
But there is more—and here is where the claim upon us becomes apparent. Praying in Yeshua’s name means that we claim to be his authorized representatives, justified in claiming to speak as such. It is, as one web source puts it, “ambassador language” (www.new-life.net/faq009.htm). More than that, when we pray in Yeshua’s Name we are claming that our lives embody and honor the values and priorities of the One in whose name we come. And here is where the challenge—and the maturity come in.
This may be demonstrated by reference to Matthew 7:21-23, where we read, 21 "Not every one who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' 23 And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.'”
This passage makes it clear that laying claim to speaking in Yeshua’s Name includes being the kinds of people whose lives demonstrate commitment to His Kingdom, His values, His authority. And that just about says it all. If we are going to go around praying in Yeshua’s Name, we would do well to make sure that we are living under His authority.
Therein lies the challenge, the power, and the maturity we should all be seeking. When we pray in Yeshua’s Name we are claming that our lives embody and honor the values and priorities of the One in whose name we come. The challenge to us is to discover and embody all this means. And as we do so, then, by all means, let us pray "In Yeshua's Name."
posted by Stuart Dauermann @ 8:03 AM
12 comments
What is the purpose of praying if God knows what we are going to say before we actually say the words?
According to the notes of the first disciples, Yeshua didn't teach His followers how to pray until they asked him to. How is prayer to mature a person and why didn't Yeshua spend much time on it?
Very well said, sir. I can see your heart and your growth as I follow your blog closely. You are an amazing fellow. May G-d continue to use you to awaken His people and call them back to Himself.
I am afraid the conclusions draw in the recent comment , to whit, "According to the notes of the first disciples, Yeshua didn't teach His followers how to pray until they asked him to. How is prayer to mature a person and why didn't Yeshua spend much time on it?" are alarming and erroneous. We have no record of Yeshua teaching his disciples how to study the Scriptures either: shall we therefore draw the conclusion that he viewed this as of little import?
The issue of the role of prayer, as the role of Scripture study is that these were a given--these issues no more needed to be explicitly instructed in the gospels than did breathing oxygen. But in addtion, the argument is stronger. Luke in particular indicates repeatedly that a life of prayer was a pivotal non-negotiable in Yeshua's life, so that he would habitually withdraw from his busy and demanding life to pray, even spending nights in prayer even though he must have been exhausted.
Indeed, it was precisely because of the centrality of prayer in his life that his disciples, already praying men, asked him to teach them to pray.
And I find it strange in the extreme that anyone would think that the life of prayer is anything but the vital center of one's life with God. And, of course, it is in the life of prayer that we mature, for it is there that we meet God as He is, and ourselves as we are.
Of course this is not to minimize the role of Scripture study in the life of God's people. But on the other hand, we have all met people who are conversant in Scripture yet spiritually stunted. I would suggest that too often, the study of Scrpture becomes an intellectual feat, and even an arena for one-upsmanship, Scripture study must eventuate in a life of total prayer. God calls us not only to the Bible, he calls us to Himself.
As for the question, " What is the purpose of praying if God knows what we are going to say before we actually say the words?," much ink has been spilled over that one! I will only speak briefly on the matter.
It is often the experience of parents with children that when the children come to speak to Mother or Father, the parents know what the children are going to say, what they are about to request, for example. But still, the parents value the interchange because it is about communication and relationship not about gaining new information. Similarly, even when our prayers to God are not new information for Him, the communication is crucial because it is, after all, all about relationship.
The life of prayer is not the exchange of information whereby we inform God! Rather, it is the climate of relationship. In addition, in prayer we praise, honor, adore God simply because He is worthy and we love Him!
What is also crucial to bear in mind is this: In times of prayer the possibility always exists that God Himself might have something He wants to say. If you find this shocking, you are in good company. It wasn't until about twenty years ago that this idea occurred to me, although it is hard to read the Bible without entertaining this presupposition, Still, I'd managed to read the Bible for about twenty five years, and even been a religious professional for much of that time, without making the connection.
With all of this in mind, I trust you can see how imagining that the life of prayer is simply a one way conversation in which we inform the Omnipotent One is the most pathetic of caricatures.
And no philosophical conundrum about the foreknowledge of God should in any manner preempt the rich and rewarding life of prayer where we seek His face.
I hope this helps.
Still, I'd managed to read the Bible for about twenty five years, and even been a religious professional for much of that time, without making the connection.
So the ink on the subject didn't help. What did? Can you teach me how to pray?
Most of the books I have seen on prayer is about what I am to say. How am I to know God's voice?
How is prayer to mature a person and why didn't Yeshua spend much time on it?" are alarming and erroneous. We have no record of Yeshua teaching his disciples how to study the Scriptures either: shall we therefore draw the conclusion that he viewed this as of little import?
If it is so erroneous, why can you only tell me what not to do? Why can't you tell me how to pray correctly?
To Anonymous,
Having just taught a 35 hour graduate level course in one week, having just had a monthly Friday night service two days ago and all the preparations for that, having just had a full shabbat schedule complete with two services yesterday, having gone out today and done a Simchat Bat [Baby-naming service for a girl child], and having just returned home at 5:30 PM on what is normally my only day off, I just haven't completed my answer to your question quite yet.
Like you, I just don''t know what's wrong with me! Could it be that I am avoiding the question? Nah, I don't think that's it!
"Therein lies the challenge, the power, and the maturity we should all be seeking."
Can you be more specific?
On the question raised in one of these comments, "Can you teach me how to pray?," see the next blog posting where I address the question in a preliminary fashion.
The full context of the statement was this: "This passage makes it clear that laying claim to speaking in Yeshua’s Name includes being the kinds of people whose lives demonstrate commitment to His Kingdom, His values, His authority. And that just about says it all. If we are going to go around praying in Yeshua’s Name, we would do well to make sure that we are living under His authority.
Therein lies the challenge, the power, and the maturity we should all be seeking."
It is the paragraph before the sentence that answers your question. In other words, the challenge, the power and the maturity we should all be seeking is to so work on the focus of our lives that we can without a sense of hypocrisy or embarassment pray in Yeshua's Name. The challenge is to be Yeshua's kind of people.
I am saying that those of us who claim to be His servants should act the part.
Hope this helps.
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