DIRECT AND PERSONAL

PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS

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In our previous study of the teaching Jesus Christ gave his followers concerning the purpose and power of prayer, we wrestled with the fact that Jesus Christ challenged his people to be bold in our times of prayer. Jesus made it clear that the Lord wants us to bring our needs and desires directly to him and to do so with great boldness and faith. Today we are going to hear a follow-up to that big idea as we explore the call of God to be direct in our dealings with the Lord. 

Below you will find a translation of the model prayer provided by Jesus Christ in Luke 11:1-4 that seeks to make plain the challenge of the Lord to be bold in our times of prayer:

Father, Make your name great!

Make your kingdom a reality… now! 

Give us what we need… today!

Forgive our sins! 

And do not bring us into times of trial or testing!

(Luke 11:1-4 translation by Ryan Laden)

Intimidating

Praying with boldness is clearly the Lord’s desire for his people but if we are honest, we will admit that this kind of direct communication with God can be a little nerve-racking. 

•   Who are we to make such bold requests of the God of Creation?
•   Who are we to stand in the presence of a Holy and Righteous God and call upon his name as we boldly proclaim our expectation that he will act?

Coping

This kind of intimidating prayer has led many to struggle with kind of direct communication and relationship with the Lord. And out of this intimidation, a few unfortunate coping mechanisms have emerged throughout the centuries. 

Priests

One response to this kind of intimidation was to implement a layer of human action between God and his people. These intermediaries eventually became known to us as priests. These religious servants were said to have been called by God to act as middlemen between a righteous God and his sinful children. 

The priest would hear the prayer of the faithful and then relay this prayer to God in a way that improved its “chances” of being heard and therefore answered. 

Saints

Another coping mechanism that sprang up from this intimidation factor was the idea of praying to a Christian man or woman who had already died and was not residing in the presence of God. These saints were believed to be endowed with the ability to act on behalf of those seeking their aid because they were people of great and powerful faith during their lives. 

It is odd that to become a “saint” one would have had to have been willing to live a life of boldness and prayer but as an intermediary, a saint essentially discouraged others from living out their own bold faith that called them into a real and vibrant relationship with God.

Examples

In the two examples provided below we can hear how the message of the Christian Bible speaks to the way in which Jesus Christ has already made a way for all of us to come directly to the Lord in prayer without the need for any middle man!

23 Now there have been many priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

(Hebrews 7:23-25 NIV11)

5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men — the testimony given in its proper time.

(1 Timothy 2:5-6 NIV11)

Consider the following points presented in these teachings:

•   No earthly priest can truly represent another before God because they too are flawed and temporary. 
•   Jesus Christ saves all who come to him completely. Nothing is lacking in his gift of salvation. 
•   Jesus Christ intercedes (represents us) for us before the person of the Creator. 
•   There is only one God. 
•   There is only one mediator between God and man. 
•   Jesus is the only one who can represent you before Almighty God. 
•   Jesus has made a way for all of us to come into the presence of the Living God and to have a real and direct relationship with the Lord. 

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, I confess that you are my Savior, my Lord, my mediator, and my redeemer. You have made a way for me to come directly to the Lord in prayer. I do not need anyone else to represent me before the presence of the Living God. Praise you Jesus. 

In Christ, 

Ryan Laden

PASTOR RYAN LADEN

Works at MTN. CHURCH

Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church

Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at Baylor University

Studied at Texas Tech University

Went to Castle Hills First Baptist

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