Why Can I Pray Boldly?

Why Can I Pray Boldly?

It has been a while since I have posted to The Word Says. I was working on another Wrong All Along book. I thought I was finished with the second book. I even submitted it to the publisher, but I had to ask the publisher to refrain from editing because the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to more related Scriptures that I felt needed to be included in the book. The Holy Spirit had me dive into the Old Testament book of Ezekiel. When I did, I was blown away by how much end-time prophecy is in there. Then I felt prompted by the Holy Spirit to reread all the Old Testament books of prophecy and WOW! I was blown away by how much “Revelation” supporting evidence is in those writings. It is almost as if the Book of Revelation was given as a “reminder” of what had already been prophesied. I know that is not the case, but the accuracy of the prophetic writings is remarkable. Needless to say, I opened a Pandora’s box and instead of nearing the finish line for the next book, I changed races to a marathon. There is no way I can script all the new material in one book, so now I am trying to best divide it into another. But I digress.

This blog was inspired by a phone call I received from a friend that is going through an extremely difficult season. I do not know if he is a believer. I have never flat out asked him. I just assumed he is and so I just pray around him and talk about Jesus as if he is. But something happened at his work that has placed him in fear of losing his job and he is worried and anxious to the point of depression. Nobody understands that fear greater than I do. Almost seven years ago to the day, I walked away from a very lucrative career because of selfish immoral choices I made. I took an early retirement, but I lost half of my income. My selfish choices sprung my family into an extremely difficult season. I fell into an extremely deep depression and entertained some very dark thoughts because of it. I was broken and desolate. I had nowhere to turn except to the Word. The Word and my wife carried me and sustained me through that dark season. But what the devil intended for bad, God turned into good.

As I was talking to my Lord this morning about my friend that is experiencing what I experienced, fear, anxiety, shame, desperation, despair, etc., the Lord had me meditate of some uniquely complimentary passages:

[Mark 9:23 NKJV] 23 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things [are] possible to him who believes."

[Hebrews 4:14-16 NKJV] 14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast [our] confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses but was in all [points] tempted as [we are, yet] without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

[Hebrews 10:16-23 NKJV] 16 "This [is] the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them," 17 [then He adds], "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." 18 Now where there is remission of these, [there is] no longer an offering for sin. 19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and [having] a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of [our] hope without wavering, for He who promised [is] faithful.

[Jeremiah 29:11-14 NKJV] 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find [Me], when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.

The first passage I listed comes straight from the mouth of Jesus. Jesus said that anything is possible to him who believes. There are some varying interpretations with the words that Jesus chose here; however, I find that the finish line is  the same. Everything is possible with God; nothing is impossible. Arguments can be made as to the “who” Jesus was referring to. Was Jesus saying, “Can you believe that all things are possible to Him who is always believing?” or was Jesus saying, “All things are possible if you believe in the One who is always believing (Himself)?” or “If you believe, having enough of your own faith, all things are possible?” No matter which interpretation you adopt, the source of success is the same. It is Jesus. That verse tells us that nothing is impossible for God.

The Hebrew passages give us our “right” to ask God for anything that we need regardless of our sins, mistakes, or bad behavior. Hebrews 10:22 tells us we are to have “full assurance of faith” that when we approach Him, he will not turn away. The Hebrews 4 passage reminds us that Jesus clothed Himself in flesh and came to Earth so that He could fully understand the weaknesses of the flesh. Jesus placed Himself in our arena so that He could sympathize with what we experience. He subjected Himself to the opportunity to sin, but unlike us, He abstained from it. He placed Himself in places where He could lust, hate, steal, lie, covet, etc., but made the decision not to give in to the flesh. And now He represents us in the presence of the Father.

We are told that we SHOULD come boldly to God, regardless of how many sins we have committed or regardless of the reasoning for the predicaments we find ourselves. We can come boldly to God with our requests because our qualification for admittance to the throne of God is not based on us. It is based on Jesus, our Advocate. Satan says to us, “How dare you! Hypocrite! God won’t answer your prayers. Look what you did yesterday. You should be ashamed to present that request to God!” Satan does that until we are too ashamed to pray. But Jesus, our Representative, is at the right hand of God. When we come to God, regardless of what we have done, Jesus is standing right there and He says to His Father and ours, “Hey Dad, Alex is here. He has a request. That idiot Satan used shame to try to keep Alex from visiting you today. Satan said something about Alex having lustful thoughts. But I don’t know what Satan is talking about. Satan must be talking about one of those sins I already suffered for; one of those things that we buried at the bottom of the deepest ocean to be remembered no more. But if Alex’s request is what is best for him and it fits with your plan for his life, can we go ahead and answer his request? Alex hasn’t been coming around too often lately. I think he has been too embarrassed for things he believes we will be angry about. Can we have Holy Spirit remind Alex about the parable I gave of the prodigal son; the one that shows the love of the Father for the son even though the son left the Father and committed heinous, shameful acts? I think that would be a great reminder for Alex right now. He needs to be reminded that You love him unconditionally and you celebrate every time he visits us.” And our Father responds WITHOUT asking to see the records of our past or present behavior. Our behavior will never qualify or disqualify us from going to God. In fact, we are COMMANDED to approach Him BOLDLY, without requirements. We are even told to wash away our consciences of any evil. In context, that is not saying, “Don’t have evil thoughts.” It is saying, don’t have a guilty conscience and especially one that keeps you from going to God because of guilt or shame.

I don’t want to veer off course too much, but that is exactly what happened to Adam and Eve when they sinned for the first time. They ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and their eyes were opened to see evil that they had committed. Before they ate of the tree, they were unaware of anything they did as being wrong. After they ate of the tree, their minds were awakened to know when they sinned and the first thing they did was to hide from God. Sin caused them to flee from God. Jesus, in His sacrifice, essentially reversed that curse. Hebrews 10:22 tells us not to let a guilty conscience cause us to hide from the Father.

The last passage is a reminder that troublesome times are not God’s punishment on us. God said the plans that He has for us are for good, and prosperity. It is the enemy that brings destruction and trouble, not God. But God’s promise is that when we go through troublesome times, if we go to Him, He will hear us. He said if we seek Him, we WILL find Him. There is no caveat or prequalification to that promise. He said if we seek Him we will find Him and He said He will end our captivity and He will restore what has been taken from us.” It does not say, “unless you are in that mess because you made bad choices” or “unless I already forgave you for doing the same thing a thousand times and you keep messing up.” No, Jesus said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” And He did not add, “…unless it’s your own fault you are in that mess.” No, that is not Jesus. He said he would remember our sins and lawless deeds no more and He is incapable of lying.”

Whether you go to God after messing up or you don't is irrelevant for God's knowledge of your behaviors and thoughts. Hiding from Him is impossible. You might as well go the the One that can help you turn that mess into a blessing. He knows and as your loving Father, He not only wants to help, but He also wants to help you release the shame and guilt that the enemy is heeping on you.

I hope this helps. Jesus loves you!