PRAYER IS WHAT DEFINES US

 

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PRAYER IS WHAT DEFINES US

Mark 11:15 And they come to Jerusalem: and Yahushua went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;

16 And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.

17 And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.

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Anyone who has ever read the Gospels is familiar with this passage of Scripture. It is also found in Matthew 21:12-13, and Luke 19:45-46 (It Is quoted from Isaiah 56:7). We could call this a repeat of the “Nadab and Abihu experience.”  When Moses returned from Mount Sinai with the Law, he had been given explicit instructions on how the Tabernacle was to be designed and erected, and how every single service of the Tabernacle was to be performed. IAUE repeatedly warned Moses to insure that all things were done exactly as He had explained it to him.

We know from 1 Corinthians 10:11 that the things and events recorded for us in the Old Testament were examples for us (signs, types and foreshadows) to represent spiritual truths for those partaking of the New Covenant.  The Tabernacle of Moses was the most explicit, most highly detailed imagery of the person and work of Yahushua Messiah that is found in the Old Testament. It had to be perfect in its structure and in its service. In Leviticus 10, the day the Tabernacle of Moses was consecrated for service, Aaron the High Priest, had his job to do, as did his sons, Eleazar and Ithamar; but it appeared there was no specific assignment for Aaron’s other sons, Nadab and Abihu. All of them had been anointed to the priesthood; and this day of inaugurating the Tabernacle to being offering the sacrifices for the people, the excitement level of the children of Israel would have been very high.  Nadab and Abihu desired to participate in some way, so they placed incense in a bowl and set fire to it to burn incense in the Outer Court.  This act was not only contrary to the designs and plans IAUE gave Moses, it violated the message of the Tabernacle and misrepresented the person of Yahushua Messiah. IAUE had to delete it from the imagery, so He sent fire from Heaven and consumed the two boys.

(A similar experience was in Numbers 20:11, when Moses struck the rock twice to bring forth the water in the wilderness instead of striking it once as IAUE had instructed him to do. This was a violation of the foreshadowing of the impaling of Messiah. 1 Corinthians 10:4 tells us that the rock was Messiah; and Hebrews 6:4-6 tells us that sacrificing Yahushua a second time for sins would put Messiah to shame. Yahushua was sacrificed once for all.  For this violation of this foreshadowing of Messiah’s sacrifice, Moses was not allowed to enter the promised land.)

What had Isaiah foreshadowed that caused the Master such concern that he would so forcefully drive out the moneylenders from the temple, and not even permit men or women to use the temple grounds for a shortcut to carry water through it?  They were violating the imagery designed by IAUE. There was a spiritual truth being jeopardized by their actions; and in so doing, the Master not only corrected the type but added to it.  Let’s see what this means

Ephesians 2:19  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of IAUE; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Yahushua Messiah himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Master: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of IAUE through the Spirit.

The believers in Messiah are individually members of His Body.  All believers everywhere constitute the body of Yahushua Messiah in the earth.  Paul explains to the Ephesians and to disciples everywhere that when they believed on Messiah became building blocks fitted together to form a holy temple whose purpose is to be an habitation of IAUE…to be a dwelling place for His Holy Spirit.  The apostle Peter said it like this.

1 Peter 2:5  Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to IAUE by Yahushua Messiah.

Paul says we are the building blocks that form the temple of IAUE; and Peter says those building blocks are living stones that do not just form a place for the Spirit of IAUE to dwell. These living stones have a responsibility…a duty that falls upon them by virtue of their being a part of this holy temple.  They (the believers) are to “offer up spiritual sacrifices” as opposed to the literal sacrifices that were types and shadows for us in the Tabernacle of Moses, as well as in the other temples that replaced the Tabernacle of Moses through the centuries, right down to the one where Yahushua drove out the moneylenders.

What are these spiritual sacrifices?  Isaiah foretold what they were; and Messiah drove out the moneylenders and forbade the people from using the temple grounds for personal convenience in order to preserve the integrity of the imagery of Isaiah’s prophecy.  The house of IAUE was to be known among all nations as the house of prayer.

Note that Paul had said this building, this holy temple, was being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Yahushua Messiah, himself, as the corner stone. What does the Scripture tell us of the apostles and of Messiah?

Acts 6:2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of IAUE, and serve tables. 3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto IAUE by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 

Every single one of us who call upon the name of our Master Yahushua as Messiah are a part of a holy temple…the body of Yahushua Messiah.

John 2:19 Yahushua answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? 21 But he spake of the temple of his body.

The Scriptures teach us that we are to do many things.  We are instructed in all manner of relationships: father and children, husbands and wives, masters and servant, neighbor to neighbor, disciples to those in authority, etc.  It teaches us about the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It provides codes of conduct in several of the epistles.  All of this we are to do; but there are only two things the Scripture teaches us that all peoples of the world will be able to observe us and thereby to recognize us as disciples of the Master Yahushua Messiah; and they are:

1.  “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John      13:35).

2.  “My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer.” (Mark 11:17)

Between now and our next post to this blog, I believe we all should take inventory of our lives to see if our living stone is doing its part as a building block in the habitation of IAUE’s Spirit. We can no longer dismiss prayer as something special intercessors do and which we can disregard.

WHY WE PRAY

 

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WHY WE PRAY

 Reasons why we do NOT pray:

 Disobedience is inconsequential to us.

We have no confidence in prayer.

We do not know how to pray.

We consider it a waste of time.

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If we read this short list and contemplate it for just a moment; there are several things that should quickly come to mind.  Things like how rebellious we are and how selfish we are; and how little we trust IAUE’s word; how little we will do to learn what is truly important; and how little we actually know IAUE.  It is an awful indictment and one that should truly make us feel ashamed before IAUE.; and yet, it clearly doesn’t for most professing believers; otherwise these would not still be problems. We have become so calloused in our 21^st century lifestyles, that IAUE is treated as an addition to our lives instead of becoming our life.

So, let’s try to tackle this problem. There are hundreds of books on prayer. Most are “how to” books, which don’t really deal with the issues that render us prayerless. Obviously, we need to deal with our rebellion and our selfishness; though that should not be an issue for us if we have died in Messiah and are alive unto IAUE…and yet it is.  (We will deal with that at a later date.) Selfishness is also at the root of our unwillingness to do what is necessary to learn how to pray; but when we consider that prayer, or more specifically, that our praying is a waste of time; we clearly do not know IAUE as we should.

Let me just say, if you want to know IAUE better than you do, you have to spend time with Him.  Who on earth are you going to know better without spending time with them, having contact and interaction with them? Do you think reading the Scriptures and learning what it says about IAUE is going to be enough for you to have a relationship with Him?  That would be like reading a biography of any famous person and thinking you are friends by the time you have read the last page.  To deal with this particular problem of prayerlessness, that of not knowing IAUE well enough, I would just say, spend time with Him.  We will move on to the next issue.

Why does IAUE instruct us to pray?  This is quickly revealed in Messiah’s answer to the disciple who asked him to teach them how to pray.

Luke 11:2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. 3 Give us day by day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

It may not immediately present itself to you by reading these verses; but just look at the very first request in this prayer.  Prayer is IAUE’s way of involving His children, His sons and daughters, in the revelation and manifestation of His Kingdom in the earth. Through prayer we are being groomed to rule with Messiah. If this be true, how can we neglect such a responsibility?

1 Peter 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood (a priesthood of members of the royal family), an holy nation, a peculiar people; 

2 Timothy 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

Revelation 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto Elohim and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 5:10 And hast made us unto our Elohim kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.=

Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Yahushua, and for the word of IAUE, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Messiah a thousand years.

Messiah taught his disciples…he taught us…to pray for the Kingdom of IAUE to come.  Later, our Master answered when asked when the Kingdom would come:

Luke 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of Elohim should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of Elohim cometh not with observation: 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of Elohim is within you.

This brings us to the second half of the first request of the Master’s prayer: Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.  In order to expound on this we must revisit something we discussed in a post years ago in this blog.  The two “wills” of IAUE.

The “will” mentioned in the Master’s prayer (Thy will be done) in the Greek, is the “thelema” of IAUE. This refers to IAUE’s “wish or desire.” It is what He would like to have happen…both in our lives and in the things that happen around the world.  It is behavior on our part that violates or disobeys IAUE’s thelema that is called sin; so obviously, IAUE can desire something and not get what He wants.  The thelema of IAUE can be resisted and disobeyed.

There is another “will” of IAUE found in the New Testament, the “boulomai,” which speaks of IAUE’s intention, or predetermined outcome. When the root word, “boule” is used, it is translated “counsel” and refers to the irresistible plan of IAUE.  No one can sin against the boule of IAUE.  He will accomplish His eternal counsel despite anything anyone may or can do.

Ephesians 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel (boule) of his own will (thelema):

Can you begin to see how all of these verses are connected?  Paul tells the Ephesians that IAUE is working all things, absolutely everything that happens on this earth, according to the eternal counsel of his wish or desire.  Let’s put this another way.  IAUE has an eternal plan to use man’s obedience to His wish or desire in order to fulfill all of His eternal counsel.

When our Master Yahushua Messiah instructs us to pray for IAUE’s Kingdom to come, that is the eternal counsel of IAUE.  His Kingdom is coming whether we like it or not. Nothing we can do can prevent it from happening. That is a matter that has been eternally decreed in the counsel (boule) of IAUE. We CAN, however, recognize that He has chosen for His Kingdom to come as a direct consequence of His wish or desire (thelema) being accomplished or obeyed with as much precision and expediency as His desire is satisfied in Heaven. IAUE has done this in order to groom us for leadership. He puts it to us to do His will personally, as well as to ascertain what He wants accomplished in the earth to bring about His Kingdom, and to pray for that to  come to pass. 

Yahushua did just that his entire life.  He was wholly given to prayer to know His Father’s will and to intercede for His will to be done.  As a result, many aspects of the eternal counsel of IAUE were accomplished by Yahushua and through him.  Many times it is recorded in the Gospels that something happened “that it might be fulfilled” as it had been prophesied in the Scriptures.  The prophecies revealed the boule of IAUE.  Obedience to His thelema made them happen.  Then what happened?  All authority in Heaven and earth were given to Messiah (Matthew 28:18).  He had been groomed for leadership, and now he reigns as King.

Let’s imagine a long distance race course. There are open fields, wooded areas, lakes and streams all around.  The one overseeing the race has put markers at certain places that are visible to the runners to help them keep on course because there is all manner of latitude to veer off of a straight course.  Now, consider those markers benchmarks of the counsel (boule) of IAUE.  It is IAUE’s desire (thelema) that the runners will run straight from benchmark to benchmark thus running the most streamlined path to the finish line; but life isn’t always lived on the straight and narrow. Mistakes are made; and some just refuse to run as they ought. The benchmarks ultimately force mankind to be where they must be and doing what they must do for the race to reach its conclusion. In order for that to happen, those who are obedient to IAUE’s wish or desire actually cause the eternal counsel of IUAE to be fulfilled (i.e., the Scripture to be fulfilled). IAUE works all things through those who obey His will in order to assure the outworking of His eternal plan. 

That means we are participants in fulfilling the eternal counsel of IAUE when we pray as we ought. In effect, we function as members of the royal family taking on our assigned roles as royalty, facilitating all of the plans of the King.  Imagine what is required for a President to visit a city.  Well before he arrives, there are scores of people with their assigned duties (originating from the President’s office) each a necessary prerequisite for the President’s arrival.  The conditions of the hotel must be scrutinized and approved. The food preparation must be approved or arranged for temporary culinary staff. The arrival airport, the path to the hotel, and even the walk from the car to the inside of the hotel must be secured, etc. It is no different for the arrival of our King.  Many plans must be approved and accomplished. 

This is why we are to pray.  We are to be participants in facilitating the coming of the King.

WHY WE DO NOT PRAY

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WHY WE DO NOT PRAY

Luke 12:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

* * * * *

In our last post, we asked the question, “Why pray?”  It is a relevant question since it is regarded as an expected function of all believers.  The problem is, most believers do not pray, at least not more than praying before meals to give thanks for their food; or obligatory prayers when in the public eye.  Actual serious devotion to prayer and intercession are virtually alien to the lives of contemporary Christians. Most are perfectly satisfied that they are “good Christians” when they pray for 15-30 seconds after a five minute daily devotional read of someone else’s thoughts on the Scripture. In truth, we all know that we are derelict in what we understand to be a duty to pray. 

Why do we instinctively regard prayer as a duty (and you know we do)?  Maybe it has something to do with the 22 separate verses quoted in our last post commanding us to pray. So, the first and most important answer to last week’s question: “Why pray?” is quite simply, “We are commanded to do so.”  That is the #1 reason why anyone of us should pray. In our next post, we will begin to deal with the question screaming in the back of our heads, “Why are we commanded to pray? What is the point?”  

For today’s issue, “Why we do not pray,” we will examine the reasons why we do not pray. Up front, I will be very honest with you.  This post is going to revolve around my personal experience, my opinion based on my experience with others, and some Scripture.  Since the Scripture repeatedly commands us to pray, it spends precious little time explaining why we don’t obey that command. First, let’s take a look at the one passage of Scripture that seems to provide us with reasons for not praying. It may seem a bit indirect; but our own experience will demonstrate its accuracy.

Luke 12:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

Overcharged (baryno) – Weighed down, burdened.

Surfeiting (kraipale) – the giddiness resulting from drinking, to include the behavior associated with intoxication.

Drunkenness (methe) – intoxication.

Cares (merimna) of this life (biotikos)– cares and anxieties associated with our physical life; the affairs of living.

Here, Messiah warns his disciples to beware. That means there is a danger, an enemy of their soul for which they need to keep watch lest they are overcome by it; and that is allowing their hearts to be weighed down with intoxication and from the behavior that results from it.  Paul warned the Ephesians to “be not drunk with wine wherein is excess, but be filled with the (Holy) Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18) In the apostles’ day, this was perhaps a more relevant concern than it is today. Then, grape juice was the common drink; and fermentation was a natural byproduct of time. Once fermented, the juice became wine and intoxication would result if moderation were not engaged. Today, we have many other non-alcoholic beverage options; but we could just as easily compare this to other things we allow to grasp our heart and focus of mind and become the director of our behavior trapping us into addictive worldly disobedient living: taking care of your car, watching television, hanging out with the boys/girls, golf, any activity that becomes your preference over spending time in fellowship with your Elohim.

The Master also lists as an enemy, the cares and anxieties of the affairs of day-to-day living.  This is a natural concern as all people have needs of survival requiring food, water, clothing…and the ability to pay one’s bills so they can secure food, water and clothing.  A disciple, however, is not a “natural man” and is not to be concerned about such things. The Master addressed this in his “Sermon on the Mount.”

Matthew 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought (merimnao) for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of Elohim, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

He does not say “Do not think about your life,” but rather, “Take no anxious thought for your life.” To do so is dangerous. It is doubt the love and the word of our Father; and it is to listen to and to give ground to an enemy.

Messiah goes on to command them to “watch ye therefore, and pray always.” Prayer will be the first activity to go when one allows addictive practice and behavior to enter their life.  The cares of this world often result in prayers of desperation, anxious prayer (the “Help! Bail me out, please!” kind of prayer)…which is faithless prayer and sin. The Father does not even hear it (See Romans 14:23; 1 John 5:14-15).  So, Scripture teaches us that one reason why we do not pray is our lack of separation from the attractions and cares of this world. Put another way, it is when we seek the world for entertainment rather than seeking it from IAUE. [At this point some may reflect, “Seeking IAUE for entertainment??”  Was IAUE not David’s greatest source of joy and pleasure? (Psalm 16:110) Is it not an indictment against our spiritual lives that we do not desire to spend more time with Him than we do many other things and other people?]

This is the Scripture’s lone explanation as to why we do not pray. Love of the world will destroy love of IAUE and will result in prayerlessness.  Now, let’s examine what I would consider to be the top four other reasons.

If the primary reason we SHOULD pray is because Scripture commands us to pray; thus, the #1 reason why we do not pray is:  Disobedience is inconsequential to us. We absolutely have no concern about disobeying IAUE or our Master Yahushua Messiah. (I will leave the reader to contemplate the implications and ramifications of this reality.)

Another reason why we do not pray is:  We have no confidence in prayer. Why spend time praying when we believe it will result in nothing? The first thing this mindset ignores is the abundance of times we are commanded to pray. Obviously, our Father and our Master, and the New Testament writers believed prayer was effective, otherwise they would not have instructed us to pray 22 separate times. Don’t their very commands to pray teach us anything about prayer’s usefulness?

Another reason why we do not pray is: We do not know how to pray.  We often think there must be some formula or format to effective prayer. We don’t know if we should kneel, bow, fold our hands, or stand. We don’t know if we should speak to IAUE or to Yahushua or even to the Holy Spirit. We don’t know what to say or ask or what we can say or ask; and yet we do nothing to learn how to pray. We just don’t pray.  At least the disciples asked Messiah to teach them how to pray.

Another reason why we do not pray is: We consider it a waste of time. Into this is rolled up our love of the world (because time spent praying interferes with time we feel would be better spent on things we actually enjoy doing). Also rolled into this is our lack of confidence in prayer. If we do not believe it will be effective, then we will regard it a waste of time (which, by default, means time spent with IAUE is not as important to us as time spent in our own interests).

When you consider these four reasons why believers do not pray, you can see how they are all addressed by the one passage of Scripture that shows us why we should pray. The greatest of all commandments is to love IAUE our Elohim with all our heart and soul and mind and strength. When we allow our mind to lead our hearts into the love of other things that eventually are exalted over our love for IAUE to the point we prefer them over Him, prayer ceases to exist in our lives in any meaningful way. If we understand this to be true, then we can understand that the #1 remedy to prayerlessness is to recapture our love of IAUE. Our desire to prayer will increase in direct proportion to the intensity of our desire to spend time with our Father.

Prayer will never become an active part of our life until love for IAUE and Yahushua regain the center of our life. We can go through the motions and mechanics of; and we can discipline ourselves to spend time to pray; but until the motive for prayer is born of a love for IAUE and our Master, and we truly desire the outworking of the Father’s will in the earth, we will never comprehend how prayer can and should be the most exciting thing we do. To achieve this, we need to understand why we are commanded to pray.

WHY PRAY

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WHY PRAY?

Luke 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Master, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

* * * * *

The disciples (who would become the original apostles) had been with Yahushua for nearly two years when this incident took place. It is interesting to note that the Master’s answer was the same thing he preached in the Sermon on the Mount very early in his ministry, and likely was an integral part of many of his teachings to the masses who followed him daily. By the time this event occurred, the disciples had become quite attentive to the fact that prayer was an extremely important part of his life. Those who had been disciples of John witnessed first-hand at his baptism on the very first day the Master was revealed to Israel, how significant a part prayer was in his life.

Luke 3:21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Yahushua also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,  22 And the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

That is probably a little-known fact. No one ever seems to mention that Yahushua prayed before the Holy Spirit descended upon him after he was baptized by John.

The disciples also saw him literally sneak away from the masses who surrounded and followed him every day so he could spend alone-time in prayer.

Luke 5:15 But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.    16  And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

 Finally, after seeing how important prayer was to Yahushua, our opening Scripture says that “one of his disciples,” after watching him pray and waiting for him to end his time in prayer, said “Master, teach us to pray as John also taught his disciples.”  After two years, the disciples probably selected one among them to follow Messiah to where he sought solitude to pray; and after respectfully waiting for him to conclude his time in prayer, to ask him on their behalf how to pray…like John did for his disciples.  That means the disciples of Yahushua who had previously been disciples of John had heard John’s teaching on prayer. That instruction, like so much teaching in contemporary Christianity, had become merely more acquired knowledge, useless by virtue of no application.

James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

In retrospect, it would seem this was a request born of curiosity more than of a desire to know more perfectly how actually to pray.  Do we ever see in the gospel accounts the disciples praying?  The only time seems to be in the garden of Gethsemene where they could not remain awake while their Master was in great travail in prayer. That they were not men experienced in prayer seems quite obvious by this.

From this we can understand that prayer was extremely important to the Master Yahushua Messiah, the one person whom human logic would suggest would not need to pray at all; but, ultimately, prayer was not considered important to the disciples…at least not during the 3½ year of the Master’s earthly ministry.  It became important after the resurrection when Yahushua instructed them to wait in Jerusalem until he sent them the Holy Spirit.  The disciples/apostles with 100+ other followers entered into an upper room for ten days.

Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Yahushua, and with his brethren.

After the Holy Spirit came (Acts 2), when disputes arose regarding the administration of food to the disciples in need, the apostles explained the danger of this distraction to the commission of Messiah.

Acts 6:2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of Elohim, and serve tables. 3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

They had finally learned the importance and absolute necessity of prayer. We see multiple times in both the Gospels and in the epistles the command to pray.

Matthew 5:44 …pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Matthew 6:5 And when thou prayest…”

Matthew 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest…”

Matthew 6:7 But when ye pray…”

Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye…”

Matthew 9:38 Pray ye therefore the Master of the harvest…”

Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation…”

Mark 13:33 Take ye heed, watch and pray…”                         

Luke 10:2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Master of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

Luke 8:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Acts 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer…”

Ephesians 6:18 always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit…”

Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto Elohim.”

Colossians 4:2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving”

1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

1 Thessalonians 5:25 Brethren, pray for us.

1 Timothy 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men

1 Timothy 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where

Hebrews 13:18 Pray for us…

 James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another…

1 Peter 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer

The apostles repeatedly had been commanded to pray; but they never seemed to obey that command. They were so inexperienced in prayer and so unaware of its value that just hours before their Master’s brutal death, they could only think of sleep.  After all, it was late at night, right? What did they finally understand about prayer?  What did they learn beyond academic instruction regarding the the importance and necessity of prayer?

The church, today, seems to be in the apostles’ pre-resurrection phase of experience regarding prayer.  We would rather sleep than pray. We would rather listen to teachers and preachers than pray. We would rather read the Scriptures than pray. Actually, we would pretty much rather do anything else, even sin, than spend time in prayer.  We need to get to the post-resurrection experience and obey this oft-repeated command.  To do that, we will need revelation to break the strangle-hold our academic knowledge and our unrenewed minds have on us.