Dear Partner,

Can you imagine what it was like for those who traveled with Jesus during the time of His earthly ministry? Think of the miracles they saw. The blind would see, the deaf would hear, the lame would walk, and every manner of disease was healed. As time went by they noticed a pattern. Jesus would sometimes separate Himself from the crowds, and even from His close disciples, and spend extended time alone in prayer. After those hours spent in prayer, when Jesus again ministered to those in need, the miracles burst forth again and again. Finally, they gathered courage to ask Jesus, "Can you teach us to pray like you 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, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

For the next several verses Jesus teaches them about how to pray, but let's jump to the end of His teaching because He makes an astounding statement there:

Luke 11:13   If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

They had asked the Lord about how to pray, not how to receive the Holy Spirit. Is Jesus changing the subject? Why does He answer in this fashion? Because He is trying to teach them the kind of prayer that allows the Holy Spirit to supernaturally bring the power of God's kingdom to earth when they pray. Somewhere within this short teaching (Luke 11:2-13) is the key to supernatural power when we pray. The disciples had watched Jesus pray, and then watched the supernatural results when he ministered to the people. They desired to have the same results and he is sharing with them secrets of the kingdom. The first thing he shares with them is what we commonly refer to as "The Lord's Prayer."

Luke 11:2-4   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. Give us day by day our daily bread. 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.

I could write volumes concerning all of the revelation knowledge within this prayer, but for now let us concentrate on just one aspect … this prayer is a bowing of the will of man to the will of the heavenly Father. "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth." This is the same prayer that Jesus agonized with in the garden before going to the cross. "Father, not my will, but thine be done." Without this submissive attitude of heart to the will of the Father, the Holy Spirit is not free to supernaturally exercise dominion in the earth. Jesus said of himself,

John 5:30   I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

In this case, the Amplified bible does a better job of bringing out the meaning contained in the original language that we do not get in the King James Version:

John 5:30   I am able to do nothing from Myself [independently, of My own accord--but only as I am taught by God and as I get His orders]. Even as I hear, I judge [I decide as I am bidden to decide. As the voice comes to Me, so I give a decision], and My judgment is right (just, righteous), because I do not seek or consult My own will [I have no desire to do what is pleasing to Myself, My own aim, My own purpose] but only the will and pleasure of the Father Who sent Me. (Amplified Bible)

How seldom does the Father find a totally yielded heart like this. The Holy Spirit does not enforce dominion for man in order to build man's kingdoms. The Holy Spirit enforces dominion for the man (or woman) who is sold out to building God's kingdom on earth. All of our own self-devised agendas must die so that we are truly "seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness." (Mat 6:33) All of this reminds me of something the Holy Spirit said to me years ago in one of the Face to Face encounters I had with Him at the ugly building. The Holy Spirit said to me;

"Jesus is Lord of all. He is the Head of the Church. His mind is the will of the Father. I anoint His life. I anoint His life in believers who will yield to His mind as I bring the counsel of His mind from the throne unto them. Those who will bow the knee and yield up their life unto Him ... those are the ones whom I anoint. I anoint His life in them with dominion."

The first step towards the Holy Spirit manifesting supernatural answers to our prayers is a heart totally submitted to the will of God. This is why Jesus would separate Himself from the crowds to spend time in fellowship with the Father. There is no substitute for time spent with Him. As we spend time in the Word, in prayer, and in worship our hearts become tender and sensitive to the Father's will for our lives. Let us never fall into the "trap" of being too busy to pray, too busy to read the Word, too busy for worship.

Sue and I love you and appreciate you.   We thank God for your generous and giving heart.   God bless you!

Your friend and co-laborer,

Gary Carpenter

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