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Not sure as to the reliability of the text but isn't Jesus said to have taught how to pray when asked?
He did, dear Pup (mornin' and peace to you!)... not just how (
never in front of others -
Matthew 6:5... and where (in your private room, with the door closed, thus, "in secret" -
Matthew 6:6)... but to WHOM. As you rightly quoted:
"Our FATHER... in the heavens"...At the time he taught his disciples this... where was HE? When HE prayed, when did he EVER do so in front of his disciples (and please note, giving thanks is NOT prayer - we should ALWAYS give thanks, and even publicly; however, PRAYER... is another thing entirely. It is a VERY private thing, between the person and God. Which is why HE always went off a ways from his disciples when HE did it. That some may have convertly
followed him was not on him - he sought privacy whenever he prayed to his Father... who was in the heavens and NOT on the earth, as he (Christ) was).
He also taught us what to pray FOR: NEVER our own will or needs, but (1) that the Father's NAME be glorified/sanctified/held holy, (2) that HIS kingdom come/be established (which means the conclusion of the choosing of those who make up the Body of His Son, the NEW "Jerusalem"), (3) that HIS (the Father's) will is done (and so NOT ours) on the earth, just as it is now in the spirit realm, (4) that the Father CONTINUE to allow us to partake of the flesh of His Son, the "daily" manna from heaven, (5) that He forgive us our debts/sins/trespasses... AS we forgive others theirs' against us (and so, if we DON'T, then ours will NOT be!), and that (6) He protect us from the Adversary so that we are not led by that one into temptation... as that one tried to lead our Lord.
As for our PHYSICAL needs... food, clothing, shelter, etc., we are NOT to ask for those things... because doing so assumes that JAH doesn't already KNOW we need them... and so won't provide them UNLESS we ask. He KNOWS... and provides.
Matthew 5:25-32 So we aren't supposed to concern ourselves with such things.
Rather, we are supposed to concern ourselves with the KINGDOM... seeking IT... and ITS righteousness (love, justice, mercy, faith, peace, etc.)... and all of OUR needs will be taken care of BY the Father. For HE is righteous and so, UNLIKE us... won't leave us without what we NEED. And HE knows... better than we EVER could... what that is, what those needs TRULY are. If we put HIS desires FIRST, though... then we can have FAITH are OUR needs... and perhaps even our desires... will be taken care of!
When we DO need to ask for something, however...
we must ask the SON (
John 14:13, 14; 15:1-7.
Because we can't even get IN to the Father, BEFORE Him... unless the SON permits it!
John 14:6But there is no NEED to go to the Father to ask for ANYTHING... other than for HIS name to be hallowed, HIS will to be done, HIS kingdom to come, HIS "bread" to be given us, HIS forgiveness for our sins/trespasses, and HIS protection from temptation by the Adversary! Why? BECAUSE HE HAS APPOINTED ONE FOR WHICH WE ARE TO GO FOR ALL OTHER THINGS.
That is why we have the account of Joseph and Pharaoh, dear one. An account that shows were a man, who gave the glory to GOD for his "gifts" and did not take credit for them for his own... was seen as "worthy" by Pharaoh to be appointed over ALL of Pharaoh's belongings... and so the one to DISPENSE such to Pharaoh's people... without them having to go to PHARAOH himself. HE, that appointed One ("Joseph") is the one who the people had to accept, had to regard, had to listen to, had to do obeisance to, had to ask of (from what BELONGED to Pharaoh)... and had to go THROUGH if they ever wanted an "audience" with Pharaoh.
To go past Joseph and directly to Pharaoh... was impossible. It would have been tantamount to breaking into Pharaoh's chambers. And it the SAME as with JAH and Christ.
Want something from Pharaoh? Go to Joseph and ask for it. Want something from God? Go to Christ... and ask for it. Want to talk to Pharaoh? Go to and through Joseph. Want to talk to God? Go to and THROUGH Christ. Want to go before Pharaoh? Only Joseph could grant that privilege. Want to go before God? Only Christ can grant that privilege.
Folks talk and talk all day long about how they "know" Christ. They do not. They know OF Christ. They talk about how they "know" God. They do not. Because they CAN'T know God... if they DON'T know Christ.
They couldn't see, approach, speak to, beseech, ask of... or talk WITH Pharaoh...
without going through Joseph. In the SAME way... NO ONE can SEE... APPROACH... SPEAK TO... BESEECH... ASK OF... or talk WITH God...
without going THROUGH Christ.
That is why he, Christ, is called the "WORD" of God... and the "Door," dear one (
John 10:1-9).
Joseph was not only out and among the people... he spoke to them. Christ is not only alive and among HIS people; he SPEAKS to them.
I hope this helps!
Again, peace to you!
YOUR servant and a slave of Christ,
Shellama