Christ the Man of Prayer

By Oscar M. Baker

[Introduction to this prayer study.]

I think that we are too much inclined to say something about the examples of the Lord in many things. And the reason for that is that in many modem churches about all they teach is the Man Jesus, and His examples. Possibly you've heard of a book written years ago In His Steps - modernism! Many of these people who say we should follow in His steps, and His example, and so forth are the last ones to say we should be circumcised, and He was. Or they'll say 'Follow Him in baptism' - yes, but not circumcision! Then you begin to get a little suspicious and wonder what the motive is and what are they driving at. He came to this earth for a far greater purpose than to give an example! He's not an example, He is our Saviour and we have to admit, if we know Him at all, that His blood was shed for the remission of sins. He was our Substitute, not our example, and He was raised for ourjustification. He was raised because we were justified, and that means every man, woman and child in the world. And God raising Him from the dead - 2Cor.5: 19, proved it. "To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them..." Christ died for the ungodly, but most church people think He died only for them. He died for me centuries before I came on the scene, and His death reaches clear back to Adam. People use Romans 5:10 to prove that every one will be saved. They take the word reconcile to mean saved. "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life" Here it says...much more...saved by His life". But if we did not have the truth of 2 Cor. 5:19, John 3:16 would be impossible because it says "...whosoever believeth in Him..." We must never forget these great truths or go ahead of them in our hearts.

There are a lot of things in the life of our Lord (examples to follow) that's true, but they're not some of these main things that people bring out and try to show you. For instance, the example of His love is wonderful to follow. Why don't these modernists mention that? Also His compassion, and Paul tells us to be followers of him as he was of Christ.

We, of course, teach the dispensation of the Mystery and right division of Scripture, but in Christendom today, people want to hear something practical. Well, try preaching from the practical section of Ephesians (the last three chapters) and see how far you get. They'll say that's not practical, and that doesn't help them with their social and business life and with their children. Well, what is practical? There is one thing in the life of Christ that can be intensely practical, and that is His prayer life!

[This study from TFT tape, 6-16-8 1, Christ The Man Of Prayer, will be concluded in the next issue.]