INTRODUCTION
A few days ago, the Holy Spirit began to talk to me about the Protocol of Prayer. Prayer is a legal activity and to every legal process there is an appropriate way of doing things.
Sadly not many Christians know that there is a biblical protocol to prayer, as a result they sometimes pray right and get answers, while they miss at other times resulting in frustration.
Prayer is not a random activity. It has a protocol. Prayer is simply the act of having a conversation with God. God is Spirit and He is to be worshipped in spirit and truth.
John 4:24 (WEB), "God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
The Spirit of God responds to us on the basis of praying according to His will and prescribed way. Even unbelievers who make incantations to communicate with spirits have a set protocol they follow so that they may effectively summon the spirits of the idols that they worship.
1 Corinthians 10:19-20 (WEB), "What am I saying then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God, and I don’t desire that you would have fellowship with demons."
The word protocol means "the accepted code of conduct or behavior in specific professional situations; a detailed plan or orderly set of instructions, procedures, or standards in a particular field."
The Protocol of Prayer is the biblical order and structure in approaching God the Father through prayer as revealed in the principles of the prayer model taught by Jesus in Matthew, which match with the order of ceremonies by the high priest in the tabernacle of Moses.
This short but insightful teaching offers a spiritually rich, effective and practical guide for believers to approach God’s presence with reverence, intimacy, and intentionality.
It highlights how The Jesus Prayer Model aligns with the Tabernacle Ceremonies, showing how each step of the Tabernacle corresponds to a part of the prayer Jesus taught His disciples.
The teaching reveals the progression of prayer, from entering God’s presence with thanksgiving to experiencing deep communion with Him.
The Protocol of Prayer teaches believers to approach God with reverence and intention, acknowledging His holiness and grace while allowing His Spirit to work in their lives.
You don't have to follow the whole Protocol of Prayer religiously step by step every time you pray, for it is not applicable in its fullness in every situation. Different dimensions and types of prayer may include some components of the protocol and exclude others.
All you need is to understand the order and sequence of the steps of prayer, so that you always maintain the sequence and order of the Prayer Protocol with the steps you choose to use in prayer as the Holy Spirit leads you.
It is a powerful tool for spiritual discipline and intimacy with the Lord.
MAIN TEXT
Matthew 6:9-15 (WEB), "Pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.’ ..."
THE JESUS PRAYER MODEL
The Jesus Prayer Model in our main text above is the answer that Jesus gave to one of His disciples who had asked for a teaching on prayer.
Luke 11:1 (WEB) "When he finished praying in a certain place, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.”
In this world, when people want to succeed at what they want to do, they ask for knowledge from those who have already attained success in the same things which they want to do.
In the Bible, we see that Jesus had a 100 percent success rate in prayer. All of His prayers were answered and none of them failed.
Hebrews 5:7 (WEB), "He (Jesus), in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and petitions with strong crying and tears to him who was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear."
The disciple had seen Jesus pray for Lazarus to rise from the dead and come back to life. He had seen five loaves of bread and two fish multiplied to feed 5000 men through prayer, and many other miracles. So he knew that if he wanted to pray effectively like Jesus, he had to ask the same Jesus how to pray.
We must not allow anyone other than Jesus to teach us how to pray, for no one knows how to approach the Father better than the Son who came from the Father.
John 6:45-46 (WEB) "It is written in the prophets, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who hears from the Father and has learned, comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father, except he who is from God. He has seen the Father."
The Jesus Prayer Model is not a religious prayer to recite; it is a framework for how to approach God effectively in prayer. Jesus taught His disciples to pray in five key parts of His prayer model:
1. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.
2. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.
3. Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors
4. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
5. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
What is most important is not to remember the words of Jesus and be able to recite them, but it is to understand the protocol of prayer revealed in them and follow it using your own words, according to the Scriptures.
To understand this Jesus Prayer Model and its protocol we have to go back to the order of ceremonies that we're followed by the high priest in the tabernacle of Moses.
THE TABERNACLE CEREMONIES
The Jesus Prayer Model is based on the layout and ceremonies of the Old Testament Tabernacle, which served as a physical representation of how to approach God.
The high priest moved from the Outer Court to the Holy of Holies, symbolizing deeper levels of intimacy and worship.
Outline of the Tabernacle Followed in the Ceremonies
The Tabernacle, as described in the Bible, particularly in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, served as a portable dwelling place for God's presence among the Israelites during their journey through the wilderness.
The Tabernacle symbolized God's presence and covenant with His people. It was central to Israelite worship, embodying the relationship between God and His people through ordinances, sacrifices, and the physical manifestation of divine presence.
Understanding its structure and ceremonies provides insight into the spiritual practices of the new Israel (church) which was established by Jesus Christ.
Here’s an outline of its structure:
1. The Outer Court
2. The Brazen Altar: For burnt offerings
3. The Laver (Washing Basin)
4. The Holy Place:
- Golden Lampstand (Menorah)
- The Table of Showbread
- The Altar of Incense
5. Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies):
- Ark of the Covenant
- Two Golden Cherubim
- Mercy Seat/ Throne of Grace
The layout above revealed the holiness of God in its fullness and measures.
The high priest was the only one who entered the Most Holy Place, while regular priests managed sacrifices and maintained the Tabernacle.
The ceremonies conducted in the Tabernacle symbolize atonement, worship, and community.
Prayer as taught by Jesus, is not a ritual but a pathway to a deeper relationship with God. It, is structured and based on this layout and ceremonies of the Old Testament Tabernacle.
This outline serves as a guide to draw for believers closer to God by following the spiritual progression outlined in the Tabernacle.
It is designed to guide worshippers through a process of thanksgiving, surrender, intercession, and communion, ultimately leading to transformation and closeness with God.
By following this pattern, believers can experience spiritual growth, renewal, and a greater awareness of God’s presence in their daily lives.
THE JESUS PRAYER MODEL AND THE TABERNACLE CEREMONIES: A UNIFIED FRAMEWORK
Prayer symbolizes the believer's journey into God's presence through specific steps, starting from the outer court and moving into the Holy of Holies.
Each part of the Tabernacle Ceremonies in the outline above corresponds to a phase in the prayer model of Jesus Christ for the believer.
Below is a comprehensive teaching showing how The Jesus Prayer Model aligns with the Tabernacle Ceremonies, revealing the believer's protocol for prayer.
STEPS IN THE PROTOCOL OF PRAYER:
1. Thanksgiving and Praise in the Outer Court
Prayer should start with thanksgiving and praise. The high priest led Israel into the Tabernacle and started by entering the into Outer Court through the gates with thanksgiving and praise.
Psalms 100:4 (WEB), "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, and bless his name."
In the Jesus Prayer Model, the Lord taught us to start praying by praising and honoring our heavenly Father. This is how we enter the heavenly Outer Court in prayer.
Matthew 6:9 (WEB), "Pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy."
Always begin to pray by acknowledging God as your Father and worshiping His holy name. Don't start your prayer by focusing on yourself, start by focusing on Him.
Start your prayer by praising God for who He is and thanking Him for His blessings in your life. Count your blessings and praise Him for them.
Psalm 103:2 (NIV), "Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits."
Many times we fail to thank God for what He has done because we focus on what He has not done yet.
But this verse encourages believers to remember and give thanks for the blessings they have received.
This establishes a heart of gratitude and prepares you to enter His presence.
2. Surrender to God's Leading/Will at The Brazen Altar
The second step in prayer is to submit your own will to His will and allow Him to lead you in what to pray for. In the Tabernacle the high priest moved to the Brazen Altar soon after entering the Outer Court.
They Brazen Altar was where sacrifices were made for the forgiveness of sins. It symbolizes Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.
When Jesus was faced with going to the cross, He had a difficult choice to make and He had to pray in the garden of Gethsemane.
He desired to avoid the cross, but decided to surrender His will to the Father's will at the Brazen Altar.
Matthew 26:38-39 (WEB) "Then he said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch with me.” He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire.”
If Jesus had not submitted His will to the Father's will in His prayer at the Brazen Altar, that would have been the first time His prayer would fail to get an answer.
In the Jesus Prayer Model, the Lord taught us to surrender to the will of the Father during prayer at the Brazen Altar by asking Him to manifest His heavenly kingdom and will as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:10-11 (WEB), "Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread."
Many of our prayers do not get answered because we are not surrendered to God's will at the Brazen Altar of the cross, but we pray for the carnal desires of our will.
James 4:3 (WEB), "You ask, and don’t receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures."
Our motives in prayer must always be to establish the will and build the kingdom of the Father, and not to build our own little kingdoms.
Matthew 6:33 (WEB), "But seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well."
We must pray for our needs to be met in line with God's will. The Jesus Prayer Model teaches us to ask for our daily bread after seeking God's will and kingdom first.
3. Confession of Sins at The Laver/Washing Basin
The third step in prayer is to confess your sins and receive God's forgiveness. The third step the high priest took in the Tabernacle after offering burnt sacrifices at the Brazen Altar was to wash at the Laver or Washing Basin.
The Laver, filled with water and sometimes the blood of the Passover Lamb, was used by priests for washing and symbolizes the sanctification and purification that the believer experiences through the confession of sins.
Ephesians 5:25-26 (WEB), "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it; that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word."
Hebrews 9:14 (WEB), "How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without defect to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"
1 John 1:7, 9 (WEB), "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
At this stage, confess your sins and receive forgiveness through the blood of Jesus. Reflect on His atoning work on the cross and extend forgiveness to others.
In the Jesus Prayer Model, the third thing that the Lord taught us is to ask for forgiveness from our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Matthew 6:12 (WEB), "Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors."
Again Jesus had to repeat this to give emphasis, after He had just finished giving His model of prayer.
Matthew 6:14-15 (WEB) “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
All our sins have been paid for and forgiven by Jesus in the cross, but we can only receive that forgiveness when we confess our sins, and we receive God's forgiveness to the degree that we forgive others.
Ask God to forgive those who wronged you as Jesus prayed for His persecutors on the cross. They don't know what they are doing.
Luke 23:34 (WEB), "Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” ..."
Many Christians are wrongly being taught to pray without confession of sins and they skip washing at the Laver.
This disqualifies them from making progress in the spirit during prayer just as the high priest could not move further in the Tabernacle without washing himself at the Laver.
Confession of sin washes you unto the standard of righteousness required in God's presence and makes your prayer effective.
James 5:16 (WEB), "Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective."
4. Consecration for Deeper Fellowship with God in The Holy Place
The fourth step involves praying in the Spirit, and praying according to the Scriptures in order for prayer to be accepted as a memorial before God's throne.
The fourth thing the high priest came to as he moved and ministered in the Tabernacle was the Holy Place. The Holy Place contains three key items, the Golden Lampstand, the Table of Showbread and the Altar of Incense.
Each of these represents an aspect of consecration (separation unto God) for fellowship with God at the fourth stage of prayer:
a. Praying in Spirit at the Golden Lampstand (Menorah)
The Golden Lampstand, or Menorah, is a significant symbol in the Tabernacle. Crafted from pure gold, it consists of seven branches with twenty two almond cups, each branch holding a lamp that was lit daily to provide light; and it is shaped as the biblical tree of life (Exodus 25:31-40).
The Menorah represents divine light and wisdom, serving as a reminder of the illumination of the Holy Spirit that guides the believer during prayer.
Most of the time we don't know what to pray for according the will of the Father, so we always need to pray in the Spirit which may involve speaking in tongues.
Romans 8:26 (WEB), "In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don’t know how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can’t be uttered."
The design and function of the Golden Lampstand reflects the twenty two measures of the Holy Spirit by which the believer bears the twelve manner of the fruits of the Spirit.
Revelation 22:2 (WEB), "In the middle of its street. On this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruits, yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations."
The part of the Jesus Prayer Model that matches to the Golden Lampstand is where He taught us the Father not to bring us into temptation.
Matthew 6:13 (WEB), "Bring us not into temptation...’”
Here Jesus does mean that God brings temptations to us or that we should pray to avoid temptation when it comes, but we are to pray so we may not enter into temptation when it comes.
God doesn't bring temptation to anyone, but we are tempted by yielding to our own fleshly desires.
James 1:13-15 (WEB, "Let no man say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God can’t be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed. Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin. The sin, when it is full grown, produces death."
Temptation is allowed by God to test us on whether we have produced the fruits of the Spirit or not. And with each temptation God provides a way out, but we are the ones who choose to obey God or the flesh.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (WEB), "No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."
Pray in the Spirit always so that you may bear His fruits in your life. I recommend that you speak in tongues from your spirit for as long as He carries you along.
b. Praying Prophetically according to Scriptures at the Table of Showbread
On the opposite side of the Golden Lampstand was the Table of Showbread or the Table of Presence. The Table of Showbread was a holy furniture piece in the Tabernacle made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold.
It held twelve loaves of unleavened bread, representing the twelve tribes of Israel, which were replaced weekly (Exodus 25:23-30, 37:10-16, Leviticus 24:5-9 & Hebrews 13:10).
The table symbolized God's presence and provision for His people, and the bread represented the covenant relationship between God and Israel.
The twelve loaves of unleavened bread on the Table of Showbread represent the twelve measures of the unadulterated Word of God to the church and New Israel of God which were symbolized by the twelve baskets of bread by which Jesus fed the five thousand (Matthew 14:13-21).
The twelve measures of the Word of God are the twelve foundational doctrines that the twelve foundational apostles represent to the church.
Revelation 21:14 (WEB), "The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them twelve names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb."
On the twelve foundations of the apostles in the New Jerusalem are twelve precious stones.
Revelation 21:19-20 (WEB), "The foundations of the city’s wall were adorned with all kinds of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; and the twelfth, amethyst."
The twelve stones on the foundations of the apostles are first mentioned on the breastplate of judgment worn on the chest of the high priest with which he entered into the Tabernacle.
Exodus 28:15-20 (LXX), "And thou shalt make a breastplate of judgment... And thou shalt fill it with stones, four rows of stones: the first row, a sardius, and a topaz, and an emerald. And the second row, a carbuncle, and a sapphire, and a jasper. And the third row, a ligure, and an agate, and an amethyst. And the fourth row, a chrysolite, and an onyx, and a beryl; they shall be set in gold in their fillings."
The breastplate represents the high priest's role as mediator or intercessor between God and the people. The stones on the breastplate of the high priest are the twelve measures of the Word in the heart, and the twelve tribes of the church, emphasizing the believer's priestly role to intercede for the entire body of Christ according to the Scriptures.
The breastplate's placement over the high priest's heart signifies the importance of meditation and memorization of scriptures to be recited prophetically in prayer.
A picture of this is when Jacob prophetically blessed each of his twelve sons and tribes according to their proper blessing.
Genesis 49:28 (LOT), "All these are the tribes of Israel, twelve in number; and this is what their father spoke unto them, and wherewith he blessed them; every one according to his proper blessing blessed he them."
It is not just a matter of randomly picking up Scriptures and saying them as a duty. It is prophetic or Spirit-led intercession since one has already passed by the Golden Lampstand before coming to the Table of Showbread.
The Jesus Prayer Model aligns with the Table of Showbread where He taught us to ask the Father to 'deliver us from the evil one.'
Matthew 6:13 (WEB), "...deliver us from the evil one..."
When Satan came with the three temptations based on perverting Scriptures to Jesus, the Lord Himself overcame the evil one at the Table of Showbread by rightly quoting the Scriptures to counter each of the three temptations of Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11).
It is in this passage that Jesus gave the link between the twelve loaves of unleavened bread on the Table and the prophetic Word that proceeds from the Mouth of God.
Matthew 4:4 (WEB), "But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”"
David and his men ate the Showbread which was for priests in the Tabernacle which was unlawful but nothing happened, because praying prophetic words from Scriptures is the priestly ministry of every believer.
Matthew 12:3-4 (WEB), "But he said to them, “Haven’t you read what David did, when he was hungry, and those who were with him; how he entered into God’s house, and ate the show bread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for those who were with him, but only for the priests?"
Unleavened Showbread is the symbol of the undiluted truth of God's Word in the Scriptures, and leaven is the symbol of man's teachings contrary to the Word.
Matthew 16:6, 12 (LITV), "And Jesus said to them, Watch and take heed from the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Then they knew that He did not say to take heed from the leaven of bread, but from the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees."
Eating the Showbread is equal to understanding the truth of God's Word by studying the Bible.
1 Corinthians 5:8 (WEB), "Therefore let’s keep the feast, not with old yeast, neither with the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."
2 Timothy 2:15, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
c. Prayer at the Altar of Incense
The Altar of Incense, also known as the Golden Altar, was a holy furniture piece in the Tabernacle that was used for offering incense to God, symbolizing the prayers of the people rising to heaven.
It was made of acacia wood, overlaid with gold. The Altar of Incense was placed in front of the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place in the Tabernacle (Exodus 30:1-10, 37:25-29, Leviticus 16:12-13).
Both the Golden Lampstand and the Table of Showbread are before the Altar of Incense in the Holy Place to signify how praying in the Spirit by speaking in tongues, and praying according to the Scriptures (in understanding) are the two ways by which believers can offer prayers that are sweet smelling and acceptable unto the Father.
1 Corinthians 14:14-15 (WEB), "For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also. I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also."
The Altar of Incense symbolizes the prayers of the saints ascending to God like sweet-smelling incense.
Revelation 5:8 (WEB), "Now when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints."
5. Intimate Worship and Ultimate Surrender in the Holy of Holies
The fifth and final step of prayer is intimate worship and final surrender in the Holy of Holies.
The Holy of Holies, also known as the Most Holy Place, was a holy chamber in the Tabernacle considered the most holy place on earth, where God's presence dwelled.
It contained the Ark of the Covenant, which held the Ten Commandments, Aaron's rod that budded, and a pot of manna.
The Holy of Holies was located at the western end of the Tabernacle and Temple, separated from the Holy Place by a thick veil.
Only the High Priest was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies, and only once a year, on the Day of Atonement (Exodus 25:10-22, 26:31-33, Leviticus 16:1-34 & Hebrews 9:1-10).
The Holy of Holies was the innermost place where God’s presence dwelled. It symbolizes the ultimate surrender and intimate communion with God.
In the New Testament, the Holy of Holies and its contents hold significant meaning for the prayer life of believers, who are considered priests.
1 Peter 2:9 (WEB), "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."
Revelation 1:6 (KJV), "And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."
The tearing of the veil symbolizes direct access to God's presence for believers, enabling them to pray and worship without intermediaries (Matthew 27:51, Mark 15:38, Luke 23:45).
The New Testament encourages all believers to draw near to God in the Holy of Holies with confidence, boldness, and sincerity.
Hebrews 10:19-22 (AMP), "Therefore, brethren, since we have full freedom and confidence to enter the Holy of Holies [by the power and virtue] in the blood of Jesus, By this fresh (new) and living way which He initiated and dedicated and made known for us through the veil, that is, through His flesh, And since we have a great High Priest Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession [of faith in Him]. Let us approach [God] with a true and sincere heart, in the assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled and purified from a guilty (evil) conscience and our bodies washed with clean water.""
Devotion at the Ark of the Covenant
The Ark of the Covenant is a holy chest with the tablets of the Ten Commandments, Aaron's rod, and manna representing God's covenant with the Israelites and His divine presence and rulership (kingdom) among them.
The believer must express total devotion to the commandments of Jesus in the four Gospels represented by the Law of Moses, present himself to be used of God inspite of rejection from people as happened to Aaron when God responded by the budding of his rod overnight, and listen to God's continuous instruction and guidance represented by the manna that fell from heaven daily every morning.
The Ark of the Covenant is the symbol of the presence of God as King among men, and if anyone mishandled it even with good intentions they died instantly like Uzzah.
2 Samuel 6:6-7 (WEB), "When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached for God’s ark, and took hold of it; for the cattle stumbled. Yahweh’s anger burned against Uzzah; and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by God’s ark."
The Ark is the place of total surrender and submission to the kingship or rulership of the Father without trying to help Him to be God. This matches with part of the last statement in the Jesus Prayer Model where Christ taught His disciples to say, "Yours is the kingdom."
Matthew 6:13 (WEB), "...For yours is the Kingdom..."
Acknowledging God's Power at the Mercy Seat/Throne of Grace
The Mercy Seat is the golden lid and throne of the Ark of the Covenant, symbolizing God's power and mercy, where the high priest would sprinkle blood on the Day of Atonement to atone for the sins of the people (Romans 3:25, Hebrews 9:5).
The Mercy Seat symbolizes God’s presence, power, and mercy, ultimately fulfilled through Jesus’ sacrifice.
In the Old Testament, the high priest would sprinkle the blood of a sacrificial animal on the Mercy Seat on the Day of Atonement to atone for Israel’s sins (Leviticus 16:15-16).
This foreshadowed Jesus, whose blood was shed to provide eternal redemption for humanity. As Paul writes, “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of His blood—to be received by faith” (Romans 3:25, NIV).
Through Jesus, the Mercy Seat becomes a powerful sign of God’s grace and the reconciliation of sinners to Him. Believers, as priests, can now approach God's throne with prayers and intercessions, knowing that Jesus is their High Priest and Intercessor (Hebrews 7:25, Romans 8:34).
Believers can pray with confidence, knowing that Jesus' blood has secured their forgiveness and redemption.
Having already confessed your sins at the Laver, you now need to acknowledge God's power in your prayer and life through the forgiveness of your sins.
Jesus demonstrated His power and healed the sick through the forgiveness of sins.
Matthew 9:6 (NKJV), "But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
The apostle James shows us that the power of prayer is unlocked when we are forgiven by God in response to the confession of our sins.
James 5:16 (WEB), "Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective."
The part where Jesus taught us to acknowledge the power of God is when He instructed us to say, "Yours is the power."
Matthew 6:13 (WEB), "For yours is ...the power..."
Giving Glory at the Two Golden Cherubim
The two cherubim were placed on the cover of the Ark, facing each other and looking into the mercy seat with their wings extended, as they sought to see the sacrifice and the glory (fire) of God that would descend upon it as a sign that the Lord had received the offering.
This is what the apostle Peter talks about revealing that the two angels were looking into the sacrifice of Jesus Christ to see how God's glory descended upon Him in the resurrection as a sign that the Father had accepted Christ's sacrifice.
1 Peter 1:11-12 (NKJV), "Searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into."
This is where we must give all the glory to God during prayer for what He has done in our lives through the sacrifice of Christ Jesus.
The part that matches to this stage in the Jesus Prayer Model is where the Lord taught us to say, "Yours is the glory."
Matthew 6:13 (WEB), "For yours is ...the glory forever. Amen.’"
When you get to the most holy place in prayer you will feel that if you continue praying you might die at any moment, because your body will no longer be able to contain the intensity of the presence and power of God. The glory of God will be visible on the countenance of your face to the people who see you.
2 Corinthians 3:7-8 (NET), "But if the ministry that produced death – carved in letters on stone tablets – came with glory, so that the Israelites could not keep their eyes fixed on the face of Moses because of the glory of his face (a glory which was made ineffective), how much more glorious will the ministry of the Spirit be?"
Acts 6:15 (NET), "All who were sitting in the council looked intently at Stephen and saw his face was like the face of an angel."
Always end your prayer by surrendering to God’s sovereignty (kingdom), power, and glory. Shalom.
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