Now We Have Access | Genesis 3:8-13 | Milton James

Genesis shows where the fracture came from. Sin made Adam and Eve hide from the presence of God, and that same fall still shows up in distraction, shame, guilt, doubt, weariness, and a prayerless life. Prayer, though, is God’s established way for His sons and daughters to stay in holy communion with Him. The line is always open. Sin tries to pull people away from that communion, but God has placed His Spirit in His people so they can come near.

Jesus’ prayers in Luke reveal that prayer was not occasional for Him. Prayer was His rhythm, like air. Jesus prayed at His baptism before stepping into public ministry, and the Father affirmed Him as the beloved Son. Jesus withdrew to desolate places before He returned to ministry full of wisdom, truth, revelation, and the Father’s presence. Christ prioritized communion with the Father over ministry, because ministry without the Father will damage people, no matter how gifted somebody may be.

Jesus prayed all night before choosing the twelve, showing that major decisions cannot be handled casually. Jesus prayed before feeding the five thousand, acknowledging that the Father is the provider of all things. Jesus prayed before Peter confessed Him as the Christ, because prayer prepares the soul for revelation. Jesus prayed on the mountain, and His glory broke through before sleeping disciples. Prayer is not only talking. Prayer is sitting with God until the soul is at ease, the Scripture opens up, and intercession begins to flow.

Jesus taught His disciples to begin with “Father.” Prayer begins with relationship, worship, surrender, daily dependence, forgiveness, and a cry for protection from temptation. Jesus also prayed for Peter before Satan sifted him like wheat. Christ did not promise Peter would avoid the fall, but Christ prayed that Peter’s faith would not fail and that his restoration would strengthen his brothers. Hardship does not mean Christ has left His people alone. Christ has already prayed for their endurance.

Jesus prayed in agony at Gethsemane, bringing His honest desire before the Father while submitting it under “nevertheless.” Jesus prayed forgiveness from the cross for those who crucified Him. Jesus committed His spirit into the Father’s hands, proving that His death was willing surrender, not defeat. The risen Christ opened the disciples’ eyes in fellowship, blessed them at His ascension, and still intercedes as High Priest and Advocate. Now God’s people have access. Prayer is holy communion, dependence, surrender, intercession, and a desire to see God’s glory.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Prayer is holy communion with God. Prayer cannot be reduced to a list of needs thrown toward heaven. God gives prayer so His people do not drift from Him like earthly relationships can drift over time. Prayer becomes a place where the soul learns to depend, listen, rest, and know Him more deeply. [07:39]
• 2. Communion comes before ministry. Jesus stepped away from crowds and demands to be alone with the Father. His private prayer filled Him with wisdom, truth, and revelation for public ministry. Gifts and talent without God’s process can still crush the very people someone is called to serve. [20:57]
• 3. Major decisions must be soaked in prayer. Jesus prayed all night before choosing the twelve disciples. Important relationships, leadership decisions, and life direction should never be handled casually. The Father’s will is worth waiting for with the hunger of a dog on a bone. [23:12]
• 4. Christ prays through every hard trial. Jesus told Peter that Satan wanted to sift him, yet Christ had already prayed that Peter’s faith would not fail. A believer may cry, grieve, and feel the weight of suffering, but Christ’s intercession means the trial does not get the final word. Restoration can become strength for somebody else. [41:41]
• 5. Nevertheless brings desires under God’s will. Jesus prayed honestly in Gethsemane, asking for the cup to pass while yielding completely to the Father. Faithful prayer does not pretend pain is painless or suffering is easy. Faithful prayer brings every desire to God and still says, “Nevertheless.”
  
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [02:47] - Now We Have Access
• [05:24] - Drifting From Communion
• [10:44] - The Fracture in Eden
• [13:47] - Walking Through Jesus’ Prayers
• [15:38] - Jesus Prays at His Baptism
• [19:06] - Desolate Places and Private Prayer
• [23:12] - Praying Before Major Decisions
• [26:51] - Prayer Before Provision and Revelation
• [31:29] - Prayer and Christ’s Glory
• [39:13] - Jesus Teaches the Disciples to Pray
• [41:41] - Jesus Prays for Peter’s Faith
• [50:35] - Jesus Prays for Unity
• [54:40] - Nevertheless in Gethsemane
• [59:28] - Forgiveness and Surrender on the Cross
• [69:19] - Christ Still Intercedes
• [72:36] - A Call to Pray

Bible Reading

1. Luke 3:21-22

“Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.’” [15:38]

1. Luke 6:12-13

“In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles:” [23:12]

1. Luke 22:31-32

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” [41:41]

1. Luke 22:41-42

“And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, ‘Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.’” [55:16]

Observation questions

1. In Luke 3:21-22, what was Jesus doing when the heavens opened, the Spirit descended, and the Father spoke over Him? [15:38]
2. According to Luke 6:12-13, how long did Jesus pray before choosing the twelve apostles, and what happened after that night of prayer? [23:12]
3. In Luke 22:31-32, what did Jesus say Satan wanted to do to Peter, and what specifically did Jesus pray for Peter? [41:41]
4. In Luke 22:41-42, what two requests or responses do we hear in Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane? [55:16]

Interpretation questions

1. Jesus prayed before stepping into public ministry, even though He is the beloved Son of God. What does this show about dependence on the Father before serving, leading, or using spiritual gifts? [16:12]
2. Jesus prayed all night before choosing the twelve. Why might important decisions about relationships, leadership, work, or direction require more than a quick prayer? [24:00]
3. Jesus did not tell Peter that he would avoid the trial or even avoid failure; He prayed that Peter’s faith would not fail and that Peter would strengthen others after returning. How does this shape a believer’s understanding of hardship, failure, restoration, and helping others? [46:15]
4. In Gethsemane, Jesus honestly asked for the cup to pass while fully submitting to the Father’s will. How can “nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done” keep prayer honest without making it self-centered? [57:25]

Application questions

1. Prayer is holy communion with God, not only bringing Him a list of needs. What most often pulls you away from that communion—busyness, entertainment, shame, unanswered prayers, doubt, weariness, or something else? What could help you make room to be with God this week? [07:39]
2. Jesus withdrew to desolate places to pray before returning to people and ministry. Where is a realistic “desolate place” for you—a room, car, walk, early morning, or another quiet space—and what would it look like to use it consistently? [19:06]
3. Is there a major decision, relationship, calling, or burden in your life that you may have been handling casually? How might you begin to slow down and seek the Father’s wisdom instead of relying mainly on your own understanding? [24:32]
4. Jesus prayed for Peter before Peter entered a painful trial. When you are facing hardship, how would remembering that Christ intercedes for you change the way you pray, grieve, and endure? [45:41]
5. Jesus prayed honestly in agony and still said, “Nevertheless.” What desire, fear, disappointment, or painful situation do you need to bring plainly before God while also placing it under His will? [58:31]
6. Jesus prayed for forgiveness from the cross. Is there someone whose sin against you still has a strong hold on your heart? What might it look like to begin bringing that person before the Father in prayer, asking for grace to forgive without pretending the hurt was small? [59:32]