ThePresuppositionsof Prayer(See explanation of the pictures at the end of this document)

PRAYER

DIALOGUE1

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Rublev's Icon of the Trinity

The icon of the Trinity was painted around 1410 by Andrei Rublev

It depicts the three angels who visited Abraham at the Oak of Mamre -but is often interpreted as an icon of the Trinity.

It is sometimes called the icon of the Old Testament Trinity.

The image is full of symbolism - designed to take the viewer into the Mystery of the Trinity.

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GOD

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Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.

But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.

(Isaiah 59:2 NIV).7

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2 Corinthians 5:18-25

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

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Acts 10:39-43

"We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a

tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people,

but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living

and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins

through his name."10

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COMMUNICATION RESTORED

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But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your

Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like

pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father

knows what you need before you ask him. "This, then, is how you should pray:

" 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name ...

Matthew 6:6-914

The presuppositions of prayerT

Before talking about prayer, it is important to point out what are, in the Christian world view, the presuppositions of prayer, namely what are the basic concepts thrigh which we understand what is prayer and what it makes it possible.c

1. Prayer can be understood as a dialogue among persons, for example parents talking to their children, people talking with their friends, a wife talking to her husban. Prayer is communication, sharing.t

2. We are are creatures who can interact through complex communication. We were created this way as beings made at the image of God. We were created with the ability to communicate with God. Ged Himself is a communicating Being.c

3. The Bible reveals God not as a lonely Being, but as one God in Three Persons, interacting one with the other, as it is portrayed by Rublev's Icon of the Trinity.t

4. We were made for interacting and communicating richly, as a child to his or her father or mother.4

5. This communication was eventually interrupted. People asserted their autonomy from God. they thought that they could live without Him, as a law unto themselves.u

6. Furthering away from God, communication between God and people became impossible. Partnership became enmity. Human life became lonely and miserable.m

7. What hinders communication between us and God is called "sin". The Holy god cannot commune with sinners. See: Isaiah 59:2.7

8. God, nevertheless, provided a way to restore the lost communication among human beings and Himself. He sent the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ as a bridge between them.a

9. Through Jesus reconciliation between people and God became possible. Sin and its consequences were atoned by the Jesus death on the Cross. He took upon Himself sin and freed us from it. t

10. Everyone who entrusts him- or herself to the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ receives the grace of reconciliation. Communication becomes possible again.a

11. Prayer becomes possibile, as we are led to God by Jesus. Prayer is going to be effective "in the name of Jesus". Where are you now?

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12. The communication of prayer is now, through Jesus Christ restored. Even cmmunication among people acquires in Christ a new quality,1

13. The believer in Him is granted the right to be a child of God and the privilege to call God his or her Father. He is ready to enter into dialogue with

us.u