Jesus, speaking in His human capacity, declared, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). The foundation for such a stunning claim is laid in Genesis 1:26–27, where we learn that humanity was created in the image of God. To bear that image is to reflect the Creator Himself. Yet this truth is not a license for self-exaltation or a pretense to divine knowledge. We exist in a fallen condition, incapable of reliably discerning good from evil—a predicament that made the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ, absolutely necessary.
The pursuit of true knowledge is hindered whenever we presume to understand what we do not. The real stumbling block, then, is arrogance: a lack of faith born from accepting falsehood as truth. Genuine confidence, by contrast, naturally empowers action, provided it rests upon full knowledge and the skill to address a given challenge. A trained professional acts with assurance; this stands in stark contrast to one who merely pretends to know, when the opposite is true.
The central thrust of Jesus’ mission was to proclaim the Kingdom of God. The problems of humanity are as numerous as humans themselves, but the real focus is the Kingdom that restores us to the condition for which we were created. The pursuit of temporary gains has been a profound distraction from the genuine issue that ought to occupy humanity. Consider the rich young man who approached Jesus, presumably sincere in his desire to enter God’s Kingdom. Upon hearing the preconditions, he went away sad, finding the demand unattainable.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:23-26, NIV)
This passage highlights humanity’s lack of faith, which often stems from invalidating one’s own true identity. Faithlessness arises when trust is placed in material things more than in the person’s authentic, God-given identity. As long as one feels secure with food, shelter, and clothing, confidence seems to come from money and possessions. Yet such acquisitions can never guarantee perpetual survival.
As long as a human being cannot focus on the real issue—the supreme value of God’s Kingdom—they remain incapable. However, when one becomes aware of having been created in God’s image, they become capable of doing whatever God can do. Jesus made this clear when His disciples asked why they could not drive out a demon:
“Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20, NIV)
The disciples could not understand the cause of their failure to do what Jesus did. Jesus’ answer pinpointed inadequate faith. The core message conveyed is that humans are not fundamentally different from Jesus. The apparent difference lies in a lack of faith. But how does one acquire faith, and from what source does it come? Faith implies certainty—acting without any room for doubt. When insufficiently trained, a person fails to produce the required results and naturally lacks faith in the practicality of that function.
Nothing else causes faithlessness except a lack of knowledge. While Jesus was equipped with the knowledge, His disciples lacked proficiency in casting out demons. All human problems lie somewhere on the spectrum between knowledge and ignorance. One must have confidence in doing what one knows best; without it, one stumbles.
When adequately trained, a person becomes capable and can impart knowledge to others who lack such capability. Even in everyday life, it is unnecessary to strain over what one is not predisposed to do. Why force oneself to be an engineer when not gifted in engineering? One needs to consult those who possess the necessary skills. The ability to communicate is essential for achieving good results. The ignorant can consult experts in whatever area is needed. These are basic principles of living. No one needs to pretend to know what they do not.
Human failures, in general, emanate from an inability to communicate. With proper communication skills, all things are possible. This principle can be extended to the inability to pray, once we appreciate that prayer is communication with God. Very few people truly grasp this. Advising the disciples who questioned their inability to cast out the demon, Jesus added: “But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:21).
By introducing the principle of prayer, we must also highlight humility as the real remedy for failure in handling human problems. Prayer alone, while ignoring fellow human beings who possess expertise we lack, is itself a cause of failure. Pride, therefore, is the root cause of human failure. There is no person born without a special talent or ability that can benefit others, who likewise has their own unique gifts. Yet due to the poison of pride, many are suppressed and die without ever showcasing their talents.
In prayer and fasting, one communicates with God. When learning the principles of effective communication, one includes prayer, which drives a person toward humility and the capacity to relate to fellow human beings. Through effective communication, the exact particle of information is transferred to the recipient. Having received it accurately, the recipient is persuaded to act on what is requested. Problems arise when we lack communication skills yet assume knowledge of the unknown.
The disciples failed to drive out the demon due to a lack of faith, and that lack of faith begins with a failure to appreciate the principle of humility. Their limitation could have been overcome through proper communication with God, using prayer and fasting—practices that cultivate humility and the ability to communicate with fellow humans. Knowledge grants confidence in performing required functions.
Driving is simple to those who have developed the skill, but in the hands of an inexperienced driver, any vehicle can be wrecked. The same applies to all other functions. Jesus’ statement to His disciples—that with faith as small as a mustard seed nothing would be impossible—insinuates that what is possible with God is also possible with humans, precisely because humanity was created in God’s image and is limited only by self-centeredness.
Jesus taught skills in communication with God. He often stated that He could do nothing without his Father’s approval. His teachings were the conduit through which God could accomplish anything. Having acquired that skill, the disciples could similarly be used as conduits by God to address all human problems. Unfortunately, at that time, the disciples did not even know how to pray.
Aware of what characterizes human failure, Jesus provided a better model of prayer and fasting. Sadly, while His instructions were meant to help believers, the prayer model is often sidelined or used differently from how He recommended. It is commonly called “the Lord’s Prayer,” when in fact Jesus offered it for believers to adopt:
“But when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 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 openly. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do 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, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’” (Matthew 6:7-13, NIV)
Any technology is effective only in the hands of a skilled artisan. The above is a guideline. When results are not produced, the fault lies in failing to apply the contents as recommended. Jesus specifically instructed that the petitioner should avoid ostentation in prayer and needless repetition, as if God did not already understand the situation. God knows everything concerning humanity and knows it better than we do.
When we petition, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” we realize that one of God’s strongest wills is that we treat others as we would like to be treated. As John writes, one cannot claim to love God whom they have not seen while hating their brother whom they have seen (1 John 4:20). So, why pray if God already knows everything?
Prayer facilitates communication between God and the petitioner. God desires to do His work through those willing to be used by Him and willing to submit to His instructions. The prayer guideline does not primarily ask anything from God; rather, it facilitates the alignment of the individual’s viewpoint with God’s viewpoint.
The prayer follows a gradient approach. “Our Father in heaven” reminds the petitioner of their identity as God’s child—a crucial truth, because Christians are God’s children yet have deviated from His authority. This prayer cannot be truly applied by non-Christians; Jesus’ teaching was directed at those who belong to Him. The petitioner is made aware that self-centeredness has no place when approaching God’s throne.
The petitioner also carries responsibility for sins committed by others in their environment. One person’s righteousness does not ensure safety if those around them persist in sin. The petitioner approaches the throne of grace with the conviction of being God’s child. This is why Christians are more accountable for what transpires in their environment and cannot afford to succumb to despair. “Hallowed be your name.”
Which name does the petitioner honor? This phrase reminds us of God’s oneness and of the command not to misuse His name. A petitioner cannot be considered skilled while disrespecting God’s name. A highly skilled petitioner, however, understands that God’s name is holy, adjusting their attitude into a reverent state as one in communion with God.
“Your kingdom come.” Having entered communion with God, the petitioner invites His Kingdom, fully aware of its necessity in addressing sinfulness. The petitioner makes themselves available for the facilitation of that Kingdom. God’s Kingdom does not manifest; who is to blame, except oneself, as God’s Kingdom is possible when each person takes responsibility.
“Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Up to this point, the prayer emphasizes submission to God more than petitioning for personal desires. The petitioner conditions their attitude toward God’s will, culminating in thinking as God thinks. Remember, Jesus did nothing that displeased His Father; the same should apply to Christians.
“Give us today our daily bread.” Jesus proclaimed Himself the bread of life (John 6:35). Christians cannot survive spiritually without God’s word. Thus, this petition helps the believer focus on God’s word daily. To the tempter, Jesus said, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4).
God’s word is daily nourishment for spiritual growth—not merely academic study, but understanding facilitated by God’s Spirit. Unless God inspires and enriches our comprehension, understanding His word is impossible. This precludes mere theology; true understanding comes directly from God. “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
At this stage, the petitioner is helped to see the impossibility of receiving forgiveness while refusing to forgive those who have transgressed against them. The starting point is to remember those who need forgiveness before asking God to forgive one’s own sins. This also reminds us how impossible it is to exist in this physical nature without sins of commission or omission.
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” By now, the petitioner has become aware that their enemies are not flesh and blood—they have been taught to love those once considered enemies. The evil one is none other than Satan, the devil. God does not lead anyone into temptation, but through the preceding petitions, the petitioner has been led to appreciate God’s sovereign authority over everything.
“For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” The petitioner keeps in mind that the prayer is directed to the One in control of all things, remaining reverent to Almighty God after such intimate communication. There is truth in being reverent toward God, whom one has never seen, while never ignoring the fundamental law of loving one’s neighbor as oneself. “Amen” seals that divine communication.
As can be seen, this prayer model cannot be recited in a few seconds. It may require days to condition the mind into alignment with God. This is where fasting becomes a necessary companion to prayer. Jesus also provided a fasting method that corrects common practice:
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:16-18, NIV)
Jesus’ teachings show that neither prayer nor fasting can be reduced to ritual. Through prayer and fasting, the human mind is led to appreciate the principle of humility. Their methodical application involves proper communication with God, who then objectively considers the submitted requests based on aligning with His will. To achieve results, one needs training, application of what has been taught, and humility enough to value fellow human beings. Otherwise, a person remains ineffective, without knowledge.
Jesus said that when possessing faith as small as a mustard seed, nothing would be impossible for a believer. The only reason humans carry such capacity is that they are created in God’s image. Whatever God is capable of doing, humans can also do—through those believers who are willing to communicate with God in the proper manner outlined above, and who extend that communication to fellow humans by treating them as they themselves wish to be treated.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilisation, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from the current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, relieving those who have witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions, leading to the current economic and social decay. Most Zimbabweans should find the book to be a long-awaited providential oasis of hope, in a simple conversational tone.
The Print copy is now available at Amazon.com for $13.99
Also available as an e-copy at Lulu.com for $6.99