MONDAY 12.02.2018
TEXT : LUKE 3:21
JESUS THE MAN OF PRAYER
What does the Gospels teach us about Jesus' prayer life ?
1) Jesus was praying alone
- In lonely places
Luke 5:16 reads, "But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed."
John 6:15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
- All night into a mountain
Luke 6:12 reads, "And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God."
Matthew 14:23 reads, "And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.- In the morning into a solitary place
Mark 1:35 reads, "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed."
As much as Jesus understood the value of praying with and for others, He also understood the need to pray alone.
Sometimes it's important for us to "be still" before God, but the only way to do this, especially in our hectic culture, is to do so alone with God.
Psalm 46:10 reads, "Be still, and know that I am God."
QUESTION OF REFLEXION : Do you have a solitary place where you spend your time to pray alone to your Father?
2) Jesus was praying with others.
Jesus prayed alone, but He also knew the value of praying with others. Jesus' well known prayer partners were Peter, John and James with which he was spending most of the important and critical moments of his life.
- During the mountain top experience of transfiguration
Mark 9:2 And after six days Jesus taketh [with him] Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.
- During the miracle of the resurrection of the ruler's daughter
Mark 5:37 And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.
- During the anguish time at Gethsemane
Mark 14:33 And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;
QUESTION OF REFLEXION : Do you pray with others?
3) Jesus prayed regularly
This insight is gleaned from a passage cited earlier, Luke 5:16: "Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed."
The word "often" is not hidden, but makes it obvious that Jesus prayed regularly. Throughout the Gospels whenever we read of Jesus and prayer, it comes up regularly and naturally. It was simply a part of His worldview, integrated into every aspect of Christ's life.
- Before eating, Jesus used to give thanks for the meal
Matthew 26:26, "And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;"
QUESTION OF REFLEXION : Do you pray before eating?
- Before making important choices and decisions, Jesus used to pray
Luke 6:12-13, "12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles"
QUESTION OF REFLEXION : Do you pray before making important decisions ?
PRAYERS = PRAYERS = PRAYERS =
Prayer 1 | The reason why many are weak in prayer is because there is no fire at their altar.
Pray the Holy Spirit to ignite the flame of prayer at your altar.
Read and pray with Leviticus 6:13 "The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out."
Prayer 2 | If the heart does not have the love of God, the man will never have time for God.
Pray the Holy Spirit to ignite the flame of the love of God in your heart.
Read and pray with Romans 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
SO SHALL IT BE
🔃🔃🔃🔃🔃🔃🔃🔃🔃
JESUS IS LORD
Pasteur TD KASUKU KK
THE WORD OF LIFE CHURCH INT'L
Nairobi / Kenya
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