Jesus is For Prayer
Sermon Notes
KEY PASSAGES
Mark 1:35 ESV… And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.
Luke 22:41-42 ESV… And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
Luke 6:12-14 ESV… In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. 13 And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles…
JESUS’ PRAYER LIFE COULD NOT BE IGNORED
Prayer was a top priority for Jesus… Mark 1:35; Luke 6:12-14; 22:41-42
Jesus had a powerful intercessory prayer life… John 17:14-21; Luke 22:31-32
Jesus underwood the power of prayer… Mark 9:26-29; Jame 5:16
Queen Mary, “I fear the prayers of John Knox more than all the assembled armies of Europe”
THE EARLY CHURCH AND PRAYER
The early church was a praying church… Acts 2:42; 4:23-31
Prayer is how the Apostles grew the church… Acts 6:1-5
The early church prayed “earnestly”… Acts 12:1-5
The Apostles exhorted the early church to pray… Eph. 6:18-20; Col. 4:2-4; 1 Thess. 5:16-18; 1 Tim. 2:8
In Revelation we see the prayers of the saints rising like incense before the Lord… Rev. 5:8
SPIRITUAL DECEPTION: HOW DO WE FIGHT IT?
A key reason why people can’t see what is so obviously evil is because of “demonic deception”.
You can’t “reason” to the truth with a “spiritually deceived” person!
You can’t fight demonic deception with worldly weapons… 2 Cor. 10:3-15
Our prayers can affect change in ways beyond our wildest imagination!
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Why was Jesus so committed to prayer?
Why do Christians sometimes lose sight of the power of prayer?
Do you think the modern church prays enough?
How might you engage in prayer more this week?