And Jesus Prayed
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. Luke 6:12.
The Majesty of heaven, while engaged in His earthly ministry, was often in earnest prayer. Frequently He spent the entire night thus. His spirit was sorrowful as He felt the power of the darkness of this world, and He left the busy city and the noisy throng to seek a retired place for intercession with His Father. The Mount of Olives was the favorite resort of the Son of God. Frequently, after the multitude had left Him for the retirement of the night, He rested not though weary with the labors of the day. . . . While the city was hushed in silence and His disciples had retired to obtain refreshment in sleep, His divine pleadings were ascending to His Father from the Mount of Olives, that His disciples might be kept from the evil influences which they would daily encounter in the world, and that His own soul might be strengthened and braced for the duties and trials of the coming day. All night, while His followers were sleeping, was their divine Teacher praying, while the dew and frost of night fell upon His bowed head. . . .
The example of Christ is left on record for His followers. Jesus was Himself a source of blessing and strength. He could heal the sick and raise the dead; He commanded even the tempests, and they obeyed Him; He was unsullied with corruption, a stranger to sin; yet He endured agony which required help and support from His Father, and He prayed often with strong crying and tears. He prayed for His disciples and for Himself, thus identifying Himself with the needs, the weaknesses, and the failings which are common to humanity. He was a mighty petitioner, not possessing the passions of our human, fallen natures, but compassed with like infirmities, tempted in all points even as we are. . . .
Christ, our Example, turned to His Father in these hours of distress. He came to earth that He might provide a way whereby we could find grace and strength to help in every time of need by following His example in frequent, earnest prayer.
That I May Know Him p. 258
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Prayer Requests
—–update— Surgery went well. Thank you all for your prayers. I’m home resting. They used a nerve block for pain and sent me home with it stiil in place for 48 hours. Sheri
—— please pray for Paula, she has battled Leukemia for years, she had a bone marrow transplant years ago, but because the medical profession waited too long it spread to other forms of cancer in her body, she had also what is called secondary cancer, anyway, Paula is the sweetest of Christian saints, she always reminded me of a beautiful flower. I understand now that the secondary cancer is beyond chronic and has become untreatable, she has been sent home with Hospice, it is now growing too fast, and she is not expected to live much longer. Paula had three children, both her girls are grown and on their own now, but she still has her youngest son who is a teenager. Pray for God’s will in her life and also for His will and blessings on her children. She has fought a long and valiant battle to protect her son from a father who is a very mentally sick man. I can’t begin to say the suffering she has endured for the love of her children, to be there for them. I know she is going to close her eyes and wake up and see Jesus when He returns in the clouds of glory. I am thankful her suffering is coming to an end, but still want prayers, that she will go in peace and that her children will be there to meet her when our Lord returns in Glory. Kelly
—– Please keep me in prayer.I have a lot of debt I am struggling to pay. It becomes overwhelming at times. I am filing for bankruptcy. I still have more to do. I am contemplating taking a job overseas because I see no other way .please pray I have faith lean not to my own understanding and trust God to take care of me and my family. RKB
—–Please keep two important situations in prayer. I can’t say more at this time, but please pray. Rose
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Dear Friends,
When man sinned, the Great Creator,the One equal with the Father, the Ruler of the Universe, left all Heaven for us. He volunteered to take our punishment because of His great love for us. Paul reminds us of this sacrifice, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.” Phil 2:5-10
Think of it! The One Whom all Heaven adored left all the glories of Heaven, humbling Himself, living a life of constant self-denial, a life of service, suffering all the hatred that evil men spurred on by the devil could heap upon Him. Yet, His enemies could do nothing but that which He, Himself, allowed.From the time of His birth, the Romans tried to destroy Him. The heathen raged against Him. (Ps 2:1) The priests and rulers plotted to kill Him, although they worked in vain until the right time had come. “And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself…And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease (for He is the Lamb of God, fulfilling all that the sacrificial service foreshadowed).” Daniel 9:26,27; John 1:29
Our Omniscient God sees the end from the beginning. He could look down the ages and see millions who would love and serve Him at all cost. This made it all worthwhile. Isaiah prophesied, “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied” Isa 53:11 No matter what the evil one, fallen angels, or man might try to do, He looked forward to the time when sin and sinners would be no more, and His true followers would “follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.” Rev 14:4
Our Dear Saviour’s ascension to His Father right after His resurrection was a miniature of what the future holds for us. What rapturous joy the angels felt! As they accompanied their conquering King to the City above, they sang, “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory.” Psalm 24:7-10
What a joyous reunion of Father and Son. As Jesus was brought before the Father, the Almighty wrapped His Loving Arms around His son in a welcoming embrace. He said those touching words, “Though art My beloved Son.”Several times God had spoken those words, but this was the ultimate fulfillment of the 7th verse of the second psalm. Paul applies it thus, “God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.” Acts 13:33 He also reminds us in Hebrews,”God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?” vs 1-13
How can we turn away from His great sacrificial love? How can we be filled with selfish pride and live only for ourself? How can we love the things of this world which will soon pass away, when we have the hope of eternal life in the Home our Dear Saviour is preparing for us? May we serve Him with rejoicing, coupled with fear lest we fall into complacency and cause sorrow to His Great Heart of Love. May we put Him first in everything, trusting in Him with our entire being that someday soon, we will see Him face to face and be wrapped in His Loving embrace.
Rose