JESUS WENT: To Pray

Hi this is breathing welcome to the Salvation Army's words of life. Welcome back to the words of life. I'm Cheryl Gilman and I'm here with my special guest cohosts for this series, 10 gallon hi Tim, I sure was great to be back. It's been a great series of poor husband and has been great having you with us. It's hard to believe that were already in the middle of this Easter series with Maj. Luis Melendez. I know I have.

I think our listeners have really enjoyed having you make such a great teacher and I expect that we will all be hearing more from him in the near future, I think so too. And you know this week he'll be studying moment in Scripture. When we see Jesus praying alone. I just recently in my own studies whenever Mark line and it talks about Jesus going away early in the morning. Off to a quiet place outside and I'm just, you know, this speaks to my heart because it's like in nature.

I definitely find that quiet spot much more so than I do. Even if I'm find it quiet spot in my house right in our house.

I find that I really connect with God in a special way how you will show you. You know me better than anyone else and in our almost 28 years of marriage. You know how much I love to be out in nature.

That's where I met with our heavenly father and that you can see his handiwork everywhere, but it's also good for us to break away from the craziness of the world. The noise of television and radio and and even other people's voices so that we can connect one on one with the Lord.

So I look forward to what we say. The all day and in each Easter series. We are presenting strategically. Some of the places that Jesus went and we question ourselves is the Salvation Army doing the same today I want to start by reading a verse from each one of the gospel writers.

In doing so, we see that Jesus went to pray.

Matthew 1423 and when he had sent the crowds away and went up into a mountain apart to pray and when evening had come.

He was there alone. Mark 135 very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

Luke 515 and 60, but the word about him spread even more and great crowds were coming to hear and to be healed from their infirmities by him, but he was drawing back into the wilderness and prayed. John 18 verse one and two. Having spoken these words, Jesus went out with his disciples over the winter stream to draw where there was a garden. He and his disciples entered into it and Judas who betrayed him also knew the place for Jesus. Often times went there with his disciples to pray. Did you know that the only places that the Bible have recorded of Jesus praying for an extended period of time are all outside when Jesus prayed by himself. He seemed to prefer the outdoors rather than indoors places that the Bible mentions that Jesus went to pray are the garden of just 70, which was one of his favorite places to pray a mountain the wilderness and a solitary deserted place. Of course, Jesus also prayed indoors many times for sure. Why did Jesus prefer to pray outside. One reason is that it feels closer to God by being surrounded by God's creation and God's glory. Another reason could be that it's easier to be alone being outside and not having any interruptions from other people.

Another reason is that you can shout and cry out to God in the middle of the wilderness on top of a mountain and nobody can hear you but God. So Jesus continually withdrew from people daily life activities and demands of his ministries to be alone with the father and pray Jesus is ongoing, intimate relationship with his father was the source of his compassion, wisdom and power that we see on every page of the Gospels is how he began his ministry is how he made important decisions.

It's how he provided for the needs of others is how he dealt with troubling emotions like grief, it's how he dealt with the constant demands of his ministry and care for his own soul. It's how he taught his disciples. It's how he prepared for important ministry events. It's how he performed miracles is even how he prepared for his own death on the cross by setting a place and time apart to pray why did Jesus pray this is sometimes puzzling for many Christians, after all, if Jesus is God, why did Christ need to pray theologically speaking, there are a lot of reasons. Well at least three reasons that Jesus prayed first, Jesus prayed as an example to his followers lets us. This is an example. We continue to learn from second, the incarnation, consists of both divine and human natures from his human nature. It was perfectly natural for Jesus to pray third, the nature of the Trinity is set up that way it allows for the communication between its members as God the son, Jesus would prayed to God the father now because we are in the late days leading to Easter and appropriate Scripture to focus on is the fact that Jesus went to pray as found in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 26 verse 36 then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane and he said to them sit here while I go over there and pray he took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, along with him. He began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, my soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me going a little farther, he fell on his face to the ground and prayed my father if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will but as you will. Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping cooking.

You men keep watch with me for an hour. He asked Peter and we end with verse 41 watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. So as an account of the Scripture passage, Jesus went to pray took his disciples with him to pray. Jesus prayed in agony as his betrayal and death was near Jesus prayed for God's will to be done.

Jesus found the disciples sleeping because they could not keep watch and pray for them at least one hour. While there is so much that we can say about prior yet. I want to be clear about one thing, Jesus the son of God, our Lord went to pray if Jesus prayed, then definitely we should go and pray just like Jesus did repeat the Lord's prayer practice daily prayer.

Pray without ceasing. Pray Scripture exercise, prayer, walking we need prayer.

We can talk about prayer, we can study, prayer, we can say our prayers, we can ask like the disciples did Jesus teach us to pray. The Bible records in many places in a matter fact in a variety of places where prayer with God to place at home in the temple. The place Jesus called the house of prayer may be outside practicing the discipline of solitude in a prayer meeting and the list can go on and on without knowing Dr. Charles Stanley once said and I quote we can be tired. We read and emotionally distraught. But after spending time alone with God in prayer we find that he injects into our bodies energy power and strength." So the question is have you gone to the Lord our God to pray. I am reminded of the words of verses one and two of one of our Salvation Army songbooks, prayer songs, what a friend we have in Jesus all our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer. Oh what peace we often forfeit all wooden needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

You know what I feel like singing trials and is there trouble.

We should never ask her to find a friend so will sorrows Jesus take the benediction from the new living translation found in Ephesians chapter 3 verse 20 and encourage even after hearing this episode just go I Jesus did and pray now all glory to God who is able through his mighty power at work within us accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Remember, if Jesus went to pray so Salvation Army submissions doing the most good means helping people with material and spiritual needs become a part of this mission every time you give to the Salvation Army visit Salvation Army USA.org to offer your support and love to hear from you.

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