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PRAY LIKE JESUS Scripture: Hebrew 7:24-25.NLT. 24 But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever. 25 Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save[a] those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. 1.JESUS PRAYED EARLY IN THE MORNING. Mark 1:35 msg 35 While it was still night, way before dawn, he got up and went out to a secluded spot and prayed. To pray very early in the morning, we have to plan. God created both rooster and the owl. Both have to plan to survive. Got up and went out A secluded spot And prayed His prayer gave HIM GOD’ perspective. 2. JESUS OFTEN WITHDREW TO LONELY PLACES AND PRAYED. Luke 5:14-16 14 Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” 15 Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. But……. Jesus as often as possible Withdrew from the needy crowd Lonely places. Disconnected to connect! Prayed This kind of prayer provided immunity and stamina in the life of Jesus. It provided the super natural strength for the extra demands of HIS life. 3. JESUS PRAYED BEFORE MAKING DECISIONS. Luke 6:12,13 12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: Life is all about decisions. Before major decisions of HIS life JESUS had special times of prayer. Inspite of prayer judas was chosen (Mary also underwent labor pain) Ultimately this kind of prayer kept him in the will of GOD 4. JESUS PRAYED WHEN HE WAS TEMPTED. Luke 4:1,2,14 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted[a] by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. Hebrews 5:7. 7. During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. His prayer life kept HIM from sin. Sin will keep us away from prayer and prayer will keep us from sin! Matthew 26:41 NLT 41 Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!” 1peter 5:8 NLT 8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. To recognize the sin, the devil and the boundary lines we should abide in the words of JESUS. Prevention is better than cure. 5. JESUS PRAYED ON THE CROSS. Luke 23:34 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”[a] And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. Matthew 27:46 46 At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,[a] lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” Luke 23:46 46 Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!”[a] And with those words he breathed his last. This kind of prayers enabled JESUS to endure the unendurable, to fulfill GOD’ purposes in the midst of great injustice and to trust GOD. Mark 8:34,35 34 Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 35 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. 6. JESUS CONTINUES TO PRAY FOR US EVEN NOW Hebrews 7:24-25 NLT 24 But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever. 25 Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save[a] those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. JESUS lives to pray for us. Right now HE is praying for us. HIS prayer keeps us moving. HE prays for us 24/7 365 days. Do we intercede for others minimum on a daily basis?
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