Follow His Example of Prayer
In the last article we were confronted with truly following Yahshua haMashiach (Jesus the Christ). To truly follow in his footsteps, knowing he as the Son of Man is our example, we must walk in love and power as he did, and collectively minister to the world as he did. We do not as individuals have available the same level of anointing and fullness of the gifts of the Spirit, but we do collectively as the Body of Messiah. The key is that we as individuals are walking properly in our potention in Messiah. If you are truly following Him, I say without apology and with full confidence that you WILL walk in love as he displayed and in power as he manifested. If the fruit and power of the Holy Spirit are not readily evident to some degree in your life, you are not following the scriptural Messiah, having received and submitted to the scriptural Good News (Gospel).
Today I bring to you the most important exercise in your life as a follower of Yahshua (Jesus); prayer. This is known by His example. As the Son of Man he operated as a man anointed by the Holy Spirit. He did not operate as the Son of God in all of his heavenly glory, but operated in a manner that we can follow. By operating in a manner we men can follow, he made himself truly our example in all things.
Christian religion has often gotten it wrong. Converts are led to believe it is simply about believing in Jesus and what he did. The scriptural call is not to merely believe in His works, but to follow and do likewise. The churches of the different sects are full of "believers" but not many disciples (followers). The truth is, if one truly has faith in the Word and the example of the Word made flesh (John 1), they will begin to walk as he walked, talk as he talked, following his examle. If someone can continue in mere religion saying they "believe" but never have a desire nor seek to follow Messiah, I highly doubt they are true believers. They believe in a religion, not the Word made flesh as our perfect example to follow, to the pleasing of our Father in heaven.
His invitation was and is "Come, follow me." Let us look at his example of prayer, so we may follow in this most important exercise.
Luk 3:21-22 AMP Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized, and [while He was still] praying, the [visible] heaven was opened (22) And the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came from heaven, saying, You are My Son, My Beloved! In You I am well pleased and find delight! [Ps. 2:7; Isa. 42:1.]
This is an important prayer; that which leads to the baptism of the Holy Spirit to empower us. Yahshua starts his ministry with prayer, and being empowered by the Holy Spirit as the answer to his prayer. He later instructions us about this prayer (Luke 11:11-13).
Mar 1:34-36 AMP And He cured many who were afflicted with various diseases; and He drove out many demons, but would not allow the demons to talk because they knew Him [intuitively]. (35) And in the morning, long before daylight, He got up and went out to a deserted place, and there He prayed. (36) And Simon [Peter] and those who were with him followed Him [pursuing Him eagerly and hunting Him out],
Mar 6:46 AMP And after He had taken leave of them, He went off into the hills to pray.
Mat 14:23 AMP And after He had dismissed the multitudes, He went up into the hills by Himself to pray. When it was evening, He was still there alone.
Whether morning or evening, he took time to withdraw to be alone and pray. His disciples looked for him and found him in the place of prayer. How do we find him now when we seek him? Praying (Hebrews 7:25).
Luk 6:12-13 AMP Now in those days it occurred that He went up into a mountain to pray, and spent the whole night in prayer to God. (13) And when it was day, He summoned His disciples and selected from them twelve, whom He named apostles (special messengers):
Before making an important decision, we see the Son of Man praying all night about it.
Need I quote all of the verses that speak of Yahshua praying for others, even by laying on of hands? His ministry to others was full of praying for others, even publicly. Some of his prayers for his disciples are recorded in the Scriptures for us.
We may have looked at the ministry of the Son of Man as going from one powerful manifestation of God's power to another. However, it may benefit us more to see his ministry as going from one prayer time to another. The powerful things done in his ministry occurred between much praying. Think about this. Are you lacking power to glorify God in your life? No doubt you lack effective prayer and this is why you lack power. How much do you pray? Or are you too busy with "life" in the world to stop and pray, morning, day, and night?
Following my Master's example, I make sure that the first thing I do in the morning is to acknowledge the Most High and my Master and the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. I begin communing with the Spirit willingly right then and there. I have time set aside to meditate on his Word and pray to my Father in heaven. Then I start the activity of the day. During the day, I take time to commune more. Prayer is simply communing (talking to and listening to) God. Before I go to bed at night, I again make sure I focus in on the Word and then spend time praying.
Have I always done this every day and been perfect since I began following Messiah? No. I have noticed that when I practice this faithfully, these times in my life have been saturated with the working power of Messiah. My testimony list of mighty works God has done in my life is very long. I've seen instant healings time and again, miracles, signs, wonders; things that when I testify of what I've witnessed in my own life many cannot believe I'm telling the truth (because they don't experience such and struggle to believe that what happed in the "bible" can happen today). The times when I've neglected my prayer life, the power wanes and I began to struggle living naturally like everyone else. If we want to live a supernatural life on earth, following our Master's footsteps, we must first and foremost be people of prayer; forgetting not our Source.
Today I bring to you the most important exercise in your life as a follower of Yahshua (Jesus); prayer. This is known by His example. As the Son of Man he operated as a man anointed by the Holy Spirit. He did not operate as the Son of God in all of his heavenly glory, but operated in a manner that we can follow. By operating in a manner we men can follow, he made himself truly our example in all things.
Christian religion has often gotten it wrong. Converts are led to believe it is simply about believing in Jesus and what he did. The scriptural call is not to merely believe in His works, but to follow and do likewise. The churches of the different sects are full of "believers" but not many disciples (followers). The truth is, if one truly has faith in the Word and the example of the Word made flesh (John 1), they will begin to walk as he walked, talk as he talked, following his examle. If someone can continue in mere religion saying they "believe" but never have a desire nor seek to follow Messiah, I highly doubt they are true believers. They believe in a religion, not the Word made flesh as our perfect example to follow, to the pleasing of our Father in heaven.
His invitation was and is "Come, follow me." Let us look at his example of prayer, so we may follow in this most important exercise.
Luk 3:21-22 AMP Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized, and [while He was still] praying, the [visible] heaven was opened (22) And the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came from heaven, saying, You are My Son, My Beloved! In You I am well pleased and find delight! [Ps. 2:7; Isa. 42:1.]
This is an important prayer; that which leads to the baptism of the Holy Spirit to empower us. Yahshua starts his ministry with prayer, and being empowered by the Holy Spirit as the answer to his prayer. He later instructions us about this prayer (Luke 11:11-13).
Mar 1:34-36 AMP And He cured many who were afflicted with various diseases; and He drove out many demons, but would not allow the demons to talk because they knew Him [intuitively]. (35) And in the morning, long before daylight, He got up and went out to a deserted place, and there He prayed. (36) And Simon [Peter] and those who were with him followed Him [pursuing Him eagerly and hunting Him out],
Mar 6:46 AMP And after He had taken leave of them, He went off into the hills to pray.
Mat 14:23 AMP And after He had dismissed the multitudes, He went up into the hills by Himself to pray. When it was evening, He was still there alone.
Whether morning or evening, he took time to withdraw to be alone and pray. His disciples looked for him and found him in the place of prayer. How do we find him now when we seek him? Praying (Hebrews 7:25).
Luk 6:12-13 AMP Now in those days it occurred that He went up into a mountain to pray, and spent the whole night in prayer to God. (13) And when it was day, He summoned His disciples and selected from them twelve, whom He named apostles (special messengers):
Before making an important decision, we see the Son of Man praying all night about it.
Need I quote all of the verses that speak of Yahshua praying for others, even by laying on of hands? His ministry to others was full of praying for others, even publicly. Some of his prayers for his disciples are recorded in the Scriptures for us.
We may have looked at the ministry of the Son of Man as going from one powerful manifestation of God's power to another. However, it may benefit us more to see his ministry as going from one prayer time to another. The powerful things done in his ministry occurred between much praying. Think about this. Are you lacking power to glorify God in your life? No doubt you lack effective prayer and this is why you lack power. How much do you pray? Or are you too busy with "life" in the world to stop and pray, morning, day, and night?
Following my Master's example, I make sure that the first thing I do in the morning is to acknowledge the Most High and my Master and the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. I begin communing with the Spirit willingly right then and there. I have time set aside to meditate on his Word and pray to my Father in heaven. Then I start the activity of the day. During the day, I take time to commune more. Prayer is simply communing (talking to and listening to) God. Before I go to bed at night, I again make sure I focus in on the Word and then spend time praying.
Have I always done this every day and been perfect since I began following Messiah? No. I have noticed that when I practice this faithfully, these times in my life have been saturated with the working power of Messiah. My testimony list of mighty works God has done in my life is very long. I've seen instant healings time and again, miracles, signs, wonders; things that when I testify of what I've witnessed in my own life many cannot believe I'm telling the truth (because they don't experience such and struggle to believe that what happed in the "bible" can happen today). The times when I've neglected my prayer life, the power wanes and I began to struggle living naturally like everyone else. If we want to live a supernatural life on earth, following our Master's footsteps, we must first and foremost be people of prayer; forgetting not our Source.