40 Days of Prayer - Day 10
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Jesus’ and the Disciples’ Example of Prayer
Time and again, we see Christ in prayer during His ministry on earth. After teaching great multitudes and healing them of their infirmities, we are told:
“And He withdrew Himself into the wilderness, and prayed” (Luke 5:16).
Luke reports that before calling the 12 disciples:
“It came to pass in those days, that He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called unto Him His disciples: and of them He chose twelve, whom also He named apostles” (Luke 6:12,13).
On the mount of transfiguration, Jesus prayed (Luke 9:29). He was drawn by the Spirit to be much with His heavenly Father in prayer. He responded to the deep, inner need for prayer that He felt. He knew it was only through such times of prayer that He would be one with the Father and be empowered to do the work He came to do.
Jesus gained His victories over Satan’s works through times in prayer with the Father. When we read of Christ confronting Satan in the lives of men and women and nature in the forms of devil possession, disease, death, storm, etc., we do not see Christ at that moment in deep prayer with His Father, praying for the power to deliver. He had already received that power from the Father during the times of intimate prayer seasons. When confronted with Satan and his works, Jesus simply spoke the Word in the power and authority of the Father, and Satan’s power was broken. Christ’s word cast out devils, healed the sick, raised the dead, and quelled the storm.
The lesson is clear. Christ maintained His oneness with the Father and received His power over the enemy during His seasons with the Father. He then came away from these prayer times taking the Father with Him. He was conscious of the Father’s presence moment by moment and day by day. Christ maintained this conscious and very real oneness with the Father throughout His life. Whenever He was confronted with Satan, He was prepared to meet the challenge and gain the victory because of His prayer life.
The example of Christ’s prayer life was not lost on the disciples. Prayer was a central part of their ministry. When the growth of the church began to demand more and more of the disciples’ time, deacons were established to “wait on tables.” The disciples said of their priorities:
“But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4).
The early church members were men and women of prayer. It is recorded of them:
“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42).
These early believers prayed in the Temple, in their homes, and outside in nature.
“And on the Sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made” (Acts 16:13).
All the apostles were men of prayer. Paul said he prayed all day and night for the believers:
“Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?” (1 Thessalonians 3:10).
Because the apostles were men of prayer, they were men of power in the Lord. The early Christians also were men and women of prayer, and God was able to do mighty wonders and miracles through them. Because of prayer the gospel went to the world.
“If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I, Paul am made a minister” (Col. 1:23).
God calls every Christian to become a mighty prayer warrior.
PERSONAL REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION
Why did Jesus spend so much time in prayer?
How did Jesus’ example in prayer affect the disciples?
What kind of prayer life did the early church members have?
How do you want your prayer life to change?
PRAYER ACTIVITY
Call your prayer partner and discuss this devotional with him/her.
Pray with your prayer partner:
• for God to continue to baptize each of you with His Holy Spirit
• for God to lead you to become a prayer warrior as were Jesus and the disciples
• for the individuals on your prayer list
INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING BIBLE VERSE IN YOUR PRAYER:
“Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders” (Psalm 119:27, NIV).
Open my understanding to Your teachings.
Cause me to meditate contantly on You.
Jesus’ and the Disciples’ Example of Prayer
Time and again, we see Christ in prayer during His ministry on earth. After teaching great multitudes and healing them of their infirmities, we are told:
“And He withdrew Himself into the wilderness, and prayed” (Luke 5:16).
Luke reports that before calling the 12 disciples:
“It came to pass in those days, that He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called unto Him His disciples: and of them He chose twelve, whom also He named apostles” (Luke 6:12,13).
On the mount of transfiguration, Jesus prayed (Luke 9:29). He was drawn by the Spirit to be much with His heavenly Father in prayer. He responded to the deep, inner need for prayer that He felt. He knew it was only through such times of prayer that He would be one with the Father and be empowered to do the work He came to do.
Jesus gained His victories over Satan’s works through times in prayer with the Father. When we read of Christ confronting Satan in the lives of men and women and nature in the forms of devil possession, disease, death, storm, etc., we do not see Christ at that moment in deep prayer with His Father, praying for the power to deliver. He had already received that power from the Father during the times of intimate prayer seasons. When confronted with Satan and his works, Jesus simply spoke the Word in the power and authority of the Father, and Satan’s power was broken. Christ’s word cast out devils, healed the sick, raised the dead, and quelled the storm.
The lesson is clear. Christ maintained His oneness with the Father and received His power over the enemy during His seasons with the Father. He then came away from these prayer times taking the Father with Him. He was conscious of the Father’s presence moment by moment and day by day. Christ maintained this conscious and very real oneness with the Father throughout His life. Whenever He was confronted with Satan, He was prepared to meet the challenge and gain the victory because of His prayer life.
The example of Christ’s prayer life was not lost on the disciples. Prayer was a central part of their ministry. When the growth of the church began to demand more and more of the disciples’ time, deacons were established to “wait on tables.” The disciples said of their priorities:
“But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4).
The early church members were men and women of prayer. It is recorded of them:
“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42).
These early believers prayed in the Temple, in their homes, and outside in nature.
“And on the Sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made” (Acts 16:13).
All the apostles were men of prayer. Paul said he prayed all day and night for the believers:
“Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?” (1 Thessalonians 3:10).
Because the apostles were men of prayer, they were men of power in the Lord. The early Christians also were men and women of prayer, and God was able to do mighty wonders and miracles through them. Because of prayer the gospel went to the world.
“If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I, Paul am made a minister” (Col. 1:23).
God calls every Christian to become a mighty prayer warrior.
PERSONAL REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION
Why did Jesus spend so much time in prayer?
How did Jesus’ example in prayer affect the disciples?
What kind of prayer life did the early church members have?
How do you want your prayer life to change?
PRAYER ACTIVITY
Call your prayer partner and discuss this devotional with him/her.
Pray with your prayer partner:
• for God to continue to baptize each of you with His Holy Spirit
• for God to lead you to become a prayer warrior as were Jesus and the disciples
• for the individuals on your prayer list
INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING BIBLE VERSE IN YOUR PRAYER:
“Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders” (Psalm 119:27, NIV).
Open my understanding to Your teachings.
Cause me to meditate contantly on You.
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