Pray Like Jesus #1

Good evening, well tonight were going to jump right into it. But I want clarify something, I don’t want to merely talk about praying, I want us to be a church committed to our prayer lives, because prayer is the lifeblood, and heartbeat of the church of Jesus Christ but I wanted to focus briefly, over the next three Wednesday nights on one subject.

That subject is praying like Jesus.

I want us to go through this to see the importance of prayer to Jesus, but also to help us in our prayer life.

Once we reach the end of this 3 part series we will go into a time where Wednesday nights will be prayer focused. there may be a short devotional but we are going to focus our time in prayer.

Turn with me to .

There are two realms, there is the natural realm which consists of the things we see and then there is the supernatural realm that we do not see. When we open our Bible we are bringing those worlds together. When we sing to God in worship, we are bringing those realities together, when we pray we are inviting those realities to come together in our everyday lives.

So what I want you to remember when we pray it is something special, it is something supernatural, it is something sacred. Its inviting God in to the everyday of life. So we are going to look at the longest prayer of Jesus Christ in the entire Bible in .

In this first section Jesus prays for Himself, then He prays for His disciples, then He prays for all believers everywhere. So as we get into this issue of prayer I know that each one of us has our own backround in prayer, and by in large I know the majority of people in this room have a prayer life of some kind.

But it is possible that over time that prayer life can stop being as vibrant as it once was, in other cases maybe you have never made a specific decision to make prayer a priority, but God chooses to work most powerfully when His children call most faithfully.

Prayer is a non-negotiable for the church of Jesus Christ, prayer at church is a nonnegotiable for the church of Jesus Christ. There are many who say “why have a prayer meeting at church, I can pray at home?”

I would advise you to look at Jesus’ words in the gospel, when He came and ran people out of the Temple with a whip what did He say. This was supposed to be a house of prayer but you have made it a den of thieves.

Jesus was serious about having corporate prayer together in His fathers House.

Children learn how to speak by eves dropping on others that are around them, the children of God learn how to God in the same way by listening and observing that is our process of learning. So heres what I want you to know as we jump right in. Were going to eves drop, and listen to Jesus Christ Himself as He prays.

Jesus prayed while on the Earth, and as Jesus prayed it was fully recorded in . That being said this is Jesus’ longest prayer that was ever recorded. Just a few things about this prayer, some would call it the holy of holies in the NT, they would argue that this is the most sacred part of the NT.

In addition it is only found in Johns gospel, nowhere else in the gospels is this prayer recorded. It is so significant, that certain leaders have gone to it over and over again, and I want it to help us how to put God first in everything, by making prayer a priority, not only in your personal life but in the life of our church.

A couple of basic observations, Jesus prayed if the Son of God needed to pray then we all need to pray amen?

I heard a pastor one time say, hey dont be selfish and pray for yourself. Well I agree that our prayers should not be centered around us, I dont know about you but I need to pray for myself, I got needs amen, I need the Lord to work on me, I need the Lord to work on my kids amen.

Jesus was perfect and yet He prayed for Himself so Im just gonna venture out there and say praying for yourself is not a sin.

The man who records this prayer of Jesus was a man named John, He was JEsus’ nearest and dearest freind, He was there through Jesus life, deatha dn resurrection from the dead. HE continued faithfully until He was a 100 year old pastor.

What happens is, Jesus and John were so close in friendship with one another, let me tell you their secret, they prayed for each other and with each other. You need to know that the shortest distance between to people is prayer.

The closest way to build a relationship is through prayer, even deeper than life together, is life together at the soul level, which prayer accomplishes. The reason why they were so close and loved each other so much is because of their prayer life for each other and with each other.

Let me tell you this Jesus wants you to deepen your relationship with Him through prayer. That goes fro everyone in this room. Anytime you want to deepen a relationship invite God into the relationship and thats starts with prayer.

Let’s listen to Jesus pray:

John 17:1–5 HCSB

Jesus spoke these things, looked up to heaven, and said: Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son so that the Son may glorify You, for You gave Him authority over all flesh; so He may give eternal life to all You have given Him. This is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and the One You have sent —Jesus Christ. I have glorified You on the earth by completing the work You gave Me to do. Now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with that glory I had with You before the world existed.

John 17:1-

6 Prayer Principles:

Can be old or new.

You can find a prayer in the Bible and you can pray it. You can be reading through the Bible and you can say hey you know what I need to talk to God about this.

2. Can be loud or silent.

God knows not only your words but also your thoughts and longings.

This is important because in addition to God there is a demonic realm. You need to know this, this world has people who are good and evil, who are safe and dangerous. The spiritual world which we do not se also has demons who we do not see. In addition to those who are safe and helpful we call those beings angels.

When we pray we are entering into a spiritual realm, this is why we must pray through the authority and power of Jesus. Satan and demons do not know your thoughts, only God knows your thoughts.

So you can pray silently

Prayer can be written or verbal, Writing prayers down is not a bad thing. I keep a journal where I pray about things and think about things, and its my way of talking to God about my thoughts. Some people like to pray in that way.

As you see God answering prayer it builds momentum. It also can be verbal, anywhere anytime.

3. Prayer involves listening.

One of the greatest things I have ever learned about prayer is that there needs to be a time to listen for the voice of God, don’t just come to Him and talk and talk but take time to be silent before Him, and wait expectantly for Him to speak back.

4. It can be words or songs.

5. It can be short or long.

Sometimes just a quick prayer, is just simply Lord help. I say this alot and I know people think I may be saying the Lords name in vain, but I seriously mean it. If you hear me say it it may not be just an expression it may be me saying out loud what I really mean in my heart.

6. Can be public or private.

This is what were going to do this as the family of God were going to pray corporately. But it should also be done in the secret place.

Pray to live Kingdom down.

John 17:1 ESV

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you,

There is an important clue here. Jesus lifts His eyes up to where? To Heaven, you see theres only two ways to live your life. Culture up or Kingdom down.

We dont wanna live our lives culture up. because culture dont work amen? We wanna live our lives Kingdom down. Jesus lifting His eyes up He is remembering where He came from, Jesus is completely God come down from Heaven to live on the Earth, and He is reminding Himself that this is where He comes from and thats where He is going back to.

WHERE DOES MY HELP COME FROM?

This world is messed up, something is broken in this world, its not the way it was made to be, also this world is not our home. This world is the pass through place until we get to the other place, its not home. This is why sometimes we get so wrestless and frustrated but I have good news this world isnt forever.

This world comes to an end, just like the milk in your fridge this world has an expiration date, when its all over when its all done. So God coming down is showing us, that ultimately He has come to save us and transform this world, and bring us new life.

I need you to understand something very simple.

Theres a little anaogy that Jesus’ half brother James uses in His letter and Ill summerize it. That here you are, here we are standing on the Earth, above us is Heaven, below us is Hell. there was a war in Heaven where Satan, demonic spirits they declared war against God. This explains everything in the history of the world.

This is the most profound insight for all of our problems. That God made angels to be messengers and ministers for Him they declared war on Him, and as a result satan and a third of the demons were cast down out of Heaven and they came to the Earth. Jesus won that war, they then brought those demonic powers and spirits to the Earth and to our first parents Adam and Eve.

Adam and Eve had a decision, do we align with the unholy angels or demons, or do we we align with the holy angels, what decision did they make? To align all of humanity with the demons by choosing to disobey the voice of their loving father.

So what happens is, Jesus (God) comes down He comes down to defeat Satan and demons to forgive and liberate sinners, and ultimately Jesus Christ is coming again, and when His work is done He will shove all of demons, Satans demonic work into Hell.

He cast it down to Earth the battle is here, He will cast it down a final time and we are waiting for it, where the Lord Jesus will come and destroy evil, rebellion, and Satan into the firey pits of Hell. Which the Bible said Jesus made especially for Satan and His minions.

Thats true

When we pray, what we are doing is significant it is supernatural, Jesus here looks up and He is inviting the Kingdom to come down. You and I my friend everday we make a decision, in this moment in this instance will I invite the kingdom down or will I pull Hell up.

When you pray your inviting the kingdom down, when you dont pray your inviting Hell up. This is why we pray to forgive, this is why we pray for power, this is why we pray for strength this is why we pray for love.

Heaven the Kingdom of God its a place of life, its a place of joy, its a place of peace, its a place of generosity, its a place of holiness. What does JEsus teach us to pray?

THY KINGDOM COME THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN!

When you pray you are opening your heart, you are opening your mind, you are opening your life, and you are saying God BRING THE KINGDOM INTO MY LIFE. Bring your peace, bring your provision, bring your presence and what that does just as light casts out darkness it pushes demonic forces out of your life.

When we pray not only are praying in the natural we are interceding in the supernatural.

What happens when you pray is important you are going from the physical realm that is seen to the spiritual realm that is unseen. So where does Jesus look? He looks up bc thats who he is talking to, thats where He came from, and thats where He is returning to, and that is what He is inviting to be reality on the Earth.

So few people understand how important prayer is, Jesus looks up we want you to look up this year. Some of you are looking down at your circumstances and your scared, some of you are looking back at past regrets, some of you are looking forward to your future whats the answer LOOK UP FOR YOUR REDEMPTION, YOUR SALVATION DRAWETH NIGH AND YOUR HELP COMES FROM THE LORD THE MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH!

Pray to deepen your relationship with God

FATHER

God is a Father, this is the crucial insight in the prayer. Some of you would say I DONT KNOW HOW TO PRAY. What I would say is, PRAYER IS SECONDARY GOD IS FATHER IS PRIMARY. When you know who your Father is youll figure out how to talk to Him.

FATHER

This word of Jesus is massively important. In fact it is Jesus’ favorite name for God in the gospels. With all of the religions of the world there has never been one other than Christianity that taught their followers that they could talk relationally to God as a dad.

What Jesus is doing here is unique in the history of the world. God he says is FATHER 165 time.

This is so important How many of you have children?

DADS AND GRANDADS

Statisticly women are more spiritual than men. Its a statistical fact, more women share their faith, more women attend church, more women read their Bibles. This is an insight that is for all people but especially for men.

When you realize that God loves you like a father, and when you realize that God loves you like you love your kid. It begin to change a man. Some will struggle to pray to God in this way for several reasons. You had no dad, you had a bad dad, abusive dad.

Our view is a projection or rejection of our Earthly father.

You dont judge God the Father by your Earthly father you start with God the Father and you evaluate the character of your Earthly Father.

GOD IS relational He is loving He is generous, He is kind. Thats who HE IS!

He doesnt change His love for you is unending.

This will unlock your prayer life.

For example when your kids leave the house as they grow older do you want them to never talk to you or talk with you daily?

In the same way your Heavenly FATHER wants to spend time with you.

Pray that God would glorify Jesus through your obedience.

John 17:1 HCSB

Jesus spoke these things, looked up to heaven, and said: Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son so that the Son may glorify You,

John 17:

This is what Jesus is praying for here, He knows death is coming, He knows what He wants is for the cup of Gods wrath to pass from Him but He is ready to submit in obedience to the will of God the Father.

Pray that God would give you the strength to stay in His will.

John 17:2 HCSB

for You gave Him authority over all flesh; so He may give eternal life to all You have given Him.

Pray for God to deepen your relational knowledge of Him.

John 17:3 HCSB

This is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and the One You have sent —Jesus Christ.

Pray that God would help you finish well.

John 17:4 HCSB

I have glorified You on the earth by completing the work You gave Me to do.

Pray that God would help you invest on where you are going not where you are living.

John 17:5 HCSB

Now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with that glory I had with You before the world existed.