Jesus is Prayerful

Good Morning…Welcome to New Hope!

This morning we wrap up this discipleship series exploring the character & nature of Jesus. Last week I said that HUMILITY is the foundation for every one of Jesus’ characteristics.

And I don’t know if it could have worked itself out much better with how we end the series, because what we talk about this morning is the catalyst that binds them all together. It’s the sustainer of all these characteristics, if you will. Humility is the foundation, but what is it that makes it all happen? What is it that moves the hand of God? What is it that initiates the work of the Holy Spirit? What is it (outside of the sovereign work of God) that gets the gears or wheels in motion? PRAYER!

Back before I knew I was going to be a pastor, one of the first sermons I ever wrote was based on this fad going around - WWJD. Instead, I suggested What DID, What IS, & What WILL Jesus do? And I remember answering the IS question with this...

Jesus is prayerful

(NLT)

—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

We won’t become more like Jesus apart from prayer!

Jesus is obedient

(NLT)

“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

Jesus is forgiving

(NLT)

Jesus said, “Father forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.

22“No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!

Jesus is loving

Matthew 14:14 (NLT)

Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

*Jesus had just been rejected by the people of his hometown - Just heard about John the Baptist being beheaded...

Jesus is gentle

(NIV)

Luke 15 (NLT)

29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

"So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.”

Jesus is serving

*Pharisees and Religious leaders were complaining that Jesus was investing too much time with sinful people. So Jesus begins telling stories about lost sheep, a lost coin, and the story of a lost son who returned home to his father. Now you tell me if think this father was longing and praying for this lost son to return.

Jesus is offensive

*In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God.

(NIV)

(NIV)

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Jesus is patient

Jesus leads His disciples into the Garden of Gethsemane and tells them to pray. He takes Peter, James, & John aside and pleads with them to keep watch and pray. Jesus goes off to pray and the disciples sleep. Keep watch and pray. Jesus goes off and the disciples sleep again. Jesus prays again and returns to find them sleeping again.

Matthew 26:45 (NLT)

Jesus said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look - the time has come.”

Jesus is serving

(NLT)

Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted.

*It’s getting late and these people need to eat. Take us months to raise enough money to feed all these people. Peter says, There’s a boy with 5 loaves & 2 fish

Jesus is humble

(NLT)

Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last.

As we wrap up this series on becoming more like Jesus, may I challenge you with this last thought - God’s word tells us to pray continually. In all things we should lead with prayer.

Maybe over the last 9 weeks there’s been something that the Holy Spirit has been doing in your life and you just need to take that next step of faith.

31So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose?

32If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us?

Maybe one of these character traits of Jesus has been difficult for you to live out and you need take a step of faith saying, God, let’s do this together.

33And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen?

Maybe there’s something you just need to confess and repent about.

34Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us.

Altar is open. God will meet you here.

Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

We won’t become more like Jesus apart from prayer!