Praying in the right Spirit
Notes
Transcript
I want to speak to you from the concept of Kavanah. The Jews wanted to avoid vain prayers, so they taught the concept of Kavanah. It is prayer in the right intention. Having the proper mindset is vital to prayer. Kavanah is “a mind free from other thoughts, that you know and understand what you are praying about and that you think about the meaning of the prayer.”
Jesus prayed in the spirit of Kavanah.
Jesus prayed in the spirit of Kavanah.
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
And when Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, he prayed with Kavanah.
He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed,
: 41
And he went away and proceeded, according to his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples also followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not enter into temptation.”
And he went away and proceeded, according to his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples also followed him.
Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness.
Jesus mind and heart were on the things of God. He could not be distracted from his purpose. He did not wander in thought or deed. His heart was fixed on the Father, pleasing him, hearkening unto him.
Everyone must go through the wilderness. These 40 days of Lent are a wilderness. You deprive yourself of food, sweets, pleasure of the body and the tongue so you can prove you faith and devotion to God.
Some members of our church made their pilgrimage to Israel. They prayed before the Western Wall. The president of the United States wants to build a wall around the country to keep out all who want to enter America illegally. The Western Wall is not a barrier, but an entrance. People from all over the world insert prayers into the wall. They put something in it because it is the entrance to heaven. We need the right mind to enter the presence of God.
Jesus Christ would not be tempted by the devil unless he was led by the Spirit.
Jesus Christ would not be tempted by the devil unless he was led by the Spirit.
Temptations are unnecessary if God is not leading you. why does Temptation are a distraction from the Holy Spirit. God is leading you one way and the devil is leading you in another. So all he can do is distract you by tempting you to act outside the will of God.
For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.
The Holy Spirit jealously fights
Do you think this passage means nothing? It says, “The Spirit that lives in us wants us to be his own.”
This is why we need the Kavannah when we are praying so we have the mind of Christ.
Jesus’ temptation is more dramatic because it represents a lifestyle- a way of life.
Jesus’ temptation is more dramatic because it represents a lifestyle- a way of life.
The reason why we are not more effective is we have not established the life style of Christ. It is not about food, or clothing and all the forms of prosperity available; it is about making decisions like that of Christ.
Jesus’ resistance from food, his resistance to grandeur and his submission to God alone is about Kavanah- having the right mind and heart at all times.
One day our faith will be the way we live, not what we sometimes think about. How we treat people, spend our resources, engage with the world, raise our children and treat our loved ones is all about having the right mind and living out our faith daily.
Christ’s temptation teaches us we are constant in the presence of God, even when it appears we are not.
Christ’s temptation teaches us we are constant in the presence of God, even when it appears we are not.
God is not mentioned in the temptation story, but God was there overseeing everything. If the angels immediately came to Jesus’ aid when the temptation was over, God had to be present. We are always in God’s presence.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
I am not asking you to fast for forty days and then go back to normal. I am asking you and I to make Kavannah our new normal.
SING IN WORSHIP:
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.
Ps. 95:1-3
Even in our repentance and prayer, let your petitions come from the heart.
Return, Israel, to the Lord your God. Your sins have been your downfall! Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to him: “Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips.
We will gain Christ’s victory if we come before the Lord in Kavannah- the right frame of mind.
Take words with you, and return to Yahweh. Say to him, “Take away all guilt; accept good, and we will offer the fruit of our lips.
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
We can go boldly to the Throne of Grace to