When He Prayed

When he prayed LUKe 11:1

Introduction: Several days after the 911 attack, Skip Heitzig went to help in the Red Cross relief efforts. He tells in his book “?” of the stench of death, the smoky air the mass wreckage and destruction he seen. A few days after his arrival he met a chaplain from TX who took Skip inside what was left of the US CUSTOMS building, part of the Trade Center complex. Walking through the gutted entrance to the center of the structure the sunlight filtering through the smoke still rising from the wreckage the Chaplain pointed down into a pile of debris. Standing up right in the middle of it was a cross. Not crafted by humans it was a by product of the mass destruction as the buildings were violently ripped apart, the cross was left . With that solemn symbol feeling they were on sacred ground Skip the Chaplain 2 FBI agents, a NY policeman and the firemen joined arms and prayed. Prayed at Ground Zero. Jesus faced His own ground Zero, the Garden of Gethsemane and He too prayed. It was Jesus’ habit to resort often to payer. We find several passages where this is shown;

· Matt 14:23- He went up into a mountain apart to pray; and when the evening was come he was there alone.

· Mark 1:35- In the morning rising up a great while before day, he went out and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

· Luke 5:16- He withdrew himself into the wilderness and prayed.

· Luke 6:12- He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

The disciples saw him pray on various occasions and it’s no wonder they wanted him to teach them to pray. They seen his immediate audience with God, his answers, and his demeanor, prayer like they had never seen before. Let’s look at a few times “When He prayed.”

1. Children were blessed. Matt 19:13/Mark 10:13-16/Luke 18:15-17

A. No doubt the parents seen Jesus pray and too were touched.

B. What a blessing as he took them in his arms placed his hand upon them and prayed.

1. I wonder what he prayed.

A. One minister used to pray, “Lord, don’t let the devil get his dirty hands on them.”

2. The Food Was Multiplied Matt. 15:36/Mark 6:41

A. They All ate and were filled. There is always enough

3. The Heavens were Opened Luke 3:21

A. The Holy Ghost Descended like a dove and a voice saying “Thou art my Son In whom I am well pleased.”

4. His Countenance was Changed (Transfigured) Matt 17:1-3/ Mark 9:2-13/Luke 9:29

A. Transfigured - refers to the act of giving outward expression of one’s inner character, that outward expression coming from and being truly representative of that inner character.

1. An expanded translation would read, “the manner of His outward expression was changed before them, that outward expression coming from and being truly representative of His inner nature.” Weust

5. Angels Ministered Unto Him Luke 22:42-44

A. Golgotha He Prayed let this cup pass from me and an angel appeared unto him and ministered unto him from heaven strengthening him and he prayed more earnestly till he sweat as it were great drops of blood.

6. God Was Glorified John 12:27

A. Jesus prayed “Father glorify thy name.” then came there a voice form heaven, saying, I have both glorified it , and will glorify it again

7. He Had Faith John 11:41-42

A. He Knew that God would hear him when he prayed and when he spoke life back to Lazarus.

Conclusion: We See when Jesus prayed, something happened. His prayers worked. Look at Peter in Luke 22:32 Jesus says, “I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” Jesus wasn’t praying for Peter just that night, He was praying that after that night Peter would buckle down and get back in there and be a man. And it happened look at Pentecost who stood up to preach? Peter. John 17:20 In His High Priestly Prayer, he doesn’t just pray for his disciples, look at this, “Neither pray I for these alone, but FOR THEM ALSO WHICH SHALL BELIEVE ON ME THROUGH THEIR WORD;” That thrills my heart. JESUS PRAYED FOR ME I AM AN ANSWER TO THAT PRAYER! Jesus is still praying for us. The Bible says He ever liveth to make intercession. He is there at the right hand of God interceding for us tonight. Matthew Henry says; “Whom Christ prays for in heaven, he puts his hand upon by His Spirit.”