Sermon Tone Analysis

In the Morning

Remember that the primary purpose of Jesus life was to preach the lost

Following the arrest of Joh the Baptist Jesus began to preach

We see in verse 23 that as He preached there was a demonstration of miracles

The bible tells us that as the disciples preached the Holy Spirt moved!

I say all of this to remind us that we need to be cultivating our relationship with the Holy Spirit!

Look at the opening verse again

If that be the case then we ought to be following His example!

Verse 35 tells us He prayed early

Jesus put the Father first, rising early in the morning to spend time with Him and so must we.

We must give Him the first of our day before we do anything else.

Jesus rose early in the morning to seek the face of God.

Prayer was the fuel for Him to maintain His vision, mission and relationship during the difficult times

So powerful was His prayer that it was transformative

The power in His ministry was His prayer life which fueled His faith

So connected are prayer and faith, Jesus prayed for Peter

You see, Jesus knew that Peter was an impetuous person!

Prayer and fasting take patience and determination and Peter was initially short on both!

Prayer is more than just speaking into the air hoping God hears!

It is an opportunity for one to connect one-on-one with God

Jesus went alone to a solitary place

There are times for corporate prayer but the majority of the time is needs to be just us with Him!

Jesus gave us that instruction

Praying together can sometimes lead to targeted prayer so others know our need and we hope someone responds

Praying alone is a sign of confidence and dependance!

It is when we are in the lonely empty places that we can pour out to Him

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It is the very fact that on God knows that need that builds our faith when we see our prayers answered!

He put His entire self (emotionally, spiritually, mentally and His flesh) into His praying.

He prayed until He was exhausted and had to have an angel come to strengthen Him

Life is hard!

Circumstances can be overwhelming but we have a refuge to pull into during the storms

Many times, it only the hand of heaven that can minister to our need!

Look at Lk 22:44

Or after Peter’s release from jail

They were not seeking the government for Peter’s release but pounding the heavens from which their help comes from!

I bring this to your attention because it is in prayer where we learn dependance and trust through the Holy Spirit

The difficult moment of prayer teaches us how to be yielded and surrendered.

As the words of Jesus, “not My will but Yours be done”

We see persistent praying taught and exemplified throughout scripture.

Elijah stretched himself out over the widow’s son three times until his life returned to him (1 Kings 17:19-21); Elijah prayed for rain and had his servant look for a sign of rain seven times (1 Kings 18:41-44); The Syrophonician woman kept crying out to Jesus (Mark 7:24-30); Jacob wrestled with God until He blessed him (Genesis 32); A friend asking for bread at midnight (Luke 11:5-10); And the widow and the unjust judge (Luke 18:1-8).

What is your perspective on prayer?

Do you see it a fuel for your faith?

Do you see it as lessons on surrender?

Or do you see it as “one more thing I have to do?

I want to encourage you today to pray without ceasing!

Take everything before the throne of Grace and seek His will not your own!