The Example of Jesus in Prayer

Let us look at our Lord's example of prayer.

The Lord's prayer
"After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as [it is] in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. "
(Matt 6:9-13)

Jesus prayed alone in natural settings.
"And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone."
"And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed."
"And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed."
(Mt 14:23, Mk 1:35, Lk 5:16)

Jesus prayed all night.
"And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God."
(Lk 6:12)

Jesus prayed for those who persecuted Him.
"Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots."
(Lk 23:34)

Jesus prayed for His Father's will to be done.
"Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done."
(Lk 22:42)

Jesus prayed with strong crying and tears.
"Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;"
(Heb 5:7)

Jesus intercedes for us.
"And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired [to have] you, that he may sift [you] as wheat:
But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren."

"I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we [are].
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
That they all may be one; as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me."

"Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."

"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:"
(Lk 22:31,32, Jn 17:9,11,17,20,21, Heb 7:25, 1Jn 2:1)


New Testement Chruch example
"These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren."
"And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."
(Ac 1:14, Ac 2:42)

Communication with God

Prayer

What is prayer?
Prayer is communicating with God. Jesus, when He was on earth, spoke to all people. There was not one soul He turned away that wished to see Him. He did not filter the people who desired to speak to Him through His deciples. He asked that all people come to Him.

Matthew 19:14
But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

1 John 3:1
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

Nothing has changed. Jesus wants us to communicate with Him.

With all our plans we should incorporate God because He certainly knows best. We need to first ask God for help and He will work the rest out.

Proverbs 16:3
Commit your works to the LORD,
And your thoughts will be established.

Proverbs 16:9
A man's heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.

Psalm 37:23-24
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD,
And He delights in his way.
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;
For the LORD upholds him with His hand.

There are only two reasons why our prayers don't get answered (this is stated in the Bible):

1. We do not ask God.
2. We ask for something that is not good for us.

James 4:2-3
You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

God expects us (all His people) to pray. I can imagine that He longs to hear us talk to Him. He loves to answer our prayers.

2 Chronicles 16:9
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of [them] whose heart [is] perfect toward him...

For more on this, read these texts.
God expects His people to pray. (Isa 56:7, Isa 62:6,7, 1Ti 2:1)
God is grieved by our lack of prayer. (Isa 59:16, Eze 22:30)

Who is First and Who is Last?

Who is to be first and last is a question of equality. Many dispute who should be first. No matter if you are first or last, in the kingdom of God, God is with you.

Isaiah 41:4

Who has performed and done it,
Calling the generations from the beginning?
"I, the LORD, am the first;
And with the last I am He."'

Isaiah 44:6

There Is No Other God
"Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel,
And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts:
"I am the First and I am the last;
Besides Me there is no God.

God places first and last. We should be content with what we are given from God and pray for guidance in all we do.

Matthew 19:29-30

And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

The parable below in Matthew 20 is a striking example of our just reward. All men receive eternal life who accept Jesus and follow him. There are no varying degrees of eternal life. We all receive it. If we work for Jesus a little while and die or we work for him for 100 years we both receive the same reward: Eternal life and a life forever with our God and his wonderful love.

Matthew 20:8

"So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, "Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.'

Matthew 20:11-15

And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, saying, "These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.' But he answered one of them and said, "Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?'

Even the disciples wanted to know who would be greatest among them. Jesus had a lesson to teach about being a leader. A leader is first in many things but ultimately the first are the last. A captain of a ship is one of the first on board. If an accident happens the Captain is last off the boat. It is his responsibility. If we were managers we should be servants to those that work for us. We are last in line. We look after them and they look after us. A manager without employees is nothing. A leader must be ready to serve all under him. Jesus is our leader. How many people ask of Him prayers to be answered each day? Jesus serves us and we serve Him. It is by His first example that He is the last to see things through. He is the ultimate coordinator not letting anything lack seeing from start to finish. Those with more responsibility are at times to be last.

Mark 9:34-37

But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all." Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, "Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me."

Galatians 3:28

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.