TOPIC: THE PLACE OF PRAYER
Bible Reading: Joshua 21-22; Luke 6:1-26
“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” Luke 18:1(KJV)
Jesus’ life and teaching were exemplary. In our focal scriptures Christ admonishes us that men (representing humanity) must always continue in the path of prayer and not be weak. In His ministry on earth Christ demonstrated this admonition in clear terms by His consistent time out for prayers. On several occasions the scripture stated how He will always separate Himself to a solitary place to pray. Christ demonstrated the importance of prayer by practical examples. One of such example is stated in our scriptural study of today in Luke 6:12 (KJV), “It came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayers to God.” For every major decision He first presented it to God in prayer.
One would ask if Christ is the incarnate Word, being God, does He need to pray talk less of continuing in prayer all night? The answer to this question is stated in Hebrews 5:7 (KJV), “Who in the days of His flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplication with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;” Christ, in His attitude to prayer, was drumming it home to us the importance of prayer in our Christian pilgrimage. We must be constantly appearing in prayer before God presenting our supplication and petition. Prayer is a potent force in the hand of a Christian, which can be handy in these perilous times. We war with the forces of darkness through prayer which we refer to as prayer warfare. Through prayer we decree and declare what must be in line with scriptures. Through prayer we turn the battles of life against the evil forces. We come in confidence of what God says in His word to challenge any contrary situations and circumstances in life.
In prayers we claim God’s exceeding and precious promises for our life. Prayer provides us the avenue to claim God’s promises for our lives. Anxiousness and fear are removed when we come boldly in prayer to claim God’s promises for our lives through prayer. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God” Philippians 4:6(NKJV). As we grow in prayers holding on to the promises of God in His word we begin to develop boldness as we come into His place of mercy. We enter His presence enriched and properly enforced by His word. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” Hebrews 4:16(KJV). Prayer is an avenue of ventilating ourselves from every depressive spirit and fear. When we are confronted with fearful and terrible situation we go to God in prayer through which we properly refuelled to confront and disarm the enemy.
However, for our prayers to be meaningful and potent it must be from a clean heart that has been thoroughly purged with the blood of Jesus Christ. It therefore means that you must accept Jesus Christ into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour. When you have done this your conscience can now be purged with the blood of Jesus from every deadworks to serve the living God. (Hebrews 9:14)
Prayer: Father, grant me the grace to remain constantly prayerful all the days of my sojourn on earth.
Pastor Joel Ezeugo