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Christ our example, relections on prayer with Pastor Elmir

Prayer: Luke 22:39-46 – Christ, our example

In Jesus’s final hours before His arrest, he prayed as no one has done before, such that his sweat “became like great drops of blood”. Feeling extreme anguish, well-practised prayer comforted and sustained him as he faced unimaginable punishment for our sin. In our passage today, Luke 22:39-41, our saviour gives us an unforgettable lesson in the power and importance of prayer.

Our passage today: Luke 22:39-46. Preacher: Pastor Elmeir Pereria.

Leading by example

My father was a missionary for 55 years. In his first sermon he preached some of it in English, being a native Portuguese speaker. Perhaps I feel as though I am following in his footsteps today, as this is my first sermon in English.

The main thing is: whatever the language, the message of God can be spoken into our hearts.

In order to teach effectively we need to be an example of what we preach, as Peter points out in his letter:

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

1 Peter 2:21 ESV

Parents: do we want children who love Christ, His Word and His Church? In the Lord, our perfect parent, we have a perfect example to follow.

The example of prayer

In our passage today we see the example of Jesus in pain: about to be arrested and sent to the cross. He was in agony because he would experience God’s wrath for our sins.

To get Him through this He needed to pray.

And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Luke 22:44 ESV

He was suffering, and it was unbearable.

Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.”

Matthew 26:38 ESV

How could he cope? He went to the Mount of Olives for some precious time in the presence of God; receiving comfort and grace to fulfil his mission.

From this extraordinary time, we learn about the importance of prayer, following the example of Jesus.

1. Prayer must be a custom

Prayer must be a habit. This was not a one off for Jesus, it was his custom

And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him.

Luke 22:39 ESV

He got strength and courage from prayer. Throughout His life and death, Jesus prayed for us all.

Christians who don’t pray are weak in faith and immature. How much time do you spend in prayer daily?

2. Have a separate place to pray

Jesus had a preference for private place for prayer.

In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.

Luke 6:12 ESV

Any place and any time is is fine: Jonah prayed from inside a fish, Daniel from inside a furnace and den of lions, but Jesus’s preference was private prayer.

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Matthew 6:6 ESV

It’s especially helpful to have somewhere quiet and free from distractions.

Suzana Wesley had 19 children, but made time every day to be in prayer and intimate communion with God. The house they lived in had only one room with no quiet place, however she had a separate place to pray inside the house. Every day she went to a corner of the house and covered her face with an apron. In that time, all her children were quiet.

3. Don’t give up

We must not give in to temptation: Jesus was tempted to give up his mission.

Satan the tempter has been active to prevent the woman’s destiny to “crush [Satan’s] head” (Genesis 3:15).

He got Pharoh to kill the young Hebrew boys to destroy the people, as Moses was being born (Ex 1:22). Herod tried the same to destroy Jesus (Mat 2:16). He was present in the desert to tempt him to give up (Mat 4).

Pray you may not fall into temptation. As an example: even though Satan’s power was broken on the cross, he still tempts us.

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. [9] Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

1 Peter 5:8-9 ESV

We can put on the armour of God (Eph 6:11-12) and pray in the spirit at all times (Eph 6:18). Prayer is a powerful weapon.

4. The right condition to pray

We don’t need to be in a specific position to pray. The Lord prayed in different positions.

But we need to humble ourselves: Jesus here with his knees bent in prayer recognises God’s majesty.

This reflects a contrite heart, which is important as God doesn’t like proud people.

5. Asking correctly

God’s will was the priority for Jesus.

saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

Luke 22:42 ESV

God has many blessings for those submitting their will to God:

And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” [3] And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

Matthew 8:2-3 ESV

This man went to the right person to solve his problems: he bowed down before Jesus.

We know that God is present and pleased when we pray.

6. In difficult times we may need to pray alone

Sometimes no one will pray for, or with us.

And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow,

Luke 22:45 ESV

It would have been a comfort for His disciples to be there for Him, but He was alone: no-one prayed for Him.

In Acts 12 the church was persecuted and many leaders put in prison.

So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

Acts 12:5 ESV

When a believer prays, great things happen. In this example, Peter escaped (Acts 12:7-11)

7. When we pray God sends his comfort

When Jesus was in agony, His Father provided company.

And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.

Luke 22:43 ESV

Now God sometimes allows intense affliction, but when we pray to God he comforts and protects us.

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. [7] And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 ESV

Resources

Questions? Please contact us. Inspired? Come and worship with us on Sundays.



Fortress

Psalm 46 – Our refuge and strength (Elmir Pereira)

Pastor Elmir Pereira shares a devotional on Psalm 46 for your encouragement.

Read Psalm 46

As we read the Psalm we can observe how strong the psalmist’s declaration is in verse 1: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in the trouble”. The psalm affirms that in God we have all security, protection, and defence we need. And He is the one who can sustain and keep his beloved at all times, especially in difficult times. It is also interesting to note that God’s action is a continuing gift for all times. God was not a refuge, strength and help in the past; God will not be a refuge, a strength and a help at a certain moment in the future; God is a refuge, strength and help, in the present time, today and forever.

The Scriptures teach us that since sin became part of human nature separating man from God, its creator and master, the reality of suffering, misery and condemnation  came to be experienced by the human being. Spiritual forces began to work against man, to enslave him and to kill him; and separated from God, man can not overcome them. But God, throughout  his grace and mercy, has provided in the person of his son Jesus, through the cross, forgiveness and salvation. By faith in the Lord Jesus, man is reconciled to God, and by faith in the Lord Jesus, he has all the resources to overcome the difficulties, temptations and all sorts of tribulation and anguish that come against him in his life. God, in the person of his son Jesus is the refuge, strength and help that every human being needs. We individually need to increase this truth in our hearts every day. We must rest daily in this promise of God to those who trust in Him. No matter the circumstances, bad or good, difficult or easy, tribulations and disturbances of this world, the attacks of the spiritual forces of evil, or our limitations and imperfections. The Lord Jesus Christ will always be our refuge, our Strength and our Help.

As a result of this extraordinary truth the Psalm presents us with 3 actions that we must constantly take daily.

1- First attitude: Do not be afraid to face the daily struggles and the most intense tribulations that arise (verses 1 and 2: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble, therefore we will not fear, …”) . The man full of himself says  that he fears nothing. Nothing in this world can frighten him. Pure arrogance and stupidity. In fact, it is possible that we are all afraid of something or someone. That is part of our nature. And this truth becomes clear, especially when we face unexpected situations of shame, pain or the possibility of death, which come upon us or the ones we love, which our own capabilities and resources are not able to solve. When the Psalm says: … therefore, we will not fear…, it is teaching us that fear exists, but we will not allow this fear to dominate or control our mind and our heart, for God is our refuge, strength and help. We have to face the fear that might come upon us trusting in the Lord’s help. We need to believe and experience this truth by constant communion with God. This is what we need to say in times of fear that God is our refuge and strength, help very present in the tribulations.

2- Second attitude: Contemplate the powerful works that God has already accomplished in the history of his people and in their lives (verse 8: “Come, behold the works of the Lord, …). It is common for our minds to be filled with a lot of things that will not help us at all in the difficult times of life. Many options for solving our problems will be offered to us. Satan always has a number of evil darts, suggestions that appear to be the best, to launch upon us. According to this text, however, we must look to the great achievements that God has already done that demonstrated his power to solve problems, and his great love towards those who are his people. Contemplating and meditating on the Lord’s most powerful work, the work of the Cross. The perfect work accomplished by the Lord Jesus, destroying the power of sin, death and evil. By faith look to Christ in which we will always be more than conquerors. We need to fill our minds in the hours of difficulties with all the powerful things that God has already accomplished in the history of his people and in their lives and meditate on them: “Come, behold the works of the Lord.”

3 – Third attitude: Rest in the presence of the Lord at all times (verse 8: “Cease striving and know that I am God). Just as many things try to fill our minds in difficult times, many options appear on what to do to solve problems. We start acting like crazy people looking for solutions. We run everywhere. Some are dominated by despair and attitudes that will increase the problems even more. But the solution that comes from the Lord is to calm down, to stop talking and acting like crazy. God wants us to stay in his presence. God wants us to go into our room in an intimate communion with him, by faith, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and let us see his action. He is God. He is in control and governs sovereignly. He is mighty to make wars cease. He breaks the bow, breaks the spear, and burns the cars of our enemies. He will be exalted in the nations. He will be exalted on earth. The Lord of hosts is with us. He promised us: “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you, so that we confidently say: The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid, What will man do to me? (Hebrews 13: 5-6).

May God bless us.

Elmir Batista Pereira

Resources

Questions? Please contact us. Inspired? Come and worship with us on Sundays.

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