[In the days of His flesh, (Jesus) offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears](Heb. 5:7). When He took human nature, He was as helpless a man of Nazareth as we are. He was indeed a man , Jesus of Nazareth was, just as we are, subject to hunger when starved, pain when beaten, weariness when He walk excessively, exhaustion when overworked, pain when injured shedding blood, and death if any one should kill Him. That is why He became an unwearied suppliant who offer petition to God night after night in order to receive a new supply of power. In order to come forth braced for duty to save the world and overcome trials brought by Satan’s ceaseless challenges. He had to receive fresh supplies of strength and power from His Father. Therefore, every morning He spent hours with His Father to receive the fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit, that He might impart the bread of life and light to men. He held unceasing communion with His Father through unceasing prayer. Prayer was to the Nazarite the source of His strength and the key to the mysterious power that flowed out from Him. [In the days of His flesh, (Jesus) offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear](Heb. 5:7).
If He had neglected prayer, He could not have become the savior of the world or the conqueror over the power of Satan. Without prayer, He could have ended up as an eternal loser. It was His prayer that made the man of Nazareth the powerful Conqueror and glorious Savior.
• While He prayed, the heavens were opened. [When Jesus … was baptized and while He prayed, the heavens were opened.](Luke 3:21).
• While He prayed, the Holy Spirit descended upon Him. [While He prayed … the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form, like a dove upon Him](Luke 3:21,22).
• While He prayed, the voice of God was heard. [While He prayed … a voice came from heaven which said, ‘You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased’](Luke 3:21,22)
• As He prayed, His appearance was altered. [As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered … and became white and glistening] (Luke 9:29).
• By prayer He received power to cast out the devil. [Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out, and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed … And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons](Mark 1:35,39).
Every morning hours of prayer was of the greatest importance to Jesus. During these extremely important early morning hours, He held communion with His Father, receiving full strength, power and light. After these hours of prayer, He went about casting out demons and setting free all who had been oppressed by Satan. However, His disciples were different. During early mornings, they would usually be in deep sleep, waking up late in the morning. When they chanced to pray on some early mornings, they would mutter a few words and simply give up, contrary to their Teacher. And yet they desired to possess their Teacher’s power in casting out demons, but they could not. Once they came to Jesus and [asked Him privately, ‘Why could we not cast him out?] (Mark 9:28). And He said to them, [This kind can come out only by prayer] (Mark 9:29). In other words, “As long as you keep snoring at dawn every morning, such powers cannot come forth from you. And you cannot drive out demons.” This was a solemn rebuke to His disciples who so neglected prayer.
Yet He spoke again, [Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father](John 14:12). To say again, truly I say to you, if you are as fervent in prayer as I am, the power that comes out from Me will come out from you. And ‘greater works than these,’ that is, you will be able to cover greater regions than I did in exercising power by traveling to the uttermost parts of the earth. Later, after His ascension, they found out that the source of their Teacher’s power had been in His prayers, the ceaseless prayers He had offered up every night, every dawn and always. And so they [continued with one accord in prayer](Acts:14) until at last, they became second Jesuses as their Teacher had said (John 14:12). They went out into the world to set free all who had been oppressed by the devil and to heal all the sick. [Many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.] [And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord worked with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs] (Acts 2:43, Mark 16:20).
* As He prayed, great miracles followed Him. [And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on a mountain by Himself to pray. And when evening had come, He was alone there. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea] (Matt. 14:23,25).
* By fasting and prayer He overcame Satan. [Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness … And when He had fasted (and prayed) forty days and forty nights] (Matt. 4:1,2). [The tempter came to Him ](Matt. 4:2, 3). But He defeated him completely in the threefold challenge (Matt.4:3-10). [Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him] (Matt. 4:11).
* By His prayer the disciples were saved. [Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he might sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith should not fail] (Luke 22:31, 32).
* By His prayer the world was saved. In the Garden of Gethsemane, [being in an agony He prayed more earnestly. And His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground] (Luke 22:44). [Then Jesus (on the cross) said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do’] (Luke 23:34).
* After praying all night, He chose His disciples. [He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day He called His disciples to Him and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles] (Luke 5:12, 13).
* He finished His daily work in prayer. [And when he sent the multitudes away, He went up on a mountain by Himself to pray ](Matt. 14:23).
* Prayer-hours of greater importance than multitudes (hearers). [The report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed] (Luke 5:15,16).
* His habitual life of prayer. [He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed … When He came to the place … He knelt down and prayed] (Luke 22:39-41).
Indeed, prayer was to Jesus the Nazarite, the only source of His strength, channel of power, secret of victory and communion with God. It was prayer that made Him victorious, great, and the glorious Savior.
Now if the Savior of men, the Son of God, felt the need of prayer, how much more should feeble, sinful mortals feel the necessity of fervent constant prayer?
A life of fervent and diligent prayer is one of the most indispensable duties of God’s children. If we are to follow Him, we have no other way than to follow the path Jesus took before us by praying. In order to overcome as Jesus did, we are to pray as He prayed. Prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven’s storehouse where are treasured the boundless resources of Omnipotence. It enables us to draw from its heaven’s riches, power, wisdom, strength, and God (the Holy Spirit).
Without prayer we can receive nothing from God and He cannot give anything to those who desire nothing. [Ask, and it will be given you … For every one who asks receives](Matt.7:7, 8).
To those who prayed today just as Jesus the Nazarite prayed, heaven will be opened, the Holy Spirit will be given, and the voice of God will be heard from heaven. Their appearance and character will be transformed into the image of God and shine brightly. Great powers and miracles of God will accompany them; and by them all sinners of the world will be saved. Yet, they will not be satisfied here but press closer to God, enjoying hours of being together with Him, hours which no one can interrupt. They will hold joyful communion with Him at dawn every morning and every night be embraced in His bosom. And keeping in close, ceaseless connection with Him in their daily duties of life, they will walk with Him as Enoch did. As they at times fast and pray through the night, He will answer their earnest petitions with the fullness of His grace and abundant gifts of love.
But those who offer formal, lifeless prayers occasionally will be in danger of skepticism, unbelief, and inviting darkness into their souls. Prayer is to be fervent and earnest with firm assurance persisting until it is answered from heaven. Such prayers will surely increase the prayer’s faith, joy, happiness and rewards more and more, enabling him to enter heaven sufficiently.
He who prays is a man of power,
He who prays is a man of happiness,
He who prays is a man who meets God,
He who prays is a witness for God,
He who prays is a man walking with God,
He who prays is a man like Christ,
He who prays is a man who will live forever in the house of God.
He who does not pray is a man with no power,
He who does not pray is a man of misery,
He who does not pray is a man who cannot glorify God,
He who does not pray is a man who denies God,
He who does not pray is a man who worries God,
He who does not pray is a man separated from God.
He who does not pray is a man who cannot be sanctified ever,
He who does not pray will not enter the house of God.
Glory, praise and thanksgiving to our Lord Jesus who has shown us the only way(John 14:6) to heaven through the example of prayer! Praise the Lord!
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