Latest / Bible Study with Pr. Daniel Batarseh | Verse by Verse Series | Maranatha Bible Church - Chicago / Why & How Did Jesus Pray? | Pastor Daniel Batarseh (Gospel of Mark Bible Study Series)

Transcript

Why & How Did Jesus Pray? | Pastor Daniel Batarseh (Gospel of Mark Bible Study Series) · Bible Study with Pr. Daniel Batarseh | Verse by Verse Series | Maranatha Bible Church - Chicago

0:17
Mark chapter 1. Please meet me there mark one.
0:25
I'm not sure how long this sermon is going to be maybe
0:28
short, maybe long. Let's just trust that.
0:33
However, long it is, it'll be exactly what the Lord has for
0:36
us. Mark 1:35.
0:49
And Rising very early in the morning while it was still dark.
0:57
He departed. And went out to a desolate place
1:01
and there he prayed and Simon and those who are with Him,
1:07
search for him and they found him and said to him, everyone is
1:11
looking for you and he said to them.
1:14
Let us go on to the next towns that I may preach there.
1:19
Also. So for that is why I came out
1:23
and he went through all Galilee preaching in their synagogues
1:27
and casting out demons. Lord, it's in moments like this.
1:37
Or you must manifest your power. As this word is delivered Lord,
1:43
may be delivered in the strength of the spirit.
1:47
And we ask. Oh God.
1:49
That the intention of these verses would be known the goal
1:55
of what you have here in. Holy writ would melt into our
1:59
hearts and that it would translate into the way you want
2:02
us to be. We ask Lord that the voice of
2:07
condemnation would be canceled. We ask Lord instead that as we
2:11
speak about the person of Jesus and the value he placed on
2:15
prayer that it would Inspire us. That it would truly stir Us in
2:21
the innermost parts of who we are to engage, in this thing,
2:27
called prayer for ourselves. Lord, again, let inspiration be
2:35
the motive. Let that be the fuel to the
2:38
spiritual discipline. We submit ourselves to you as we
2:43
hear what you have to say. In Jesus name, we pray.
2:46
Amen. You've heard this many times
2:49
before, but it's good to be reminded.
2:51
Especially when we come to something that will be as
2:54
instructive as this, The Wider context, helps us understand how
2:59
we apply these things more specifically in precisely.
3:02
It will benefit us if we if we're reminded again that marks
3:06
intent in writing about Jesus life and his ministry was to
3:11
depict him as the perfect servant of God.
3:15
Isaiah prophesied about this true Israel, who is Jesus, who
3:21
came to do what the nation of Israel failed to do over
3:24
centuries and centuries and centuries and that was to know
3:28
God's Will. And then to obey it,
3:30
consistently constantly Faithfully perfectly.
3:33
That's what Jesus came to do. He came to do what Israel failed
3:38
to do. He came to do what all men
3:40
cannot do, and that is to submit to God and His instruction.
3:45
His will perfectly. And so, as he comes to this
3:49
point, we see something interesting with that theme in
3:52
the Forefront of our minds, because we just read here.
3:55
Something that Jesus is doing that.
3:58
We haven't really seen him do in Mark before, we've seen, Jesus
4:02
ministering with Miracles, being compassionate and healing.
4:07
We see him in his powered, delivering people from the
4:10
Demonic captivity of evil spirits.
4:13
We see him going into synagogue, Hugs and teaching all these
4:17
wonderful things. But all four sudden as we enter
4:20
into this verse, we realize that Jesus is not doing anything
4:24
necessarily with his hands. Instead we see him praying.
4:30
We see him on his knees. So to speak, though, it's not
4:33
explicitly clear how he pushed himself.
4:36
And what's incredible about that, it's as though Marcus
4:39
doing this with great intention and other words, it's as though
4:43
after you and I have just seen a highlight reel of the authority
4:47
of Jesus Christ in different ways.
4:50
All of that is put on pause and marked by the spirit, puts his
4:54
hand on a certain curtain and pulls it back to a certain
4:58
degree so that you and I as the readers of God's word can peek
5:03
in and see the very source of Is power on the Earth.
5:09
After all the demonstration of glory, after all that radiated
5:13
from him, that shook the world around and wherever he stepped
5:17
foot in things and people knew there was something unusual.
5:21
Now, we come to the very thing that is connected to all of that
5:25
and it's, it's in the posture of Prayer.
5:30
Before Jesus did anything with his hands.
5:35
You find him on his knees. And before there is any public
5:40
display of power. There was first, a private
5:43
posture of humility and dependency upon upon God, and
5:49
that is exactly what we see here.
5:52
My question is, why does Mark wanted to see Jesus?
5:55
Praying, he could have skipped over that.
5:57
We could have just continued with the theme of him doing
6:00
miraculous, glorious things. And I believe one reason is
6:05
because that if we seek to imitate the master That's your
6:10
heartbeat. If you're Christian in this
6:12
place, one of the signs that you are born again.
6:15
Is that you want to imitate him? That's what John says that we
6:19
ought to walk in the way. He walked.
6:21
That's your desire. I want to be like him and I
6:24
believe Marcus is showing something about Jesus for the
6:29
reader who seeks to imitate him so that by seeing the value that
6:34
Christ put on private, not just prayer but private prayer.
6:39
You and I would say, I want to be like him and then by seeing
6:45
the value that Jesus put on private prayer, we'd be honest
6:49
with ourselves and examine and see, do we have the same
6:52
estimation as my lord does? Now I am fully aware, I am fully
6:58
aware that a message about something like private prayer
7:03
can be easily a guilt-ridden thing and I will not come fold
7:09
this, Bible and whack you over the head with it, and try to
7:13
make you feel guilty enough to make sure that you have a form
7:17
of Prayer in your life, apart from meetings.
7:20
And before your meals and said, my prayer though, it was
7:24
difficult to do much this week. My simple prayer to the Lord,
7:29
was to say, Lord, just let the people be genuinely inspired to
7:35
have this in their lives. Let there be a sweet sense of
7:40
invitation into this. Let It Be by the end of this,
7:45
this message though, it may not be eloquent and though it may be
7:48
delivered in a raspy voice met by the spirit.
7:52
Cause people to say, I really want this, I really want this
7:57
all I'm really going to offer you today according to the word
8:00
of God. It's hopefully two things
8:03
inspiration and instruction inspiration and instruction.
8:08
And it's going to be based on three simple observations about
8:12
these texts. These verses that we have before
8:14
us. The reason why Jesus prayed the
8:18
remoteness of his praying And the reward of his praying.
8:25
The reason for his praying, the remoteness the isolation of his
8:30
praying and then the reward of his praying we read it.
8:35
Did we not and Rising very early in the morning while it was
8:40
still dark he departed and went to a desolate place.
8:45
I mean the spirit of God so detailed Paints the scene.
8:48
It's almost hard to imagine how you can't visualize.
8:52
Is, you can't visualize it. Every time I come to this in my
8:57
reading of Mark, I cannot help. But think there is Jesus in his
9:02
warm bed in Peter's house as a guest And he gets up so
9:08
graciously and his feet touched the ground, and he makes his way
9:13
towards the front door. While there are snoring
9:16
disciples around him and he comes through that front door
9:19
and opens it. And closes it softly only to
9:22
turn around and tiptoe around bodies that have laid their
9:27
overnight intense and maybe even in the open field, hoping to get
9:32
a front-row seat to a new day of Miracles that took Place last
9:37
night then there's Jesus strategically making his way
9:41
through the crowd and finally comes to a certain field that is
9:45
distant enough from the people. And he makes way into the mouth
9:52
of some kind of area that is filled with the sound of
9:56
crickets echoing into the night. And then within seconds, he just
10:00
disappears and he gets deep enough into this desolate place
10:05
where no one can see him or hear him without investigating for
10:09
him. So that this Jesus can freely
10:12
speak to his father without any fear of interruption or people
10:17
demanding for his presence and this Havior.
10:20
I'm telling you is very strange for someone who just spent hours
10:24
upon hours the night before casting out devils and Healing
10:29
The Sick, doesn't it? He does.
10:34
And there's only one conclusion to make about this.
10:38
Jesus had a revelation of prayer that made an appointment with
10:43
it. Absolutely necessary.
10:46
Jesus had an understanding of prayer that made a premeditated
10:52
schedule. Necessary for him to keep it was
10:57
more important to him than a little bit of extra time in a
11:00
warm bed to him. He had to do this.
11:04
And this time of Fellowship is not spontaneous, don't get it
11:07
twisted, it's not spontaneous. It was planned and Christ knew
11:13
that to leave a set time alone with the Lord.
11:16
Up to chance or spontaneity is really a recipe for disaster?
11:23
This is something that has to be intentionally set and he does
11:28
that. And it's important to note that
11:30
a verse like this in no way suggests an unhealthy or an
11:34
unbalanced neglect of the needs of the body instead.
11:39
What it is saying is that we need to be intentional in
11:43
organizing and organizing our day around Round the
11:47
prioritization of prayer and our day-to-day affairs.
11:52
He woke up very early knowing knowing what was ahead of them,
11:57
knowing that demands that were prepared.
12:00
And he said, I have to do this, I must do this.
12:04
And the application of daily private prayer is going to look
12:07
different for all of us. Now, let me remind you.
12:11
As Believers prayer, is not a suggestion.
12:16
Jesus on the sermon of the mount says, when you pray remember he
12:20
said that he says he didn't say if you pray If you pray, you
12:24
know, do it like this. You gotta When you pray in other
12:28
words, I'm expecting you to pray.
12:31
I'm expecting you to have a personal communion with the
12:35
father and when you do it, whenever that is, let me tell
12:39
you how to do it. And God is gracious enough.
12:42
We're not like those religions that have set times of prayer We
12:46
have a certain Liberty in a freedom depending upon the
12:50
responsibilities and the duties that we are each given to and
12:53
God understands that. And that is so encouraging to
12:56
know. So.
12:57
So we can be blessed to know that.
12:59
It's not about the earliest in the day makes my prayer more
13:02
valuable. That's not the case.
13:06
What's Happening Here? Is that Jesus in his day in his
13:09
ministry, new at the earliest time was the most profitable
13:13
time. This was this is the time where
13:15
Can get the most out of this. And so he protected that and
13:20
he's surrounded that day around that being the foundation of his
13:25
beginnings of a new day. And if we don't do this, here's
13:29
the same. I'm trying to give you very
13:30
practical instruction, if you and I are not intentional, if we
13:35
just leave it up to the the spirit of God making me want to
13:39
do it, you're never going to do it.
13:41
It's not going to happen. If you're waiting for a
13:45
conference once a year to propel you into that direction, you're
13:49
just you're going to be very anemic in this.
13:53
Instead, there has to be, there has to be a plan.
13:57
There has to be an intentional plan.
14:00
If not we risk, we risk those blessings that are reserved in
14:04
this area being evaporated by the busyness of our day.
14:08
And one of the illustrations of that is in the Exodus story.
14:12
When God had given his people daily Manna.
14:16
He reigned bread from Heaven, it would come upon the do and it
14:20
would materialize into some kind of a way.
14:22
Fur and day by day. The people would expect that in
14:26
the morning as the do rested upon the fields that they would
14:30
gather that mana and be nourished for that day.
14:34
But what's incredible is now only was the Mana there, every
14:38
day in the morning, they were instructed to gather it in the
14:42
morning in the morning. And if they didn't gather it in
14:47
the morning, this is what happened.
14:48
I want you to just hear this in. Exodus 16 21 more.
14:52
Earning by morning, they gathered it each as much as he
14:56
could eat. But when the sun grew hot it
15:00
melted What an amazing Insight when the sun grew hot, if that
15:08
bread was not gathered on time, it would, it would evaporate it
15:12
would disappear and they would not be able to gather.
15:15
And what was truth physically for the Israelites with their
15:18
Mana is true for the believer today with their spiritual
15:23
nourishment daily. And here's what it is, if you
15:26
are not, I are not careful to gather it at a time where it Our
15:32
first ambition, in our schedule, then we run the risk of the heat
15:37
of our activities that day to melt away, the opportunity to
15:41
gather any of it at all. Can I prove it to you?
15:46
How many of us when we woke up maybe snooze the little bit
15:51
longer than we want or something happened?
15:52
Where we just stayed in bed and we assured us I'll do it later
15:55
on. I spent time in God's word later
15:58
on I'll pray later on only to find ourselves what exhausted
16:03
Coming back to that same bed dead tired and trying but we
16:07
fail and that's the picture the heat of that day melted.
16:11
The very thing that needed to be gathered with our first strength
16:16
and our first ambition. And our first goal of the day,
16:20
if not, then like the Mana, you just have to wait for the next
16:24
day and just give it another go. But the problem is people who
16:28
don't have that intentional mindset live days and weeks and
16:32
months without this and then they wonder why is my faith so
16:36
weak? Why am I so give in to
16:38
Temptation? You know?
16:40
Listen whenever somebody comes up to me and struggles with a
16:43
specific sin and he habitual sin.
16:47
Your pastors, your elders are never here to condemn anybody
16:51
who comes in that weakness, but we will probe and ask questions
16:55
so that we can, we can try to figure out what it is that's
16:57
causing this. And one of the main things, I
17:00
always ask anybody who struggles.
17:02
I says, when was the last time be honest, when was the last
17:05
time that you had adequate time with the Lord by yourself 100%
17:14
of the time? Anybody who is struggling?
17:17
Tells me it's been quite a bit of time.
17:21
Every never fails over the years, it never never fails.
17:26
And so, we have to understand that each of us in this place.
17:30
Each of us in this place, has a particular window of time where
17:34
we have the blessing prepared for us.
17:37
And it is in that time where we must gather it, because if not,
17:42
then we will most likely have to wait till the next day to have a
17:44
chance at it again, but you have many good hearted Believers.
17:48
I mean, I'm telling you something, you already know,
17:50
right? All of us know this.
17:53
But the problem is at the same time, there are many people who
17:55
just can't get themselves to do it.
17:57
I just can't. I get it.
18:00
You're telling me I know it. I mean if I were to ask right
18:03
now who in here wants to improve in their prayer life everyone
18:06
would lift their hand. It's it's not like it's not a
18:10
mystery. It's common, but what's also
18:14
common? As you have, many people who
18:15
could just never kick start, they can ever get themselves to
18:19
actually do it and they can never even remember a time where
18:22
it was consistent. And I think the reason why is
18:26
because we don't have the right motivation for.
18:28
I believe, the main reason why there is little to no
18:31
understanding of what is there prepared for us that if we just
18:36
engage with it with faith, you can actually come to a point
18:41
that you can't live without it. I believe, Daniel, the Prophet
18:44
came to that point because when there was a law given that if
18:48
you pray to any other deity, except for the king, then you
18:52
were to be killed. You were to be punished.
18:54
And Daniel the very same day goes to his room opens the
18:58
window and he does what he was doing all along and that was to
19:01
seek the face of God three times a day.
19:04
And here's the conclusion that I make out of that that Daniel was
19:07
willing to die as a praying man that the live as a prayerless
19:11
man. He had such an understanding of
19:15
what happened and how can you, how can you deny it?
19:18
You look at the Book of Daniel and I challenge, you look at the
19:21
times when God brings Revelation to him, when he was praying,
19:25
when he was fasting, when he was seeking the Lord, that's when
19:29
these amazing Revelations came to him.
19:31
I'm not going to live without this might as well kill me
19:35
because to live with our prayers, not to really live at
19:38
all. And now I say that and we think
19:41
well that's a nice way of phrasing it but It really true
19:45
how we tapped into that, where we actually believe that for
19:47
myself that if you were to take prayer away from me, that's to
19:50
take oxygen away from me. Nah, it's a humbling thought and
19:56
I think the reason is, we don't know why we need to do it.
20:00
We know we need to do it. We just don't know.
20:02
Why, can I ask you a question? We know Jesus prayed.
20:06
Why did he pray? Don't answer in your heart, you
20:09
can, but why did he pray? Why did the Son of God need to
20:12
pray? Why did he do it like this?
20:14
Why did he spend so much time in its such a small amount of
20:17
ministry ears? You see in so many occasions?
20:20
That he goes into this place. He goes into that place.
20:22
He spends this much time. Prayer and prayer.
20:25
Lord. You have three years.
20:26
There's only so many towns to preach and you'll have so little
20:29
time. What are you doing?
20:30
He had a revelation. Jesus had an insight and he
20:34
wants us to have the same insight and though there are
20:36
many answers. Well, he was a man.
20:38
He had to be dependent upon God all true.
20:41
But I have one Holy Spirit revealed reason why according to
20:45
the Bible, why Jesus prayed? And here's what's interesting
20:50
it's found in the book of Isaiah turn there with me to chapter
20:53
15. Isaiah Isaiah did not just
20:56
prophesy about the sufferings of the Christ.
20:59
Isaiah even prophesied about the fellowship that he had with the
21:02
father. Isaiah chapter 50.
21:16
Look at verse 4 quickly. This is the Messiah.
21:19
Speaking, this is the Lord himself speaking.
21:24
And this is, now here's what's interesting.
21:26
This chapter is actually about the suffering servant the
21:30
servant of Jehovah. And here's an insight into how
21:33
the servant of God in the person of Jesus Christ related to God,
21:37
as the status of a servant in verse 4, the Lord God has given
21:41
me the tongue of those who are taught that.
21:45
I may know how to sustain with a word.
21:48
Him who is weary morning by morning.
21:53
He awakens. He awakens my ear to hear as
21:57
those who are taught. And that incredible.
22:03
Notice that in humility the servant of Jehovah says that the
22:07
Lord has given him a certain ability, he did not say that he
22:12
independently worked up a certain gift.
22:16
He says, here that he was given and what was given the ability
22:20
to communicate precise words that would actually lift up the
22:26
weary soul. The Lord God has given me the
22:31
tongue, the ability to communicate verbalize speak in
22:35
such a way that it would Infuse, a Grace that would lift.
22:40
The burden off those who are heavy laden, that's what the
22:43
Lord God has given me. And what's amazing is that
22:48
though he was given, it was something that needed to be
22:50
maintained. It was something that was not
22:53
just dependent upon one time of a gift.
22:57
No, it was something that needed to be.
22:58
Print and there need to be fresh insight and what that's what we
23:01
see morning by morning. He awakens morning by morning.
23:07
It was a Perpetual practice of the Christ to come before the
23:11
Lord and depend on him for a daily deposit of wisdom.
23:15
So that as he went out into the world, with the people that he
23:18
so loved, he would be able to precisely minister to their
23:23
needs with his tongue. And according to Mark, 138, we
23:29
realized you heard it. That Jesus was ready.
23:31
Go to these towns and Galilee to preach there was a new preaching
23:34
campaign that he was ready to embark on.
23:36
And knowing that I believe based on Isaiah 50, he comes before
23:41
the father. Father.
23:46
What am I to say? What am I to speak?
23:52
What am I to deliver to these people?
23:55
A new audience, father, give me the words.
24:00
Give me your wisdom. Give me your instruction.
24:04
And there he was in that desolate Place.
24:07
Seeking him while people were sleeping.
24:11
And that's a touching scene morning by morning, and here's a
24:16
point to consider. God is prepared to give us what
24:20
we need to be effective servants, but that can only be
24:25
found in the place of holy secret prayer.
24:33
And according to Isaiah, Jesus had a daily appointment with the
24:37
father. With the frame of mind of
24:41
believing that he was to receive the necessary.
24:44
Revelation has a result of remaining and being in his
24:47
presence. Do you believe that God wants to
24:52
equip you? And deposit truths in you and
24:57
open your eyes to certain things as you come before him, and give
25:02
him that time of focus attention.
25:07
I believe in. I've seen it.
25:12
I can tell you, I am the weakest, not in the frame of my
25:17
body. I am the weakest in my ability
25:21
to serve others when I am the weakest in prayer.
25:25
I know it. I know it.
25:28
I can sense. It call me mystical, all you
25:31
want, I don't care. When you serve the Lord in any
25:36
capacity, there's almost a sense of in which virtue leaves you.
25:42
And Jesus prayed not just to receive for for further service.
25:47
There was a refreshment there, a replenishment that can only come
25:51
from God himself. And I think that is something
25:56
that we have to believe as we come before the Lord.
25:58
Lord, I believe you have something for me.
26:02
That if I moved to go out there and to be effective, Lord, if
26:05
you do not equip me, I can't do what you've called me to do. the
26:10
problem is you have way too many people who are too dependent
26:13
upon their gifting and their minds and their cleverness, and
26:19
their books even It doesn't have the ability that only God can
26:25
provide where it actually affects the weary soul and
26:29
brings about some kind of an aide brings about some kind of
26:34
an Effectiveness. This is available, but it's only
26:37
in that appointment with God. I'm not trying to speak to you
26:42
as preachers. I'm trying to speak to you in
26:43
any capacity in which we serve the Lord as witnesses as we go
26:47
out into the world. I'm telling you, we need the
26:50
same source of Grace from the father has Jesus had And I can
26:55
only come from that. You can't buy this thing.
26:58
You can't, you can't get a degree in it.
27:00
You can't get a PhD and I praise God for that.
27:04
It has it requires, sacrifice, it requires cost.
27:08
You have to set time apart, turn your back on the community at
27:13
times. Turn your back on the Comfort.
27:16
Say, Lord, I'm so hungry for this.
27:19
I'm so aware of my neediness of this that I'm here before you,
27:23
that is where you get the hand of Not on your life, that is
27:27
where you get it. That is where his Spirit rests
27:29
upon whatever gift in the case of Jesus as a preacher as a
27:32
teacher, it was upon his tongue and it's true for any part of
27:36
the ministry. The reason why Jesus prayed
27:41
among many reasons never forget, Isaiah chapter 50 verse 4.
27:46
Let me give you a couple of practical instructions here.
27:49
Remind yourself. Build your faith.
27:51
Create an awareness in your heart that apart from God,
27:55
supplying something in you. You will not be effective for
27:59
his kingdom. You got to believe that you
28:02
really got to believe that. I believe it was Spurgeon who
28:07
said somewhere along one of his writings, or That when he would
28:12
sit in the front Pew before he would preach, he would whisper
28:16
underneath his breath every step.
28:17
Before he came to the pulpit. I believe, in the Holy Spirit, I
28:21
believe in the Holy Spirit, I believe in the Holy Spirit,
28:26
Despite the oratory ability this man was fully aware that he
28:31
needed God, and that he could not come to this thing without
28:36
god with him. Build your faith in that area.
28:42
Really, I don't care what you do where you work.
28:47
You need his help to be a witness to be a servant.
28:52
Secondly, Prepare in your mind, make a mental note ahead of time
28:59
of how you will spend time with God In Prayer.
29:02
The next day, I make a mental note of that.
29:07
You saying, brother, this is legalistic rules are not
29:10
legalistic, okay? I'm trying to give you some help
29:15
to know how you can. If you leave this up to chance,
29:17
it's not going to work. It's not going to work.
29:21
Look at your week. Do you have something coming up?
29:24
That's unusual. I have these appointments.
29:27
I have these events. I have to help so-and-so.
29:29
Look at that in advance. And say this is where I'm going
29:32
to spend time with the Lord. This that this time, I'm going
29:35
to do this. That will greatly help.
29:39
I'm trying to make sure that you protect the sacred thing that
29:41
will bring about so much blessing in your life.
29:45
I have much more to say in this area but let me move on the
29:48
reason for Jesus praying. That's clear.
29:49
We have one, there's many, but let me give you to the
29:52
remoteness of his praying. It's so clear is a not of the
29:54
spirit of God does not just highlight the priority that
29:57
Jesus placed on prayer and his day-to-day activities but also
30:00
the Strategic location of where he would pray.
30:03
He went out to a desolate place. He went out to a desolate place
30:09
that's not to say he went out necessarily to desert but it was
30:11
a place that was separated from population from any distraction.
30:16
And there are many reasons why he did this But let me tell you
30:21
one thing. If we can pray anywhere in any
30:24
place at any time with anybody around us, why is it necessary
30:28
for us to do what Jesus did in two separate ourselves from from
30:32
others? I believe, one main reason
30:36
beyond the obvious distractions and this and that one main
30:40
reason is, because secret prayer testifies to God, that we long
30:46
for intimate communion with him. Secret prayer, testifies to God,
30:52
that we long for intimate communion with him.
30:58
It says, I take all the attention off of others, I even
31:01
take attention off of myself and I give it all to you.
31:06
That's what it says. It's very hard.
31:10
To be a hypocrite in secret prayer.
31:14
It's easy to be a hypocrite and public prayer.
31:18
Now, public prayer is important but it's much easier to
31:22
temptation is much stronger to be in a room with other people
31:26
and to pray, didn't Jesus say that in Matthew 6, When you
31:29
pray, go into your room, shut the door, don't be like those
31:31
who go into the corner of the streets, and who make a display
31:34
of the prayers later on in Mark. Don't be like those who would
31:37
sake of pretense, they make long prayers so that they can be
31:40
seen. And heard when we are in public
31:42
that temptation to be hypocritical.
31:44
On our praying is heightened when you are in private, it's
31:48
very difficult to try to show off.
31:53
Very difficult now. It's still possible.
31:55
We're very creative in our weakness.
31:57
It is, I can pray really loud in my room, so that my brother is
32:00
here me that I'm praying. I can pray a certain amount of
32:03
time and record my time. So that anybody asked me how
32:05
long you pick, I pray for two hours.
32:10
But it's much more difficult. And maybe that's why people
32:14
don't like private prayers so much because you can't show off.
32:18
Because there's nothing of for the flash, their public prayer.
32:21
Yeah, I can. I'd love to come to public
32:23
prayer. Lord.
32:24
And then let me speak King James even on top of it, Foulest
32:28
right. But that's why he says he sees
32:35
in secret the father not that he doesn't see him public.
32:39
Is that when you and I choose to pray privately goggles.
32:42
Okay, I see you. I see you.
32:46
I see what you're doing there. I see that you are after me as
32:50
your primary and sole audience and that's why the reward isn't
32:54
secret prayer because he sees that you are detaching yourself.
32:59
That you are eliminating all other things and solely coming
33:03
before him and saying Lord, the eyes of my heart.
33:06
I wanted to be set on you alone, you are my only audience.
33:11
So here's my heart, I bring it before you, and it's not so much
33:14
about the location. As much as it is about the inner
33:17
attitude because that Sanctuary can be in your Honda Civic.
33:23
That Sanctuary can be on the the subway.
33:27
That's Sanctuary. Can be in your kitchen can be
33:30
anywhere for me. It's give me a park.
33:35
And that place will become the holy of holies to me.
33:39
It looks different for all of us, but it's more about that
33:41
inner attitude. And when he sees that when he
33:46
sees that you're willing to separate yourself and actually,
33:49
stop all the busyness to give him your praise and to pour out
33:55
your heart, that's where the reward is.
33:58
That's where the reward is, you know, this very well why, you
34:03
know, people say I love to praying, but it helps me helps
34:06
me stay focused. That's fine, you can know.
34:09
To a certain capacity with your brothers and sisters in the same
34:11
room calling upon him. God will bless that and he will
34:14
honor that. But, you know, very well that if
34:16
you want to get to know anybody on a personal basis, you can go
34:19
on all the group dates that you want, but there's nothing like
34:21
that one-on-one time. There's nothing like that
34:25
face-to-face. No other voices.
34:27
No, other interruptions. Just you and him.
34:29
That's what God is asking of each of us.
34:32
He really is. And I get it.
34:37
I can almost hear the thoughts easy for you to say preacher,
34:42
your full-time job. Going to pray all you want, not
34:47
really. Actually you'd be shocked to
34:49
know how many pastors don't pray at all.
34:52
The prayerlessness among pastors is scary.
34:57
But I know what it's like, I personally know what it's like.
35:00
I was not a pastor from my mother's womb.
35:02
Okay. I know what it's like, I
35:06
remember doing an internship in school where I had to wake up
35:08
six in the morning and then I had to take three different
35:11
forms of transportation to get back to my apartment.
35:14
And I would walk back in The Frigid cold of that Toronto
35:17
weather and the month of February, bone, tired, bone
35:23
tired. How Lord?
35:28
I don't know if I can do this, I mean 626 on average, sometimes
35:33
and Lord you won't. I don't know when I'm going to
35:36
spend time with you, the way you call me to spend time with you,
35:40
I'm exhausted. I'll be so frustrated when I was
35:43
a student before my internship. Haha, it was like heaven on
35:46
Earth. But then when this came about, I
35:50
got it, I understand. And I believe the lord gave me a
35:52
taste of that. Whenever it came to this point
35:54
in my life, I can look out to a crowd of people and I said,
35:56
well, you better pray. No excuses, I get it.
36:03
In the Lord through that in many ways but mainly through the
36:06
scriptures comforted me and I want to use the same scriptures
36:10
that comforted me to comfort. You In Mark, 14.
36:15
Turn with me there. In Mark 14 verse 6.
36:23
This is when Mary of Bethany anointed the feet of Jesus.
36:27
A beautiful sacrificial act of worship.
36:32
But she was criticized. There are some people who have
36:35
the gift of criticism. It's amazing.
36:38
No matter what you do. You give a little.
36:39
They criticize you. Give everything they criticize.
36:44
A mark 14:6. Jesus defends her.
36:47
I love this story because Mary of Bethany never defends
36:49
herself. She doesn't try to make a case
36:53
for why she did what she did Jesus defends her, and look what
36:57
he says in verse 6. But Jesus said, leave her alone.
37:01
Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing
37:05
to me. Keep that in mind.
37:07
She has done a beautiful thing to me.
37:11
Oftentimes, what is beautiful to the Lord is criticized by other
37:13
people. She's done a beautiful thing to
37:17
me for you always have the poor with you and whenever you want
37:20
you can do good for them but you will not always have me.
37:23
And I look what he says here in verse 8 she has done what she
37:26
could She has done what she could.
37:32
She has anointed my body beforehand for burial that
37:36
phrase. Mother of those baby's father
37:41
who makes long commutes. Person is working two jobs a
37:45
week. She has done what she could do.
37:56
Whatever, Mary did she did to the best of her ability?
38:00
And you know what Jesus said of that?
38:02
It's a beautiful thing to me. That is a beautiful thing to me.
38:07
And the Lord brought that to my heart, give me what you can give
38:11
me. And I will see you as beautiful
38:14
and I did. Lord in this season.
38:17
This is all I can give you. Now, somebody can take that
38:21
verse and say, I don't like going to give got anything and
38:23
that's what I can do. It's better to give God
38:26
something than nothing. Always remember that.
38:31
Lord, you know. And I know my heart, testifies
38:33
before you the honesty of my context, this is all I can offer
38:37
you and I wish I could have more.
38:38
I wish you can blow the walls off of my schedule so I can have
38:42
this sweet time with you but this is all I can give you and
38:45
that has a fragrance to him. Be free from legalism.
38:51
Be free from legalism. And realize the richness of his
38:56
Mercy. That he considers and he is
38:59
mindful of your responsibilities and everything else not to
39:02
excuse things that we consider busyness, when it's really
39:06
silliness. But to say Lord, just like this
39:11
guy. And his college Years, very
39:14
frustrated with the context of my situation and wanting to give
39:18
more just do what you can do. And I'll bless you.
39:24
That sacrifice of a pigeon, according to Leviticus one, was
39:27
the same values. The sacrifice of the bull
39:30
different sizes, different sizes.
39:32
But why did God give those instructions?
39:35
If you can't give a bowl, give a goat.
39:36
If you can't give a, go give a pigeon.
39:39
What was he saying? Give what you can afford, and no
39:41
matter what size. It was, no matter how much it
39:43
cost you if it was all that, you can give it was the same
39:47
offering in God's eyes. Give what you can't give up.
39:52
The remoteness of his of his praying, he separated himself.
39:57
And he sought the father, let me end with the reward of his
40:00
praying. Let's go back to Mark 1 and
40:01
we're going to end it here. Mark 1 verse 36.
40:11
And Simon and those who are with Him, search for him and they
40:17
found him and they set them, everyone is looking for you.
40:23
You go to Luke and it's told that the people came after him,
40:27
so it wasn't just Simon and the disciples, you had a crowd
40:29
chasing after, they was there on a hunt for Jesus, which gives me
40:33
the hint that that's how long he was praying for.
40:37
I mean, he was praying it before the sun rose and he must have
40:41
been praying until the sun came up.
40:43
When everybody woke up, that's incredible.
40:47
That people realize Jesus is not here and they opened the door.
40:49
They open the room, so they go on this, Chase for Jesus and
40:53
they find him. And Simon Says, everyone is
40:56
looking for you. And I looked at that and I
40:57
thought to myself what an inside and here it is.
41:01
Be aware that when you set yourself to pray, things will be
41:04
looking for you. Sin is not the only thing that's
41:08
going to keep you from praying, that's easy, good things will
41:12
try to find you to keep you from praying.
41:14
Okay? Remember that these are the
41:17
needs of the people. These are demands, there's a
41:19
schedule to be kept and all of this Found Jesus.
41:22
But here's what I love the Lord already knew that the Lord
41:26
already knew what was coming that day, the Lord already knew
41:29
what situation he was in and ministry.
41:31
That's why we're told earlier he woke up very early, right?
41:35
Very early, so that The time the needs and The Persuasions and
41:39
all these things came to him, he was already prayed up.
41:43
He's already saturated and the presence of God.
41:47
And he comes with the crowd and I want you to see Luke's
41:51
description of it, go to Luke very quickly and 4:42 the same
41:55
incident with a different perspective.
41:58
And it's in Luke where we see what they were trying to do with
42:01
Jesus. Luke 4:42.
42:17
And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place,
42:23
and the people sought him and came to him and would have kept
42:26
him from leaving them. So there is a just trying to
42:31
find his whereabouts to make sure he was safe.
42:33
They were trying to find him so that they can keep him in
42:35
Capernaum. This was a persuasion.
42:39
This was, this was popular demand.
42:43
This was an attempt to keep him in one place when as we read
42:48
earlier he says let us go to the next towns. and when the
42:54
opportunity presented itself for Jesus to stay, The context is
43:00
prayer. Jesus was already.
43:02
So in tune with the will of God. His know, I have to move on.
43:08
Here's the first reward that you can expect when you prioritize
43:12
prayer as Jesus did. You will know a protection from
43:17
The Persuasions of daily temptation.
43:21
You will know a protection, you will know a strength to be able
43:25
to look at things that are trying to steer you away from
43:29
the will of God and say God said something else.
43:33
I must obey. God Watch and Pray lest you fall
43:37
into temptation. Now what's incredible is that
43:40
this happened on more than one occasion with Jesus after he fed
43:44
the 5000 in John chapter 6 you don't have to turn there but
43:48
listen to these words and John Verse 15, it says perceiving,
43:53
Jesus, perceiving them that they were about to come and take him
43:57
by force to make him King. Jesus withdrew, again to the
44:02
mountain by himself. So he perceived that the people
44:07
were trying to make him be a king that would overthrow Rome
44:11
and be this miraculous King, who can supply their needs.
44:14
They don't have to work again. They have to do this again and
44:16
perceiving that realizing that this multitude of people are
44:20
going to turn and try to force him, he Retreats.
44:23
And he goes to the mountain. It doesn't say it in John, but
44:26
in Mark, with the same account it says, he went to the mountain
44:29
to pray. Lord, this is not your will.
44:36
And we don't know what he said, but he knew as a man, I have to
44:39
get along with God because I know what is coming and because
44:44
I know what is coming. I need his strength.
44:48
If you just knew what was coming every single day, I'm fully
44:52
convinced not just when I step out of the front door of my
44:56
house, when I get out of my bed. There are things waiting to
45:02
persuade me away from the will of God.
45:07
I need to meet with him. Lord, I know there are things
45:13
coming my way. I may not know the nature of it.
45:15
I know may not know the intensity of it, but God
45:18
Almighty prepare me. Strengthen me.
45:22
That is the reward that we see here, but let me give you the
45:24
second one. He says that, as I said earlier
45:27
in verse 38 of Mark 1 and he said to them, let us go on to
45:30
the next towns that I may preach there.
45:32
Also, that is why I came out prayer.
45:36
Not only keeps you on course, in the will of God, but it
45:41
clarifies the will of God for tomorrow.
45:45
It clears the air. And I am not going to stand here
45:49
and tell you that every single time.
45:50
You pray, you're going to get an audible Voice or an automatic
45:53
response to some need for Direction.
45:57
But what I can tell you based on the authority of the word of God
46:00
is that when he sees a man or a woman who's so take, seriously,
46:05
the will of God for their life. Serious enough to say, Lord, I
46:09
want to make sure that I'm in step with you.
46:12
God will ensure that you will never step outside of his will.
46:16
Oh, he will open. He will shut, he'll protect,
46:19
you'll prevent your provide, he will supply, he was subtract.
46:23
You would be amazed to know how God will work on behalf of a
46:26
praying man. Praying Woman.
46:34
The man on his knees has no fear in life.
46:37
The woman on her knees, has no concern in this life of where
46:41
they're headed tomorrow. There's a phrase.
46:44
I just finished reading the book of Daniel.
46:48
And there's a phrase there when Gabriel appears to Daniel to
46:51
give him a revelation based on his praying Daniel.
46:57
Greatly beloved. Greatly beloved.
47:01
Greatly loved by heaven. Why was he so loved?
47:10
As many reasons. Who was the Beloved disciple of
47:16
out of all the 12? John what was so unique about
47:20
John? He put his head on the bosom of
47:23
Jesus, he was so intimate with the Lord.
47:28
And you have Daniel and John both recognized as the Beloved
47:31
of the Lord. And interestingly enough,
47:32
Daniel. John receive apocalyptic
47:34
revelation of the end times. But these two men were intimate
47:40
with the Lord. They prioritize his presence.
47:46
And God honored that and he guided them and he revealed
47:51
things to them. I'm done.
47:59
I have only one prayer for us tonight.
48:00
Rather this afternoon as a congregation.
48:06
Got with touch our prayer lives. That's it.
48:12
And you would have. you know, you can get to the point, you
48:18
can get to the point With this thing called prayer is so real.
48:27
And so enjoyable. but when you miss it, there's an ache in your
48:34
heart not condemnation, not which you haven't prayed the
48:39
past 3 days. What?
48:41
She were distracted, none of that.
48:43
None of that stuff. Lord, I miss you.
48:48
I miss you, Lord. I haven't had the time that I
48:54
would want to pour my heart out to you and worship you.
48:58
I miss your presence. You want God to do that in your
49:06
life? You know what will happen.
49:12
Things won't be so entertaining as they used to be.
49:17
The color of this world becomes Gray.
49:24
And then there's something that's deeper than the flesh
49:26
deeper than the senses, that brings a joy and Delight to you.
49:31
And it's the knowledge of God. most of the problem with sin and
49:37
Christians lives is not because you have a computer in your room
49:43
or an iPhone or this or trauma. There's a lack of satisfaction
49:50
in God. It's as simple as that.
49:54
There's a place where you can get to in God, where you so
49:58
receive a satisfaction taste and see that the Lord is good.
50:03
That it fills you to the degree that even Temptation loses its
50:06
grip on you. And doesn't have the pull that
50:10
it used to have. And telling you can come to a
50:13
place in your prayer life where when it is not met it doesn't
50:19
make you feel condemned, it makes you miss the person.
50:24
That's what I want for you. That's what I want for you or we
50:28
thank you. We have all fallen short, Lord
50:46
of this. And we have heard that you are
50:49
jealous jealous for that time alone with you.
50:55
Lord, this speaks of your heart for us.
50:57
We thank you for that. Or we just simply ask that you
51:06
would enlarge our hearts so that we can call upon you quick and
51:11
us that we can call upon you. Hello to all we ask is that you
51:21
would you would do our hearts to the degree, that prayers of the
51:25
light, not just a duty and that we enjoy your presence and that
51:30
our prayer lives are not just a grocery list of things that we
51:33
need. Help us.
51:42
Lord help the father's help the mothers, help the students.
51:47
Help. The ones who are working
51:50
paycheck to paycheck. And teach us how to give you
51:56
what we can and to believe that that is beautiful in your eyes.
52:02
Lord, if somehow condemnation was able to sneak into our
52:06
hearts through a message like this.
52:09
By the end of the service. Would you replace it?
52:13
With a passion for intimacy with Christ.
52:20
And then we just trust that these verses would be implanted
52:23
deeply in US. And that they would meet us day
52:27
by day. We trust you, we trust you.
52:34
We've done what we can and we trust you in Jesus name.
52:37
We pray. Amen.
52:39
And we stand and Worship the Lord.