The first unrecorded prayer is the one we hear at the point of HIS BAPTISM.
Luke 3:21, "Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened."
Jesus prayed when He was baptized. We don't know what He prayed but He prayed. Well for us also it is true. When we are baptized the heavens are opened to us. Jesus said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved."
He did not say he that believeth and is saved shall be baptized. Jesus prayed after He was baptized. Should we not do the same? After you accept Christ by faith, repentance, and immersion for the remission of sins, the Devil is going to be after you. It was right after the baptism of Jesus that He went out and endured the greatest temptation in the wilderness. He was tempted by the Devil Himself. You will be tempted also after you are baptized into Christ. Lord teach us to pray.
The next unrecorded prayer of Jesus is when HE WAS BUSY
In the first chapter of Mark, Jesus had cast out an unclean demon, healed Peter's mother-in-law, and worked many other miracles on the Sabbath Day. The next day, which would be Sunday, The Lord's Day, He prayed an unrecorded prayer.
In Mark 1:35 He prayed. "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there He prayed." We don't know what He prayed, but He prayed.
The lesson here is that He was not so busy that He could not find time to pray even if He had to get up early in the morning and go to a secret place. It was Sunday. Does this mean that we should rise early on Sunday before daylight and pray? Some might object by saying that Sunday was not the Lord's Day at this time. O.K. have it your way. At that time Sunday was a weekday. So go ahead and rise up early on the weekdays and pray before daylight. If you are too busy to pray you are busier than God ever intended for you to be and too busy for your own good. Lord teach us to pray.
The next unrecorded prayer of Jesus is because of THE POPULARITY OF JESUS
In Luke 5:16 Jesus prayed. "And He withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed." Jesus had healed a man with leprosy and many came to Him from everywhere. To escape, He went into the wilderness and prayed. Most people want to be liked by all. We don't enjoy being looked at as oddballs and religious fanatics.
Many a preacher has compromised his position on Bible doctrine to public popularity. When that temptation comes it is time to pray and pray hard. Is it God or the people that you want to please? Lord teach us to pray.
Another unrecorded prayer of Jesus is when HE PRAYED ALL NIGHT
Luke 6:12 tells us, "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." We don't know what Jesus said when He prayed all night, but we do know what happened next.
It was right before He chose twelve men to be His Apostles. Should we not pray extended prayers before we select elders (pastors) or deacons or preachers? Lord teach us to pray.
The next unrecorded prayer of Jesus is just before He WALKED ON WATER
In Matthew 14:23 we read, "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."
Jesus went up into a mountain to escape the crowd who wanted to make Him King after the feeding of the 5,000. Then later that night He came down and to escape the crowd, He walked on the water and met the Apostles in the midst of the sea. Lord teach us to pray. When they want to make you king, you had better pray.
When they say you are the best elder, deacon, preacher, no one is like you, you had better pray. I would advise that if you ever tried to walk on the water you had better try praying first. In fact, it is a good idea before you leave home each day to pray even before you walk on the land.
Prayer will give you the traction you need and keep you from falling.
The next three unrecorded prayers we notice together because they were all three the same kind of prayer and for the same thing. These were the prayers that Jesus prayed as a table grace at the feeding of the five thousand, the four thousand and then after the resurrection at Emmaus with two disciples.
A) PRAYER FOR DAILY BREAD
Matthew 14:19, "And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples and the disciples to the multitude."
Then at the feeding of the four thousand Matthew says, "And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude."
Next at the inn in the village of Emmaus Luke tells us in Luke 24:30, "And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them and they knew Him and He vanished out of their sight."
Here we have three times when the Lord prayed for the food that was about to be eaten. We don't know what He prayed, but He prayed. Lord teach us to pray.
It is said that the ancient Jews had a particular Table Grace that said something like, "We thank you Oh Lord for bringing bread out of the earth."
Everything we eat came out of the dirt. Only God could bring bread out of the dirt. As a child, I used to hate to see the preacher come for dinner. They always called on him for prayer and I knew we were in for it. I think he prayed for about fifteen minutes at a time. Maybe it just seemed that long.
I am intimidated even unto this day when I eat somewhere and there are other preachers present. Most of them, when called on for prayer, will pray for many things besides the food. They pray for the lost, every member of the family, the Church, the nation and many other things.
I am intimidated because when they call on me for prayer, I am tempted to pray for everything else too and feel so inadequate just thanking God for the pork chops. Let us pray for the food and then get down to the business at hand. Do you pray a prayer of thanksgiving for what God has given you?
The next unrecorded prayer we notice is when Jesus prayed just before He announced that He would build His Church on the rock. HE PRAYED FOR THE CHURCH
Luke 9:18, "And it came to, pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying 'who do men say that I, the Son of man, am?'"
Then He asked them who they said He was? It was Peter who said, "Thou art the Christ the Son of the living God." Upon this confession, Jesus promised to build His Church. He said, "upon this rock, I will build My Church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."
On the day of Pentecost the prediction was fulfilled when Peter took the keys of the Kingdom and gave the terms of entry into the Kingdom in the statement, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Remember before Jesus spoke of building His Church He prayed first. Lord teach us to pray. We need to pray for the Church today. Just look around on Sunday at the communion hour and see two-thirds of the members absent. Look at the lifestyle of most who belong to the Church, which is no different than the people who are in the world.
There is nothing that needs and deserves our prayers any more than the Church that belongs to Christ. Pray for the preacher. Pray for the elders, pray for the deacons, and pray for the indifferent. Pray, pray for the Church. Lord teach us to pray.
Then notice how the Lord prayed before THE TRANSFIGURATION
Luke 9:28, "And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray."
It was while praying on the mountain this time that He was transfigured before them. The deity of Christ shined brightly through the rags of mortal flesh. Peter later said that they were eyewitnesses to His majesty.
We don't know what prayer Jesus prayed, but it was while in prayer that the Apostles were closer to the glory of God than at any other time. Lord teach us to pray.
The next unrecorded prayer of Jesus is of utmost importance. We don't know what He prayed, but HE PRAYED FOR THE CHILDREN
Matthew says it for us in Matthew 19:13, "Then were there brought unto him little children that he should put his hands on them and pray, and the disciples rebuked them."
Mark says that He took them into His arms and blessed them. Lord teach us to pray. You can be sure His prayer was simple enough for them to understand.
We don't know what He said but perhaps it was as simple as, "Now I lay me down to sleep I pray the Lord my soul keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take."
Perhaps as adults, we need to pray that prayer in the morning. "Now I get me up to work, I pray the Lord I will not shirk. If I should die before tonight, I pray the Lord, my works all right." Lord teach us to pray.
The next unrecorded prayer is especially important. It is the prayer that Jesus prayed as He instituted THE LORD'S SUPPER
Luke 22:19, "And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body, which is given you: this do in remembrance of me."
Jesus prayed when He instituted the Lord Supper. We don't know what He said but since it was the Lord's Supper what else could He pray for but the business at hand. I have heard all kinds of prayer at the Lord's Table. I heard a man pray a prayer of benediction one time at the Communion Table. He asked the Lord to bless them as they departed from this house. I said to myself I believe he is getting ready to leave. As soon as the Lord's Supper was over that is what he did.
I knew a man one time now deceased who used to pray the same prayer for everything. He prayed it for the invocation, the Lord's Supper, the offering, or at whatever and whenever the occasion. I have forgotten all of it but one line was when he always asked the Lord to bless the young people that they would grow up to be Christian men and women.
I'll say one thing for him. He had three kids and they did grow up to be some of the finest Christian you will find. I just wish he had included the Lord's Table in his prayers. If we are going to pray at the Lord's table, let's not forget what we are getting ready to do. Jesus said, "This do in remembrance of Me." Lord teach us to pray.
One more unrecorded prayer of Jesus is when He PRAYER FOR SIMON PETER
In Luke 22:31, "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."
We know that the Lord prayed that Peter's faith fail not although the exact wording is not given. Lord teach us to pray. If I had been there knowing that the Lord would pray for one of His Apostles I would have said, Lord, Peter is the last one to pray for. He is the strongest one you have. Pray for Thomas or maybe Philip or perhaps Andrew, but Peter is the one who can do without prayer. Lord teach us to pray. We need to pray for the new Christian and for the old ones and the sick ones and the weak ones, but while you are at it pray for the big ones. Pray for the most sainted people among you. Perhaps one would say why should we pray for them what are they up too? I don't know, but I know that as long as there is a Devil no Christian is immune from danger. Lord teach us to pray.
And these are the fourteen unrecorded prayers of Jesus.
Nobody knows the power of prayer
But somebody must be listening there,
With a friendly ear for the heart that calls
Somebody who knows when a sparrow falls.
Miracles lie in the power of prayer,
Faith that can banish the soul's despair
Hope that can shine like a holy light
And brighten the spirit's darkest night.
When earthly help is of no avail,
There is one friend who will never fail.
Just lift your eyes the answer is there
For nobody knows the power of prayer.
God bless until our next time...
No comments:
Post a Comment