Message Notes

INTRODUCTION

1. Prayer in the life of the Lord Jesus

a) A special Wilderness experience

b) As a special Morning Prayer Discipline

2. Prayer on special occasions

a) Praying for the whole night

b) This is most challenging

MAKING OF A VITAL DECISION

12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

13 And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles:

14 Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew;

15 Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot;

16 Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.

Luke 6:12-16

1. The Context of an All-Night Prayer

a) The choosing of the 12 Apostles

b) These would become His successors

c) They would lead the Church

d) How would the Lord Jesus choose the Apostles?

THE CANDIDATES FOR APOSTLESHIP

1. Unlikely candidates

a) Hypocrites

b) False brethren

c) Though they may be:

i) Pharisees

ii) Sadducees

iii) Scribes

iv) Rulers/ Noble men

v) Wealthy people

2. Possible Candidates

a) There were many Disciples

b) Some of them were sent out on Mission on one occasion   (Luke 10:1)

THE CALIBRE OF CANDIDATES

1. Observation of Candidates and Prayer

a) All Candidates would have been observed

b) They are prayed over

2. Obvious strengths and weaknesses

a) Strengths

b) Weaknesses

c) Evaluated and Prayed over

3. Overall character

a) Moral

b) Spiritual

c) Understood and Prayed over

THE NATURE OF THE MINISTRY OF GOD

13 And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him.

14 Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach

Mark 3:13-14

1. How would they respond to the Call of the Lord?

a) Would they respond genuinely?

b) Would they follow Him?

2. Would they abide with Him?

a) The Lord wanted them to be with Him

b) Would they stay with Him?

c) Would they leave Him?

3. Could He send them out to preach?

a) They would need knowledge

b) They would need wisdom

c) They would need skill

d) They would need power

ALL-NIGHT PRAYER

1. To choose the Apostles

2. To call them to follow

3. To commission them to serve

THE PUZZLING CHOICE OF JUDAS

1. To fulfil the Scripture

“Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted,
Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me.”   Psalm 41:9

a) Judas was that friend

b) He betrayed the Lord Jesus

2. To offer a cautionary story to warn against

a) Avarice

b) Attack of Satan

OUR CHALLENGE

1. To understand the role of prayer

2. To employ prayer meaningfully

3. To desire to be filled with the Spirit of God as we make life’s decisions