Message Notes

INTRODUCTION

1. Pulpit theme – “Men always ought to pray” (Luke 18:1)

a. To see the necessity of prayer

b. To not be discouraged in life

c. To learn how to sustain a strong prayer life

2. Focus – the study of the Lord Jesus’ life and teachings

a. His deep devotional prayer life

b. Instructional and inspirational for us all

THE LORD JESUS’ PERSONAL EXAMPLE OF PRAYER

³⁵ Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a [k]solitary place; and there He prayed.   Mark 1:35

1. A glimpse of the Lord Jesus’ daily life of ministry

a. Teaching in the synagogue (Mark 1:21-22)

b. Casting out demons (Mark 1:23-28)

c. Healing the sick (Mark 1:29-31)

d. Continuing ministry late into the night (Mark 1:32-34)

2. The place of prayer in His daily life

a. He prayed very early in the morning (Mark 1:35a)

i. A long time before daylight

ii. This was in spite of having a full day of ministry the day before

b. He prayed in solitude (Mark 1:35b)

i. He went out to a deserted place to pray alone

ii. This allowed Him to have an unhurried time with God

3. Affirmation that this action of prayer was a pattern in His life

¹⁶ So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed. Luke 5:16

a. He often withdrew from the multitudes to pray

b. It had become a personal discipline for Him to pray like this

c. It was a consistent part of His life!

ONE OF THE PRINCIPLES BEHIND HIS PRAYER LIFE – THE SCRIPTURES

⁴ “The Lord GOD has given Me
The tongue of the learned,
That I should know how to speak
A word in season to him who is weary.
He awakens Me morning by morning,
He awakens My ear
To hear as the learned.

⁵ The Lord GOD has opened My ear;
And I was not rebellious,
Nor did I turn away.

⁶ I gave My back to those who struck Me,
And My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard;
I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.

Isaiah 50:4-6

1. Isaiah 50:4-6 – A prophetic word concerning the Messiah

a. A glimpse of the training years of the Messiah

b. How He cultivated His prayer life before public ministry

c. The Lord Jesus understood this prophecy, and fulfilled it cf. Matthew 5:17-18

2. The Lord Jesus’ focus in prayer

a. To be in communion with the Father

i. To be awakened by Him

ii. To hear Him speak

iii. An intimate time of relating to God

b. To be instructed by God

i. To have the tongue of the learned

ii. To know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary

iii. To be prepared for the suffering that awaited Him

3. The Lord Jesus’ commitment

a. He would wake up morning by morning to hear the Father

b. He would not be rebellious to what the Father would say

c. He would obey and fulfil all that the Father willed for Him to do

4. The cultivation of His prayer life helped Him to

a. Sustain a closeness to God

b. Have a living consciousness of His Father’s will

c. Be strengthened for the work He is called to do

REFRESHED FOR MINISTRY AFTER PRAYING

³⁶ And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him.

³⁷ When they found Him, they said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.”

³⁸ But He said to them, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.”

³⁹ And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.

Mark 1:36-39

1. He had an unflinching commitment to ministry

a. Peter and the disciples told Him that many were looking for Him

i. To be healed

ii. To have demons cast out

b. But the Lord Jesus was clear on His purpose

i. To go to the next towns

ii. To preach the gospel there also

c. He was conscious of reaching out to many more

2. He served with great power

a. He was energised to travel throughout all Galilee, from town to town

b. He consistently preached the gospel in their synagogues

c. He was also able to cast out demons again and again

THE CHALLENGE FOR US

1. Let us be inspired by the personal example of the Lord Jesus

a. How the Scriptures was His principle for His prayer life

b. How He cultivated His prayer life from a young age

c. How He sustained it and it became a pattern in His life

2. Let us be challenged to follow His example

a. To desire

i. Communing with God

ii. Being instructed by God

b. To be committed

i. To find the daily discipline to cultivate our prayer life

ii. To not be rebellious and turn away from God

c. To discover the value a strong prayer life can bring to our daily living

3. May we find a stronger and deeper prayer life, as we look to the Lord Jesus!