What Was Jesus Doing Praying?

Why would Jesus pray when He is God? People pray because they need a higher power to act on their behalf for one reason or the other. But since Jesus is God, what was He doing praying? This article aims at answering these questions.

Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed – Mark 1:35 (NKJV)

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. And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles: – Luke 6:12-13 (NKJV)

Christ had reasons to pray while on earth, being a man born of a woman. One of which was to give us examples to follow for us to live victorious lives – 1 John 2:6. Secondly, being in the form of a man, He needed God, the Father, to empower and guide Him to success on earth. Thirdly, since prayer is a channel of communication between God and man, Christ fellowshipped with God in prayer. When He prayed, He prayed to God, the Father- the first personality in the trinity. 

As an example to believers

Christ’s life on earth shows us how to live a victorious life on earth. One thing that Jesus did often was praying – Luke 5:16. He taught His disciples how to pray (Luke 11:1-13) and by example stressed to them the importance of praying to God; and when He went back to heaven, His disciples followed His example and prayed often too. 

In the days of the apostles, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. The twelve apostles asked that they be exempted from serving table so they could give themselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word – Acts 6:1-4. They knew that praying was something they were not to toil with, this they obviously learnt from Christ. 

When the apostles wanted to replace Judas Iscariot that betrayed Jesus, they had to pray to God to show them who to appoint in place of Judas (Acts 1:24-25), following the footsteps of Jesus as He also prayed before choosing the twelve apostles – Luke 6:12-16. Read more...

 

Understanding The Mission Of Jesus

God is a God of purpose and does nothing without a reason. Jesus was sent to earth by God for a purpose, which He started and finished. An understanding of this purpose will help you to appreciate the coming of Christ and His mission on earth.  

And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21 (NKJV)

Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation -2 Corinthians 5:18-19 (NKJV)

And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight---  Colossians 1:21-22 (NKJV)

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly – John 10:10 (NKJV)

Jesus Christ came to save, reconcile men back to God and give them life in abundance.

Salvation of souls

When the angel of the Lord visited Joseph to assure him that it was okay to take Mary as his wife, he gave him the name of the baby and his purpose on earth: to save His people from their sin.

God, from the time of the fall of man via Adam, made a plan to redeem man from his fall and restore him to his original position before the fall. When the Lord created man he was without sin before Him and only knew sin when they disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:1-11). So, through Adam, sin entered the world and people became sinners (Romans 5:12, 19).

Jesus was God’s wisdom and power (1 Corinthians 1:24) to save man from his sins and restore him to his original state before the fall. In Genesis 3:15, God declared this plan of victory over the devil – the Seed of the woman was to defeat the devil.  The enemy expected it, tried to abort it many times but failed because he didn’t know how God was going to execute His plan. Read more...

Jesus-Purely Prophecies Fulfilled

How many people do you know whose lives were prophesied about before they were born? Jesus Christ is one of them. In His case, virtually everything about His life was prophesied long before He was born! What does this mean? It surely shows He is not a fake and He means business. 

He is the perfect example of the fact that God, as an architect of your life, already has a plan for your life. This plan can now be built up as you grow if you will obey His instructions and walk in His footsteps.

Let’s look at some of these prophecies and see their fulfillments too.

1.       Jesus was to be born of a woman

After the fall of man, God quickly made a plan to restore man to his original state and fellowship with Him. In Genesis 3:15, God said He would put enmity between satan and the woman, and between his seed and her Seed; and that He shall bruise satan’s head, and satan would bruise His heel." In essence, Christ was going to be born of a woman (fulfilled in Matthew 1:20). He finished the enemy (Colossians 2:15) but the devil could only hurt Him a little (Matthew 27:46).

2.       He would be a descendant of the patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Genesis 22:18, Genesis 21:12, Numbers 24:17). This was fulfilled as recorded in Luke 3:34, Romans 9:5. So, among other things, the blessings of Abraham as God promised him in Genesis 12:1-3, can now come to all who believe through Christ (Galatians 3:14)

3.       He would come from the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10). God, through Jacob prophesied that scepter will not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet. This was fulfilled in Luke 3:33 and confirmed in Hebrews 7:14. Jesus is the only King that lives forever and He is from Judah, according to the flesh. Kings were to come from Judah, so Christ had to come from there since He was the King of the Jews.

4.       Christ would be heir to the throne of David (2 Samuel 7:12-13, Isaiah 9:6-7). God promised David that He would establish his seed over his throne forever and it was fulfilled in Luke 1: 32-33 and in Romans 1:3. And so when Blind Bartimaeus called Him “Son of David” (Mark 10:46-48), that got His attention and He didn’t hesitate to respond to Bartimaeus.

5.       He would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14). Isaiah prophesied that a virgin will conceive and bear a son, whose name will be called Immanuel, and it was fulfilled in Matthew 1:20-23. He had to be born of a virgin when the Holy Spirit came upon Mary so that He is born of God and free of Adamic nature characterized by sin. Read more...

5 keys To Leaving Your Footprints On Earth

Do you desire to be remembered long after you have gone? Do you want your name to be reckoned both in heaven and on earth? God’s plan is for man to touch heaven and earth by what he had deposited in him. This post gives the greatest way and how to leave your footprints on the seashores of earth.

For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God – Romans 8:19 (NKJV)

And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified -1 Corinthians 2:1-2 (NKJV).

Many people desire to impact their world and a few are really doing so in different areas of life. But if you are to reckon with heaven too, which will speak for you eternally, then you need to engage the secret of Paul’s success.

Life continues beyond the life on earth. Most of the human exploits end here: your inventions, excellence in business or career, etc. But you need to do more for you to command the attention of the hosts of heaven. Therefore the goal of every man should be that his works should endure the fire test of God -1 Corinthians 3:13-14

Paul truly left his footprints on the seashores of earth. He contributed greatly to the spread and understanding of the gospel of Christ. He was a tent maker but that was not what gave him a place before God. It was his determination (and pursuit of the same) not to know anything among men except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. This was the secret of his success on earth. 

Whatever you do should always speak Christ and Him crucified. It is to glorify God and credit your account in heaven. Your actions are to witness the love and faithfulness of God. And for you to achieve that and make a mark on earth you need the following:

Keys to leaving your footprints on the seashores

1.       Love of God

God’s love is to be your driving force. God, for His love for humanity, gave His only son Jesus that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). And Christ for His love for humanity accepted to die the most shameful death that He may reconcile man back to God (2 Corinthians 5:19, 21)

If you are to make the impact that will speak for you in heaven and on earth, you will need to be driven by the love of God. It is the kind of love that puts God and humanity first before you. It is the love that will make you go the extra mile to see God’s will fulfilled. Read more...