Sermon Central
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The Prayer Life Of Jesus Series
Contributed by Pastor Bruce A. Shields on Aug 23, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: Part 9:The Great Commission - Jesus teaches in all things, and His prayer life should be an example for us who call ourselves His followers.
The Great Commission
Part 9 – Jesus’ Prayer Life
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith – www.PS127.org : www.TruthDigest.org
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mar 16th Morning Service Palm Sunday –
Special Service that morning (not series)
Mar 24th – 28th 7:00PM Week of Renewal –
“Discover your Spiritual Gifts & how to use them”
Mar 30th 6:00PM Evening Service at the church –
“Seminary Students will be preaching”
March 30th – Grace Steadman
April 6th – Lori Ulman
April 13th – Lynnette Higgins
April 20th – Walker Spriggs
April 27th – Deacon Kurt Ulman
WHERE WE ARE AT
† The Sermon on the Mount.
† He and his Disciples and Apostles begin to travel from Galilee to Capernaum.
† Jesus heals the Centurion’s servant.
† He then has dinner in a Pharisees home where He was anointed by a sinful woman who had repented.
† Jesus then returns to Galilee preaching along the way.
† Jesus Calms the Storm.
† A Prophet without Honor in His hometown
† Jesus send out the Twelve
† John the Baptist Martyred
† Jesus Feeds 5000
† Jesus’ Prayer Life
Jesus, having heard of the death of John the Baptist, went into the desert to mourn and be alone.
When the people heard this, they followed Him, and He had compassion on them.
His love was greater than His selfishness.
He put others before Himself in every way.
So He taught, prayed, healed.
And the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 took place.
This is where we are today.
Just after the feeding of the 5,000.
SCRIPTURE READING
Matthew 14:22 – 23 Jesus goes to pray
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone
This scripture comes from the Book of Matthew, it’s author, who was also called Levi, was the writer of the first of the four Gospels.
The Book of Matthew was written in approximately 50AD, or about 15 years after Christ’s Crucifixion.
We see that Jesus and the disciples at this time have left Nazareth and went into what the Bible calls a solitary place, a deserted area near the mountains.
At this time in Jesus’ ministry, He has been rejected by many.
Many Jews reject Him as the Messiah; the religious leaders have rejected Him, and even His hometown and some of His very own family.
Yet He continued His ministry.
Even during this time of sorrow at the news of John the Baptists death, Jesus continues to have compassion on those in need. Always putting others before Himself.
That is the definition of being a Christ follower, the imitation of Christ is to always put others and their needs before your own, to have compassion on the sick and the sinners.
Jesus said He came to save the lost, have compassion on the sinners, not condemn them for they are already condemned under the covenant of Law.
The covenant of Law, which addresses selfishness.
The scriptures say this is love, that He died for us WHILE we were yet sinners.
Yet we, instead of following Christ and His example, want to condemn every sinner we see.
Pointing our fingers in judgment.
This is why Jesus had to say, pull the plank out of your own eye before trying to help someone with a splinter.
We easily look over our own sin everyday, yet see every sin in everyone else.
Jesus NEVER condoned sin.
Jesus NEVER OK’d sinful life styles.
Yet, Jesus always had compassion for sinners.
Where is our compassion? Where is our love?
The scriptures say that any man who says he loves God yet hates his brother is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
When Jesus was asked what the greatest law is, He replied to love God with all of your heart, mind and soul, and to love your neighbor as yourself.
Do not call yourself a Christian if you do not love other Christians, or love sinners.
God loved you while you were a sinner.
And it was because of His love you were drawn into the Kingdom.
We are to be the body of Christ!
It is OUR duty at the command of Christ to draw others into the kingdom!
And it is done with love.
We are commanded to love.
We are commanded to follow Christ.
Love your brother (those who are saved), and love your neighbor (sinners).
Or stop saying you are saved.
Because the scriptures say, ANYONE who says he loves God but hates his brother is a liar and the truth is not in him.
What is the truth? Jesus Christ.
