READ | SERMON NOTES
Summary l Often, our prayers tend to be requests for help and divine intervention for ourselves and our loved ones. Indeed, it is important to turn to God for help, rather than other worldly sources. We should pray for ourselves and others.
But prayer is more than this. Jesus models a better way to pray – prayer that changes us to know God’s will and do God’s will. Prayer that can deepen our prayer lives and relationship with God.
1. The Lord’s Prayer (Matt 6:9-13, Luke 11:1-4)
Jesus models for us the Lord’s prayer as a pattern in how we should pray. This pattern of prayer moves us away from the vending-machine style of prayer, instead seeking for the will of God to be done and for forgiveness for others.
It is a shift away from a me-centric focus to a God-focus.
2. Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer (John 17)
In this prayer, Jesus acts as a high priest, interceding for us. He first prays for himself, followed by the twelve disciples. He then continues to pray for all the Christians in the world who would come to believe in Him.
This is the longest prayer of Christ and is a good pattern of intercession for the Church.
3. Jesus’ prayer on the Mount of Olives and Jesus’ prayer on the cross of Calvary
Often, we are tempted to ask God for our own desires and plans – e.g. a promotion, healing from cancer, breakthroughs in our relationships. Do our prayers move the hand of God or are we changed first so that our prayers are in line with the will of God?
Pray that you may not enter into temptation
On the Mount of Olives, Jesus started and ended His time of prayer by asking his disciples to pray so that they do not enter temptation (Luke 22:40, 46). While there are no specifics on what temptation Jesus was referring to, given the immediate events that followed, Jesus was perhaps asking the disciples to pray against the temptation to deny Him and fall away. He wanted them to pray that their faith would remain steadfast even when the situation turned hopeless.
Through prayer, we can be changed to have rock-solid faith, peace that goes beyond understanding, despite life’s situations.
Jesus modeled this change in His own prayer
Jesus prays for the will of God to take precedence (Luke 22:42). Jesus’ prayer to God is a two-way conversation where He agonizes, intercedes and waits in the presence of His Father. And God the Father responds.
Jesus prayed earnestly for the ‘cup’ to be removed from Him (Luke 22:42a). Jesus knew He was going to suffer and die, and He too asked for this situation to change if God was willing. He added to His request, ‘not my will, but yours, be done’ (Luke 22:42b).
He prioritized God’s will above His own and submitted His emotions and wants to the Father. He had a heartfelt conversation with God and allowed God to change Him.
– God wants to know and welcomes us to share our thoughts and emotions. This type of conversation is honest and life changing.
God’s response
God immediately responds to Jesus by sending an angel to strengthen Him (Luke 22:43). This is often what God does. He answers our prayers by strengthening us, giving us illumination and wisdom, and moving our hearts and mind in line with His.
We see this transformation as Jesus moves from the Mount of Olives to the cross on Calvary. As He is crucified and mocked, He didn’t ask this time for the cup to pass, for the situation to change or the suffering to end. All fear and doubt are gone. He knew He was exactly where God wanted Him to be and instead prayed for the forgiveness of His mockers (Luke 23:34).
Prayer strengthened Jesus to choose to show the love of God over His own wants. He chose the will of God – to die for us on the cross, displaying the love of God.
What is the will of God?
God’s will can refer to several things:
- A broad general direction/purpose of your life
- What to do in a particular season or situation
- A sensing of what to do in this moment e.g. who you are supposed to serve, reach out to, encourage and nurture
God’s will may or may not be associated with your dream job. For example, Paul was a tentmaker, but his calling was to be an apostle, a church planter, an evangelist. His day job enabled him to live out God’s calling and his passion.
How to live in God’s will?
- Start by asking God what His will is for your life
- Don’t rush through your prayers. Slow down and wait on the Lord.
- Gradually, you will see an alignment taking place. Overtime, you will notice your prayers changing to fit into God’s will.
o God’s will always be in line with God’s Word
o God’s will always bring glory to God
o God’s will could be asking us to do what we are naturally inclined towards or be the opposite of our inclinations
Will our last words on earth mirror Jesus’? Will we seek to say:
“Lord, I have done all You have asked me to do. Into Your hands, I commit my spirit”?
(Sermon notes by Stella Chiam)
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- What is the pattern of your prayer life and when do you prayer the hardest?
- What do you hope to achieve with your prayers to God?
- Share a time when prayer has changed you or your outlook on a situation.
