"as was his custom" As John 3:16 is important to our salvation so Luke 5:16 is vital to our new life in Christ. "so he himself often withdrew to the wilderness to pray." We can read this passage in Luke 22 and think that Jesus is dialing home like a young man whose about to be arrested and needing dad to bail him out. He lives a lifestyle in the father's presence. John 5:19 tells us Jesus only does what he sees the father doing!
question: how can you better develop a lifestyle of prayer?
v. 40 Prayer greatly affects how we are tempted and our spiritual strength to endure. I know many at Encounter and other place who are presently in a bad situation financially, relationally, occupationally etc. who fell into temptation and landed there. Prayer keeps us before God so we are in step with his spirit.
v. 41 why did he withdrawl? I don't know for sure but we all need to have prayer with other believers but we must have time alone with the Lord. I have found many times the Lord draws me away from others because he knows they might influence me. My flesh, fear of man might get in the way - but alone with him - its his voice I hear and his heart is shared. Luke 3:21 at Jesus' baptism he prays and heaven opens (as it does for us by the way when we pray). How many times because we're distracted by our noise filled environment do we miss heaven opening!
v. 42 Perhaps here we find the reason he slipped away - to discover God's will. If he has discussed the details here again about his death with the disciples they would have again tried to dissuade him. There are times when God speaks to us - that no one else is going to get it and all our friends who love us will try to keep us from moving in faith. Many times the Lord leads us to our death like He did Jesus. The business man who is called the mission field. The mother who is called to leave her abusive husband. The child who is asked to confront the bully. We must get far enough away from others so we can only hear THE VOICE.
v. 43 Angel - messenger of God - the message - you're not alone - I care even though this will hurt!
v. 44 Is it wrong to struggle with doing God's will. To hate it to some extent. Jesus didn't sin by struggling to do God's will be he eventually did it!
v. 45 There are times when our flesh simply hinders us - there are times when we let the devil in the camp because we're sleeping at the wheel. I have had to start doing prayer walks at times if I'm too sleepy and need to pray. I also lay on the flood in uncomfortable positions which helps. Understand there is a spiritual drowsiness that is a spiritual attack. And there is the drowsiness that is simply fatigue. Either one can work like a sleeping pill for the enemy.
I have come under conviction recently about my need to pray for missions and missionaries more. In America we have been drowsy and distracted. I now try to pray at 9:00 pm for the nations of the world instead of being hypnotized by the TV at that time! Let's wake up saints!
question
ask the Lord "Lord what have you been trying to tell me this week but I haven't gotten alone with you long enough to hear you?
prayer
Lord remind me to get alone with you. Wake me before my alarm to slip away with you behind the door.
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