Biblical Teaching on Prayer
John 11:41-42
Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.
~Jesus
Pondering Point
Elsewhere biblically we’re told by Jesus to pray in our closet – not to be seen by men (Matthew6:6). But this prayer is clearly overt, seen and heard by men. It is OK and healthy to pray in front of others (as we do in worship). But remember, as Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 14:13-19, pray in such a way that others are edified and can say “Amen.”
As you develop (or enhance) a personal prayer for daily use, you're going to be encouraged to share your prayer with a few key people. Not just yet, but eventually. When Jesus shared His prayer, it was to allow people to see that He was a Godsend. (He then raised Lazarus from the dead which gave a powerful testimony of support!) The goal in sharing your prayer with a few others is to enable them to know what you are praying about. This enables them to join their hearts with yours, agreeing with you in prayer and saying “Amen” to what you’re seeking.
Jesus encourages this type of behavior of us in Matthew 18:19, "if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven."
Today is Ash Wednesday, a day that initiates Lent (Sundays excluded). The 40-day practice parallels Jesus' 40 days of temptation in the desert.
Many people give up something for Lent to further parallel Jesus giving up food and drink during that time. This period of temptation immediately preceded Jesus’ ministry. You can expect similar battles as you seek after God. Our prayer today highlights this dynamic as you follow Jesus. It is a simple warfare prayer. Note which words capture your attention. Pray over them especially. The Lenten Guidebook encourages you to lift up this prayer daily. Do it and mark it; this is literally practicing discipleship – following and learning from Jesus. AND, if you haven’t already done so, consider a covenant with Jesus to learn under Him this Lenten season. Don’t ignore this.
Warfare Prayer
Father God, in the name and authority of Jesus, deliver me from my enemy, the Evil One. Help me fight any urge to ignore, bail, dismiss, procrastinate, fear, quit, settle, give in, give up, make excuses, avoid, evade or hide, filter, block, rush, compromise, (add your own words here).
In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Jesus tells His disciples that our enemy, the thief, seeks to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10). While you seek after God, He seeks after You. This is not mere euphemism or metaphor. It is reality. It is truth. You are in a war zone. Until you recognize this, the world and God’s behavior it will not make sense. God is often blamed for the enemy’s activities. Don’t fall for such things. You may desire otherwise, but you are in a war zone. So is your Lenten experience.
Journal Prompt: What hopes, dreams, or
desires have you given up on? Why is that?
(some could be godly reasons, some could
be ungodly reasons)
Bonus Journal Prompt: How would God view this
giving up? How would the devil view it?
John 1:35-51
John’s Disciples Follow Jesus
The
Great Sending
Word of the Day
John 1:35-51
35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”
37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”
They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”
39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”
So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.
40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).
Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael
43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”
44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.
“Come and see,” said Philip.
47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”
48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”
49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”
50 Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” 51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”