Welcome!
Passage: Luke 18:9-14 (NIV 84)
Today: Prayer that makes sense to God
45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.” (Luke 8, NIV 84)-emphasis added
10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about[a] himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ (Luke 18, NIV 84)
We were sharing about the woman who tapped the power from Jesus, by just a touch on the hem of His garment; she believed, and she got it!
Do I have the right to question the method she used?
I feel like questioning it in my legalistic attitude, because “where is that written in the Bible?”
But I can’t question her, because Jesus did not!
If we make a “big deal” on things that Jesus would not, that could be a problem
We want to move out of the group that presses on Jesus, to the ones who touch Him! We need His power, to survive!
I remember reading a portion from A.W Tozer on Christain Leadership
Tozer mentions about how light we take our spirituality/ walk with God. If a concert pianist or a soldier/athlete/league player takes things as light as most christians do, they would never find success/victory in their respective fields!
In Luke 18, we see two types of prayers: the pharisee’s prayer and the tax collector’s prayer. We can compare the first one with those who “press” on Jesus and the second one, with those who “touch” Jesus by their sincere, heart-brokenprayer! Then, there is a third category- those who don’t have time to pray!
When it comes to prayer, our major problems may be:
- Not being able to pray, and
- Not able to pray effectively
An effective prayer comes from a heart of faith
22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” (Mat 21, NIV 84)
In prayer, we speak to God; we must make sure that we don’t ask Him for things like “candy” all the time! Ask for those things that line up with God’s will instead!
Hope you remember the big news about a man who jumped down miles (128,097ft.) from the sky. Do you know, Jesus came all the way down from heaven to earth?
And Jesus ascended to heaven, from earth; many people witnessed it!
God’s “technology” is something man can never figure out!
Be proud of being a child of this great God, than in anything else!
Stay blessed under His wings, close to Him!
BG
Prayer: Lord Jesus, Thank God for making us your very own. Thank you for the peace and Joy you fill my heart-peace that passeth all understanding and joy that surpasses all situations. Thank you for salvation and the new life! Amen
Don’t worry if your education is not paying you back; just learn how to pray right, and you will never regret! It is free, from God!