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Seeing and Responding to People like Jesus
(Praying as Jesus Prayed) 7th June 2009
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Seeing and Responding to People like Jesus
(Praying as Jesus Prayed) 7th June 2009
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Introduction. What about you? Do you see and
respond to people like Jesus? Jesus responded
to people out of a life of prayer, and unless we
do the same its near on impossible for us to see
and respond to people like he did!
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1. Jesus was a man of PRAYER Jesus was a Jew.
(Ps 5517 Ezr 95 Dan 610 921 cf Ac 109)
His heritage was steeped in prayer.
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Jesus would often retreat for times of SOLITUDE
AND PRAYER Mk 135 Very early in the morning,
while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the
house and went off to a solitary place, where he
prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look
for him, 37 and when they found him, they
exclaimed Everyone is looking for you! 38
Jesus replied, Let us go somewhere elseto the
nearby villagesso I can preach there also. That
is why I have come. 39 So he traveled
throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues
and driving out demons. Mark 645Immediately
Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go
on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed
the crowd. 46After leaving them, he went up on a
mountainside to pray.
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What about you? Do times of solitude and prayer
precede or follow your interaction/ministry with
people? Jesus responded to people out of a life
of Prayer
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2. Jesus chose the 12 disciples out of
prayer Luke 612 One of those days Jesus went
out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the
night praying to God. 13When morning came, he
called his disciples to him and chose twelve of
them, whom he also designated apostles 14Simon
(whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James,
John, Philip, Bartholomew, 15Matthew, Thomas,
James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the
Zealot, 16Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot,
who became a traitor.
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3. Jesus prays for the Children Matt 1913
Then little children were brought to Jesus for
him to place his hands on them and pray for them.
But the disciples rebuked those who brought them.
  14Jesus said, "Let the little children come to
me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of
heaven belongs to such as these." 15When he had
placed his hands on them, he went on from there.
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4. Jesus prayed for individuals, disciples and
all believers Jesus reveals something of his
private intercessory ministry for his inner
circle of followers in Lk 2231-32 when he says
to Peter after the Last Supper, "Simon, Simon,
Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have
prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not
fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen
your brothers." Peter's leadership and
ministry after Pentecost illustrate how
powerfully God answered this prayer of Jesus.
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5. He prayed for miracles to occur in the lives
of people John 1138 Jesus, once more deeply
moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a
stone laid across the entrance. 39"Take away the
stone," he said.       "But, Lord," said Martha,
the sister of the dead man, "by this time there
is a bad odour, for he has been there four days."
  40Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if
you believed, you would see the glory of God?"
  41So they took away the stone. Then Jesus
looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you
have heard me. 42I 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."   43When he had said this, Jesus
called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!"
44The dead man came out, his hands and feet
wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around
his face.       Jesus said to them, "Take off
the grave clothes and let him go."
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6. Jesus prayed for those who persecuted him
Luke 2332 Two other men, both criminals, were
also led out with him to be executed. 33When they
came to the place called the Skull, there they
crucified him, along with the criminalsone on
his right, the other on his left. 34Jesus said,
"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what
they are doing."e And they divided up his
clothes by casting lots. Matt 543-45You have
heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and
hate your enemy. 44But I tell you Love your
enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.
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OUR RESPONSE Jesus responded to people out of
a life of prayer, and unless we do the same its
near on impossible for us to see and respond to
people like he did!
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A simple prayer to include in your morning
routine Jesus, fill me with your Spirit. Help
me to see and respond to people like you did as I
go about my day! Amen!