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JESUS THE PRAYER WARRIOR
MONDAY, MAY 5
Mark 1:35-39

Luke 18:1-8

 

“…he went out, and departed
into a solitary place,

and there prayed.”

 

JESUS THE PRAYER WARRIOR
 
If Jesus is God, why must He pray? As God, He receives prayers. But we ought not to forget that having put on flesh, He is also Man. He prayed because of His humanity. He needed the strength for a tiring ministry He was about to embark throughout all Galilee. By praying, He showed that He was fully dependent on His Father in Heaven. Jesus was totally submissive to His Father’s will. It is doubtless that during such prayer sessions, the Father also spoke to His Son and told Him what He had to do. By praying, Jesus also set for His people an example: “Men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1).
 
Jesus’ primary ministry on earth was not to heal but to preach the Gospel of salvation. That was why when more people from Capernaum came to Him for healing, He told His disciples, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.” But today, the charismatics do the opposite. They heal more than they preach. Many of these healers carry no Bible, and have no message. Jesus, on the other hand, was more eager to preach than to heal. This was also the case with Dr John Sung — Billy Sunday of China — during the Singapore Pentecost. In a two-week campaign, John Sung would have 40 sessions of preaching, but only one session for healing, the 41st and final afternoon slot. Revival broke out in those days not because of the healing, but the preaching. Signs and wonders do not save. Only the Gospel of Jesus Christ saves.
 
Against the many who perform miracles and think they belong to Him, Jesus warned, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matt 7:21-23).
 
THOUGHT: Can Satan perform miracles? See: Rev 13:11-14, 19:20.

PRAYER: Father, keep me from counterfeit healers and miracles.

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