Title: Prayer is the breath of the soul
Contents
The text is 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
The Apostle Paul said, “Pray without ceasing” in today’s text. Because prayer is so important,
First, Jesus fasted and prayed for 40 days in the wilderness to prepare for his public life (3 years of public ministry). As there is a saying, 'Geumgangsando post-meal view', and there is a common saying, 'I want to eat everything...' As such, diet is more important than anything else because it is directly related to life. No matter how hard we try, how hard and difficult is fasting and prayer? It's about risking your life and willing to die. Prayer is so important that we have to do it even when we are starving.
Second, Jesus did not cease to pray during his public life. Mark 1:35 “Jesus got up before dawn and went out to a secluded place and prayed there.” This is the beginning of early morning prayer. Matthew 14:23 “After he had sent out the crowd, he went up by himself to a mountain to pray, and he was alone there at sunset.” Luke 6:12 “At this time Jesus went to the mountain to pray, and prayed to God all night long.” This is the beginning of the all-night prayer.
Third, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray at the end of his public ministry. Luke 22:44 “Jesus prayed more earnestly and with all his might, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.” In this way, Jesus prepared through prayer, worked through prayer, and ended with prayer. Let us all imitate Jesus who prays and become believers who pray.
The prayer that every saint should pray like this,
First, you have to be sincere. Jesus prayed earnestly (Luke 22:44), and the members of the early church also prayed earnestly for the Lord's servant Peter (Acts 12:5). The (Hel) κτενω , translated as 'fervently', means "intellectual and earnest prayer."
Second, you have to work hard. When the members of the early church gathered together, “they devoted themselves to prayer (Acts 2:42)” Acts 1:14 “They were devoted to prayer with one accord.” Acts 2:1 “When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all gathered together in one place.” We are filled with the Holy Spirit. The power of prayer became the driving force for evangelism and spiritual strength to endure persecution.
Third, we must cry. Psalm 39:12 “Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry.” Psalm 120:1 “I cried out to the Lord in my trouble, and he answered me.”
Fourth, we must pray in the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 6:18 “Pray always in the Holy Spirit” Prayer is difficult because we are trying to do it on our own. Prayer is good if you want to be led by the Holy Spirit.
E.M. Bounds, who wrote the book 'Prayer Life', said, "Prayer is the breath of the soul." Just as the body needs to breathe to live, so too does the soul. I wish you victory through prayer.