DISCIPLESHIP TEACHING SERIES
DISCIPLE’S DEVOTION TO THE LORD (Part 2)
They devoted themselves to
prayer.
a
Discuss the devotion of the disciples to
prayer in the scriptures below.
Act.1:12-14; 2:1-4; Act.2:41-43;
4:23-24, 29-31; 6:1-4; Dan.6:10; Ex.33:11; Num.27:16-19. You will notice that for these
disciples, their devotion to the Lord was what made them to be devoted to prayer. For
them, prayer was a means of walking closely to the Lord; it was not for
material gain or miracles they needed.
To you, what is prayer all about? Are you devoted to prayer?
i.
Note
that no special prayer committee or prayer contractors were employed. Instead,
each of these, and indeed, all these continued in prayer in one accord. What
were the results of this devotion as they walked closely with the Lord in
prayers?
The Holy Ghost
came down mightily upon the disciples of the old as a result of their selfless
commitment to prayer. Disciples multiplied and God wrought great wanders among
them. Even in the Old Testament, disciples like Mosses and Daniel devoted
themselves to prayer and God manifested himself to each of them and through
them. The truth is that if you desire to experience God as they did, your
devotion to prayer cannot be less than theirs. You must also be selfless in your
commitment to prayer.
ii.
Discuss
what our prayer lives must be like, if we must get the kind of result that the
disciples of the old got.
b Fasting
(along with prayer) was a regular practice among them as well.
Act.13:1-3,
14:23, Note Matt.9:14-15.
They were
willing to fore-go food in order to concentrate in the place of prayer. It is a
further sign of their commitment to prayer in their walk with the Lord.
Looking at the
above scriptures as well as Isa.58:6-7, Lk4:1-2, what are we to use prayer and
fasting achieve?
It is clear that
fasting has its place in the life of a disciple of Christ especially now that
the Bridegroom (the Lord Jesus Christ) has been taken away from us. Fasting is
a means to an end; it is not an end in itself. Even though we now have access
to the father by the blood of Jesus, fasting is meant to help us downplay our
appetite and put our body under. it help us to connect more easily with God so
as to let the power of God flow through us to loose the bounds of wickedness,
undo heavy burdens, let the oppressed go free, provide bread for the hungry and
do other great works in the name of the Lord and to the glory of God.
In order to
achieve result, note what the heathen also do in the area of
fasting.Act.23:12,1Kg.21:9-13.
It is clear that part of the devotion of the
disciples of the old was prayer and fasting and God moved with them. Even evil
men know the value of fasting to achieve their purpose. Are you so devoted to
the Lord?
c How
did our Lord Jesus Christ handle their aspect of devotion in his life?
Matt.4:1-2;
Matt.14:21-23, Mk.1:32-36, Lk11:1-2, 22:39-40, Matt.17:18-21.
What lessons can
we learn from His devotion to prayer and fasting?
It is important
to note that even our Lord Jesus Christ devoted Himself to prayer and sometimes
with fasting. Even though He is God in every sense and does not need to fast,
yet because He took upon Himself the human form, He subjected Himself to the
discipline of fasting. He subjected Himself to fasting and prayers to show us
how to live and walk with God as human beings. If The Lord Jesus Christ devoted
Himself to these, we must do so much more. We should follow in His steps.
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