#18.

The New Testament writers gave us an example of prayer

We have seen in our last two "reasons" that Jesus gave His disciples an example of prayer and
even a pattern after which they could model their prayers. It is clear that He expected them to
pray individually and collectively as His body here on earth.

Was the example of Jesus taken up and followed by the Apostles who penned the New
Testament? Here are a selection of verses that demonstrate how seriously these men devoted
themselves to prayer for the Name of God (by which the Church is called) to be glorified:

Acts 3:1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer.
Acts 6:4 “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
Acts 9:40 But Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he
said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
Acts 11:4–5 But Peter began speaking and proceeded to explain to them in orderly sequence,
saying, 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object coming
down like a great sheet lowered by four corners from the sky; and it came right down to me,
Acts 16:13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were
supposing that there would be a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the
women who had assembled.
Acts 16:25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God,
and the prisoners were listening to them;
Acts 20:36 When he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.
Acts 21:5 When our days there were ended, we left and started on our journey, while they all,
with wives and children, escorted us until we were out of the city. After kneeling down on the
beach and praying, we said farewell to one another.
Acts 22:17 “It happened when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I fell
into a trance,
Romans 1:10 always in my prayers making request, if perhaps now at last by the will of God I
may succeed in coming to you.
2 Corinthians 13:7 Now we pray to God that you do no wrong; not that we ourselves may
appear approved, but that you may do what is right, even though we may appear unapproved.
2 Corinthians 13:9 For we rejoice when we ourselves are weak but you are strong; this we also
pray for, that you be made complete.
Ephesians 1:16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers;
Ephesians 1:18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what
is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
Philippians 1:4 always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all,
Philippians 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real
knowledge and all discernment,
Colossians 1:3 We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for
you,
Colossians 1:9 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for
you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and
understanding,
1 Thessalonians 1:2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our
prayers;
2 Timothy 1:3 I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as
I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day,
Philemon 4 I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,
Philemon 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the
knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake.
3 John 2 Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your
soul prospers.

The picture we get from these verses is of men who prayed night and day, who prayed in good
times and in difficulties, and who prayed extensively for God's blessings on, and
His strengthening of, the Church.

Now, it is easy to let ourselves off the hook and say, "these were Apostles - it is not surprising
that they devoted themselves so fully to prayer. But I am not a spiritual giant like them so I don't
need to pray as much as they did." Here are a few things to consider if you are thinking along
these lines:

• We have seen that Jesus does expect us to pray

• We have seen that the early church devoted itself (among other things) to prayer
• Next week we will see these same Apostles urging devotion to prayer on each and every
member of the church
• Could it be that one reason we are not spiritual giants, more fully resembling the
Apostles, is that we do not pray as they did? Remember the very humble beginnings that
most of them had!

So let's reflect on these verses in this coming week and use them not to be crushed by the
example of the Apostles but to be encouraged and motivated to become more like them each day
in regard to their prayer, just as they devoted themselves to be more like Christ in this regard!

1 Corinthians 11:1 Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.

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