“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (Luke 5:16).

Happy Independence Day!!! Have a safe, fun, blessed day. 

Now, onto the verse of the day. 

It was the habit of Jesus to make time to pray.

I find it interesting that the second person of the Holy Trinity, the Son of God sought out time to be alone with God when he was fully human here on planet earth. Jesus needed that time with God to be reminded of who he was, and who God is.

This reality begs the question, “If Jesus needed time alone with God to pray, what does that say about our need to pray?”

I want you to notice several truths about the way Jesus prayed.

1. Jesus made time to pray – “Jesus often withdrew” to pray
   • Jesus had plenty to do. People needed healing. Disciples needed discipling. The crowds needed teaching. Demons needed casting out. There was amazing need all around him. Yet, Jesus made time to pray.
2. Jesus made space to pray – “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places” to pray
   • What’s with “lonely” places? When Helen and I were courting, for three years I lived in Virginia while attending seminary while Helen stayed in Los Angeles. When we had the chance to get together, being with friends and family were fine, but that’s not the reason why we made time to be in the same space together. We needed lonely places, quiet places to be together.
   • We make space – space that will give us time alone with God – so that we can be together alone with God

So, how are you making time for God so you can pray? What is your lonely place?

If you don’t have a routine and a location, how about starting now. Think about a time and location where you can be alone with God. Then carve out that time and protect that space. And, most importantly, pray.

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

I am a simple man. I like clarity. I appreciate it when the Bible doesn’t beat around the bush and just comes out straight and tells me what God’s will is.

That’s why I love our text. It just simply tells us “this is God’s will for you.”

So what is God’s will for us?
1. Rejoice always
2. Pray continually
3. Give thanks in all circumstances

Pay attention to these words: “always,” “continually,” and “all circumstances.” That’s pretty comprehensive.

This is God’s will for you and me. Since this is God’s will we ought to do what God is telling us to do.

The key to rejoicing always and giving thanks in all circumstances is in praying continually.

We are to pray without ceasing. There are different ways to pray and different types of prayers. One of the ways that God calls us to pray is to constantly be in conversation with God. Just like very few of us like to go anywhere without our smartphones these days, God is saying, remember that I am with you always.

Keep talking to God throughout the day as if God we’re with you…because he is. When we become aware of God’s presence with us at all times, we will find ourselves rejoicing always and giving thanks in all circumstances because God is with us. There is never a time or place or circumstance in which God is absent.

This is God’s will for you. Rejoice always and give thanks in all circumstances by praying continually.

“Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him” (Hebrews 9:27-28).

Jesus proclaims…
Jesus declares…
Jesus teaches…
Jesus announces…

Yup. That’s in the gospels. That’s in the Bible.

Jesus invites us to receive him as Lord…

Nope. Not once in the Bible.

R. C. Sproul wrote, “God doesn’t invite people to come to Jesus. He commands it with divine authority and convicts you of treason on a cosmic level if you refuse.”

Wowsers!

The language of invitation is so much more friendly, it’s nicer. But it’s misleading. Invitations can be perceived as I can take it or leave it.

But, that’s not the case with Jesus. Jesus ushers in the Kingdom of God and proclaims that the Kingdom of God is at hand. Jesus proclaims, declares, teaches, and announces the pathway to God’s Kingdom. Should we reject, what awaits those who have rejected Jesus is judgment.

R. C. Sproul is correct. When the time of judgment comes, it will have nothing to do with having done more good things vs. bad things. It will have nothing to do with how nice we were. It will have everything to do with what we did with the Kingdom Jesus proclaimed.

Jesus loves you. Jesus died for you. Jesus rose again from the dead for you. Receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Live as Kingdom people.