Leadership by example.
In the book of Mark chapter 1 verses 35 to 39, the author has given us the guiding principles that all Christian leaders and parents should know how to become more effective leader in any organizations, churches, or family. The authors of the bible including the Apostle Paul knew that Jesus is God like God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. All of them are co-equal in nature as God though all of them have different role in the creation account, salvation, the present time and the future event that will surely come. In Philippians 2:5-11, Jesus though in the very nature of God has obeyed the Father to be with man and to be like the real man. He left temporarily his being God and the nature of being God and considered himself lowly, humble and emptied himself of all the grandeur and power as God in obedience to the will of the Father to save man from the power of Satan and punishment of sin.
But how come that Jesus made to preach the gospel with power and authority? How come that He healed various sicknesses of men, He made to cast out demons, the strong winds and waves obeyed Him, the dead man Lazarus and other people were raised from the dead and did a lot of miracles before the eyes of many people including the leaders of the religious sects and political leaders during His time? How come that He made to live a holy life?
First is the Prayer life of Jesus. In verse Mark 1:35 says, that early in the morning while it was still dark, Jesus woke up and went off to a solitary place to pray. Many studies made by the students and respected theologians that Jesus wakes up regularly around three to four in the morning to pray to His Father to have guidance in daily decision making, inner strength to face challenges and great demands in the ministry, power to perform miracles like healing, casting out demons, and others. Jesus knew that He is in the form of a true man who is weak, fragile, prone to temptations of the devil, expose to sickness, thirst, hunger and dangers. He knew that all of His physical needs and power to do miracles are at the disposal of His God and Father. For Jesus, to talk with the Father regularly was the very important discipline that he needs to win the battle in life and the fear and the painful humiliating death that awaits for Him at the cross. Before His public ministry, Jesus went to the dessert to fast and pray for forty days and forty nights to be prepared in his ministry. Satan has tempted Him with all temptations that will surely defeat man, but Jesus has won all those schemes of Satan through prayer and fasting. And the day before His arrest, He prayed hard and because of His intense dealings with His Father, his sweat drops like a blood. His agony was turned to a brave statement that "if possible, don't let me drink this cup but let your will be done".
Second is the results of being prayerful of Jesus. In Mark 1:37-39, the disciples looked and came to Jesus and said, "the people are looking for you". But Jesus told them to go to the other places to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God and heal many sicknesses and perform miracles that others may come to repentance and be saved too. Here, Jesus taught His disciples that there is wisdom as a result of intense prayer. Jesus knew that He is not yet finished in his ministry in Capernaum but they need to go to Galilee because people there are in need of salvation too. In every place where Jesus ministered, there were who believed and became His faithful followers and they were the one that need to share to others what they've learned from Him.
Third is, prayer creates a burning desire to share continuously the gospel and this is vouched by many miracles like healing, casting out demons and others. Jesus knew the purpose why God the Father has sent Him on earth, and that is to share the good news of forgiveness and salvation to all. That's why He learned to obey voluntarily the will of His Father even to die on the cross just to save you and me from the power of Satan and punishment of sins in hell (John 3:16). He sacrificed everything, lived like a poor and died like a true criminal that all might have life (John 10:10). And before he ascended to heaven, He left his command to his disciples "to go into all the world and preach the gospel..." (Matthew 28:18-20). This is the prime task that Jesus left also to us until His second coming.
Lastly, pray that you will not fall into temptations, pray for your daily needs, pray without ceasing, pray to become prepared for the second coming of Christ, pray for the lost souls and love ones, and pray that all of us will become steadfast and endure hardships until He comes.
For more messages about life, victory over temptations and hardships, death, Halloween, and others, visit our savelifewithjoy.com, or email us at agn623@gmail.com for more information. Pray also for our ministry to share the salvation of Jesus Christ through this blog. Kindly give send your suggestions and comments to our contact information. May the Lord richly bless you all.
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