Pentecost was this last Sunday. Some churches recognize and celebrate the day the church was born. Other churches go on as usual. Nothing new. Pentecost was when Jesus told 500+ disciples to go to Jerusalem, wait, and pray until endowed with power from on high. But there were only 120 men and women, give or take, obedient that day.
I will not write about the people who showed up for power or those who bypassed Pentecost and went by their ability. Instead, I am writing today about our current culture of churches and those who celebrate a renewed Pentecost but are no more obedient than the first 500+ disciples.
I am reminded of Israel in Eli's day when they went to war and brought the Ark of the Covenant to lead to victory. They shouted so loud that the earth shook. But God wasn't with them, and God's presence wouldn't battle for them. God's Spirit had departed.
I see the same thing today among some people who are always ready to shout to the Lord but will not bow a knee for long in prayer. As a result, they do not carry the presence of the Lord and will not experience victory because they haven't been obedient to pray through.
People want revival or a great awakening but won't spend the time necessary in prayer. However, there are essential things that happen in prayer, especially seasons of prayer, even if the season is only ten days.
What happened during prayer in Acts 2? What will it take to have a renewal of Acts 2?
One thing that happens during prayer is that we struggle over whose will, will be done. Jesus prayed not my will, but Father, Your will be done. Jesus prayed three times and for nearly three hours. Why? Why did Jesus have to pray so fervently?
During a short break from praying, Jesus told His disciples to wake up and pray. Their spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Jesus knew this very well as He actively did what He commanded them to do.
Jesus was 100% God and 100% man. Jesus never ceased from being God as a man but did put away His God's abilities to walk as a man and lean on the Holy Spirit to lead Him into all truth according to the will of the Father.
So, Jesus had flesh! Not a flesh that knew sin. Jesus never sinned. Although Jesus did become sin so that we could become the righteousness of God.
When Adam and Eve fell, sin and death, known as the sin nature, tainted man's bloodline, Jesus didn't inherit this sinful nature because His Father was not with the first Adam but a heavenly Father.
Jesus did have a will and flesh of His own. Jesus knew He had to walk in the spirit not to fulfill the desires of the flesh. The first Adam failed to walk in the spirit.
The will of man, flesh, and desire are not necessarily evil unless they contradict God's ways. Jesus' desires were healthy. However healthy; His desire to live and not go to the cross was contrary to the Father's will. Jesus had to crucify His will, His desire to live, and His weak flesh so that God's will could be done. Jesus' spirit was willing, but His flesh was too weak to carry out God's will. Jesus wrestled His flesh down in the garden until He knew God's will would be accomplished.
You and I have to wrestle our will, desires, and flesh to the ground if we want to see the will of the Father done on earth as it is in heaven. We are willing, but our flesh is too weak to carry the plans of God for our life. So pray until you know you can carry out the will of God even when it goes against your will and desires.
This teaching is already more extended than I had expected, so I will only refer to two other reasons we need to bow our knees in prayer until we are endued with power.
Prayer brings power. Not by might, nor by my power but by His Spirit, says the Lord. We try and fail to do the will of God in our ability and strength. Go pray until you are endued with power from on high.
Prayer will separate those who worship and serve the Father only; and those who worship partly but are intent on keeping a self-serving will and ways about them.
Judas, the disciple, the apostle who betrayed Jesus, was not selfish but self-serving. The Holy Spirit will lead you into all truth in this matter. If you pray long enough to have the fire of God on you to test you, you know what I mean.
Pray for God's will to be done in God's ways. And according to His power and might.