Jesus Prayed

What Did Jesus Do?

“And rising very early in the morning...he went out to a desolate place,
and there he prayed.”
Mark 1.35

Jesus fed multitudes (see Mark 6.30-44), but he didn't stay up all hours of the night baking bread for five thousand. The Lord supplied living water to those who thirsted, but he didn't commit every spare moment to digging wells. At night, in the early morning, whenever he had a few precious minutes of “down time,” Jesus prayed.

Sometimes he prayed for guidance, as on the night before he called the twelve apostles (see Luke 6.12-16). One of the Lord's most beautiful and uplifting prayers is recorded in John 17, the so-called “High Priestly Prayer.” In the second chapter of Mark we read of Jesus removing himself to an isolated spot to pray alone before the dawn. But Mark tells us nothing in this instance of the content or subject matter of Christ's prayer.

Normally I try to avoid conjecture about what Jesus might have done, the Bible tells us so much about what he did, I believe speculation is not particularly helpful. But I am willing to hypothesize that often when Jesus prayed the subject of his prayer was the world and all the lost sinners in it. I don't think I'm overreaching on this, after all, the Father sent the Son into the world in order that the world might be saved through him (John 3.17).

Well, believing that intercessory prayer for the fallen world and lost sinners was the focus of much of the Lord's praying, I am of a mind to suggest that these would be most worthy subjects for a lot of our prayers. Such prayer is a “watchman” kind of thing to do, which is to say those who recognize the coming danger, and the need for vigilance, must pray continually for those who are still in the dark, as it were, lest they perish for want of there being no warning.

In the Old Testament, particularly in the books of the prophets, we read of God calling for watchmen to be on the alert, and to cry out to the house of Israel and to Jerusalem (see Ezekiel 3.16-17; 33). Wherever we happen to be living today is our own Jerusalem. And God has called his Church to be the watchman who maintains constant vigil, and employs unceasing intercessory prayer. But, in most cases, the watchman isn't particularly vigilant.

Think about it, the first Thursday in May is appointed to be the National Day of Prayer. One day out of 365. And most churches don't even devote any time on that one day a year for what we might call “Watchman Prayer.” Is it because we don't believe the times are serious, that destruction draws nigh, that every day thousands, even millions, are cast into the abyss for eternity?

Well, I personally think that God wants watchman to be pray continually, 24/7. Pick any community you wish to, can 168 watchmen be found from among the congregations in that community, who will each devote an hour during the week to pray for their community, and for individuals, known and unknown, who need to be saved? Even more, could 336 watchmen be found, in order that, at any time night or day every day of every week, there would be at least two together in prayer? For we know who has promised to be in the midst of those who come together in his name.

Here's the thing. I am going to start trying to recruit watchmen in my community. Even now my prayer is that the Father would lift up watchmen willing to devote a particular hour each week, to pray in the name of the Son for the sake of the world and especially lost sinners in our town. Back when I was still a pastor, the church I served opened a 24/7 prayer room, complete with a couple of pews, a Bible, and lights on a timer that kept the room illuminated night after night. It's been more than three years since I stepped down from the pulpit, and that prayer room is now dark and locked, though the need for unceasing prayer is as great, or greater than ever.

Well, I've decided to abandon the room anyway. Watchmen don't need to be in a closet, they need to be in the square, so to speak. So my goal is to get watchmen to agree to go to the County Courthouse, the symbol of government and authority in the community, and pray to the one who is truly sovereign. I just don't believe that an hour of prayer, at best, on the first Thursday in May, is going to get the job done—God requires more from his watchman than that.

So, if you happen to be a resident of McDowell County, I would ask you to pray and see if the Lord might want you to set aside one hour of each week to come to the Courthouse to be a watchman. And if you should be so called, please contact me, because I am going to be developing a watchman calendar for each and every hour of each and every day. If you are reading this, and you don't live in McDowell County, may I suggest that you take this idea to God in prayer and see if he would have you start recruiting watchmen to pray for your community?

What could be the result of such a prayer vigil by watchmen? God only knows. But, just imagine what could happen with thousands of watchmen praying in every village, town, and city across the land 24/7/365! Conversely, I am pretty sure what will happen if no watchmen at all pray, and it isn't pretty. Certainly, prayer is not all that the Church needs to be doing. But prayer is job #1 for the Body of Christ. Why shouldn't it be, it's what Jesus did.

S.D.G.

Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4