A Prayer of Repentance and Praise from Luke – The Message of Jesus and His Disciples
In Luke 4 Jesus enters the synagogue and reads Isaiah 61:1-2.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering the sight of the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lords favor.”
He then says, “today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” I feel like this is a mic drop moment! He is declaring that He is the one prophesied about. He is here to proclaim good news, heal the sick, and cast out demons.
In the next sections of scripture He does those very things. He heals a man with an unclean demon (4:31-37), heals many with vari-ous diseases (4:38-41), and goes in the synagogue and preaches the good news of the kingdom of God (4:42:-44).
Let’s fast forward to Luke 9. Jesus gave his 12 apostles “power and authority over all the demons and to cure diseases and sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God.” Now, Jesus, in Luke 10, sends out 72 disciples to heal the sick and proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God (10:9).
These disciples come back with joy! They are excited that the demons are subject to them. Jesus joined in the celebration by saying “I saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven.” He then confirms that He has given them authority over the spirits of this world. Then He says, “nevertheless”. The loving Savior gives a gentle rebuke and a needed reminder.
Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Here is a prayer I wrote because of Luke 10:20.
A Prayer of Repentance
Lord, I confess that I often rejoice more it the fact that I get to do ministry then in the fact that my name is written in heaven. My mood is affected by the results. When ministry is going well, I quickly point to the results and take joy in it. When ministry is not going well, I feel like a failure. In my pride I strive for excellence to make a name for myself. My sinful heart quickly steals the praise that is rightfully yours. I begin to get puffed up and conceited. I being to think more highly of myself than I ought to think. Yet, when I fail, I get despondent and I think I can work harder! I think I can do better. I begin to rely on my own strength.
Ministry can quickly become an idol in my life. I begin to serve ministry hoping that it will in some way give me good gifts and fulfill my deepest longings. I confess that I begin to look at my giftings as something that I developed. The “I” statements begin to flow out of my mouth. I did this! I built this! I accomplished this! I am doing this! My heart often looks more like King Nebuchadnezzar’s heart than Jesus’ heart.
Help me turn from my wickedness! Help me keep in step with the Spirit so that my life produces fruit. Help me rejoice in the things that matter, not in the results of ministry.
A prayer of Praise!
Lord, I thank you that my name is written in the Lamb’s book of life. I am grateful that I get to do ministry, but I am more grateful that Jesus has saved me. Ministry may come and go but my name will never be blotted out of heaven. I can rest in the security that you saved me. I may have an embarrassingly bad sermon, a flop of a youth event, or a sin that leads to rebuke, but I can still rejoice because Jesus is still my Savior! I rejoice because my sins are forgiven! I don’t have to feel guilt and shame because Christ has died for that! Thank you for the good news of Jesus. I praise you that the results of ministry are not up to me! You are the sovereign God who can change hearts. You can work in my good and my bad. I pray that I would be faithful with what you have given me and not steal the glory for myself. I praise you for being a God who is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. I praise you that you are a better King! You are a King who knows my weakness! I praise you that you are the just and the justifying God. I can rejoice because I know Your character.
A Final word
If you are in Christ you are a disciple! You are all called to ministry. In what things are you tempted to rejoice instead of the gospel? What is your response when ministry is going well? What is your response when ministry is going poorly? If you are a Christian, you can go to God and praise Him that your name is written in Heaven! If you feel convicted by the Spirit you can remember that you have a loving Savior who loves when His own repent and turn to Him.