A Wonderful prayer For Your Children, Grandchildren!-{Luke 2:52}
This morning I was laying in bed due to my illness and was reminded of a passage, “And Jesus KEPT INCREASING in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.”-{Luke 2:52}. The passage is dealing with the Humanity of Jesus, the Man.
Jesus kept “increasing.” The word “prokopto” means “progress, advance.” “The word used here is derived from pioneers, cutting down trees in the pathway of an advancing army.” Thayer adds it “means to lengthen out by hammering as a smith forges metals.” The meaning then is “to chop forward, to beat forward, to hack on.” The idea then is strenuous activity rather than passive development.”-{Dean Farrar}
He kept growing, increasing.
It speaks of Jesus’ growth humanly speaking and in particular 4 areas. He grew, increased in…
- WISDOM– This has to do with His intellect, Knowledge. The skillful ability, the application of knowledge and understanding. Wisdom is applied knowledge. “Jesus KEPT INCREASING in wisdom as His intellectual grasp of Divine truth increased,”- {John Mac Arthur]. It is the skill to take information and apply it in life, in choosing the best plans, sound judgment, skill in the affairs of life, and practical wisdom is choosing the best plans to bring about the best results. Skillful. Skill in the affairs of life, practical wisdom, – Solomon demonstrated this. A skilled carpenter, artist, home- maker, chef, or skilled worker can do this. But also Godly Wisdom from above. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.”-{Proverbs 1:10}. That reverence for God that impacts life is where wisdom begins. Which is found in His Word and also through believing prayer. Read James 1:5; Two types of wisdom contrasted in James. God honoring. versus immoral. Wisdom from above versus wisdom that is earthly, demonic- “Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, free of hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” – {James 3:13-18} “How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!”-{Proverbs 16:16}; “The beginning of wisdom is: Get [skillful and godly] wisdom [it is preeminent]! And with all your acquiring, get understanding [actively seek spiritual discernment, mature comprehension, and logical interpretation]. “-{Proverbs 4:7 Amplified}
Godly Wisdom sees things from God’s perspective from His Word and applies them to the situation.
- – STATUE– This has to do with His physical development. His ability to grow stronger through such as exercise, eating properly, healthy…all that it would take to physically mature through the different stages of life.
- – FAVOR WITH GOD. – This has to do with His Spiritual Growth. “He was first referred to in chapter 2 verse 16 as “brephos,” an infant; chapter 2 verse 40 as “paidion,” a little child; chapter 2 verse 43 as “pais,” a child; chapter 2 verse 52 He is Jesus, and the infant, and the child, and the boy, here Jesus. Here He is in His adult life, still growing stronger physically in stature, still getting a greater grasp of divine truth and growing in spiritual favor with God because of the continual triumph over temptation, because of the continual victory that He wins and growing also in favor with men because of the wondrous perfection of His life. He grew spiritually, physically, intellectually, and socially.”-{John Mac Arthur}
“And the Child continued to grow and become strong [in spirit], filled with wisdom; and the grace (favor, spiritual blessing) of God was upon Him.”-{Luke 2:40 Amplified Bible.”He grew, learned through the things He suffered, “Although He was a Son [who had never been disobedient to the Father], He learned [active, special] obedience through what He suffered.”-{Hebrews 5:8 Amp Bible.}.And as a twelve-year-old in the Temple we read, “After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard Him was amazed at His understanding and His answers.” (2:46-47). Note His Humility, and respect, good manners, “He was LISTENING to them.” Note His ability to understand and also to answer.
He Grew in the Word when Tempted by satan three times He responded using the power of the Word of God, “But He answered and said, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes out of the mouth of God.’”-{Matthew 4:4}
“Favor (5485)(charis) means grace, God’s provision (ability, power, enabling) for living a supernatural life.”-{preceptaustin}
Jesus grew in the grace of God as a human, “Adrian Rogers says the best definition of grace that he has ever heard is that God’s grace is “both the desire and the ability to do the will of God.” In a sense this was true of Jesus the Man Who lived His earthly life in dependence on His Father and the filling of the Spirit (cf first description of Jesus as He began His ministry “full of the Spirit” = Lk 4:1+), thus giving every son of Adam a pattern that they could seek to follow when they became believers in Christ.”-{preceptaustin}
- – FAVOR WITH MAN –This has to do with His Social growth.
NOT LIKE US YET LIKE US;
He was and is the God-Man
Jesus was not like us in that He was sinless, never having sinned– “God made him who had no sin to be sin {a sin offering} for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. “-{2 Cor 5:21}. While we, including our children, and grandchildren, great-grandchildren are full of sin and need Him to rescue us, forgive us, and change us and this He mercifully does to all who repent and believe the Gospel.
Jesus is like us in that He too knew temptation. And on earth, He became a man. and from a child, youth all the way through His life, He was tempted in all areas yet without ever sinning. “For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin.”-{Hebrews 4:15}. So, He understands the temptations of a child, youth, and young adult all the way through… and He empathizes with us. He feels the very feelings we feel. -{Heb 4:15}. So, no one can say, “Well no one understands what I am going through,”- The LORD Jesus does! Jesus understands. He does…and empathizes with us, from a child to youth all the way through life!
Jesus from a child onwards needed to grow in His human experience, and the verse speaks of four aspects. And we can draw from this to aid us as an outline, and guideline for our praying.
So, here are 4 principles we can pray for.
I prayed this verse- Luke 2:52 for my grandchildren by name this morning that they would grow, advance, and increase.
1.- Wisdom- Has to do with the Intellect.
2.- Physically.
3.- Spiritually,
4.- Socially.
That they would grow that would please and align with God’s desire and design.
Perhaps this would be a good verse for you to pray for your children or grandchildren, placing their name at the start of the verse for example ” And______ would grow in Wisdom, Statue, Favor with God, Favor and man.” You could pray this for anyone, whether you have children or not!
Hope this will encourage you.
God bless and may you see Him answer this specific prayer for your loved ones
Aidan,