Giving Up Is Not Giving In

Give Up Your Sword

PRAY WITH ME AND FOR ME!!

The now famous general Douglas Mac Arthur, was said to be meeting his foe, a Japanese General, to accept his official surrender. Standing before the conquering General, the Japanese general extended his hand in order to shake MacArthur’s hand, and MacArthur said, I cannot shake your hand sir, until you first surrender your sword. We can’t be friends as long as that sword is hanging by your side. Give me the sword and then we’ll shake hands.”

A lot of us want to shake God’s hand hand while we carry our sword, the sword of our will. We must surrender our wills to God before we can be in complete fellowship with Him.

God calls all sinners to salvation, not all answer.

God calls Christians to live a life of holiness. God calls them to fulfill the one anothers. God calls Christians to live free in the gospel. He calls them to live out His mission of declaring His glory to all people everywhere. God calls Christians to tell the gospel to others. He calls them to suffer for the gospel. God calls all Christian to surrender, not all answer.

Jesus, coming to live the life we could not on our own, gives us something to imitate when God calls us to surrender. He is the subject of tonight’s type of praying. Surrendering Prayer.

Surrendering Prayer

STAND AND READ WITH ME

Matthew 26:36–46 CSB

36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he told the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 He said to them, “I am deeply grieved to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with me.” 39 Going a little farther, he fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” 40 Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He asked Peter, “So, couldn’t you stay awake with me one hour? 41 Stay awake and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, a second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 And he came again and found them sleeping, because they could not keep their eyes open. 44 After leaving them, he went away again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? See, the time is near. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Get up; let’s go. See, my betrayer is near.”

Notice Jesus’ condition. Exceedingly Sorrowful. His sorrow went to the extreme.

Think about the most sorrowful moment in your life. Now his is imaginably multiplied.

He was terrified. Drops of sweat. The thought of bearing all the evil of all of history became to big a burden to bear.

“This cup” - Jesus anticipated the darkest hour - the hour of wrath - the hour of God’s back turned against all of earth. It had already begun to eclipse His heart long before the dark day arrived.

The disciples had drank from a cup symbolizing a participation in the benefits of the cross, but Jesus drinks from the cup submitting to death to ensure the benefits.

Matthew 20:23 CSB

23 He told them, “You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right and left is not mine to give; instead, it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”

Matt

The disciples would later drink from the cup of suffering. Jesus became their point of reference in how to surrender their will to God’s.

“fell facedown” - Jesus demonstrates for us the posture of surrendering prayer. This is significant for us to remember - this position is the lowliest one, low to the ground, honoring God, vulnerable to the one before you - a position of helplessness but never hopeless.

The first truth Jesus teaches us here:

The first truth Jesus teaches us here:

The importance of Surrendering Prayer during the darkest hours.

“My Father” - God is nearest in the darkest time.

Let’s not get confused about this prayer. Never was there a time with Jesus of a willful decision toward the direction of disobedience.

“if it be possible” - Jesus was never trying to avoid or keep from doing the Father’s will, he was making sure whether or not His will included the cross.

He would have been very happy to hear it’s not necessary but he doesn’t.

This is the proof text against “name it and claim it” praying.

Jesus was exhibiting his full humanity - only natural to desire to avoid such horrific things. Yet, his determination to surrender to the Father’s will far outweighed His desire to avoid it. Jesus comes to trust that what is happening soon is the very best option given the existence of sin.

“not my will” - Jesus seek to honor the relationship within the trinity. The Father’s will is the Son’s chief concern. Jesus spent His entire human life doing the Father’s will.

It tells us He went back 3 times and prayed the same prayer.

The second truth Jesus teaches us here:

The need for repeated prayer when the decision is toughest.

Repetition is commitment to the cause for the prayer. Praying some simple words and moving on is shallow, cheap and lacks a level of seriousness about the cause of the prayer.

Hebrews 5:7 NKJV

7 who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear,

The death was not final. God answered that element 3 days later.

As everyday experience often shows, stress and trials can strengthen a person. A seed that falls into a mere handful of soil next to a boulder can sometimes grow into a large tree by sending its roots down to the earth, roots that firmly wedge it onto the rock. The sequoia, the greatest of trees, grows best when forest fires periodically threaten its existence. The fires may scar it deeply, but they assure the proper composition of the soil needed for the tree’s survival.

[1] Michael P. Green. (2000). 1500 illustrations for biblical preaching (p. 358). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

We find in the beginning that Jesus took someone with him. He wanted someone to share the load with Him.

The third truth Jesus teaches us here:

The value of shared prayer

Conclusion: God is not like google. He won’t get rid of you if you speak your mind to Him. His desire is fr us to feel safe in coming to Him, but we need to come facedown.

WE need to come with the same approach as Jesus.

Desperate crying to the Father

Determined obedience to the Father

The purpose of prayer is solely the surrender of the sword of our will to the will of God. The reason we must be surrendered to the will of God is the same reason Jesus surrendered.

God’s Promise of redemption

God’s Plan to accomplish redemption

God’s Purpose of offering redemption

How do we know He was surrendered.

v.46 - When we are fully surrendered we will do the same.

Invitation to Respond