Praying in the Face of Temptation
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
I strongly dislike social media...
My main reason is because social media brings out the worst in me.
((Responding to posts from people I went to high school with…))
And yet, I find it very hard to just read a post I strongly disagree with and resist the temptation to respond (either with facts, snarkiness, or a combination of both).
Well, let’s face it, this is a silly, small temptation. In truth, we all face far more challenging temptations throughout our lives.
But, whether it’s a silly temptation or a big temptation, we need to know what to do in the face of temptation.
One of the most important things that Jesus taught us about facing temptation is prayer.
That will be our focus this morning.
Body: Luke 22:39-46
Body: Luke 22:39-46
Verses 39-40
…as was His custom...
The Mount of Olives
Overlooked Jerusalem and the temple mount;
Called Gethsemane in Matthew & Mark, meaning “oil press”;
Olives were plentiful around Jerusalem;
Key Concept: “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
Why is this a key concept in this passage?
It bookends the passage...
Shows how Jesus faced adversity...
It’s a model for Luke’s audience on how to face adversity...
What does it mean?
It’s not simply that temptation won’t come, because temptation is constant in our lives.
It’s praying that they wouldn’t falter and fail in the face of temptation.
Verses 41-42
A “stone’s throw”...
Within ear shot...
Knelt down...
This is a sign of great distress; people in that day usually stood to pray...
If you are willing…remove this cup...
Cup = cup of suffering
In the OT it is associated with the outpouring of God’s judgment.
What is Jesus asking for here? Does He want to avoid the cross?
Jesus knows full well what is ahead of Him.
He doesn’t simply fear the pain and rejection, though these would be horrible.
Jesus fears the full wrath of God’s fury and judgment against sin coming down upon Him.
He alone would face what was prophesied in Isaiah.
Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
Knowing this, Jesus is, in essence, saying, “If there is any other way by which sinners can be saved then my facing the full wrath of your judgment against sin, reveal that to me now.”
Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.
Truly this is a key to grasping Jesus heart.
He asks if there is another way, yet fully submits to God’s will.
I believe this “Nevertheless” is one of the great words of love spoken by Jesus.
Love for God
Love for God is most clearly exemplified by one who submits to God’s will in all things.
Love for mankind
William Dembski: “In a fallen world, the only currency of love is suffering. Indeed, the only way to tell how much one person loves another is by what that person is willing to endure for the other.”
Verses 43-44
Disputed verses...
Heaven responds…but not to remove the cup.
Notice that Heaven’s response is not another way, but that Jesus would be strengthened for the necessary task ahead.
It’s more important to be strengthen for what was coming than to be spared from it.
Agony...
Only appears here in the NT.
Means “a struggle” or “conflict” or “anguish”
Again, we must understand that Jesus knew what He was going to face.
It’s so vital we never approach the Christ’s death as common...
Sweating blood?
Maybe, maybe not...
See the word “like”
Not really the point any way.
Either way, Luke is mentioning this because he is showing the extreme emotional trauma Jesus is facing.
Verses 45-46
Sleeping for sorrow...
They were exhausted and emotionally spent. But instead of finding strength through prayer, they find comfort through sleep.
This is the reason why, when the trials came, they all faltered and failed.
Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.
This leads to the application of this passage.
Key Question: How can we pray in order to stand firm the face of temptation?
Key Question: How can we pray in order to stand firm the face of temptation?
Develop the habit of prayer.
Only when a follower of Christ is significantly prayed-up can we face the challenges of the day ahead!
When we fail to pray, you can be certain that we will fail in our following of Christ.
and call upon me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.
Too often, as His people, we see prayer as an optional task or that which begins and/or ends meetings. However, prayer is the real work of ministry.
Followers of Jesus must recognize that as Jesus encouraged the disciples to pray that they don’t falter in their faith, He encourages us to do the same.
Mary Slessor: “Prayer is harder work than doing...”
A.J. Gordon: “You can do more than pray, after you have prayed, but you can never do more than pray until you have prayed.”
Ben Patterson: “The more we need to pray, the less we want to. Not to pray is to lose the desire to pray, for prayerlessness is its own punishment. But pray we must. We cannot sit and wait for the desire to pray to suddenly come upon us like the tongues of fire at Pentecost. Just do it.”
What to develop the habit of prayer? Just do it!
Pray with complete openness and honesty.
Sometimes our prayers sound like we are on stage, trying to impress God with our holiness.
Jesus models a prayer of honest and openness.
“God, if there is another way, please reveal that to me.”
That’s God honoring prayer. When we put aside all attempts to impress and fall before God with our hearts wide open.
((Praying for things I didn’t think I had the right to pray for...))
Further, this is prayer with great emotion.
Jesus prayer is an emotional prayer. He even sweats!
Have you ever sweat while praying?
God isn’t afraid of our emotions. But those emotions should drive us to Him, not away from Him.
Ben Patterson: “Better an outburst than a theologically correct and spiritually pallid rationale, and a dangling conversation. No wonder we can get so bored with prayer. God is bored, too. He wants to engage our hearts, not just our brains.”
Is your prayer life engaging your heart as well as your brain?
Submit to God’s will for our lives.
As we pray honestly and openly, so too we must pray with a heart that submits completely to God’s will be done.
We see it in the Lord’s Prayer...
Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
A good test of spiritual maturity is this: Is my heart really praying, “thy will be done”?
JC Ryle: “He who can say from his heart, when a bitter cup is before him, ‘Not my will, but thine be done,’ has reached a high position in the school of God.”
Remember that heaven responds to our prayers.
We can get down because our prayers aren’t always answered the way we’d like them to be...
Sometimes exactly the opposite!
But we can be sure of this, even if we don’t see angels, Heaven is always responding to our prayers.
Sometimes by a supernatural happening;
More often by a still, small voice...