LET US PRAY (2)

Matt 26:36-46 NLT - 36 Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” 37 He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. 38 He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 39 He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” 40 Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? 41 Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!” 42 Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open. 44 So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!”

For your hearing this morning, I’d like you to consider this, “Let us Pray”.

The setting for our text today is passion week. And there was much activity leading up to this time. Here are the cliff notes.

Jesus has said all he came to say and now it’s time to prepare for his departure. He’s wrapping things up.

He’s had his triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem.

The people have welcomed him in shouting, Hosanna, to the Son of David, Hosanna in the highest.

Meanwhile, the chief priest and elders are making their plan to kill Jesus. This is conspiracy at the highest level. At first they want to do it quietly, so the people didn’t rise up and kill them. But we’ll see what actually happens later.

Judas makes his deal to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.

Mary comes in and anoints Jesus, pouring expensive oil over his head. The disciples get upset, calling it waste and to cover up their words they come back with, it could’ve been sold and given to the poor. Jesus defends her actions saying the poor will be with them always and that she was preparing his body for burial. He knew there would not be time to do that once he gave his life. He also knew he wouldn’t stay buried for long. But, know this, nothing you do for Christ is ever a waste, whether it be giving your time, your talent, the money or other resources He has allowed you to have, and most importantly this, remember, only what you do for Christ will last.

The disciples have prepared the passover meal in the upper room to have what would be famously known as the Last Supper or the Lord’s Supper.

Jesus has declared and identified which one of his disciples would betray him.

And finally, Jesus tells Peter he would deny him three times before the rooster crowed. It’s a dangerous thing to say what you would or would never do in any given situation. Because the truth of the matter is, until you’re faced with a situation, you really can’t be sure what you would do.

And now, as we come to our text, they’ve finish with the passover meal and Jesus continues his preparations for what he’s about to face, he needs some time to pray.

This is a wonderful example to us, while prayer is appropriate any time, when you’re facing a particularly difficult decision, get off by yourself and seek God. Let us pray. Jesus’ place was the Garden of Gethsemane.

We all need a place where we can get off to ourselves and go before the throne of grace. A time when we can be alone with our Lord and Savior. When we can share whatever is on our heart. The good and the bad. We can voice our uncertainties and insecurities without fear of rebuke or being made fun of. We can share our failures and successes and not worry about being labeled or called names.

We all need a place where we can get emotionally, mentally, and spiritual naked, yet be unashamed.

We all need someone who will love us in spite of what we do. Even when we don’t get always get it right.

And we all need encouragement at times when we know we’re about to go into a situation and for us we don’t know what the outcome is going to be, yet we have to press ahead. It’s like going into a cave and having to keep moving forward, even though the light is fading. You have to continue to move forward because the way is so narrow, there’s no possibility of turning back.

In one of my favorite movies, The Hunt for Red October. All the senior officers had made a plan to defect. At one point they talk of going back to the Soviet Union at which point the lead character played by Sean Connery tells them there’ll be no going back, he had written a letter to the Kremlin informing them of their plan to defect. For this crew, there was no turning back.

Jesus was in a place where he knew there was no turning back, yet his humanness was stepping to the forefront and he needed to talk to His Father about this thing. Remember Jesus was God wrapped in flesh. Flesh that hungered, and got tired, and sad, and angry, and all the other emotions we feel.

He brought all the disciples with him, except Judas, and told them, sit here while I go over there and pray. Then he took the three he was closest to, those in the inner circle, Peter, James & John, with him further into the Garden as he was preparing to petition his Father.

So now he has eight disciples at the entrance of the Garden and three more, further in where he’s about to pray. Jesus turns to them and tells them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” In other words Jesus was saying,

I’m going through a lot right now, my soul is grieved and I just need you keep watch with me.

I know it’s late, but I need you to keep watch with me.

I know you’re tired, but I need you to keep watch with me.

I know you’re full, because we just finished eating, but I need you to keep watch with me.

I know you’re still trying to figure out what I’ve been saying to you, but I need you to keep watch with me.

I know you don’t want to, but please, right now, I just need you to keep watch with me.

Can you watch we me for just a little while? Can you pray with me, for just a little while? Can you forget about your troubles, your questions, yourself, for just a little while and pray with me? Let us pray.

While they weren’t right beside him when he prayed, and they didn’t know exactly what he was saying, the expectation Christ had and what he asked them to do was to keep watch with him while he consulted with his Father.

Have you ever asked someone to do something, it’s not something you’re not doing or haven’t done and you just need them to help you out, just a little bit and for one reason or another they just aren’t there for you? Yeah I think we’ve all been there.

Jesus asked his three closest friends to sit and keep watch while he went to consult with his father. He bowed with his face to the ground and prayed. He was in a vulnerable position and he needed someone to watch his back.

Jesus knew why he came, he knew his mission, he knew what was going to happen, and he knew it would be painful…and so he prayed…Let us pray.

“Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me.” That was the flesh talking. The flesh doesn’t want to experience pain, not even Jesus, but he says…

“Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

If you knew something you were about to go through, something that was going to cause you significant pain, yet it would save your family…do you think you’d pray, “Lord, I want Your will to be done?”

Do you truly want God’s will for your life or are you wavering just a bit? Are you praying one thing with your lips and saying something else with your life?

Oh we can pray prayers that sound so eloquent. We can say things that sound so spiritually correct, like we just walked out of a session with Jesus himself.

We can weave words together like we sat under the tutelage of Langston Hughes, but when it comes down to it…what is it you desire in your heart?

Matt 15:19 tells us “For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander.”

That’s exact why Solomon says in Prov. 4:23 to “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”

What course is your life taking? Let us pray.

Jesus had ask his closet friends, his inner circle to watch with him, surely he could count on them. After all he had shown them, all the time they had spent together, surely they had his back.

But he returned to find them sleeping. He woke Peter up and said to him, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”

See it was Peter who said he would never deny Christ but he did. Jesus was encouraging, he was begging Peter to keep watch and pray so he wouldn’t give in to the temptation to deny him.

Because that thing you said you’d never do…well here we are and what are you doing? Let us pray.

That place you said you’d never go…well here we are and where are you? Let us pray.

Those words you said you would never say…well here we are and what did you just say?

The spirit is willing…you meant well. You had every intention of, you just knew you would, you even promised, yet here you are not following through. But you were going to and for whatever reason, you just didn’t get it done, you just didn’t show up, you just didn’t go. Let us pray.

Pray so you can get stronger in your faith.

Pray because it’s your spirit man that connects with God.

Pray that your spirit man stays in control and doesn’t yield to the flesh.

Pray without ceasing.

Pray so you’ll know what the will of God is for your life.

Pray so you know what God requires of you in this situation.

Pray so you don’t find yourself denying Jesus

Pray so you don’t find yourself cussing and yelling at somebody.

Pray so you don’t find yourself, laying down your religion.

Church, LET US PRAY!

Jesus woke them up and went to pray a second time. “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.”

His flesh knows what’s coming and doesn’t want to go through that, if it’s at all possible. LORD, THERE’S GOT TO BE ANOTHER WAY, BUT IF THERE’S NO OTHER WAY, I’LL DO IT!

Are you really being about the things of God? Or are you all about you and your comfort and what you want?

Jesus goes back and checks on the disciples for a second time, and they’re asleep again, they couldn’t keep they’re eyes open.

Who are you counting on in your life, that just can’t seem to keep their eyes open and watch?

Who’s been closest to you, that you just knew they’d be the one who would be there through thick and thin? But they fell asleep.

Jesus goes and prays a third time saying the same thing. For those that think you can only ask God for something once…here you go. Jesus prayed the same prayer three times.

Pray until you get your answer.

Pray until something happens.

Pray until God moves on your behalf.

LET US PRAY!

Jesus goes back to the disciples a third time, only to find them sleeping again and now he says, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest.”

There are times you simply must move on with what God has given you to do.

There are times when you have to leave others behind, you have to leave them sleeping.

There are times when you have to go, even if you have to go by yourself.

There are times when you have to pray, even if no one else prays with you.

Let us pray.

Jesus woke them one final time saying, “But look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.”

Jesus hurt no one, he was the Son of Man, the Son of God, He was God, yet, he was betrayed and given into the hands of sinners.

Sometimes it will seem like evil is winning, but the just shall live by faith.

Sometimes it will look like we’re losing the war, but the battle is the Lord’s.

Sometimes it will appear that the enemy is triumphing, but in the name of Jesus, we have the victory.

Sometimes it will sound like, Satan has defeated us, but we are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus.

Sometimes we will feel overwhelmed, but we are overcomers by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony.

Jesus wasn’t surprised, he wasn’t caught off guard. He knew they were coming and when they arrived he said, “Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!”

Don’t be surprised when the person you thought was one of your friends, turns out to be the one who betrays you. Judas walked with Jesus for three years, yet he sold him out for 30 pieces of silver.

Don’t let it hurt you when the person you thought would never leave you, turns their back on you for their own selfish gain. Their price may not be 30 pieces of silver, but something else will be their silver.

Don’t be dismayed when the person you thought was your prayer partner stops showing up because prayer is no longer their priority, if it ever was.

Don’t lose hope because the person you thought was your encourager ends up being your discourager.

You must learn to lean on Jesus, in him you’ll find peace, love, joy, hope, happiness, security and the list goes on. Whatever you find yourself in need of God’s got it.

Stay in His Word, read, study, meditate on it. Oh taste and see that the Lord is good. His mercy endureth forever and his truth endures to all generations.

What legacy are you leaving for the generations coming behind you? Do they see you praying or do they see you raising hell in the car and raising your hands on Sunday morning?

Is your mouth speaking one thing on Sunday and another language Monday through Saturday?

We have to stay prayed up, not just for ourselves but for our city, our country, our state, our nation, our world. We don’t get a do over if we mess this one up. We must pray for our leaders from the ones in our household to world leaders.

Pray that they will have compassion for others.

Pray that they will act wisely in dealing with their neighbors.

Pray that they will keep their word.

Pray that they will act in the best interest of their people, not themselves.

Pray that God will not only touch their hearts but control them.

Pray that they will learn to love unconditionally.

Pray that they will come to know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior.

Pray that they will hear the good news of the Gospel and accept Jesus Christ as Lord of their lives and follow his will and not their own.

Pray that peace will reign and not war.

Church it’s up to us to pray, pray for those who can’t or won’t pray for themselves; because Jesus died for them too.

After Solomon finished building and dedicating the temple he prayed to God—and God said, “At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you.” God said he would do that, you see not every bad think that happens is Satan, sometimes it’s God trying to get our attention. Sometimes God is saying you’ve forgotten about me and I need to remind you,

it was me who blessed you.

it was me who brought you out.

it was me who saved you from yourself.

it was me who kept you even before you acknowledged me

it was me who provided for you

it was me who got you the job you weren’t qualified for

it was me who kept you safe as you traveled

it was me who healed your body. I know you went to the doctor and they gave you some medicine, but it was me that made it all happen

Sometimes God needs to bring us back to his side by bringing us to our knees, but he doesn’t leave us hopeless, he gives us hope when he says…

If my people who are called by my name, those who have made the declaration to give their hearts and lives’ to Jesus

Shall humble themselves - stop thinking about yourself and think of others

…and pray - it’s up to the church to pray and the church is not a building, the church is the people of God

…and seek my face - look to the hills from whence comes your help, knowing all your help comes from the Lord which made heaven and earth.

… and turn from their wicked ways — you have to turn away from some stuff. You’ve got to let go of jealousy and envy and strife and malice and evil thoughts and backbiting and hatred and bigotry. Anything that’s not like Jesus you’ve got to turn away from it, let it go.

Then and only

then will I hear from heaven, God will hear and some things will begin to happen

… and will forgive their sin, you see, it’s a sin problem that plagues us, the things we see and experience are the symptoms not the problem. The problem is unrepentant sin for which we need forgiveness.

… and will heal their land. Church, when we pray—God will move.

Let us pray!

If you’ve never accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, today is a good day, tomorrow is not promised and we need to treat the problem and not just the symptoms. Before we gave our lives to Christ we all had a sin problem, but Jesus died to save from the penalty of that sin problem and all you have to do is pray,

“Jesus I know I’m a sinner, please forgive and heal me from sin. I want you to be Lord of my life. I believe you are the Son of God, that you died for my sins; that you rose again and now sit at the right hand of the Father praying for me. I give you my heart and my life. In your name I pray, amen”

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As we see the atrocities happening in Ukraine, people are still dying from COVID, children are killing children, those sworn to serve and protect are still getting away with murder, church we need to pray.

Let us pray.