Luke 22:39-46 "Jesus went out of the city to the Mount of Olives as He usually did. His disciples followed Him. When He arrived He said to them, Pray that you wont be tempted. Then He withdrew from them about a stone's throw, knelt down, and prayed, Father, if it is your will, take this cup of suffering away from me. However your will must be done, not mine.
Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him and gave Him strength. So He prayed very hard in anguish. His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.
When Jesus ended His prayer, He got up and went to the disciples. He found them asleep and, OVERCOME WITH SORROW He said to them, Why are you sleeping? Get up, and pray that you wont be tempted."
(God's Word Today Translation)
WHY WAS THE LORD JESUS DISTRESSED AND OVERCOME WITH SORROW?
BECAUSE THEY WERE SLEEPING.
MANY PEOPLE ARE FAST ASLEEP IN THIS WORLD.
THEY DO NOT REALIZE WHAT IS HAPPENING AROUND THEM.
OR THAT THEY ARE ABOUT TO ENTER INTO TEMPTATION.
Peter could sleep, he was not disturbed that he was about to deny the Lord Jesus Christ.
He should have been watching and praying.
This is a prime example of just how weak the flesh really is.
HOW CAN WE STAY AWAKE?
PRAY WITHOUT CEASING.
ASK GOD, THROUGH CHRIST JESUS TO GIVE YOU THE GODLY SORROW THAT LEADS TO TRUE REPENTANCE.
ASK HIM TO TEACH YOU TO EXPERIENCE, THE EARNEST PRAYER THAT IS NEEDED FOR A NEWBORN CHILD OF GOD.
ASK GOD TO REVEAL TO YOU THE SORROW THAT TOOK THE LORD JESUS ALL THE WAY TO THE CROSS OF CALVARY.
FORGET ALL ABOUT YOURSELF.
WAKE UP AND OPEN YOUR HEART TO THE PURPOSE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE YET TO BE BORN-AGAIN.
THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE AROUND US WHO PROVE BY THE FRUIT OF THEIR LIVES THAT THEY DO NOT BELONG TO CHRIST.
PRAY FOR THEM.
THEN THERE ARE THE TRUE BELIEVERS, WHO ARE SUFFERING IN THIS WORLD, SUFFERING PERSECUTION BECAUSE THEY ARE STANDING FOR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
PRAY FOR THEM.
SOME HAVE LOST THEIR PARTNERS TO WHOM THEY HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR MANY YEARS.
PRAY FOR THEM.
SOME HAVE LOST THEIR CHILDREN.
PRAY FOR THEM.
SOME HAVE LOST THEIR HEALTH AND THEY SUFFER WITH ANY ONE OF THE AWFUL DISEASES OR TREATMENTS THAT ARE ABOUT TODAY.
PRAY FOR THEM.
SOME HAVE LOST THEIR MINDS THROUGH ILLNESS.
PRAY FOR THEM.
THESE PEOPLE CAN BE CLEARLY IDENTIFIED TODAY.
MANY PEOPLE JUST LOOK SAD BECAUSE THEIR FACES REFLECT THE PAIN THAT THEY ARE EXPERIENCING PHYSICALLY.
PRAY FOR THEM.
ASK GOD THE FATHER, THROUGH THE LORD JESUS AND HIS HOLY SPIRIT TO ALLOW YOU TO STAND IN THE GAP ON BEHALF OF THESE PEOPLE AND BECOME AN INTERCESSOR.
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS OUR GREAT INTERCESSOR.
AN INTERCESSOR WILL EXPERIENCE SADNESS IN THEIR OWN HEART AND THAT SADNESS WILL MAKE THEM TOTALLY TRANSPARENT BEFORE GOD.
THEY DONT PORTRAY WHAT THEY ARE NOT!
GOD KNOWS EVERY HEART AND HE KNOWS EVERY THOUGHT THAT ENTERS OUR MINDS.
THERE ARE MANY BELIEVERS WHO DO NOT SHOW THE HAPPINESS THAT THE WORLD SEEKS.
YET THEY KNOW WHAT IT IS TO POSSESS THE REAL JOY OF THE LORD JESUS DWELLING DEEP INSIDE THEIR HEARTS.
THEY ARE FILLED WITH GODLY SORROW, THE SORROW THAT THE WORLD CALLS FOOLISHNESS AND WEAKNESS.
THESE ARE THE ONES WHOM GOD HAS CHOSEN TO CONFOUND THE WISE.
THE APOSTLE PAUL TELLS US
1 Corinthians 1:27 "But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty."
THIS IS GOD'S METHOD.
GOD CHOOSES THE VERY BASE OF MANKIND, THE MISERABLE, THOSE WHO ARE FILLED WITH SORROW, TO DO GREAT EXPLOITS.
WE NEED TO ASK THE LORD JESUS TO MAKE US TRANSPARENT SO THAT HIS LIGHT CAN SHINE THROUGH US.
GOD KNOWS OUR EVERY WEAKNESS AND HE KNOWS OUR EVERY SORROW.
HE BORE OUR GRIEF'S.
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST WAS HANGED ON A TREE, NAKED FOR THE WHOLE WORLD TO GAPE UPON.
But none of the ransomed ever knew
How deep were the waters crossed,
Nor how dark the night the Lord passed through,
Ere He found His sheep that was lost.- Elizabeth C. Clephane
THE APOSTLE PAUL TELLS US
1 Corinthians 2:3 "I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling."
Paul opens his heart and lets us see his inmost thoughts. He makes it very clear that while he was here, he was greatly disturbed.
He was "in weakness and in fear and in much trembling."
He had gone through terrific suffering in his life and he could face the reality of that suffering and not boast in himself.
He could boldly boast in the Lord Jesus Christ and thank Him for being with him in every trouble and in every trial.
PAUL KNEW FIRST HAND WHAT IT WAS TO HAVE HIS FAITH TESTED.
Romans 9:1-3 "I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh."
THOSE WHOM GOD HAS CALLED TO BE AN INTERCESSOR HAVE BEEN ENDUED WITH EMPATHY BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.
THEY EXPERIENCE THE PAIN THAT OTHERS ARE GOING THROUGH EVEN THOUGH THEY THEMSELVES HAVE THE REAL DEEP JOY OF CHRIST BUBBLING INSIDE THEIR OWN HEARTS.
CHRIST ALONE IS THEIR JOY THEIR JOY.
THE WORLD THINKS THAT THEY ARE FOOLISH, THEIR FACES LOOK SAD, ACTUALLY VERY WRINKLED, AS THEY BARE THE MARKS OF PAIN AND SORROW.
OH THAT WE MIGHT LEARN THE TRUTH ABOUT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST WAS ACTUALLY A MAN OF SORROWS.
HE WAS ACQUAINTED WITH GRIEF.
HE WAS REJECTED BY THIS UNIVERSE.
HE KNEW PERSECUTION.
HE KNEW WHAT IT WAS TO WEEP OVER A LOSS.
HE KNEW WHAT REAL ANGUISH WAS LIKE.
HE KNEW WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO SEE HIS MOTHER SUFFER BECAUSE OF WHO HE WAS.
THE PEOPLE THAT HE CREATED TO BRING GLORY AND HONOR TO HIS NAME HATED HIM WITHOUT A CAUSE.
Will you also reject Him as your personal Saviour?
May I beseech you in Christ Jesus to ask Him to come into your heart right now.
Ask God, through the Lord Jesus Christ to allow the Holy Spirit to make Himself very real to you and start walking daily with the Lord Jesus, growing closer and closer to Him.
AND AS YOU GET TO KNOW HIM, HIM WHO IS YOUR SAVIOUR YOU WILL LOVE HIM MORE AND MORE EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT GOES BY. HE IS TRULY LIKE LIVING WATER TO THE THIRSTY SOUL.
HYMN. Click
to listen to music
BY MIDI.
Verse 1.
All ye that pass by, To Jesus draw nigh;
To you is it nothing That Jesus should die?
Your ransom and peace, Your surety He is,
Come see if there ever Was sorrow like His.
Verse 2.
For what you have done His blood must atone:
The Father hath punish'd For you His dear Son:
The Lord, in the day, Of His anger, did lay
Your sins on the Lamb, And He bore them away.
Verse 3.
He died to atone, For sins not His own;
Your debt He hath paid And your work He hath done.
Ye all may receive The peace He did leave,
Who made intercession, "My Father, forgive!"
Verse 4.
FOR YOU AND FOR ME HE PRAYED ON THE TREE;
THE PRAYER IS ACCEPTED, THE SINNER IS FREE
THE SINNER AM I, WHO ON JESUS RELY,
AND COME FOR THE PARDON GOD CANNOT DENY.
Verse 5.
His death is my plea! My advocate see,
And hear the blood speak That hath answered for me
He purchased the grace Which now I embrace;
O Father, Thou knowest HE HATH DIED IN MY PLACE.
AMEN.
LET THE WORDS OF THIS HYMN BE THE DEEP DESIRE OF YOUR HEART.
HYMN
Click
to listen to music
Verse 1.
More about Jesus, would I know, More of His grace to others show;
More of His saving fullness see, More of His love who died for me.
Chorus.
More, More, about Jesus, More, More, about Jesus.
More of His saving fullness see More of His love who died for me.
Verse 2.
More about Jesus, let me learn, More of His holy will discern,
Spirit of God my teacher be, Showing the things of Christ to me.
Verse 3.
More about Jesus, in His word Holding communion with my Lord;
Hearing His voice in every line, Making each faithful saying mine.
Verse 4.
More about Jesus, on His throne, Riches in glory all His own,
More of His kingdom's sure increase, More of His coming, Prince of Peace.
AMEN.
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THIS PAGE UPDATED: 3-5-2007.