The Garden Gloom
Introduction: We move from Mary’s WOMB to the TRIUMPHANT ZOOM, next to the UPPER ROOM, and now to the GARDEN GLOOM.
After leaving the UPPER ROOM with the disciples, our Lord Jesus made His way to a GARDEN called GETHSEMANE. It was there that He instructed Peter, James, and John to “watch and pray”. However, due to the weakness of the flesh they nodded off.
Meanwhile, Jesus agonized over His never before experience; namely becoming sin for us that we might be the righteousness of God in Him. “Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder” (Matt 26:36).
Notice:
1. He prayed before the biggest event in human history.
2. He included others to pray even though they went to sleep.
3. He resolved to be obedient to His Father’s Will.
4. He drank the cup of our sins.
5. He overcame all the distractions.
6. He won the battle
7. He set the example for all of His followers.
Conclusion: While Jesus Christ agonized in prayer in the Garden, God’s plan was being fulfilled for the purpose of conquering death, sin, hell, and the grave.
What a Savior!
Palm Sunday and Beyond
When You Pray
Introduction: Jesus said, when you pray not if you pray. Here are two thoughts about “when we pray”.
1. Conditions of Prayer! (Psa 66:18) – “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.”
The word “iniquity” means wickedness.
2. Petitions in Prayer! (1Tim 2:1-7) – ” I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”
The words “supplication” and “intercession” can mean approaching the king, or making a petition, a prayer, or intercession.
Did you get that?
Jesus came the first time as the King of the Jews. But when He comes again in the clouds of heaven in His second coming He will come as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords!
Are you getting ready to approach the King?
Conclusion: These are just two conditions or ways to approach our Lord in prayer.
Something to think about.
Prayer Principles
Introduction: Jesus has enrolled believers into His school of prayer. By the way, it is a life-long lesson without graduation. Until, we reach heaven of course. In the epistle to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul was led by the Holy Spirit to lists several prayers. Here is one, just two verses of the prayer.
“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named” (Eph 3:14,15).
Did you notice several principles about prayer?
1. The Position of Prayer! (Eph 3:14) – “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.”
Speaking of kneeling, Daniel knelt in prayer before facing the lions den.
“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime” (Dan 6:10).
Did you notice Daniel did not wait until he was thrown into the lions den to pray? Instead, this was his daily routine. No wonder he was not afraid; plus, God honored his faith. He went from being despised to the decree, and then his devotion which led to his deliverance. Next, those enemies were devoured. But the king declared all were to worship Daniel’s God!
2. The Propelling Motive in Prayer! (Eph 3:14) – “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.”
This last verse means those who have been born into God’s family. While everyone is God’s creation, only those who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ thru His sacrificial death and vicarious resurrection are included in His family.
Conclusion: Not only do we have the Position and Motivation in prayer but we also must consider the following:
Conditions, Petitions, and Supplications in Prayer, which will be discussed later. But for these first two verses, these are the elements that need to be practiced while praying.
Here and Later
Love Deposits
It is very easy in this busy world to either forget or delay making these meaningful investments.
1. Loving one another! (John 13:35) – “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
(1John 3:17,18,23) “But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth…. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.”
There we have it. Loving others is the key to really loving God. Do you love others?
2. Loving God’s way! (1Cor 13:6,7) – “….Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth.”
This is the biblical definition of love? What is your definition of love?
3. Loving the Lord! (Matt 22:37,38) – “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
Loving the Lord is probably easier than loving all of our neighbors, wouldn’t you think? Are there any neighbors that you don’t love?
Do What You Can
Introduction: Are you doing what you can in serving the Lord? Just do what you can. Don’t worry about what you cannot do, just do what you can!
Learn about this special woman who Jesus commended; she did what she could.
1. Will you do what you can in serving the Lord? (Mark 14:8) – “She hath done what she could.”
She did what she could even though others thought it was a waste. The world will look at you while serving Jesus Christ and think it is a waste. But it is not according to Him.
Here is a promise.
Plus, not only will Jesus come back for us but He will take us to the Father’s house that He built!
Imagine that.
3. That Day we will see our love ones and that will be GOOD! (1Thess 4:16,17) – “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
What a glorious reunion that will be! We can hardly wait. It is going to be great!!
Conclusion: The lesson: Do what you can now because it will matter later!
Keep up the good work.
The Big Fight
Introduction: Are we in a fight or what? Do you feel the war within, not only with principalities and powers but also from the flesh?
1. How can you tell we are in a FIGHT? (Gal 5:16) – “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”
First of all, look at the word “walk”. It is the word περιπατέω, (per-ee-pat-eh’-o). It means to conduct my life, or the way we live. So we are to “walk” in the Spirit. In so doing, we will not fulfill the “lust” of the flesh.
The word “lust” is ἐπιθυμία,(ep-ee-thoo-mee’-ah). It means to desire, or an eagerness for; it can mean an inordinate desire, or simply put lust. Please notice the desire “lust” is for the FLESH.
2. Who wins the Fight? (Gal 5:17-21) – “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Wow! This is an ugly description of the bad fruit of the Flesh.
- Sexual Sins
- Satanic Sins
- Shameless Sins
- Selfish Sins
3. How can we win the Fight? (Gal 5:22-24) – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”
The words “have crucified” are σταυρόω (stow-ro’-o). It can mean to fence with stakes, or to fix to the cross. Lastly it can mean to mortify. In other words, this is a divine act but must be activated by faith thru the Holy Spirit. Obviously, there is more to it than space will allow at this point.
Conclusion: The Big Fight is on! However, as we have explored, the Lord Jesus has already made provisions for His children to overcome the flesh and “walk” in the Spirit (Gal 5:25).
See this word “walk στοιχέω (stoy-kheh’-o). It means to be in rows, or to walk by rule.
Keep walking brother, keep walking sister, until we see Jesus!
The Prayer of Faith
1. Pray according to the Will of God! (1John 5:14,15)
“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”
When we are not sure from a biblical perspective what God’s will is in the matter we should pray in faith for wisdom and grace to accept His divine purpose. Will you do that right now?
2. Pray in faith because our Lord knows what is best! (Mark 11:22-24)
“And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”
Sit Back and Relax
1. Sit Back – and know that God is in control! (Psa 46:10)
“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”
With all the suffering and injustice going on in our world, it seems like God is not in control. But remember. We are free moral agents. Secondly, we live in a sin-cursed world.
2. Relax – the Lord will be exalted in all the earth! (Psa 46:10)
“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”
- Our Shepherd, (Psa 23:1)
- Our Friend (Prov 18:24)
- Our Redeemer (Job 19:25)
- Our Life (Col 3:4)
- Our Savior (Acts 4:12)
- Our Lord (Phil 2:10,11)
- Our Lover (Gal 2:20)