The Garden Of Gethsemane – The Vitality Of Intercession (2/12) Series

Introduction

Slide 1 (title of series) For those who missed it, last week we began a 12 week adventure in the life of Jesus as we study what are called “The 12 stations of the cross.” In the last few weeks of the life of Jesus on earth we will study significant places He stopped at and what we can learn from them. Roman Catholic tradition teaches about 14 Stations of the Cross, while Protestant tradition calls them the “Way of the Cross.” Catholics stop at the cross, while Protestants stop at the resurrection. I have begun our series at the Last Supper, we studied it last week, and we will end at the Ascension on the Mount of Olives.

The Title of this morning’s message is: Slide 2 (title of message) The Garden of Gethsemane – The vitality of Intercession. The Key People will be Jesus, by Himself. The Key Teaching: INTERCESSION/PRAYER. The Key Scriptures: Matthew 26:36-41; Luke 22:40-46. We will extrapolate teachings surrounding the events that took place at the Garden of Gethsemane.

If you remember last week’s message the text ended with these words: Slide 3 (verse) “When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives” (Matthew 26:30). For those of us who have been to Israel we have been to this Garden where Jesus prayed. It is one of those places that you literally sense “this is it. It was here. This is authentic.” I have had some of my most moving times of prayer in Israel in that garden. Our trip planned for October was cancelled, due to Coronavirus, but don’t lose hope, we will plan a trip for 2021, should Jesus tarry. Like me, you will be flooded with emotions when you get to this place. Here’s how Matthew describes what took place at the 2nd station of the cross. Slide 4 (verse) “36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’ 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’ 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, Slide 6 (verse) ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.’ 40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. ‘Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?’ he asked Peter. 41 ‘Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.’” (Matthew 26).

Luke 22 adds an interesting detail: Slide 7 (verse) “’41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 ‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.’ 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.’” With those words in mind please ponder the title of today’s message: The Vitality of Intercession.

What is Intercession? Slide 8 (sub-title)

Intercession is Prayer but it is a different kind of prayer. Prayer involves Petition, Praise, Thanksgiving, Scripture Reading, Meditation, Supplication, Adoration, Consecration and so much more. Most Christians rarely move beyond Petition, making their prayers dull, lifeless and ineffective. We need to learn how to pray with Jesus. On this occasion Jesus was in the Garden to Intercede. When you, like me, have a family member who is very ill and dying, you intercede. I am interceding daily for my 49 year-old cousin Rachel, who is dying of cancer. When you have friends, like I do, who need to find salvation, you intercede. When you go to hospitals, like I do, to visit victims of Coronavirus, you intercede. When your nation is under attack by a deadly enemy, such as this global pandemic, you intercede. It’s often the only thing you can do seeing you are powerless to do much else.

Whenever problems in this life are overwhelming and crippling, when the enemies we face are too big for us, we intercede. There are challenges in this life, no matter how much we try, we cannot solve them on our own. It’s in those times we turn to God in Intercessory Prayer! Intercession is a kind of prayer that pleads with God for your needs, for the needs of others and for the needs of the world. Intercession is that kind of prayer that takes hold of God and refuses to let go until His will comes to pass! Intercession is spiritual warfare. It is standing in the gap between heaven and earth and crying out on behalf of those we love and care about. The battleground is not of this earth. The Bible says, Slide 9 (verse) “We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and spiritual powers in the heavens above” (Ephesians 6:12). Remember: In intercession you are intensely fighting ‘in the spirit’ mostly on behalf of others.