Prayer Under Pressure

Almighty God, Our Father; I thank You, for giving Your Son to die for us.

I can't imagine the depth of Jesus dying in our stead.

Your Love for us is without measure.

Jesus, bore the nails that we should have borne.

He hung upon the cross so mercilessly.

His body was scourged without mercy, to obtain mercy for us.

They spat in His face. They buffeted Him.

He was drained spiritually, emotionally, and physically in Gethsemane.

He wept so bitterly.

He cried aloud; so painfully.

He shed His blood plentifully. He shed it for us; pitiful sinners.

He suffered death unquestionably.

I give my mind in thankfulness.

I give my tongue in praise.

I give my hands in service.

I give my feet, to run errands of mercy.

I give my lips in praise.

I give my eyes to watch for Our Lord’s return.

I give my all, to Your glory.

Now, Father God, I commend myself to Your love. You commended Your love towards us, while we were yet sinners.

I surrender myself, to the power of Your passion, to the depths of Your endless mercy.

Father, in your immeasurable pity,

keep alive within us, the memory of Your Son's bitter death.

Keep alive within us, the memories of His holy wounds,

so that in sickness and in health, we may remember His mercy.

Father, defend us from all danger,

and keep us; so that we may stand before You in joy.

Bless our souls, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Thank You Lord, for accepting the blood of Jesus, as a ransom for our sins.

Amen.

Good day, my brothers and sisters. I hope that this day finds you blessed and in a good state of mind.

Our message today comes from,

Luke 22:39-46

Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him. When He came to the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, 

“Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow. Then He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.”

The title of my message today, is;

Prayer, Under Pressure

What a scene this was! Here is the most tragic scene that earth has ever endured.

I invite you to remove your shoes and journey with me, upon this morsel of holy ground. Our Lord is about to deal with His most fierce trial, in a Garden call, Gethsemane.

No one is exempted from the crushing pains of Gethsemane. Gethsemane in Hebrews means olive press or oil press. Gethsemane can be almost anything that presses us.

The name Gethsemane, is only fitting, since olives are crushed to make the best oils.

Cancer, depression, sorrow, disappointments and even death; are all Gethsemanes that we must all face. Many of you are in Gethsemane; right now. You're battling sickness. A family member has suddenly turned up sick. The constant violence is frustrating you. Bill collectors are harassing you. Someone, is disrespecting your intelligence. Your husband, your wife or children are acting up. Life has become, oh; so frustrating.

This is a Gethsemane age. My friends, we're all in Gethsemane; one way or another.

Come now, let's peep inside.

Let's walk quietly; behind Peter, James, John and Jesus.

It's eerie dark. I can hardly see my feet.

But His word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I am watching the rhythm of every step.

I see God's Son. But the natural sun is hidden behind the quilt of darkness.

But I see the only Son, I need to see. He's bruised and battered.

The clouds are so behaved. The dark and the light ones, are all still. My friends; no cloud is moving.

I am watching Jesus.

He keeps falling down and getting up. Now it looks like, He's down for the count!

But oh my God. It looks like He's praying.

The grass is so soft and inattentive.

There's a bright Lily that's smiling amid, this mysterious and dark garden.

The wind is blowing with a silent ease.

But Oh, My God!

Peter, James and John are sleeping.

I can't believe my eyes. How could they? How could we? Everything seems so still.

The clouds are hesitant to move.

The lake is listening. The cricket is hushed.

Even, the frog has stopped croaking. The grass is prostrated. The olive trees are bowed before our bowed Lord. The stars are waiting to blink. They are on edge! They can't wait to burst forth.