INTRODUCTION
• SLIDE #1
• Today we are rewinding our Bible DVR’s a little bit further as we get ready to examine the scene of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane.
• Last week Jerry explored the arrest of Jesus, this week we are going to look at how Jesus spent his final moments preparing for the arrest and subsequent trials, beatings, and crucifixion.
• We too are in the midst of spiritual warfare each day.
• Each day the enemy tries to chip away at our faith. Our enemy is smart, he does not try to take us down with one fatal shot (although there are times when he will try), but rather Satan will try to slowly chip away at our faith and confidence in God.
• When we send our soldiers into battle or into hotspots of where potential engagements can happen, we send them in prepared.
• How do you prepare for those spiritual battles we are engaged in each day? Do we try to ignore them and hope they go away?
• Are there things we can do in order to help us to be victorious?
• Jesus was getting ready to face the spiritual and physical battle of His life. How did Jesus prepare for this battle?
• In the scene we will examine today we can find a couple of principles from Jesus’ time in the garden that can be helpful to us as we engage in the spiritual warfare we face.
• Let us begin our journey this morning by turning to Matthew 26. We will begin in verses 36-38
• SLIDE #2
• Matthew 26:36–38 (ESV) 36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.”
• We first learn from Jesus that in preparing for spiritual warfare…
• SLIDE #3
SERMON
I. Do not prepare for battle alone.
• Jesus is closing in on the most stressful time in His ministry. There have been other stress points, there have been many other battles with the enemy, but none like the one Jesus was about to be engaged in.
• Jesus is facing a HIGH stress, HIGH pressure battle.
• The place where Jesus retreats to, the garden of Gethsemane was an interesting place to retreat to.
• The word GETHSEMANE means- ‘Place of olive presses.” The way you get olive oil out of olives during Jesus day was by pressure. As the press squished the olives, the oil would come out.
• Jesus is going face difficult pressures this evening.
• Luke tells us in Luke 22:44
• SLIDE #4
• Luke 22:44 (ESV) And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
• Jesus was in such agony that he was sweating large drops of blood. That is a lot of pressure.
• Some would ask why He was stressing so much since He was the Son of God. Well, He became human at the incarnation (or when He was born) so He knew what He going to suffer was going to HURT, it was going to be a horrific experience.
• Well, what do many people do when they are about to face something difficult, or when they are stressing over stuff?
• Many will cut people off, they will deal with it alone, but notice what Jesus does here.
• By this time His circle is down to 11 since Judas did his thing.
• Jesus asked 7 of the disciples to wait for Him, but He took His inner circle, Peter, James, and John with Him to go pray.
• Matthew tells us Jesus state of mind was sorrowful and troubled. When Jesus was hurting and stressed, when He was about to face the most epic spiritual battle of His life, He took some close friends with Him to support Him during His time of preparation.
• He really needs some support, He needs these close friemnd
• In verse 38 Jesus says, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.”
• Jesus takes these men with Him not just for His benefit, but for theirs. They would need to know the importance of being there for one another during difficult times.
• This is part of why we come together.
• SLIDE #5
• Hebrews 10:24–25 (ESV) And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
• When we face tough times, we need one another!
• There is another point to be gleaned from this passage.
• Notice that Jesus does not HIDE what is going on inside of Him.
• Jesus is close to dying from a broken heart from the depth of His pain.
• Jesus does not tell His closest friends to pray for some unspoken prayer issue. He lays it one the line, here is the SON OF GOD not being afraid to share what is going on in the depths of His soul.
• He is not thinking, THESE GUYS WILL LOOK DOWN AT ME IF I SHARE MY HEART WITH THEM.
• I do not want to sound harsh here, but if you are going to ask for prayer, find folks you trust and tell them what you need prayer for.
• Jesus was not concerned about what His inner circle would think if He shared His heart with them.
• When you are getting ready to face spiritual warfare, do not go into battle alone.
• Let’s turn to verses 39-44
• SLIDE #6
• Matthew 26:39–44 (ESV) 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again.
• SLIDE #7
• Friends are not the only thing we need when we prepare for spiritual warfare.
II. Do not neglect your most powerful weapon.
• Once Jesus shares His heart with His inner circle, He goes about 100-150 feet (a stones throw) away from the 3 according to Luke in Luke 22:41.
• When Jesus separates from the group, He goes off to spend time in prayer.
• For Jesus prayer was central to all He did. I wonder if we could learn something from that?
• The Son of God, believes prayer is so important that He actually does it! Sometimes I need to remember that!
• We also see some things concerning prayer as we see this scene unfold.
• When Jesus goes to pray, it is a serious matter. Jesus does not do a 20 second prayer and cap it off by saying IN MY NAME I PRAY, AMEN
• Jesus falls on His face praying to God. Jesus is passionate about His prayer to the Father. This is no ho hum exercise, it is serious.
• Jesus does not use generic, bland, mindless phrases, He, as He did with His inner circle, opens His heart up to God.
• He does not hide His feelings; His human side is asking God if there is another way other than the cross in which to save mankind. Jesus gets right to the point; He boldly and unashamedly lays out His request before the Father!
• Jesus pours His heart out to God.
• Jesus also in doing so is not defiant. God do this or ELSE! Jesus caps off verse 39 by saying, “nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
• Jesus goes back the three, what does He find, PRAYER WARRIORS! NO THEY AR SLEEPING! They were so tired and stressed from the events up to this point, they fell asleep.
• Now, I always found it interesting that their Lord is hurting and they fall asleep.
• You would think they would be concerned more for Jesus.
• Jesus has a conversation that is directed at Peter.
• ” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
• Peter is going to be facing a long night also. Jesus has already told Him earlier in the night that Peter would deny Jesus three times.
• Jesus is telling Peter that he needed to spend some serious time in prayer so that he would endure.
• Jesus knows that in order for these men not to be swept up in the events that are to follow that they would need to be strong.
• Jesus knows the vulnerability of his disciples as indicated by the spirit/flesh contrast. He knows they are willing but Jesus knows the flesh is weak also.
• The flesh is weak in that it is inclined toward its own needs and earthly concerns. An example would be the disciples’ yielding to the flesh by falling asleep. It is important that the disciples learn to give priority to the spirit, which is inclined toward the will of God. College Press NIV Commentary, The - The College Press NIV Commentary – Matthew.
• Without prayerful dependence on God and continual spiritual watchfulness, the flesh would win at the first moment of weakness.
• We also see the issue of persistence with prayer.
• Jesus goes back into prayer for a second time.
• SLIDE #8
• 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”
• Notice Jesus lays the same request to the Lord.
• 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again.
• Jesus asks the same request for a third time.
• This shows us that we are not feel bad for asking over and over. Jesus does, but yet no matter the answer, Jesus was going to follow God’s will!
• Let’s conclude with verses 45-46
• SLIDE #9
• Matthew 26:45–46 (ESV) 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”
• SLIDE #10
III. Be willing to boldly enter the battle.
• Jesus was refreshed by God. Luke tells us in Luke 22:43.
• SLIDE #11
• Luke 22:43 (ESV) And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.
• Jesus knew it was time; He was ready to do battle.
• It is one thing to be surrounded by friends, to spend time in prayer, you have to be ready to do battle, you have to be willing in enter into the fray.
• You will not fight or win battles that you fear. WE have to know that when the LORD is with us, we will be victorious.
• Jesus is strengthened and now He is ready.
• Jesus does not run from what He is about to face, He boldly walks right into the battle.
• When God is for you, who can be against you!
CONCLUSION
• WE all are engaged in spiritual warfare, the question is, are you prepared?
• Jesus was facing the biggest battle in His life. He prepared with friends, He used the most powerful weapon in His arsenal, prayer, and then He was ready to boldly go into battle!
• Next week we will conclude our Rewind series with the high point of the final week of Jesus life.
