“THE VALUE OF PRAYER”
By: Dr. Dennis Deese - www.dennisdeese.com
JOHN 18:1-11
James 5:16 Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what [is] the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to [the will of] God.
It is interesting to note that the arrest took place in a garden. Christ, the Last Adam (1 Cor. 15:45), met the enemy in a garden and triumphed, while the first Adam met the enemy in a garden and failed. Adam hid himself, but Christ openly revealed Himself. Wiersbe, W. W. (1992). Wiersbe’s expository outlines on the New Testament (Jn 18:1). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
God the Father and God the Son were both betrayed in a garden!
What are the valuable lessons learned from Jesus about prayer?
I. Prayer PREPARES 18:1
A. Undeniable 18:4 avoidable (Those things we must face in life)
When it is too late to pray 17:3 “a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh”
2. Unreasonable 18:5 “Judas also, who betrayed him, stood with them.(His friend)
Mk 14:50 And they all forsook him, and fled
3. Unknown 18:10 “Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear.” (The disciples weren’t prepared)
Temptation - Peter wasn’t prepared. He didn’t know what to do.
II. Prayer PROVIDES 18:4 “Jesus...went forth”
A. Acceptance 18:4 “Jesus knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth”
to endure (of our circumstances & God’s will) Jesus accepted God’s will not Satan’s way. We can’t change our situation, but we can be changed.
2. Ability - 18:4 “Jesus...went forth” (to handle, to cope) the sin of the world on His shoulders.
1. Satan in Judas
John 13:27 And after the sop Satan entered into him (Judas). Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
2. The mob 18:3
Matthew 26:47 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.
More than 500 men - The Roman way was not to fight battles with evenly matched forces, but to crush enemies with overwhelmingly superior numbers when possible. Even if they expect to find a few dozen men with Jesus, this apparent overkill is not out of character for the first-century Romans
3. Desertion 18:8 “let these go their way”
3. Achievement (This is how you carry out, marriage, finish what God has called you to do. Etc.)
III. Prayer PROVES - (they came out with clubs expecting a coward)
Jesus stood boldly and faced His circumstances and you can too, when you pray.
1. Faith 18:11
2. Love 18:8 & 11
3. Wisdom 18:11
We know the end of the story. Eternal Victory and that’s true for every person who sees the wisdom of following God in complete obedience no matter what the price. In the end, it will be more than worth it.
2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding [and] eternal weight of glory;
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
