Right Before...

Right Before...

Are you connected to the source? Let me pray for us. “-Lord, help us to stay away from temptation and close to you, so we can do your will in Jesus name, amen.”

Lent is meant to be a time of repentance. Lent occurs 40 days right before the miracle.

Common day duties are set aside to praise and worship the Lord; to read the Bible more, and to pray more often. Christians who observe Lent correctly anticipate deeper intimacy with the Lord. (Christianity Today article)

Luke 22:39-46NIV Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 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.

Stop for a moment, An angel visited Jesus and stayed... Remember the temptation at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry?

Luke 22:44-46NIV And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

Right before Jesus would be Falsely accused, laughed to scorn, Right Before, Jesus was Arrested, Right Before, A Mock Trail, Right Before, Jesus was Beaten and left at the fringe of death. Right before, Jesus was nailed to the cross, Right Before, one criminal believed and Jesus replied to him, “This day you will be with Me in heaven.” Right Before Jesus died a murders’ death, Right before, Jesus was resurrected, Right before, Jesus gave us some final commands, Go! If you ‘go’, My peace will be with you.” Right before, Jesus ascended. The angel told these men from Galilee stop gazing, go! Acts 1:11.

Right before all that, Jesus surrendered His will to His Father.

Please note: “I believe it was at this time, (at Gethsemane garden), this prayer moment that Jesus received His assignment in full.” PH

As you walk and fellowship with God daily there will be pivotal moments.

(CECC sign on i75, AWANA, Our Worship, Our full surrender. Our Growth.

Once again Jesus found Himself in the Garden of Gethsemane. (Oil Press).

Jesus found himself in solitude over and over again because He was totally dependent on his Father!

At his baptism, (Luke 3:21).

Regularly He would withdrawal from the crowds, (Luke 5:16).

After healing people in the evening, (Mark 1:35).

Before walking on water (Matt 14:23, Mark 6:46, John 6:15).

Before choosing the Twelve (Luke 6:12).

Before Peter's confession (Luke 9:18).

-Jesus knows how to make you right! This Mount of Olives/Garden of Gethsemane experience, would change the trajectory of mankind forever.

It was at Gethsemane, that Jesus chose our wrongs, so we may be made right. 2 Corinthians 5:21 Jesus became sin for our behalf! P.H

It was at Gethsemane, (Oil press) that Jesus made a powerful declaration.

Luke 22:42 “Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done!”

This piece of history, this giving up of a will is written in todays text, Luke 22. Moreover, this famous document is also written by Marks gospel, Mark 14, Matthew 26, and John 18.

“This Gethsemane experience, this dying and letting go, produced harvest!” P.H

Remember this, you can never hold on, and be the blessing God created you to be. -You got to let go.” P.H

After the death, Say, “After the death.” After Jesus’ death to self, in Gethsemane, I believe He saw the entire picture. Jesus knew what had to be done. -After Jesus’ physical death, His disciples begin to reflect, to remember, -they finally got it!

John Jesus’ beloved writes in, John 15:5KJV I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

John 15, is all about staying connected to the source. Furthermore, in John 15, Jesus teaches a simple truth.

As you stay connected, you will bear more fruit, you will love without reservation, and you will grow forward. In fact, John 15, is really about loving like Jesus loved! P.H

Many of us fear aging with all the trouble it brings… But when you are gradually stripped of everything that props us up – whether wealth, independence, health, dignity, beauty, or all of the above – remember this, ‘we are left with more, and more of God!’

Doctor Joseph Stowell states, “So no matter how old you are, it's not too late to dig deep in God's word, and invest more and more time in your spiritual well-being. You'll see the payoffs, now, and later. The older, you get, the better you can become!