The Prayer that Strengthens Us

And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” (Luke 22:39-46).

Leaving all the drama and revelation of the upper room, Jesus went, “as was his custom” to one of His favorite sacred places. He went to a place of prayer on the nearby Mount of Olives. What a strong encouragement to disciples in every age to imitate the first disciples by following the Savior to a regular sacred place of prayer. When they arrived, Jesus gave them some significant instruction about prayer. The Holy Spirit inspired Luke to provide even further revelation into a special kind of prayer by giving us a glimpse of the Son’s earnest communication with His Father. Here at a pivotal moment between the last supper and the cross we are given some powerful truth about the prayer that strengthens us.

A primary passion of prayer is sanctification. Prayer provides fortification in the battle against temptation. When Jesus gave the disciples a command to pray, He added a reason… “Pray that you may not enter into temptation”. This command echoed the petition for deliverance from temptation in His earlier teaching about prayer… “And lead us not into temptation” (Luke 11:4). The Son of God came into the same fallen, rebellious, and sin-filled world that you and I live in. He experienced the same temptations we do. He lived in holiness, above and beyond the world’s temptation… “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). The Holy Spirit calls us to imitate Christ’s life of holiness and sanctification… “As he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:15-16). Evidence that we are truly born again maturing disciples is a passionate prayer for grace to overcome temptation and to grow in the Spirit’s work of sanctification… “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life” (Romans 6:22).

A principal purpose of prayer is surrender. The fully human and divine Son of Man and Son of God showed us that while we live here in this temporal world, just like Him, we will experience a constant battle of wills. God is at work in us to transform our selfish will into a Christ honoring and God glorifying will… “It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). This is a spiritual work in the soul that our flesh desperately resists, producing in us a war of wills… “I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members” (Romans 7:22-23). We cannot win this war of wills on our own, but when we choose sides in the daily battles by surrendering to God’s will, Christ who lives in us grants us the victory… “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24-25).

A prominent proof of prayer is steadfastness. Strengthened by an angel, Jesus “rose from prayer” and commanded His overwhelmed and sleeping disciples to “rise and pray”. Earnest and genuine prayers for sanctification and surrender lead to rising levels of steadfast faith because God will do the same for you and I… “Are they (angels) not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14).

As we grow up into Christ, we overcome temptation, surrender our will, and grow in faith as we pray…

The Prayer that Strengthens Us.

It is Enough

And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.” And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough” (Luke 22:35-38).

If we accept that Jesus Christ is sovereign over all of creation… “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:16-17), then we must accept that when He speaks, His words have a broad and deep application. In today’s discourse Jesus speaks about the immediate circumstances of the first disciples, about the time until His return, and about the hidden but vitally important spiritual world. He clearly revealed that His true disciples in every age will be engaged in a fierce battle in both the natural and spiritual realms. As he prepared the first disciples for victory and peace in the tumultuous days ahead, Christ gave assurance to all true disciples that He will meet our every need with the words it is enough.

In Christ, our nothing is enough. Have you ever found yourself in a situation or position where you felt unqualified or unequipped for the task at hand? Maybe you have a new friend or neighbor that you’re trying to witness to, or a new position at work, or you’re feeling called to serve in a new way at church, but you just don’t feel you have what it takes to succeed there. Join the crowd of those whom God has called and used in marvelous ways ever since Biblical times. Look to Him and trust His promise to give you exactly what you need to follow His leading… “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). When God meets the need of a humble but faithful servant, He gets the glory from our success. To our nothing Christ says, “It is enough”.

In Christ, our everything is enough. Here Jesus speaks about the things we do have. Whether we have much or little, when we understand holy stewardship and commit all we have to Christ, He will use it for His glorious purposes. Holy stewardship recognizes that we own nothing, but whatever we have is entrusted to us to be used for God’s holy purposes. The first evidence of holy stewardship is contentment beyond our possessions… “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content” (Philippians 4:11). The evidence of maturing holy stewardship is an increasing revelation of God’s glory in our lives… “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever” (Amen. Romans 11:36). To those who desire to glorify God with all we have Christ says, “It is enough”.

In Christ, God’s Word is enough. In the middle of this discourse Jesus inserted a reminder about His mission. He was soon to be crucified on a hill between two thieves. I believe He was exhorting the disciples to stay focused on God’s Word no matter how tumultuous the world around them became. He was our example. He had no earthly possessions beyond the clothes He wore as He marched diligently toward the cross… “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” (Luke 9:58). But He had the compelling certainty that His Father’s Word would be fulfilled and He knew His Father would bless Him with all He needed to play His special role in God’s plan. He offers Diligent disciples the same promise… “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Luke 11:28). To those who study, trust, and obey His precious Word Christ says, “It is enough”.

As we grow up into Christ, our desire to glorify God intensifies and we know whatever we have, …

It is Enough.

The Frailty of Maturing Faith

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.” (Luke 22:31-34).

I’ve often wondered why the Lord allows us to linger here in this temporal world for so long after we come to faith in Christ. After all, there is a great celebration in heaven every time a repentant sinner trusts in Christ… “Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10). Why aren’t we immediately invited to the party? Instead we labor and struggle to grow in faith and holiness here in this unholy world. As I’ve grown in the faith I’ve learned there are many good reasons why the Lord prolongs our stay here and today the Holy Spirit gives us some revelation into a primary purpose for this earthly life. You see, Jesus did not take the disciples with Him when He returned to His Father, and He lets us linger here on earth too, in order to mature and refine our faith. Heaven is indeed a glorious place and we are being prepared for a unique and fulfilling life and work there… “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). To help growing disciples here in this temporal training camp, Jesus shares three important truths about the frailty of maturing faith.

Maturing faith is the target of Satan’s persecution. He is the relentless adversary of all who desire to grow in the faith and to grow up into Christ… “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ” (Ephesians 4:15). The life of maturing discipleship is all about becoming more like Christ… “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40). Nothing infuriates the devil more than a bunch of growing, Christ-reflecting disciples, advancing the kingdom of God, and he releases his full fury against us as our faith matures. But we are not deterred because we know Jesus Christ has defeated the devil… “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). The attacks of the adversary are turned back on him by Christ, the defender of maturing faith!

Maturing faith is the victim of fleshly pride. A most obvious sign of growing faith is the Holy Spirit’s strengthening of our spirit as we are conformed to the image of Christ. But our flesh, the natural, world-loving part of our nature resists the spirit’s growing power and control… “For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do” (Galatians 5:17). What are we to do in the midst of this war? Choose sides! We have chosen Christ, now let us choose His holiness and surrender our flesh to the Spirit… “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24). When we put the flesh to death by refusing to feed its unholy desires, Christ gives us victory over it… “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57). We grow in holiness through Christ’s victory over our fleshly pride.

Maturing faith is the motivation of Christ’s prayers. The truth that Jesus prays is an astounding revelation! The Son prays (Greek: deomai – begs, beseeches, petitions) the Father on behalf of maturing disciples like Peter, like you, and like me! When I consider everything else that Christ is constantly doing, I am amazed that when I exercise my puny but growing faith, He is moved to pray for me. When we are tested by the soul-sifting trials of this life, it is our faith that is refined and strengthened… “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:6-7). Jesus prays for us because He desires that even our weak but growing faith may bring glory to His father.

As we grow up into Christ, His precious grace provokes and preserves our growth despite…

The Frailty of Maturing Faith.

The Heart of Servant Leadership

A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves. You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Luke 22:24-30).

I have become more convinced through the years that the simplest yet most profound definition of discipleship is becoming more like Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit offers this definition through the pen of the Apostle Paul… “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). In today’s scripture, we observe the very natural reaction of the disciples to Christ’s discussion of the coming kingdom of God. Their immediate thoughts turned to how they will rank in position and power in the kingdom. They missed the point about how Christ’s supremacy in the kingdom would be established through humility and sacrifice. Jesus promised the disciples that they would indeed inherit important positions of authority and judgment in the kingdom, but He discerned and used the immature and selfish condition of their hearts to show them that the requirement for government in God’s kingdom is the heart of servant leadership.

The servant leader provides for others first. This is not the first time we hear the sentiment of Jesus’ words… “But I am among you as the one who serves”. Jesus was prompting them to recall what He had declared to them in the midst of the ministry and in response to a similar discussion between James and John… “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). He had most recently illustrated this lesson earlier in this evening by humbling Himself and washing their feet right here at this very table. Jesus had punctuated the lesson with the command to imitate His servant leader’s heart… “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14). As we mature in the faith, selfishness is replaced by compassion and we become a clearer reflection of our Master’s heart of servant leadership.

The servant leader promotes loyalty through trials. Listen again closely to His words… “You are those who have stayed with me in my trials”. The emphasis is on “stayed with me”. In light of the foolish concern about power and position in the coming kingdom, Christ called the disciples back to a fresh commitment to Him. Even the most determined disciples are vulnerable to subtly losing our focus. Sometimes we get our hearts connected to people, places, or things other than Jesus Christ Himself. Many of us go to a particular church or serve in a particular ministry out of love for a pastor, ministry leader, or sometimes even out of love for our position in that place. When such love replaces our love for Jesus Christ we become vulnerable to the relentless subversions of our adversary and we lose our effectiveness as growing, participating disciples. Jesus warned us to make Him the priority of our heart through the words He spoke to Simon Peter after His resurrection… “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” (John 21:15). As we grow in the faith our commitment to Christ is strengthened through our trials.

The servant leader prepares for service in heaven. Jesus was always focused beyond the present temporal world and on the future kingdom of God. In this discussion with His disciples He promised that steadfast imitation of His servant leadership would prepare them for leadership with Him in the kingdom. He repeated this promise in His letter to the Church in Laodicea… “The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne” (Revelation 3:21). As we advance in the faith we are being prepared for heavenly leadership.

As we grow up into Christ, we attract and inspire others to follow Him as we increasingly reflect…

The Heart of Servant Leadership.

The Heart of Christ for the Betrayer

“But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this (Luke 22:21-23).

There is much truth here related to the sovereignty of God and the free will of man. Christ was on a predetermined path toward the cross and the path from this intimate Passover meal toward Calvary went straight through the heart of one of His very own disciples. While many have wrestled with the mysterious relationship between our free will and the absolute sovereignty of God that is raised here by the words of Christ… “the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed”, only Jesus Christ fully understood the depth of the matter and the heart of the conspirator. At this table that He has so carefully prepared, in the place of deep theological instruction, Jesus gives precious insight into the heart of Christ for the betrayer.

The betrayer was in close fellowship with Christ. Judas was one of the twelve. He was a hearer of the authoritative words of Christ. He was a witness to the miracle working power of Christ. He was most recently a partaker of the signs of the body and blood of Christ. However, his submission to the will of the devil and the conspiracies of Christ’s enemies were clear evidence that while he had close fellowship with Christ, Judas had no genuine faith in Christ. Faith makes all the difference in whether we receive the benefits of fellowship with Jesus. The promises of Christ’s word are unlocked by faith… “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life” (John 5:24). The power of Christ is released through faith… “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12). True communion with Christ, even at His table, is experienced via faith… “’It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.’ (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.)” (John 6:63-64). Making hunger for genuine intimacy with Christ our priority will deepen our faith.

The betrayer was in the core of the plan of Christ. Jesus revealed here that He knew where He was going and by whose hand He would be led. To our natural sight there were many hands leading Christ to the cross. There were Roman hands and Jewish hands. There were politically powerful hands and there were poor inconspicuous hands. Then there was the hand of the betrayer that sat with Him at His table. Christ’s familiarity with the plan for this day was revealed in God’s Word… “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me” (Psalm 41:9). But through it all Jesus knew He was in the perfect will of God and in the hand of His Sovereign Father… “Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand” (Isaiah 53:10). Remembering the sovereign, providential had of God in our trials will mature our faith.

The betrayer was in the compassionate heart of Christ. Despite His awareness and full control over the events and people that led Him to the cross, Christ was troubled deep in His spirit… “After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me’” (John 13:21). He washed the feet of His betrayer… “’The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.’ For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, ‘Not all of you are clean’” (John 13:10-11). Even as He was betrayed by a kiss, Jesus called Judas His friend… “’Friend, do what you came to do.’ Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him’” (Matthew 26:50). Holding onto the unconditional love of Christ in the most difficult relationships will refine our faith.

As we grow up into Christ, our faith in Him grows as we study and imitate…

The Heart of Christ for the Betrayer.