A Call to Prayer
THE PRAYER OF JESUS IN THE
GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE
Text: Matthew 26:36-54
What prayer is NOT
1. It is not a “wishing well.
2. It is not a means to manipulate God.
Footnotes:
Genesis 20:17 “Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maids, so that they bore children.” Genesis 25:21 “Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord answered him and Rebekah his wife conceived.” Numbers 11:2 “The people therefore cried out to Moses, and Moses prayed to the Lord and the fire died out.” 2 Kings 6:17 “Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” 2 Chronicles 33:13 “When he prayed to Him, He was moved by his entreaty and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.”
God does answer Prayer: But not always the way we desire. It is not about getting God onto our agenda. But it is a time for us to have God lay His agenda on our heart.
James 4:3 “You ask and do not receive, because you ask with the wrong motives,”
What prayer changes.
1. Prayer is talking honestly to God
2. Prayer is relational communication
PRAYER CHANGES US!
Footnotes:
Jesus Prayer in the Garden:
Matthew 26: 36-54 v. 37-38 “And He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with Him, and began to be grieved and distressed. Then He *said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.” v.39 “And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” v. 42 “He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass away unless I drink from it, Your will be done.” v. 44 And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. PRAYER CHANGES US! v. 52-54 “Then Jesus *said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?
”
The Cry of the Heart
1. The Cry of Confession
2. The Cry of Repentance
3. The Cry for Restoration
4. The Cry of Submission
Footnotes:
Psalm 66:18 “If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear;” Proverbs 1:28-29 “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently but will not find me, because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord.” Proverbs 28:9 “One who turns his ear away from listening to the Law, even his prayer is an abomination.” see Isaiah 1:10-17 CONFESSION Psalm 32:5 “I acknowledged my sin to You, and I did not hide my guilt; I said, “I will confess my wrongdoings to the Lord”; And You forgave the guilt of my sin.” James 5:16 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. A prayer of a righteous person, when it is brought about, can accomplish much.” REPENTANCE Jeremiah 15:7 “I will winnow them with a winnowing fork At the gates of the land; I will bereave them of children, I will destroy My people; They did not repent of their ways. Acts 3:19 “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;” RESTORATION Job 33:26-30 “Then he will pray to God, and He will accept him, sSo that he may see His face with joy, And He will restore His righteousness to that person. He will sing to people and say, ‘I have sinned and perverted what is right,and it is not proper for me. He has redeemed my soul from going to the pit, and my life will see the light. “Behold, God does all these things for a man two or three times, To bring back his soul from the pit,so that he may be enlightened with the light of life.” Psalm 23: The Lord is my shepherd, I will not be in need.2 He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside]quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the]paths of righteousness For the sake of His name.” SUBMISSION James 4:7 “Submit therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Luke 22:42 “saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done”
WHAT IS ON THE HEART OF GOD…
1. His Heart for His people
2. His Heart for Our Churc
3. His Heart for You
Footnotes:
Jeremiah 17:23-24 “But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you shall walk entirely in the way which I command you, so that it may go well for you.’ Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked by their own advice and in the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and they went backward and not forward.” 1 Chronicles 16 & Psalm 105 - Verses 8-15 “Give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; Make His deeds known among the peoples. Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; speak of all His wonders. Boast in His holy name; Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be joyful. Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face continually. Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done, His marvels and the judgments from His mouth, you descendants of Israel His servant, Sons of Jacob, His chosen ones He is the Lord our God; His judgments are in all the earth. Remembe His covenant forever,” Isaiah 55:6 “Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near.” Hosea 10:12 “Sow for yourselves, with a view to righteousness; Harvest in accordance with kindness. Break up your uncultivated ground, for it is time to seek the Lord Until He comes and rains righteousness on you.” 2 Chronicles 15: 12-13 “They entered into the covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and soul; and whoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel was to be put to death, whether small or great, man or woman.”
Jesus had His prayer request, but He sought to lign Himself with the Father’s agenda. He came to the garden troubled “to death” He left resolute to face the path set before Him by the Father who loved Him.
We need to seek to know what is on the heart of God for His people, His church, and for ourselves.
Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.”
When He is our delight, and our desire. We will pray to know Him, and make Him known, and He will hear and answer.
When we face difficulties and trials, if we pray, ”God, show me how I can honor You, and make you known in these circumstances, be assured He will hear and answer.”
When all we pray for is an easier life, greater comforts, better health, we are praying with selfish and fleshly desires.
If we delight to make Him known in every circumstance, He will equip us with His Spirit to comfort us and strengthen us to persevere.
What is on God’s heart for you today?
One thing is certain, I believe He wants to meet with you in times of prayer.
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