Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Watch and Pray
Matthew 26:36-46
Watch and Prayer
Matthew 26:36-46
MT 26:36 Then Jesus went with his disciples
to a place called Gethsemane, and he said
to them, "Sit here while I go over there and
pray." 37 He took Peter and the two sons of
Zebedee along with him, and he began to be
sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to
them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow
to the point of death. Stay here and keep
watch with me.
Watch and Prayer
Matthew 26:36-46
MT 26:39 Going a little farther, he fell with
his face to the ground and prayed, "My
Father, if it is possible, may this cup be
taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you
will." MT 26:40 Then he returned to his
disciples and found them sleeping. "Could
you men not keep watch with me for one
hour?" he asked Peter.
Watch and Prayer
Matthew 26:36-46
41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall
into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the
body is weak." MT 26:42 He went away a
second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is
not possible for this cup to be taken away
unless I drink it, may your will be done." MT
26:43 When he came back, he again found
them sleeping, because their eyes were
heavy.
Watch and Prayer
Matthew 26:36-46
44 So he left them and went away once
more and prayed the third time, saying the
same thing. MT 26:45 Then he returned to
the disciples and said to them, "Are you still
sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near,
and the Son of Man is betrayed into the
hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us go! Here
comes my betrayer!"
Watch and Prayer
Matthew 26:36-46
• In our Christian tradition, a lot crisis point:
• When God called to Moses from a burning
bush in Genesis 3 and after many excuses,
Moses decided to obey God to go to confront
the Pharaoh and win freedom for the
Hebrews people and changed the ancient
religious world.
When Faced with a
Crisis
• It involves agonising decision making.
• Their decision and the price they have to pay
in terms of their personal sacrifices.
• These among many other crisis points
changed the world as we know it.
• The most important crisis point in human
history occurred in the Garden of
Gethsemane in the text we shall study today.
We are not yet in Lent.
Matthew 26:36) Then Jesus went with his
disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and
he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there
and pray.“
1. Three years’ ministry is coming to an end.
2. Jesus has come to fulfil his mission.
3. Ultimate Passover Lamb
(Matthew 26:37-38) He took Peter and the two sons of
Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful
and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, "My soul is
overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here
and keep watch with me.“
1.Jesus asks his disciples to keep watch with
him.
2.Why is Jesus sorrowful and troubled?
3.Isaiah describe the Messiah to be a “man of
sorrows and acquainted with grief.’ (Isa.
53:3).
(Matthew 26:37-38) He took Peter and the two sons of
Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful
and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, "My soul is
overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here
and keep watch with me.“
1.Jesus asks his disciples to keep watch with
him.
2.Why is Jesus sorrowful and troubled?
3.Isaiah describe the Messiah to be a “man of
sorrows and acquainted with grief.’ (Isa.
53:3).
(Matthew 26:39) Verse 26:39 Going a little farther, he fell
with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is
possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will,
but as you will."
1.Jesus says “My Father” 53:3).
2.‘This cup’ is a metaphor for suffering and
death that he was soon to face.
3. The struggle is between ‘I will’ and ‘you
[God’s] will’.
(Matthew 26:39) Verse 26:39 Going a little farther, he fell
with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is
possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will,
but as you will."
1.Jesus says “My Father.”
2.‘This cup’ is a metaphor for suffering and
death that he was soon to face.
3. The struggle is between ‘I will’ and ‘you
[God’s] will’.
(Matthew 26:40-41) Then he returned to his disciples and
found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with
me for one hour?" he asked Peter. 41 "Watch and pray so
that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but
the body is weak."
1. The disciples were sleeping.
2. They have betrayed Jesus because
instead of watching, they are sleeping.
(Matthew 26:40-41) Then he returned to his disciples and
found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with
me for one hour?" he asked Peter. 41 "Watch and pray so
that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but
the body is weak."
1. The disciples were sleeping.
2. They have betrayed Jesus because
instead of watching, they are sleeping.
3. How do you resist temptations?
(Matthew 26:42) He went away a second time and
prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be
taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."
•Compare Jesus’ first and second prayer:
•Verse 39: "My Father, if it is possible, may
this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but
as you will.“
•Verse 42: "My Father, if it is not possible for
this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may
your will be done."
(Matthew 26:42) When he came back, he again found
them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he
left them and went away once more and prayed the third
time, saying the same thing.
1. The disciples were still sleeping.
2. Jesus has stopped rebuking them.
3. He prayed again the third time
(Matthew 26:43-44) When he came back, he again found
them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he
left them and went away once more and prayed the third
time, saying the same thing.
1. The disciples were still sleeping.
2. Jesus has stopped rebuking them.
3. He prayed again the third time
(Matthew 26:45) Then he returned to the disciples and
said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look,
the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the
hands of sinners.
• The disciples are still ‘sleeping and resting.’
Jesus again did not rebuke them.
•John Calvin has this to say: So far I have
wasted my words on you, I shall cease
urging you. But however much I may let you
sleep, the enemy will not allow it you, but will
force you to watch against your will
(Institutes III, p.155).
(Matthew 26:45) Then he returned to the disciples and
said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look,
the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the
hands of sinners.
1. In the desert, Jesus uses Scripture to
counter the temptations of Satan.
2. In Gethsemane, Jesus uses his mind in
decision making and prayer.
3. Jesus made a conscious choice to be
submissive to his father’s will.
•(Matthew 26:46) Rise! Let us go! Here comes my
betrayer!’
1. Spiritual Warfare is Still Ongoing
2. We are to be Watchful
3. We are to Watch and Pray
(Matthew 26:41) 41 "Watch and pray so that
you will not fall into temptation. The spirit
is willing, but the body is weak."
1. A motto, synonymous with slogan, is a
phrase selected to provide an identify for
a church.
(Matthew 26:41) 41 "Watch and pray so that
you will not fall into temptation. The spirit
is willing, but the body is weak."
1. A motto, synonymous with slogan, is a
phrase selected to provide an identify for
a church.
(Matthew 26:41) 41 "Watch and pray so that
you will not fall into temptation. The spirit
is willing, but the body is weak."
1. A motto, synonymous with slogan, is a
phrase selected to provide an identify for
a church.
1. SPIRITUAL WARFARE IS STILL
ONGOING
a. What we allow into our minds
•Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever
is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable--if anything is
excellent or praiseworthy--think about such
things.
1. SPIRITUAL WARFARE IS STILL
ONGOING
b. What we feed our minds:
One is evil: anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed,
arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment,
inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and
ego."
1. SPIRITUAL WARFARE IS STILL
ONGOING
b. What we feed our minds:
Other is good: joy, peace, love, hope, serenity,
humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy,
generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.
2. WE ARE TO BE WATCHFUL
1. To be watchful means to know the will of
God.
2. Watch with Friends
3. Make the right decisions
2. WE ARE TO BE WATCHFUL
1. To be watchful means to know the will of
God.
2. Watch with Friends
3. Make the right decisions
2. WE ARE TO BE WATCHFUL
3. Make the right decisions:
• Baptism
• Membership
2. WE ARE TO BE WATCHFUL
3. Make the right decisions:
• Baptism
• Membership
• Intercessor
2. WE ARE TO BE WATCHFUL
3. Make the right decisions:
• Baptism
• Membership
• Intercessor
3. WE ARE TO WATCH AND PRAY
a. We are weak
• The ‘spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.’
b. We are strong only through prayers
• Jesus shows us how he drew strength
through prayers.
WATCH AND PRAY
a. Watch Sins in your Life and Church
b. Resist Temptation
c. Prayerlessness
d. Pride
e. Corporate Prayer
f. What is missing in our church
g. Discouragement
Application:
How do I prepare for
sin’s coming?
1. Pursue the Lord actively.
2. Learn the truth thoroughly.
3. Confess known sin immediately.
• Romans 15:4 “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
• 1 Corinthians 10:6 “Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.”
• 1 Corinthians 10:11 “These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.”
Application:
How do I prepare for
sin’s coming?
Mark 14:39 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
Application:
How do I prepare for
sin’s coming?
• Re-route!
• Run!
• Realize the essential nature of
discipline!
• Recognize the enemy!
Application:
How do I deal with
external temptation
• Believe that God has given you the resources to conquer lust.
• Learn to recognize your cycles of strength and weakness.
• Commit yourself to close friends in an accountability relationship.
• Appreciate and engage in activities and things that will accomplish positive things.
Application:
How do I deal with my
fleshly lust?
Principles from
these verses:
• Be alert and watchful, because he will attack.
• Understand his schemes, because he’ll try to outwit you.
• Stand firm, because you need to face your true enemy.
• Stand firm, because you will encourage your brothers in the faith.
Watch
and
Pray in 2015
The future begins now!
