Covenant Relationship #11

Greetings in the name of the Lord! Today we are going to talk about Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Luke 22:39 And he (Jesus) came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.
This scripture is pretty straightforward but the phrase “as he was won’t” got my attention.
Just an FYI: The Old Testament was written in the Hebrew language and the New Testament is in Greek. If you want to know what any particular word means, we have a resource called the Strong’s concordance that helps us better understand the Bible. With that being said, there are many things in the Bible that can’t be interpreted in English the way it is meant to be understood. Also you have to research the culture of the times and it will help you understand in greater detail what is being said.
I researched the word “won’t” (really the whole phrase) and it means that he had a habit of going to the garden to pray.
If Jesus went daily to pray, then how much more should we pray daily. He is our example.
The disciples had followed Him and when he came to certain place He told them to stay and pray. Luke 22:40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.

If we want to walk with Jesus you have to talk to Him daily. How do you pray? It’s really super simple. Just talk to Him. Everyday we need to repent because we are human we make mistakes. Just because we are Christian’s doesn’t make us perfect. We need to repent daily! The Lord’s Prayer in Luke 11:
2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
3 Give us day by day our daily bread.
4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
He gives us a guideline to pray every day to keep us from temptation to sin. He had already taught the disciples to pray so now he wanted them to put it into action because He knew what was about to happen. They would be severely tempted to fight fire with fire.
Luke 22:
41 And he (Jesus) was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
Jesus went further alone and that’s what we need to do. We need to be alone with Jesus. Personal prayer is just that… personal. Find a “closet” to pray. Jesus prayed out loud. How do we know that? Because Luke recorded it in his writings. You may think it’s insignificant but when you pray out loud it moves heaven to respond. When the people in the book of acts received the Holy Spirit the people around them heard them receive it. How did they know this? Because they heard them speak out loud in a heavenly language. Acts 10:45-46. The Holy Spirit uses our tongue because it is unruly James 3:8.
Jesus knew what He was about to endure.He knew the pain and mental anguish that was coming. He even said “Let this cup pass from me” but he knew before the world was formed He was to be the spotless Lamb that would take away the sins of the world. He loved the disciples so much but knew He had to leave them behind for the greater good.

That’s how it is when you are obedient to the will of the Lord. He asks us to take up His cross which isn’t how I want to spend my time. Our human nature is the Burger King way. “Have it your way”. But just like Jesus, even though I know it will cause me embarrassment. Even though it will cost me great pain. Even though tears will be shed and everyone will look at me as if I am a villain. We have to come to the place that Jesus came to and say, “nevertheless not my will but thine be done”! It is for the greater good! Living for the Lord isn’t always easy and Life on earth is short but eternity is literally forever! I want to make heaven my home.
Jesus was in such agony that an angel came to give Him strength for the days to come. Luke 22
43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
It really is a thing that you can be so stressed out that you sweat blood. It is called hematohidrosis. It’s a rare condition in which tiny blood vessels in the sweat glands rupture. The humanity of God (Jesus’ body) was counting the cost and determined you and I are worth it. Jesus made the decision that we are worth saving.

You and I must also count the cost and make a decision. Joshua in the Old Testament made the statement “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!” That’s how I feel! When your mind is made up, nothing can stop you. Luke 22
45 And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,
46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.
It’s easy to go to sleep in the spiritual sense. We get so comfortable in life and forget that we must “watch and pray”. We forget that the enemy of our soul doesn’t want us to succeed. He is destined to spend eternity in eternal damnation and he wants every single person to go with him.

The question was asked of an AI platform called ChatGPT: “If you were the devil what would you do to destroy the minds of the up and coming generation? The answer was “I wouldn’t come with violence, instead I would come with convenience. I would give them everything they wanted. I would strip them of the spiritual things they needed and make them feel connected. I’d make them be alone, endlessly entertained but quietly empty. I’d blur the lines between truth and opinion until nothing meant anything. I’d teach them to chase dopamine and not purpose. To worship self and loathe who they are. I’d destroy them with apathy. I’d keep them distracted. I’d make father’s optional and mother’s exhausted destroying the family. The most brilliant part, is that they wouldn’t even know it was me, they would call it freedom!”

For me this hit way too close to home. I want to be saved but I also want everyone I come in contact with to be saved as well! I feel an urgency in my spirit and I know you do too!

Pray today: Lord call me to a place of prayer with you! Let me open my heart and mind to your will. Teach me to be obedient to your calling. Give me courage to press through my fear and anxiety and climb to the next level you have prepared for me. Let me not look to the right or the left but set my eyes on you not caring what it costs. In Jesus’ precious name I pray! Amen!