IN THE HOUR OF EXCEEDING SORROW

 

IN THE HOUR OF EXCEEDING SORROW

MATTHEW 26:30-38

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

This hour was one of extreme physical turmoil. Then and there while facing more. This hour was one of emotional turmoil. Jesus knew of the impending betrayal. Though they had said otherwise Jesus knew of the upcoming desertion. This hour was one of spiritual turmoil. The Holy, harmless, Son of God was about to be made sin for us. He was about to take on not just the sins of the elect, but the sins of the whole world. And the greatest sorrow of all, as He became sin, suffered our Hell, He had to be forsaken of the Father.

So what do we learn from Jesus to do in the hour of exceeding sorrow?

 

I. PETITION

1. Enlist Others [v. 36, 38, 40-41]

2. Pray Earnestly & Often [v. 36, 39, 42, 44]

3. Engage Honestly [v. 39, 42, 44]

 

II. SUBMISSION

1. Pray with an Open Heart [v. 39]

2. Pray with an Open Mind [v. 39]

3. Pray with an Open Will [v. 42, Heb. 5:7, Lk. 22:42-44]

- Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

- Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. 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.

 

III. REALIZATION

1. Realize the Power of Watching in Prayer [v. 36, 40-41, Col. 4:2]

Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.

2. Realize the Spirit is Willing [v. 41, Rm. 7:22]

For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

3. Realize the Flesh is Weak – hence the need for prayer

[v. 41, Rm. 7:23-25]

But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin