Luke 22:39-46 “Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”
What I love about this scripture is Jesus’ direct command regarding prayer and temptation. Yes, Jesus was tempted. Specifically we see this played out 3 times in the gospels (Matthew 4:1-11). From temples to mountaintops, Jesus did not bow down to the Enemy. A test that the Holy Spirit was willing to provide knowing that He would follow His Father’s will regardless of the circumstance. And ultimately, in Luke 22 (above) Jesus was modeling for us in this, His darkest hour, His greatest moment of temptation. He states it perfectly in verse 42 – Father, I don’t want to do this. Please take this from me. But if you choose not to, I will still do what is asked of me.
The agony of what was before him, caused Jesus so much anxiety, that the capillaries in his skin burst and drops of blood fell from the pores in his face. It was for this purpose that Jesus came to earth and He was absolutely resolute to complete it. As much as He dreaded what was before him, He persevered no matter what the cost. He surrendered His will and chose to endure to the end, what His loving Father in heaven had determined from the beginning of time.
Not only was He adamant about praying for Himself, but He wanted the disciples to understand the importance of prayer concerning their temptation. In Matthew 26:31, Jesus tells his disciples, "Tonight all of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, 'God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.” Jesus knew the outcome of this moment would cause his disciples to flee. He knew that they needed to be praying just as fervently as He was. Temptation was on the rise and was about to cover each of them more greatly then they had ever been exposed in their past.
In verse 46, Jesus tells us directly, “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” We can only imagine how the enemy is going to tempt us while in the wilderness of Zambia. We are entering a spiritual war when we choose to cross these borders and he will do everything in his power to bring animosity among team members. How he chooses to do this comes in many different forms. Years past have included generators and projectors breaking down, well water corroded with sand, trucks getting stuck in the mud, or digging barash for the orphanage floor until your hands bleed. Exhaustion, stomach aches from unusual food or rashes and cold sores from allergies you never knew you had. The enemy is working. There are many things that he will do to test you because with these occurrences and break downs, ultimately hostility rises among team members. And the temptation begins… temptation that could ultimately hurt you in what you say or do to other team members, our host missionaries or the Tonga people.
My dear disciples, you too are told to “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” And you are told to do this before it happens! So let us keep these words close to our heart and begin praying today!
Father, just as you told us to pray in Matthew 6:13, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” That we may be the salt of the earth. That we may be his witnesses in this, the world's darkest hour. That we may face adversity with courage and boldness because we know to whom we belong. We have determined in our hearts that obedience is our only option, no matter what it may cost us so that the words "Lord, you are worthy of my all" may keep us from the hour of temptation. When our natural man cries out in fear, the Spirit within us will rise up and give us the victory in Jesus name. That we may hear "Well done good and faithful servant!" to the glory of our Lord who loves us – who tasted death so that we would not, so that we could be with him forever without end.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
I would like to thank Steve Rainwater for contributing to this week’s devotional! Thanks Steve!
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