My Cup Runneth Over 3
My Cup Runneth Over • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 3 viewsA close week at Jesus' final week and what that means for us.
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Lent Video
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Stand with me as we begin our worship in God’s Word.
Opening Scripture:
129 Your statutes are wonderful; therefore I obey them. 130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. 131 I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands. 132 Turn to me and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name. 133 Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me. 134 Redeem me from human oppression, that I may obey your precepts. 135 Make your face shine on your servant and teach me your decrees. 136 Streams of tears flow from my eyes, for your law is not obeyed.
Prayer
Worship Set
Prayer
Worship Through the Word:
My Cup Runneth Over
My Cup Runneth Over
Anticipation is part of life. Growing up, we anticipate the day we make the high school sports team. Then we anticipate graduation, college, getting married. These anticipations are good things. However, there is the darker side of anticipation. It may be anticipating the outcome of a cancer test. The anticipation of a divorce. Or the struggle as we sit by and watch as loved ones slowly pass away. These are heart rending moments.
It is often easy to be courageous in a moment, but courage tends to fall away as we wait in anticipation of some negative moment. Peter was heroic in the garden when the army showed up to arrest Jesus. He quickly drew his sword and lunged out with no concern for his life. However, standing around a fire in the the middle of night waiting to see what would become of Jesus, his courage waned. He had stood by Jesus when all the others fled for their homes and coward there. But as he stood by waiting and accusations were flung at him of his association with Jesus, he too, betrayed Jesus by denying any association.
In those moments, where do we get the courage to hold to our course and courageously follow the difficult path. This is today’s subject. Please stand as I read our text for today.
39 He went out and made his way as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 When he reached the place, he told them, “Pray that you may not fall into temptation.” 41 Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and began to pray, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me—nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 Then an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him. 44 Being in anguish, he prayed more fervently, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground. 45 When he got up from prayer and came to the disciples, he found them sleeping, exhausted from their grief. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you won’t fall into temptation.”
The Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God!
Father, please bless this Word which you have provided and which we now receive. Amen!
I. Prayer and Obedience, Luke 22:39-46
I. Prayer and Obedience, Luke 22:39-46
Have you ever found yourself in the midst of immense, undeniable grief? I know that many of you have lost spouses, even some very recently. This is probably one of the most profound forms of grief anyone experiences. Next to it may be the announcement that we have cancer, or some other deadly illness. Or it may be like Carlee experienced, a major health issue that profoundly effects the rest of your life. For Jesus, it was the knowledge that suffering lay ahead. If you ever doubted Jesus humanity, this moment should be evidence to you that He was in every way human, and suffered just like we would if tortured.
In today’s passage, Jesus was praying in Gethsemane. This was His normal practice when they were in the area. Judas was aware of Jesus routine and this gave him the means to alert the authorities of where they could find Jesus.
Now, Jesus knew He was about to be handed over to the authorities to be beaten and killed, so he brought His disciples to pray. Although Jesus told them what was going to happen, they didn’t really understand. They could tell Jesus was stressed about something and this was unusual for Him. Jesus stress caused them to feel stress, yet unlike Jesus, they just didn’t fully grasp what was about to occur. They wanted to help, but the only way they knew how was to brush the matter off as not really something that would occur. However, when they did so, it just made matters worse. It grew a greater sense of distance between them and Jesus, because Jesus knew something they did not know and could not understand. Jesus had spoken clearly, but they were in denial because what He said was so foreign to what they had expected. Surely Jesus miss understood. Hopefully this night would end and Jesus would see that this time He was wrong.
As they arrived at their destination in the garden, Jesus told his disciples to pray that they wouldn’t fall into temptation. He’d already told Peter by this point that Peter would deny him. He also prophesied that the other disciples would all scatter. There would be plenty of temptation when Jesus was handed over, so he wanted his disciples to be prepared. After instructing his disciples, Jesus withdrew further to be alone with just his Father.
As we read of Jesus in this moment, we can learn some important things about prayer for our own deep, dark nights of the soul, because sooner or later, we all experience them. So, let us look at...
A. What we learn from Jesus about prayer in dark moments.
A. What we learn from Jesus about prayer in dark moments.
I had someone tell me one time that if we prayed for God’s direction in the morning, we had no need to prayer again in that day. We just trusted that the morning prayer was sufficient. However, this is not what Jesus demonstrated in his life. We saw moments when He slipped away in the early morning to pray. We also, find times when He slipped away to be alone to pray in the evenings. However, we also find that...
1. Jesus prayed in His hour of need.
1. Jesus prayed in His hour of need.
We know that Jesus was under great stress as it is demonstrated in what He prayed. “Take this cup from me.” This part of Jesus’s story is sometimes called “the agony in the garden” because of his deep turmoil. This was the most important part of His coming to earth as a man. He came to teach us, but even more, He came to lay down His life for us. So, you know He would have to be under great stress to pray for this to be removed.
Even though Jesus wasn’t alone, He needed God’s comfort and so in His great hour of need, Jesus went to the Father. Just as Jesus went to the Father in His need, we too, should seek God’s wisdom in our moments of need.
We know Jesus was stressed, but even more than that we find that...
2. Jesus was in anguish.
2. Jesus was in anguish.
This word suggests great turmoil and fear. Jesus had faced angry mobs that on occasion turned angry, yet He showed no fear. In a boat amid a horrendous storm that sent fishermen quaking, Jesus was calm. Yet, in this moment, we are told He was in anguish. We see to signs that indicate this to be severe.
a. Jesus made the same request of God three times, yet each time He surrendered His will to God’s.
a. Jesus made the same request of God three times, yet each time He surrendered His will to God’s.
In Matthew’s account, we find Jesus asking God three different times to please remove this cup from Him, yet each time, He found the strength to let go of His fear and surrender to God’s will. We also see that...
b. Jesus surrendered to God’s plan, even in the face of suffering.
b. Jesus surrendered to God’s plan, even in the face of suffering.
Look at Hebrews 5:8 again.
8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered
And we are called to do the same.
i. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran pastor who voiced opposition to the Nazi regime in Germany under the leadership of Adolf Hitler. Bonhoeffer’s obedience to God in opposing genocide led to his imprisonment and eventual death.
ii. Last year I read a book about Brother Yun in China. In 1997, he was arrested for the third time for preaching the gospel of Christ. While in prison, he was tortured in terrible ways. Yet, he never quit serving. He even prayed for the healing of a spy in prison who ended up completely healed from his death bed after some other prisoners had assaulted him for his spying.
You may not experience this kind of abuse, but there are ways that we choose the hard road for Christ as well. Some have had loved ones leave them because of their faithfulness to God. We are called to live lives that are counter cultural and people do not always understand and ridicule us. Such ways are not drinking, not using foul language, not watching television or being very selective in what we watch, not always choosing the higher paying jobs… There are any number of ways we live differently that cause us to be rejected by some.
In Jesus anguish, He turned to God and God did not disappoint Him. However, we also find that...
c. Jesus anguish was so great, it affected Him physically.
c. Jesus anguish was so great, it affected Him physically.
As I said earlier, we see Jesus humanity here. He did not relish being tortured any more than any of us would. In fact, the anticipation of the pain was so great that we are told he sweated blood. Perhaps this was a symbolic statement, however there is a medical condition called hematidrosis that Jesus may have experienced in that moment. It is caused by extreme stress. It occurs because the stress causes tiny blood vessels to rupture in the sweat glands. In such a case, people literally sweat bloody sweat.
We know that what Jesus was about to suffer was extremely traumatic because of the anguish that He was in. He obviously comprehended what was about to take place. This was not easy for Him to do by any means. Hebrews discloses just how difficult this was, but also how God honored Jesus for making this sacrifice.
7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
3. Although Jesus was honest about his anguish, he was also fully obedient to God.
3. Although Jesus was honest about his anguish, he was also fully obedient to God.
Remember, Jesus did not run when they came to arrest Him, an innocent man. Jesus stood and was quiet as they made false accusations against Him in court. Jesus willingly gave Himself up to be tortured, persecuted, and hung on the brutal cross of death. The anguish of the night has now become a firm resolve to see it through. You see,
4. After Jesus prayed and voiced his obedience, an angel from heaven strengthenedJesus for the task ahead.
4. After Jesus prayed and voiced his obedience, an angel from heaven strengthenedJesus for the task ahead.
The angel could not take Jesus place, but He could be a physical presence of strength and encouragement to Jesus in that moment. Just like that angel gave Jesus a sense of not being alone, God does the same for us. Dr. George Morrison was a well-known Australian journalist who died in 1920. He was known for his extensive travels (which included foot travel north to south across Australia). He once wrote, “Every life has its Gethsemane, and every Gethsemane has its angel.” However, our angel is not beside us but within us. He is the Holy Spirit, literally God Himself giving us the strength we need in those times.
Now while Jesus was suffering all this, we find the disciples sleeping.
B. The Sleeping Disciples
B. The Sleeping Disciples
These men who were so active, in this moment could not seem to do anything more than sleep. Jesus called them to pray three different times, and each time they just went back to sleep.
1. While Jesus was in anguished prayer, the disciples were fast asleep.
1. While Jesus was in anguished prayer, the disciples were fast asleep.
Today’s passage tells us they were exhausted from sorrow. While we can certainly sympathize we also know they did the exact opposite of what Jesus asked them. In the moment when Jesus needed them the most (they had called on Jesus for aid enough times), they let Jesus down.
I remember a boyfriend was traveling and had a very important meeting. I forget what the issue was, it may have been regarding custody of his son, or a job interview that was much needed. I do not remember which. I had told him that on that Sunday afternoon, I would be praying while he had this meeting. I was a single mom in my 30’s at the time. I had a stressful corporate job and I was usually exhausted on the weekends. I was often anemic in those days as well. On this Sunday afternoon, I really wanted to support him in prayer, but I was so exhausted. I kept falling asleep. I remember crying out to God to help me to pray. Interesting enough, I fell asleep but I was praying in my dreams. I woke feeling that God had empowered me by meeting my need for physical rest, while at the same time I was able to pray in an unconscious state. I could literally hear myself praying in my sleep. This may not make sense to you, but I really felt it was something the Holy Spirit did. It was a miraculous experience.
Unfortunately, the disciples did not have the Holy Spirit yet. I also do not recommend this as a solution. It was an extreme moment and God answered in a unique manner. It is better to pray awake and alert I am sure. However, my account and...
2. This part of Jesus’ story reminds us about the struggle between human frailty and divine purpose.
2. This part of Jesus’ story reminds us about the struggle between human frailty and divine purpose.
Matthew’s account of this night reflects this very sentiment when Jesus said, Matthew 26:41
41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
How often do we fall asleep–whether literally or metaphorically–when God has called us to get something done? Someone once told me that God had cautioned them about something and they didn’t understand. When the time came, they missed their opportunity. Why? Because they had brushed it aside as inconsequential in the moment since they didn’t understand it. That is what the disciples did on this night. They didn’t understand, so they brushed it aside assuming things would work out.
When God calls us to do something we do not understand, we need to take heed and be watchful. God often gives us warnings well in advance of a situation. It is so we can pray, be watchful and be prepared. However, we are too often inclined to cast it aside as unimportant because we do not immediately understand.
I have recognized times in my life when I have done this as well as witnessed it in the lives of others.
3. In His time of need, Jesus’s disciplsesfailed to do what he needed them to do.
3. In His time of need, Jesus’s disciplsesfailed to do what he needed them to do.
In that regard, we experience a kinship with our Savior when those we’ve trusted haven’t provided the help we needed in our hour of need. But it is also too easy to point at where others have failed and forgotten to look at the times we have done likewise.
We need to accept the truth which is that...
C. Jesus’s time of prayer at Gethsemane is a reminder that none of us is so capable that we do not need to take time to pray.
C. Jesus’s time of prayer at Gethsemane is a reminder that none of us is so capable that we do not need to take time to pray.
If Jesus prayed when he was struggling, we should too. Jesus was afraid to face what was coming. He hoped there was a way out, yet God answered His prayers and helped Him to accomplish what needed to be done.
It is our human nature in these times to desire our friends to be with us, however, this is just not always possible.
I remember one night when I was struggling with something and I felt so alone. I wanted a friend to give me some company so bad. I called each of my closest friends, and not one of them was home (this was BC, before cell phones). I finally just melted on the floor in tears and poured my heart out to God. I later decided this was what was best.
I needed to learn that...
1. Prayer is an expression of our inability to meet the demands of life by ourselves.
1. Prayer is an expression of our inability to meet the demands of life by ourselves.
If Jesus needed His Father’s help, so do we. Jesus had the physical support of His closest friends, yet even in that they failed Him. However, they had no power or wisdom to provide for Jesus in that moment, but the Father did. Jesus also shows us that in that moment,...
a. It is time to be honest with God.
a. It is time to be honest with God.
When we face painful experiences, praying through our grief gives us space to vent the feelings we’re having. During these times, we might not know what to pray, but we trust that the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf.
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.
God hears and fully understands us. Look again at the latter half of Hebrews 5:7.
7 ...and he [Jesus] was heard because of his reverent submission.
God is not afraid of our honesty. God is not frustrated when we ask the same thing three times, as long as we come to that moment of surrender. God can give us what we need, but we need to be honest with Him to receive it. When we are not honest, we place a closed door between us and God. This denies God the opportunity to do what He desires to do for us.
Jesus also demonstrates that...
b. In prayer we feel the comfort that we are never alone.
b. In prayer we feel the comfort that we are never alone.
No matter where we are or what time it is, God is always there and always available to us. Luke is the only one who mentions the angel coming to strengthen Jesus. The angel could not change the situation that Jesus was facing. An angel could not make the sacrifice that Jesus had to make. Angel’s are created beings like you and I, therefore, they could not serve this purpose. However, the angel was able to be a presence to Jesus so He did not feel alone. We have the Holy Spirit, but I also believe that there are angels around us that give us strength and support as well, and at times they do intercede to provide protection for us.
c. While we may have times when we struggle to hear God’s voice, we know we can approach God’s throne to seek comfort and counsel for what is ahead.
c. While we may have times when we struggle to hear God’s voice, we know we can approach God’s throne to seek comfort and counsel for what is ahead.
The Holy Spirit is always with us to direct us even when we do not hear a clear spoken voice. The difference the Holy Spirit makes becomes very evident through the changed lives of the disciples after the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
We also need to understand that...
2. Following God means opening ourselves up to suffering.
2. Following God means opening ourselves up to suffering.
Jesus never lied about this. Jesus said to count the cost when we are deciding whether or not to follow Him. However, we need to count the cost both ways. What do we gain or lose here and now? What do we gain and lose, later eternally? We may be unwilling to suffer now, but then we only open ourselves to greater suffering later. God is not asking us to do something that is completely unfair. Because God knows that...
a. We’re also recipients of God’s blessings and the fulfillment of God’s purpose for our lives.
a. We’re also recipients of God’s blessings and the fulfillment of God’s purpose for our lives.
Many people never fully experience fulfillment because their life is just filled with making it through this day in a pleasurable manner. But where does it lead? Nothing continues to give pleasure forever. Usually we keep moving on trying to find something bigger and better, but it never quite completely fulfills us as we thought it would. However, God’s blessings are felt even now in this imperfect environment. We have a sense of fulfilling a greater purpose and one that is lasting.
I was reading something about how temporary this world is and my mind went to that old movie, “The Time Machine.” His time machine whisks him away into the far future, and he finds a large, technological city and it is in tatters. Books decayed and crumbling. Buildings empty, cold, and dust covered. Furniture frayed and deteriorating. This is all that awaits us here. However, the world God has for us will never deteriorate or crumble away. It is permanent.
3. Obedience isn’t always easy.
3. Obedience isn’t always easy.
Our American culture really has no real grasp of what tough is. I am not saying we do not go through struggles and do not have hard times. However, there are probably very few of us that can comprehend the difficulties such as we sometimes see in commercials on television when they show pictures of emaciated children starving to death, with flies all hovering in the corner of their eyes. Those people really know what it is to suffer and experience hardship. They do not know an easy way.
We on the other hand, often have choices that provide us an easier way to do something. This is why it can be so difficult to take instructions from others. We hope we can find an easier way to do something if it is up to us.
In Bookkeeping, there are a lot of details noted for various reasons of tracking. When I worked in the corporate office, I could almost always count that new people would quickly abandon some of the things they were taught assuming they were unnecessary grunt work, only to have some other person mad at them because they needed those details. They were seeking a means to make things easier.
Obedience is not easy. It means doing what someone else wants us to do. It sometimes calls for us to do things we consider grunt work, or things that are not pleasant as when Christy found herself cleaning up after a large teenage boy with Typhoid. Jesus did not relish the hard or difficult tasks either yet, we all have benefited because He did!
a. When we suffer, we have the Holy Spirit to help us.
a. When we suffer, we have the Holy Spirit to help us.
There is right suffering and there is wrong suffering. The right suffering is always overcome by the presence and work of the Holy Spirit. However, when we charge forth without seeking God’s counsel and wisdom, we often find we are suffering because we have stepped out from God’s will. This is a different kind of suffering. It is more difficult then the suffering we do when we are in obedience to God.
b. God’s presence is there to strengthen and guide us, even when our human friends fall short.
b. God’s presence is there to strengthen and guide us, even when our human friends fall short.
Even Christian friends fail us at times. They can at times be wise and be a voice God uses to direct us, but sometimes Satan uses our frail human bodies and minds for his purposes as well. So, we need to be careful about depending too much on people. Never trust people above God. However, sometimes our friends are confirmation that we are hearing God correctly. I was amazed when I finally started into ministry. My friends, both Christian and non-Christian, all responded, “I always knew that you were meant to be a pastor.” God never lets us down and He always provides enough information and confirmation to direct us.
Conclusion
As Christ followers, we’re called to follow the example of Jesus. In the garden, Jesus’s example reminds us to pray and obey. We’re called to pray through our struggles. Be raw and honest. The great thing about serving a big God is that God isn’t threatened by our feelings. In fact, the Psalms are a perfect example of how believers have offered raw and sometimes even angry prayers. You don’t have to shy away from letting loose the breadth of your emotions in prayer! Then, when you’ve prayed, move to a place of obedience as you take your next steps in faith. Like Jesus, pray “not my will, but yours be done.”
Just like the angel comforted Jesus, the Holy Spirit offers comfort to us today. There is a reason we call God’s Spirit our divine comforter. The Holy Spirit provides the comfort and strength we need to face whatever is before us. As you leave this place today, I invite you to deeper, richer prayer life, and a life marked by obedience to the One who led the way. If you discover this kind of life, you will find that no matter what you suffer, you will not feel like one who suffers. Instead you will feel blessed!
Just this week, I began reading a new book that was put out by Voice of the Martyrs. The editor shared how he was on a trip to meet a pastor in China who was continually being arrested to prevent him pastoring his church. Week after week, he would prepare a sermon, go to church only be be arrested, held overnight, and released the next morning. Todd Nettleton, the editor, expected to find some little, stooped, and discouraged man. Instead, he found a man with a bright smile who was passionate for God. He was not discouraged. When we are obedient to God, we have nothing to be discouraged about. God blesses us with blessings beyond what the human eye can see. We also know, that our life is eternal and this time of suffering is only temporary. One day it will end, and we will have our final reward that no one can ever take away from us again.
Copyright © 2024 The Foundry Publishing®. Permission to reproduce for ministry use only. All rights reserved. (Outline was denomination generated, I then added the majority of the body of the sermon.)
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