Prayer Works Morning Devotion: April 9, 2025

"Readying Our Hearts for Resurrection Sunday"

"The Prayer In The Garden,

Betrayal And Arrest In Gethsemane"

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Good morning, good morning, everybody. I hope you had a wonderful evening and you are ready for another day that the Lord has given us. Let us go to the Lord in prayer. Father we come before you this morning.  

We thank you for the new mercy that you have for us, waiting and reclaim them. And we pray, Lord, that as we go through this day, may our eyes, ears remain attentive to your spirit. We think you know that as we devote this moment.  

May God, in light enlighten us with revelation and knowledge with wisdom. With all the tools that we need to go through this day, we bless you for your kindness, for your love, for your time of mercy. We thank you for your grace.  

We thank you all for all that you've done for us and we're just still going to do. We thank you, Lord, for opening up heaven and giving us access to this unseen Kingdom so that we can be partakers and part of it.  

So, Lord, as we continue to march our way to Easter, we pray Lord that as we remember, our Lord Jesus Christ and commemorate his departure from Earth, so that we could gain this salvation that we now hold.  

I pray, Lord, that may your spirit continue to guide us in everything that we are doing. Because we know what we are going through and what we are reading gave us access to this spirit, so we thank you for all that you have done. What you did on that cross so that we can gain access to your spirit and to your Kingdom.  

So, Lord, as we look at the word, help us to grow, help us to mature, help us to be wise, help us to understand our journeys. Knowing that you have already given us access in the road map. So we bless you and honor you for all that you are in Jesus name we pray, Amen. 

Today we are in Luke 22. And we're going to start on 39 all the way to 53 all right. Remember where we are now. If you've been following as in this past week, where we are marching towards Easter going through scriptures you know, with Jesus. 

What we're about to read takes place four days from the day he went into Jerusalem riding on a donkey and people are saying, hosanna in the highest. This is four days later.  

So all the stuff that we've been reading it took place in four days. So tomorrow you know for Jesus is a very significant day. But when it comes into Jerusalem four days ago, he comes through the mount of Olive. 

So he comes through the mount of Olive and he goes into Jerusalem this way. Now, mind you this is the same mountain that we entered into ministry he goes and he does 40 nights and 40 days fast. 

This is where the devil comes and keeps him here when he starts his journey in ministry. Three years ago, 40. Now he is 4 days away from when he entered Jerusalem through this mountain now he is back there again.  

So let's stop reading 39. Jesus went out as usual to the mount of Olive. Now sometimes when you are reading this, we race through stuff, but when you hear this word, you went out as usual to the mount of Olive, which means that this is not new. 

This is something he regularly does on reaching the place he prays to them, so he gets to the place he says to his disciples pray that you will not fall into temptation, first instruction. Then he withdrew about a stone throw beyond them and knelt down and prayed.  

He tells his disciples pray so you don't fall into temptation. So in other words, if you don't want to fall in temptation, what should you do? You should pray. So he says to them, pray so you will not fall into temptation.  

You will draw about a stone throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed. So this is a stone throw. This is not like, stay here and I'm going to climb Mount Moriah and you won't see me. 

I'm way too far from these guys have. Pretty much at this point I could say I could say they have a view of where Jesus is. He kneels down and pray. Now these same guys just a few minutes if you want to go. Peter says, man, I'm willing to go and die with you.  

Even if it means going to prison and I'm willing. I'm ready to drink this cup. And he says, don't fall into temptation. He goes a stone throw away. And he kneels down and start praying. He has already told them what about happened. 

They say to Jesus, we are ready for whatever that's about to happen, we're telling you this we are ready. Says, cool says don't say what you don't understand. He goes a stone throw away he kneels down and pray and they fell asleep. 

42, this is Jesus prayer, Father if you are willing take this cup from me. Yet not my will but yours be done now. Mind you guys this prayer, this is not Jesus writing this is look writing. Which meant that somebody who was present heard this prayer in order to explain it Luke.  

So which means he is an earshot from the disciples, because somebody had to tell Luke this. That this is what this is what he prayed. So we are an earshot. And he says, Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me.  

Yet not my will, but yours began. Peter just says I'm ready to drink the same cup. Now he is praying that Lord take this cup from me. Yet not my will but yours be done. So which means when they heard this, the disciples, when they heard this the same people said we're ready to take this cup. 

They heard him say that and what was their response? There was no response. That the Lord God send an Angel from heaven appears to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more honestly and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.  

Then, when he rose from prayer and went back to his to the disciples. He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. So they went from we'll take this cup. We're ready to go. To sorrow and that sorrow caused them to be tired and exhausted and they fell asleep.  

Jesus asked the question, why are you sleeping? He asked them get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation again. Here it is, guys if you want to avoid temptation, get up and pray. While he was still speaking, a crowd came out. And the man who was called Judas, one of the 12, was leading them.  

He approached Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus asked him Judas are you betraying the son of man with a kiss. I mean, Judas could have just pointed and said he, but he decided he was going to kiss him. When Jesus follows so what was going to happen?  

They said Lord, should we strike with our swords and one of them struck the servant of the high priests, carrying off his right ear. But Jesus answered no more of this. He touched the man's ear and healed him.  

Then Jesus said to the chief priest, the offices of the temple God and the elders who had come for him. Am I leading a rebellion that you have to come with scores and clubs? Every day I was with you in the temporal courts and you did not lay a hand on me.  

But this is your hour. When darkness reigns, this is your hour when darkness reigns, brothers and sisters I want to here to look at the disciples because they are us. They are us without the spirit of Jesus in them yet.  

So is they are walking to the cross again, right. We are walking with Jesus to the cross, which means we are experiencing what he is experiencing. That's why we're doing this. They were experiencing what he was experiencing.  

The difference between them and us is that we have his spirit inside of us and they don't. So he is giving them instructions in real time on how to deal with the difficult circumstances. That has now come at the doorstep he’s giving them instructions on how to deal with these difficult circumstances.  

But their response, their response? If you look at the disciples response from the previous conversation to now. You can see that there is, there is no wisdom and thoughts. Spiritual thought that is put into their discourse.  

Jesus has taught them over and over what's about to happen. I'm sure they have had everything there is to be heard. Because along the way, he's been educating them, while he's also addressing the masses.  

But their failure to understand this hour, this moment has to do with the fact that they are not spiritually in tune to what is actually taking place. They are thinking more about themselves, the previous conversation, who is who is the greatest amongst us? 

Who's going to be the greatest? He's telling the member to go die and they are asking who's going to be the greatest. He educates and teaches them. And he tells them about what's about it happened Simon Peter says I'm going to take the cup.  

I'm going to drink this cup. I'm going to go wherever you go if it means we're going to go to prison. Yes, I'm ready for it. They go to prayer, where he usually goes. And he says if you don't want to be tempted please pray and he goes a stone throw away.  

They hear him pray. Father, the hour has come. I don't want this come. Brothers and sisters God does not answer all prayer. Because this prayer that Jesus prays the Father was silent, never answered it.  

Because there are some prayers that you and I have to pray to convince ourselves that we are the right people for the job because God would have given you revelation, knowledge and information that you have to go through this.  

So some prayers are to convince yourself as much as Jesus was saying, not my will but your will. And the disciples heard it. And they were exhausted through sorrow that they could not pray.  

They fell asleep at the job and he gets up from where he was praying, where his tears turned into blood. And he says he goes and the wisdom says, why are you sleeping in this hour? Which is a question that I would ask every Christian right now.  

Why are we sleeping in this hour? Don't you know that if you don't pray, you will be tempted? What is he talking about? You will be tempted to do things that are outside of your jurisdiction.  

You're going to cut somebody with a sword and you were not meant to cut somebody. You will fight the wrong way and you're not meant to fight this way. You want to fall asleep and you're not meant to fall asleep in this hour.  

Don't you know that if you pray, you will not be tempted. Says darkness has come that's what Jesus says. The hour of darkness has come. And the same thing is being said to us the hour of darkness has come. Don't you know that if you want to avoid temptation in the hour of darkness.  

Why don't you pray? Now you know what happens when you fall asleep the wrong time. When you wake up and things are happening. Most times you are not rich now enough to deal with the moment.  

Jesus understands what's happening. He's aware of everything that's about to happen. So it's prepared but in this last conversation, it seems like the disciples were they weren't prepared and he wasn't. Because they were ready a few minutes ago have said, well, we are ready.  

We're willing to take this cap. And he seemed like he wasn't that he was. Peace and calm in the midst of the storm. And he goes and have this conversation with his Father. The hour has come. If you can take this cup away from me. 

But not my will because he knew the Father was not going to answer this prayer. Because this prayer was to convince himself that I am the right man for this job. Instead of them praying that we are the right people to be with Jesus through this hour, they went to sleep.  

And they slept at the wrong time because when you wake up from sleep of exhaustion and sorrow, you are not aware your faculties are not in order enough to deal with what is about to happen.  

Imagine waking up from sleep and having to run 25 miles there and there. In the beginning of the onset you're actually asking yourself what is going on. Because your body is still in sleep mode.  

So they wake up in sleep mode and right after they wake up. Jesus says why are you sleeping? In fact, he walks. He wakes him up. Why are you sleeping he asks. Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.  

He finishes this system while he is still speaking Judas shows up and kisses him. Betrays God, Jesus says you're betraying the son of man with a kiss. And when they saw that Jesus says wake up. Nor should we strike with our swords and one of them struck the sword with a high price, cutting off his ear. 

Now mind you guys these boys, because they are boys, this is teenager boys. These are 19, 20. The old is probably 23. This is the boys. Now imagine a few  they've never had swords before. Jesus, tell them a few minutes ago. 

You know, just a day ago, they say to him, hey, some of you is going to have to sell stuff and go buy swords. Because I won't be here anymore. So this is probably the first use. This is the first time they use a sword, never used it before.  

He's heading and he cuts a mans ear and Jesus says now no more of this. Come on now. This is you're doing the wrong thing at the wrong time. No more of this. Why is he saying no more of this?  

Because that prayer and the angel shows up to comfort him in the garden to say hey I know the Father is not answering this prayer. Jesus is not taking this cover away from you.  

Then I'm here to offer support. That yes, you are the right man for the job. But these ones, he's been working with and has been telling them what the journey is going to be. They decided they would sleep and wake up from sleep and cut somebody's ear and Jesus says no more of these guys.  

He touched the man's ear and healed him. Then Jesus says to the chief priest, the officer of the Temple guard and the elders who had come, you know a couple of people came to look at Jesus.  

The chief Priest and the officer of the temple and the elders who had come for him. It wasn’t the Roman Empire and its soldiers. No, it was the chief priest and the offices of the Temple, Arm bearers, elders and Deacons.  

We had come for him, am I leading a rebellion that you have come with swords and clubs. Chief priests, elders and deacons and officers of the temple. They have come with swords and clubs.  

This is not the Roman Empire. Every day I was with you? Says you have the same people I was singing in the temple with and you did not lay a hand on me. But this here, this is your hour when darkness reigns over you.  

Brothers and sisters, I don't know if we would ever understand the anguish that Jesus was dealing with in this hour. I want you to imagine that we are all part of a spiritual community we do Bible study together.  

We talk about Jesus with fellowship with one another. We pray together in the temple courts. But then one of you goes to the garden and then you see the host of us coming to you with swords and clubs.  

Getting ready to attack you, Calvin. You like I was with you yesterday. Last Sunday we had Bible study together. Last week we were celebrating together we were fellowshipping and looking at scriptures together. And you have come to get me with clubs and swords in the hour that I am praying that maybe this cup come make this cup done with away.  

And my tears have turned to blood and you come to me, same people that we were hanging out with a few days ago in the temple called looking at scriptures. Why are you doing this?  

Because darkness has come over you. On this hour here, Jesus was standing alone. Because the disciples, even though they were present they did not have it in them to comfort him. They did not have it in them to pray with him. 

If they were willing to go to prison and willing to go wherever he goes. Why didn't somebody, says Lord, if you're going to go near over there and pray I'm coming with you. I'm praying with you, but instead they stayed and slept.  

We don't know whether the Father wanted to have this conversation. I believe God was not trying to have this conversation with Jesus. Because it had been settled already, what was about to happen.  

But I think sending an angel was because he realized nobody was there to comfort his son. Even though he was walking with. So this our Jesus is standing by himself in the midst of the crowd, his friends are with him, but still alone. 

But the question that he asked the disciples still rings true today. For you and I don't you know that if you pray, you will not be tempted. We get an answer of how to avoid temptation if you pray.  

The hour of darkness has come upon this world. Out of darkness, you look left, right and center, all you hear, all you see across this whole entire world is belligerent leadership, debauchery, you name it.  

You throw a stone, it will hit something. Because the hour of darkness is upon our world. And for you and I, in order to avoid temptation. Prayer has to be our antidote. Four days ago, he was on a donkey Hosanna in the highest. King comes riding on a donkey. A place of refuge.  

Four days later they come with clubs and swords. This is very challenging to read and to hear. Because we're slowly getting to the peak of things. You and I, we should do better than the disciples. 

Here is why we should do better than the disciples. In this hour they don't have Jesus spirit. He still hasn't died yet. His fall spread hasn't been given yet. So I can we can kind of understand because they are functioning without the counsel of the Holy Spirit.  

Maybe that's why they couldn't pray with him. If that's why their answers were frivolous. But you and I in this hour of darkness, we have the counsel of the Holy Spirit now, which means that we ought to do better than they did.  

Let us pray. Dear Lord, Our Redeemer, Our Father, Our Master, Our God. We are grateful for this journey that we are walking with Jesus to the cross. As you remind us of what had to take place in order for us to leave.  

And 2000 years later carry this salvation in us and be part of this invisible Kingdom. We are grateful for what took place. 2000 years ago. Now as we go through our hour of darkness, may the guidance of the Holy Spirit and his counsel be part of our portion in our decision making.  

I pray, Lord, that we are quick to here, quick to understand snd quick to pray. So we don't fall into temptation. We are hard pressed from every side, dealing with challenges that we can't understand or comprehend, but we know this.  

That prayer has been given to us as an antidote and that the guidance of the Holy Spirit is now falling on us. So that we can do better than they did. Lord, I pray for our decisions. May we be rich, now enough to not cut somebody with a sword.  

To not be tempted to act the wrong way. But rather to be calm and peaceful just as in as much as Jesus was in this hour.

Thank you for showing us how to go through challenges. Thank you for stretching our minds and our understanding on how to address complex issues. In the hour of darkness.  

May your spirit continue to reign in us to guide us to protect, to comforts, to counsel, to redirect where we go wrong.  

Heavenly Father we are in it and we pray that this Council of the spirit that we have may it be extended to our family, our children and may our understanding, open the eyes of our understanding.  

We thank you, Father for what you did and what you went through so that we can be part of this invisible Kingdom that is now revealed in full force unto us.

Thank you for comforting us knowing that we are victorious in spite of what we go through, because you showing us how to go through things and remain victorious.  

We thank you for every test knowing it's an opportunity to exercise the full authority of Jesus that is thrifting in us through the Holy Spirit. Lord I pray that as we March towards Easter that the eyes of our understanding will be opened enough. 

That grace will be found in the eyes of Christ as we look unto him. Help us in our endeavors and in our question here. Continue to transform and renew our minds through the Holy Scriptures.  

Pray for sickness and disease that may our good Lord do exceedingly abundantly through us. Now as we go through this day, thank you for what you've already given and already released in the Earth. 

May we grab today's revelation, lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one. For thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory forever and ever, Amen. Brothers and sisters here’s a question that we live with.  

Don't you know that if you pray you avoid temptation. May the Lord bless you when we go through this day, in his counsel in his wisdom knowing that we can do better because we now have the counsel of the Holy Spirit in us.

May the Lord bless your families and may the Lord bless your day. We'll see you tomorrow.