“Pride, Prayer, and Preparation”
Lk.22:28-46 April 1, 2007 Play
AUDIO
(mp3) Play VIDEO (wmv)
Combat - or Kidding?
○ Afghanistan conflict videos offered in Canada
○ churches play it safe, avoid conflict
○ weaken, accommodate rather than contend for
truth
The Lamb-Lord’s Legacy
○ precious final moments with disciples before
arrest
○ prayer occurs in context of God’s purpose
& power
○ Jesus conscious of fulfilling Passover
symbolism (15f; Is 53:5,7)
○ power originates in God, conferred on
servant-leaders (25ff,29; Mt 28:18)
Prayer Succeeds where Pride Stumbles
○ Satan desirous of sifting disciples like
wheat (31; Job 1:11f; 2:4ff)
○ Peter boastful but denial sooner than
cock-crow (33; Mk 14:29; Jn 18:15f; Lk 22:34; Prov 16:18)
○ prayer based on God’s sovereign plan,
foreknowledge, protection, provision (32ff; Rom 11:33, 8:34; Heb 7:25;
Php 4:19; 1Tim 6:17)
○ docking with mother ship requires right
attitude, approach, connection, reception
○ unexpected healing a ‘conundrum’ for medical
professionals
Go to the Mat: Wrestling Prayer
○ commanded to pray so don’t enter into
temptation (40,46; Mt 6:13)
○ prayer in Gethsemane shows both Asking and
Adjustment / Acceptance (42f; Col 1:24; Heb 2:9f)
○ bloody sweat / ‘agony’ indicate stress of
spiritual battle (44)
Prayer as Warfare
○ Watchman Nee: spiritual muscles develop as
attack Satan
○ spiritual life one of assault, so our spirit
truly useful