Wednesday Night Bible Study

I want to go to the word of the Lord tonight for our Bible study and I want to say thank you to Pastor Anthony for teaching Bible last week. What a marvelous job he did. Sister Jamie and I had the privilege of going up to Bristol, Tennessee and preaching to church up there, ministering to a church that really has offspring roots from First Apostolic Church. The some of you who have been here a little while would remember the Ketrons that at one time lived right next door to First Apostolic Church. Well uh they were married here at First Apostolic Church and as uh work and family took them up to the Bristol area, they eventually started a church in Bristol, Tennessee and now they have retired and there's a another brother, brother Moore that's pastoring that church but he had asked Sister Jamie and myself to come and be in service with them. Had a marvelous time, but there's no place like being at First Apostolic Church in Knoxville. So, it's good to be home tonight. With that said, I'm going to be uh uh combining just a little bit uh a little of our curriculum uh the way the curriculum uh with our Bible studies uh has uh come about, we're going to be dealing with some things that we have already celebrated uh in the Easter season and even in the uh communion service, but we're going to be looking at it from a little bit different direction tonight, Lord willing. The Book of Luke, chapter 22, we're going to begin reading at verse number one. The Book of Luke, chapter 22, beginning with verse number one. Now, the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill him, speaking of Jesus. For they feared the people. Then entered Satan into Judas, surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the 12. And he went his way and communed with the chief priests and the captains how he might betray him unto them. And they were glad and covenanted to give him money. And he promised and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude. I would entitle our Bible study tonight betrayed, yet obedient. Betrayed, yet obedient. Let's pray. Savior, I love you. God, I thank you for the opportunity that you have afforded us to study your word. Lord, I thank you that when we have our study in your word that your word speaks to us and you have exalted your word even above your name. God, now let us receive your word mildly this night. Lord, let it stir us, instruct us, and change us for the good. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Betrayed, yet obedient. Yes, we have recently come through the celebrations of Palm Sunday and Resurrection Sunday Easter. We also back at the first of the year come commemorated this particular Passover meal that we commonly refer to as the Lord's Supper in our communion services. But our study tonight deals with better understanding Jesus' humanity and the interaction he had with his disciples just prior to the crucifixion. When we read all of the accounts in the synoptic gospels of Jesus' life before his crucifixion, we do find out there are hints that Jesus even in his humanity knew what had been foretold in Hebrew scripture of the suffering that he would face. Matthew's account records Jesus and his 12 disciples sharing this Passover meal. Matthew 26:21 it says, "And as they did eat, he again, this is Jesus, said, 'Verily I say unto you that one of you shall betray me.'" And they were exceedingly sorrowful and began every one of them to say, "Lord, is it I?" Now, I pause a minute. I find it a bit perplexing that the 12 seated in Jesus' presence, the 12 who had witnessed firsthand his miracles, his teaching, suddenly find themselves questioning their own humanity. Am I going to be the one that betrays you? Now, you wouldn't think that there would been a a definite reaction. Oh, no, we'll not betray you. And yes, Peter would make that proclamation at foot washing time, but in this instance, Matthew's tells us that all of them began to say, "Lord, is it I?" And he answered and said, "He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. The Son of Man goeth as it is written of him, but woe unto that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It had been good for that man if he had not been born." Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, "Master, is it I?" And he said unto him, "Thou hast said." Jesus gave insight and direction and gave knock-down hints, if you will, who the betrayer was. Yet Jesus didn't cast him out. Jesus didn't cause a commotion. He just simply by dipping a piece of bread in the common bowl and giving it to Judas visually demonstrated to all, including Judas, that he was the one who would betray him. John added in his commentaries that after the sop, Satan entered into Judas. And then Jesus said this in John 13:27, Jesus said unto him, "That thou doest, do quickly." He said, "Let's get on with this." He said, "You're going to betray me? Let's do it. Go ahead and get on with it." Jesus' prayer reveals later on that he did not want to delay in the betrayal. The prophets had spoken of it, and Jesus was willing to fulfill his redemptive purpose, even though he realized the details of the shame, the pain, the agony that he was about to endure, Jesus understood what his mission was. He would be betrayed, yet he would be obedient to his cause. But I want you to notice as it progresses in Luke where we started with our text tonight, that Jesus after this meal and after this revelation was made, Jesus decided to pray. I believe in praying before your meal, but that's not the only time you ought to pray. Jesus said, "I I'm going to pray." So, verse 39 of Luke 22 says, "And he came out and went as he was wont to the Mount of Olives and his disciples followed him. And and when he was at the place, he said unto them, "Pray that you enter not into temptation." Now, scripture does not speak specifically of the temptation made here, but I can't help but think that Jesus was troubled after he had make this made this revelation of who Judas was, all had questioned, "Am I the one that would betray you?" Jesus may have very well been speaking to all of his disciples saying, "You pray that you before you judge anybody else, pray that you enter not into temptation during this time." And then it said, "And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast." And he kneeled it down and prayed. Jesus took the posture of obedience. Now, zoom back to what had just happened at the Passover supper. It was common in the culture of that day, most walked where they went, most wore sandals, the roads and the trails and the paths were dusty. When you went into a home, it was customary that the least of the home or a servant would wash the feet of the guest for hygiene as well as for care for their guest. But when this feast of the Passover took place that Jesus had called Jesus is the one who had had told him to go secure the food and all that would take place there. When they begin to coming in, no one chose to wash anyone's feet. No one assumed the posture of a servant. So, Jesus stepped back. In one instance, they tell he girded himself with a towel and he knelt down and he began washing their feet. There's a lot of symbolism you can find here. You know, most of us, if we go to a meal, the position of a of the the posture, rather, or position of a servant is not usually what we would want to do. I submit that many times it would be good of us to take the napkin from around our neck and instead put it around our waist and become a servant. For Jesus assumed that posture and began washing the feet of his disciples. He was letting them know that a posture of obedience was needed. It would be Peter that would reject his Lord, "No, you're not going to wash my feet." And the Lord said, "If I don't wash your feet, you'll you'll I'll have none of you or you'll have none of me in my kingdom." He said, "Then give me a bath." You know, that was the way Peter always He was overzealous, always. He was impetuous impetuous Peter, always overreacting. So, now they've come through the meal. It's been revealed who the betrayer is and Jesus said, "I'm going to go pray." And he tells them all, "Pray lest you enter into temptation." He goes approximately a throw a stone's throw away. He kneels down once again. The posture in prayer of obedience. And this was the prayer that Jesus prayed 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. And when he rose from up from prayer and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for the mark the salt for sorrow. And said unto them, "Why sleep ye? Rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation." The scripture said that after the meal was finished, he went to the Mount of Olives, the garden of Gethsemane, as was want. Simply stated, we must understand Jesus was a man of prayer. This wasn't the first time that Jesus would go to prayer. He was a man of prayer. He was known for praying. He prayed because the Gospels illustrated But in this instance, he felt a special urgency of prayer. He was troubled. It said he was want. This was a special urgency. He was indeed God incarnate. In other words, God in human flesh. And the mystery of God in human flesh would let us know that in his humanity, he knew what was coming. Yet, he was obedient to the cause. First Timothy 3:16 explains how this could be. It says, "And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in flesh." This is speaking of Jesus. "Justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." Jesus' prayer came from a full and complete genuine humanity, yet he was fully God and was fully man. That's the incarnate God that was now praying more earnestly. You see, the examples in these few verses are plenty to us. Number one, God's people should be a praying people. If we're going to exemplify Christ, we should be a praying people. Jesus prayed a long time before this prayer meeting. Jesus prayed over a lot of things. You see, there will be times we should be spiritually driven to an urgency in prayer. It's said, "As he was wont." We should pray our desires and wants within this framework, "Father, not my will, but thy will be done." You see, this is the prayer that too few times we forget to pray. We want to pray our wants and our needs, but we don't always pray those wants and needs within the framework of, "Father, let your will be done in this." You see, when Jesus prayed, "Let this cup pass from me." The flesh was saying, "I don't want to suffer the stripes on my back. I don't want to suffer the humiliation." Humanity was saying, "I DON'T WANT TO BE CRUCIFIED. I don't want to have thorns on my head. I don't want the embarrassment." But, he said, "Let your will be done in my life." And when he was able TO PRAY THAT WAY, SOMETHING HAPPENED. The Bible says that angels strengthened him. Let me tell you in this house, WHEN YOU FEEL YOUR WEAKEST, I WANT YOU TO KNOW A GOOD TIME with God praying will strengthen you. HE WILL GIVE YOU SUPERNATURAL STRENGTH AND AUTHORITY IN A TIME OF PRAYER. THERE'S TIMES THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FEEL LIKE PRAYING, BUT YOU NEED TO FALL ON YOUR KNEES AND TALK TO THE LORD and urgently praying to him. It said HE WAS STRENGTHENED. BUT, THEN I FIND THIS QUITE TELLING AS WELL. I submit to you that Jesus did not fail to pray in earnest. Yet, it said, "Being in agony, he prayed more earnestly." Now, HOW CAN THAT HAPPEN? HOW CAN JESUS Jesus be earnest yet in agony pray more earnestly? I submit to you sometimes in prayer there is a breaking and a breakthrough that has to take place that does not take place at first. Sometimes there's a getting even closer to God. Sometimes there's a breaking through that that there's an agony going on. It's not that Jesus was insincere in his prayer, but there are times that there just needs to be a little more effort. THE ANGELS STRENGTHENED HIM. HE WAS IN AGONY AND HE SAID, "I'M GOING TO PUSH THROUGH. I'M GOING TO PRAY EVEN MORE EARNESTLY." SAID HE PRAYED UNTIL HIS sweat became as great drops of blood falling to the ground. That's a fairly good indication that his prayer time was physical in nature. He was tired. He was sweating. He was in agony. Jesus never prayed without conviction. But there was a more sincere intense conviction of prayer that he apparently prayed. And when the prayer was finished, the first thing he met was sleeping disciples. Those who he had warned, "You better pray lest you fall into temptation." You see, your prayer life should not start in a time of trouble. Yes, troubles can drive you to your knees. But a praying people will already find time to consistently talk to God. They'll find time to consistently earnestly pray. This lets us know that we should prioritize prayer in every situation. We can find no better model than Jesus as a prayer warrior. He prayed before he selected the 12. He prayed before performing many of his miracles. He prayed early in the morning. He prayed high on the mountains. In these closing hours of his life, He felt the weight of the world and sin and sorrow on his shoulders. And he prayed. You see, this gives us insight that we absolutely ought to pray about everything. We need help and strength to make it through everything we go through. When we wake up in the morning, we ought to pri- pri- prioritize prayer. Now, I realize that Jesus set a standard in a different passage when he asked his disciples, "Will you not pray with me for 1 hour?" But Jesus never intended every prayer time to be an hour long. Is it wrong to pray for an hour? Absolutely not. But there's also times in life that we need to be able to touch Jesus in a 5-minute prayer. And after 3 or 4 more hours, we may need another 10-minute prayer. And after a few more hours, we need another 5-minute prayer. Scriptures says, "Pray without ceasing." It also says, "Watch and pray." That means you ought to pray sometimes with your eyes open. What do you mean? Uh Do you know you can pray driving down the road by yourself? A lot of us would do a good deed spiritually to ourselves if we would turn all of the entertainment off of our radio and talk to the Lord even while we got our eyes open. Don't wait until somebody slows down in front of you and you say, "Oh, Jesus." You know. That's too late to start praying sometimes. Huh. I I re- remember my Uncle Spencer telling story of his two sons Spencer and Corey he was taking them to school on an icy road in Michigan up there they haven't got enough sense to call off snow when it ice no I'm kidding they get used to driving on on ice but they were headed to school and I can Spencer said when they got in the car he said boys make sure you buckle up the roads are treacherous today and so they started to school and he said there was a hill that was not too far from their house that they got on that hill and sure enough it was icy and said the car started going this way and that and I can Spencer he said I said boys hold on he said I looked back in the back seat and said Corey was trying to get his seatbelt buckled. Sadly that's the way a lot of us do with prayer. It becomes a safety belt that we don't buckle. Until we're in a slide. Jesus gave the example of consistent prayer as we go through our day we should prioritize prayer I can remember being in at my home with my mom and dad I can remember at times hearing my dad or my mom just CRY OUT OH LORD OH JESUS. I DIDN'T KNOW what was going on but I knew there was an emergency there but as I got older and I matured and lived in my own house there's times that you'll feel that urgency inside you just to cry out to the Lord I I've had sister Jamie a few times I SAID HONEY'S EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT I SAID no I'm just talking to Jesus. BECAUSE WE SHOULD FIND A time in our life and we should BE COMFORTABLE AND NOT EMBARRASSED TO CALL ON THE LORD, TO PRAY, TO seek his face, SOMETIMES JUST TO CALL OUT HIS NAME. IT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT SEEMS QUITE EASY AND ORDINARY TO THE REST of this world, but I'm here to tell you every decision you make, you ought to pray about it. YOU'RE GOING TO FACE GIANTS, YOU'RE GOING TO FACE BATTLES, YOU'RE GOING TO STAND ON MOUNTAINS AND YOU'RE GOING TO WALK THROUGH VALLEYS. YOU NEED TO prioritize prayer in your life all the time. You see, there will be no no greater access to God than times that you can get alone with him in prayer. Yes, I like the wonderful presence of the Lord that we feel when we all get together and the jubilation of worship sometimes and other times a spirit of brokenness in the altar. All of those things are real. But I also love those times when I can get alone with the Lord and just be a little bit selfish, just me and the Lord. Communing together. You see, there are so many decisions in your life that will become so much easier if you'll go ahead and pray about them first. Let me say that again. There are so many decisions in your life that will be so much easier if you'll pray about them first. I submit to you there's a lot of issues that could be solved in the altar that you wouldn't have to turn to others for help if you take it to the altar first. Let me say it this way. Prayer should be your first decision, not your last option. But then I would also tell you when you pray, there will be results sometimes that you get an answer that are difficult results. When you prayed, Lord, your will be done. Jesus said, "Let this cup pass from me." The answer that Jesus in his humanity received was that he would not be able to pass this cup of crucifixion on. Many of us all have inordinate stress over how God's going to work in our lives. What What's that major question? WHAT'S GOD'S WILL FOR MY LIFE? Who should I marry? Which house should I buy? What car should I purchase? Which church, WHICH CAREER, CALLING, COLLEGE, CITY, COUNTRY? I SUBMIT TO YOU all of those things will be revealed to you in God's time if you will pray about it and consistently seek his face. Yeah, we put pros and cons list together, but Jesus should be our first step in faithful prayer. But I want to pause here and bring us back to Jesus in the garden. For there's a a comparison that I'd like to give that maybe you've never thought of before. For Jesus is in the garden of Gethsemane praying about his role in taking away the sins of mankind. How did this come about anyway? Well, I find it ironic that the complete circle has been made because sin entered into the human family in another garden. The garden of Eden. The story's come a full circle. In the garden of Eden, Adam sinned and broke covenant with God. And because of his sin, sin entered into the human family. Paul made reference to this. And I think it's a beautiful comparison of what took place in the garden of Eden versus what took place in the garden of Gethsemane. Romans 5:12 says, "Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin. And so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned." Verse 17, "For if by one man's offense death reigned by one, much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." If Adam brought sin in and brought death in, it would be Jesus who would take on death and find victory. Verse 18 says, "Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation, even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto JUSTIFICATION OF LIFE. FOR as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall MANY BE MADE RIGHTEOUS." HE WAS OBEDIENT to his call. HE WAS BETRAYED but obedient. Hallelujah. THE CHOICES THAT HE MADE IN THE GARDEN of Gethsemane influenced the history of humanity. Just as Adam's choice influenced. But Romans 5 20 goes on to state this. Moreover, the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. Aren't you thankful for the grace of God tonight? That as sin entered reign into death, EVEN SO MIGHT GRACE REIGN THROUGH RIGHTEOUSNESS UNTO ETERNAL LIFE BY JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD. Because Jesus prayed more earnestly. BECAUSE HE PRAYED NOT my will, but thy will be done, Father. And he would succumb to all the indignities of the cross. Victory over sin was achieved. Matthew 26 47 says and while he yet spake, lo, Judas one of the 12 came with him a great multitude with swords and staves from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign saying, "Whomsoever I shall kiss the same is he. Hold him fast." And forthwith he came to Jesus and said, "Hail, master." And kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, "Friend wherefore art thou come?" Notice Jesus' reaction to the kiss of betrayal. He said, called him friend. Then came they and laid hands on Jesus went him. Now, please I know you know the story, but I hope we can see some of the nuances of an obedient Christ in his humanity. And behold, one of them which were with Jesus, we know this to be again fly off the handle impetuous Peter. Behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, drew his sword, struck a servant of the high priest's and smote off his ear. Then said Jesus unto him, "Put up again the sword into his place. For all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword." Now, here is what I want us to get a grip on at this point. Jesus still had a choice not to be crucified. In his humanity, Jesus still HAD A CHOICE. HOW DO WE KNOW THAT? BECAUSE NOTICE WHAT HE SAID TO PETER. "THINKEST THOU THAT I CANNOT now pray to my Father? And he shall presently give me more than 12 legions of angels?" HE COULD HAVE CALLED 10,000 ANGELS. HE HAD IT IN HIS DISPOSAL. HIS HUMANITY KNEW THAT. HE SAID, "DON'T you know I could call legions of angels?" But then he asks this question. "But how then shall the scripture be fulfilled that it must be?" Oh, hallelujah. JESUS HAD A CHOICE. HE COULD CHOOSE HIMSELF OR HE could choose every one of us. HE COULD CHOOSE NOT TO SUFFER. HE COULD CHOOSE NOT ALL THE INDIGNITIES TO BE RELIEVED. HE COULD CHOOSE TO HAVE THE VICTORIOUS END AND CALL HIS ANGELS. FATHER, SEND THE LEGIONS. LET'S WIPE THIS BUNCH OUT. BUT HE SAID, "NO. Scripture won't be fulfilled. THIS MUST BE." JESUS HAD A CHOICE, AND LET ME TELL EVERYBODY IN THE HOUSE, SO do you. HE MADE A CHOICE OF SALVATION FOR ALL HUMANITY. WE HAVE A CHOICE TO MAKE for ourselves, every one of us. We have a choice THAT WE CAN MAKE ON HOW WE WILL spend eternity and how we will influence those around us. The most important decision we can make is surrender to God's will. The same Peter that we talked about, who had assaulted his servant, would later write under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost in 2 Peter 3, verse 9, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness, but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." Here's the insight to that first step. Peter said, "JESUS WANTS EVERYBODY TO REPENT. HE DOES NOT WANT ANYONE TO PERISH." He carried our griefs and our sorrows. He suffered for our healing. He died for our sins. He has done everything he can do to save us, but he still gave us a choice. We must be those who surrender our will just as he did if we're going to experience salvation that he purchased for us. For you see, our surrender also ends in obedience as well. Let me take us to a close with this victorious revelation from Romans 6. It said, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?" God forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein? Now, Peter already talked about repentance. But then verse 3 says, "Know you not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?" WERE YOU HERE SUNDAY NIGHT when two MORE PRECIOUS SOULS WERE BAPTIZED into Jesus' death? You see, THIS WAS THAT SYMBOLIC ACT WITH ABSOLUTE SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE. IT WAS A BURYING. REPENTANCE TOOK PLACE. I'M SORRY FOR MY SIN AND AND NOW THEY THEY WERE BEING BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST. THEREFORE, WE ARE BURIED WITH HIM BY BAPTISM INTO DEATH THAT LIKE AS CHRIST WAS RAISED UP FROM THE DEAD. HALLELUJAH. BY THE GLORY OF THE FATHER, EVEN SO WE ALSO SHOULD WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE. FOR IF WE HAVE BEEN PLANTED TOGETHER IN THE LIKENESS of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection. Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him. Why do we repent? Why are we baptized in his name? To rise to walk in newness of life. Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is free from sin. The death, the burial, and the resurrection. I know this may sound so simplistic, BUT IT'S JUST THAT EASY. FOLKS TRY TO MAKE IT TOO DIFFICULT. JUST OBEY HIS WORD. REPENT OF YOUR SINS. BE BAPTIZED IN JESUS' NAME. BE BAPTIZED IN HIS DEATH. THIS SYMBOLIC ACT AND THE RESURRECTION OF RISING FORTH. FOR IF WE BE DEAD WITH CHRIST, WE BELIEVE THAT WE SHALL ALSO live with him, KNOWING THAT CHRIST BEING RAISED from the dead dieth no more. Death has no dominion over him. One of the songs our praise team sings says, "Death is not the end. You are." Aren't you glad to know that? Stand with me. DEATH IS NOT THE END. JESUS, you are. YOU ARE OUR EXAMPLE. YOUR PRAYER LIFE, YOUR EXAMPLE OF BEING BETRAYED, but yet obedient. Verse 10 says, "For in that he died, he died unto sin once, but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God." Could we praise him together right now? Savior, I love you. Jesus, I thank you for the example that you are to us. Lord, that we have eternal life. God, I thank you that you suffered all the indignities, that you endured, that you were wounded for our transgressions. You were bruised for our iniquities. BY YOUR STRIPES were healed. Lord, and because you were betrayed, yet obedient, we have the opportunity to be obedient to your word and have eternal life in you. Now, Lord, let your word go deep into our hearts. Let us consistently talk to you in prayer. Lord, let us consistently serve you in all of our life and our lifestyle. God, let everything that we do always give you glory. For this, we're grateful and thankful. The name of Jesus we pray. Amen and amen. Lord, bless you. Remember, we have Evangelist Michael Muffin preaching for us Sunday morning. Sunday evening will be the graduation of Apostolic Christian School. Uh all the staff and students that are involved, there will be a brief rehearsal just after service Sunday. You're dismissed in Jesus' name.