7:12 AM EDT September 11, 2023:
Emerson, Lake & Palmer - "Hallowed Be Thy Name"
From the album Works Vol. 1
(March 17, 1977)
Last song scrobbled from iTunes at Last.fm
File under:
Song Titles used by both Iron Maiden and ELP
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6.] How do you get there?
I don't know how you get there, right?
Let me let me share with you one way that has
gotten me there over the last few years, turn to
Luke 22 with me.
It's the last moment of JESUS's private prayer
that's mentioned in the Gospel of Luke.
We looked at a whole bunch already, but in Luke 22
just where it begins with Judas going out to betray
JESUS & get the soldiers and hire them.
Most of Luke 22 is the Last Supper
It's the last Passover meal between JESUS and HIS
followers—right as meal concludes & they leave
Look at Luke 22:39
Luke 22:39 | ³⁹ JESUS went out as usual to the
Mount of Olives & the Disciples followed HIM
It says JESUS went out as usual to the Mount of Olives
& HIS Disciples followed HIM on reaching the place HE
said to them, pray that you'll not fall into temptation.
…………………………………………………………………………..………..
JESUS knows that a moment—HE knows within
12 hours HE's going to be hanging on the Roman
Cross & HE says pray the moment of decision
the ultimate moment of decision you guys of
your allegiance to ME is coming pray
…………………………………………………………………………..………..
That you don't fall & then HE withdrew as HE always
did—about a stone's throw beyond them, HE knelt
down & HE prayed FATHER if YOU are willing take
this cup from ME, yet not MY will—but YOURS be
done. This is the moment of agonized solitude
—an Angel from Heaven appeared to HIM
strengthening HIM, being in anguish
HE prayed more earnestly, HIS sweat was like drops
of blood falling to the ground—when HE rose from
prayer HE went back to the Disciples
& HE finds them doing what?
So JESUS, HE's utterly alone now.
HE has only the FATHER's presence with HIM, that
HE's aware of—but HE is in utter solitude even tho
HE has this circle of Disciples around HIM.
They're exhausted from sorrow & so you hear you
have this last moment of JESUS's prayer life
—at least this side of the Cross & resurrection and
it's a moment where HIS solitude, HE actually was
not trying to be alone.
HE went a stone's throw away—but the whole point
is that they would be with HIM in mutual support &
HE finds HIMSELF completely isolated
......................................................................................
Only the presence of the FATHER that HE's wrestling
with—in an agonized prayer, the last moments of
JESUS right where HE had HIS will to do..
......................................................................................
What HE thought HE should be doing were moments
of solitary prayer—but they were also moments of
abandonment of those who were closest to HIM.
And this to me so profound because in a way solitude
—choosing to cut yourself off from any input and all
relationship is a part of your regular practice
......................................................................................
That's a form of self-denial—so for some of us it's very
difficult to do this—& it's a form of death almost, it is
cutting yourself off so that you identify with JESUS and
HIS final moment of solitude.
......................................................................................
And so JESUS goes into this moment of solitude in
agonizing prayer because HE knows that the cross
is ahead of HIM.
This moment where HE's going to absorb into HIMSELF
cumulative effects—HIS & the FATHER's own judgment
on human failure & sin & selfishness in HIS own death
on the cross
And it's this moment of agonizing solitude:
Why did HE go & do that? Why did HE do that?
And the witness of all of the NT Scriptures is that HE
did that as an act of love for you & me—JESUS went
into the moment of complete abandonment—and
solitude precisely as an act of love & commitment
to those who would look to HIM in faith
So that in their moment of solitude and death, they
would have the promise of never being abandoned
So in these acts of solitude we place ourselves into
it's a pure response to the ONE WHO is completely
abandoned & isolated for me & my behalf
As an act of love & in my better moments—which
aren't that many, my heart is melted into a desire
to want to be in solitude with my SAVIOUR.
That's how I get there.
I don't know how you need to get there, but it
seems to me—it's only going to happen when
we see that we need this practice.
We need it in our lives to actually fully function
as human beings & as followers of JESUS.
Thank you
Prayer Practice Lead to Maturity P1,2,3,4,5,6 | Tim Mackie [Psalm 1:1-5]
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