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they learned the se cret of H is power so wondrously manifested in H is daily conflicts. They learned to know Him as th e Man of prayer. No doubt it was here they saw Him praying on th a t day when they said to Him, “Lord, teach us to p ray” (Luke 1 1 :1 ). They did not ask, “Teach us how to pray” for they knew how, bu t they wanted to be able to pray as He did, to prevail in prayer. One of the first secrets of real power in prayer is in having a place of prayer, a closet into which we may enter, a place set a p a rt as a meeting place, where we can wait in communion un til our souls have conscious touch w ith our Lord; un til His presence is real, and we are conscious of the breath of Heaven upon us. (Matt. 6:6.) “ B u t th o u , w h e n t h o u p r a y e s t, e n t e r in to t n y clo se t» a n d w h e n th o u h a s t s h u t t h y d o o r, p r a y t o t h y F a t h e r w h ic h is In s e c r e t : a n d t h y F a t h e r w h ic h s e e t h i n s e c r e t, s h a l l r e w a r d th e e o p e n ly .” (Phil. 4:6.) “ B e c a r e f u l f o r n o th in g :, h u t i n e v e r y th in g :, b y p r a y e r a n d s u p p lic a tio n w ith th a n k s g iv in g : l e t y o u r r e q u e s t s b e m a d e k n o w n n n to G o d , A n d t h e p e a c e o f G o d w h ic h p a s s e th a l l u n d e r s ta n d i n g s h a ll k e e p y o u r h e a r t s a n d m in d s th r o u g h C h r is t J e s u s .” Do we wish, sometimes, th a t we m ight have been w ith Him in th a t garden, ■ sitting a t His feet, listening to His words? Our privileges are far g reater th a n were those of the disciples. His presence can be as real to us as it was to them , for He lives w ithin us and will never leave us. (Heb. 13:5.) “ F o r h e h a t h s a id , I w ill n e v e r le a v e th e e , n o r f o r s a k e th e e .” Have you a place of prayer? Are you making th e most of your opportunity in it? Do you go, w ith a glad h eart, to meet Him there? (2) THE PLACE OF PER IL , vs. 45, 46, “R ise and pray, lest ye en ter into tem ptation.”
“ P e t e r s a id n n to h im , T h o u g h I s h o u l d ie w ith th e e , y e t w ill I n o t d e n y th e e L ik e w is e a ls o s a id a l l t h e d is c ip le s .” We m u st allow for the exciting events of th e day; th e strange message of the Master and H is prayer in the upper room ; His agonized face; th eir own deep sorrow. All these combined to weary th e flesh. The rebuke of th e Lord is gentle bu t penetrating. “Why sleep ye? Rise and pray, lest ye en ter into tem ptation.” When David wept (2 Sam. 3:32 ) all the people wept w ith him. But when David’s Son and Lord wept and sweat g reat drops of blood, H is followers went to sleep. Jesus felt keenly th e ir indifference and designed to teach them and to teach all of us a much needed lesson. We are all subject to temptation. Our only safety is in watching and praying. W e should be on th e a lert to see th e first tem ptation to sin so th a t it may be checked. When we find ourselves yield ing we should be alarmed. (Rom. 6:16.) “K n o w y e n o t t h a t t o w h o m y e y ie ld y o u r s e lv e s s e r v a n t s to o b e y , h is s e r v a n t y e a r e t o w h o m y e o b e y ? ” Had P eter rem ained awake he m ight have saved the others. We sh o u ld ' be on the guard against certain tendencies. How hum iliating to be found asleep once! How painful to be found th e th ird time! .(Mark 14:41.) (3) THE PLACE OF PERFIDY, vs. 47, 48, “ Judas, betrayest thou th e Son of man w ith a k iss?” W hat a sacrilege to th u s invade the holy place of prayer! Jud as knew the place, for often he had sa t th ere as th e Master opened th e Scriptures. He had seen Him th ere pouring out His soul to His F ath er. Now h e comes, w ith a band of soldiers, to apprehend th e Lord. Mark th e contrast between these two companies: Jesus and His little flock, quietly walking in the Garden, restfu l in th e consciousness of H is purpose to do the will of His F a th e r; approaching them is a band of soldiers w ith Judas,
Jesus had warned the disciples to watch, (v. 40) but He found them asleep! Even P eter who had been so sure he would never fail his Lord. (Matt. 26: 35).
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