“My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” Matthew 26:38
Shortly before the passion of Christ, which was his destiny to bear the sin of many on the cross, a death that would reconcile those who believe in him to God, Jesus was exceedingly sorrowful.
Why was this so? His thoughts assailed him with the agonizing death he was going to endure for the sake of humanity.
Flowing unceasingly into his mind coupled with the thoughts of agony was the hatred of the Jews whom he loved but who wanted him dead to protect their religion by resisting the truth that would have set them free forever. Of course, there was the treachery of Judas a disciple, and the foreknowledge of the denial of Peter.
Essentially, before the greatest contest in the universe, between Satan who held men bound, away from the liberating power of God, there was the trial of the soul of Jesus.
To overcome this heavy burden laid on his holy shoulders Jesus resorted to prayers, seeking the Overcoming Spirit. He endured because He knew that the outcome of the dreary experience has eternal consequences.
During his agony as he prayed, “His sweat was, as it were, great drops of blood falling down upon the ground” (Luke 22:44) but an angel came from heaven to strengthen him.
What does this teach us? It means that Satan would contest for our soul and destiny with all his might but like Jesus, we would have to do more than be sorrowful or shrink back in defeat from his assailing forces directed at discouraging our soul, we would have to pray, and in praying arrive at the place of an Overcoming Spirit.
Once we know that our decision to press on have present and eternal consequences we would press on to the place of an Overcoming Spirit.
The solemn fact remains that every man who strives for a righteous advancement in soul and spirit shall be met by satanic resistance (See Revelation 12:12), he would contest for every soul that seeks to escape from his grasp, and as he advances in righteousness God himself (in faithfulness) would often use trials to grow his soul into the place of a firm commitment as He continues to wean him from all worldliness.
Therefore, in the pilgrimage of righteousness there is often no soft pillow for men, ‘In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.’ (2 Timothy 3:12).
But thankfully God in His infinite mercy knows how much trial and temptation the righteous can take and He is with him all the way as prays on to receiving the Overcoming Spirit. In 1 Corinthians 10:13 we see this glorious consolation:
‘No temptation has overtaken you, but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it’.
Essentially, there is no new curriculum on the way to an Overcoming Spirit that other men have not endured and overcome even though Satan loves to lie to our spirit telling us that we are the only one undergoing such a ‘strange test and trial’.
These are part of the assailing thoughts meant to isolate our spirit and discourage us from praying till we overcome, and then have us turn back to satanic captivity.
Beloved, no matter what you are going through or what you may go through, if you remain steadfast on the path of righteousness know one sure thing that God is Faithful.
Take for example Abraham who was called the father of faith and a friend of God, the bible told us how he grappled with the devises of Satan for his divine allotment and even for his generation unborn.
Following the night of a glorious revelation when Abraham had received the assurance that his seed should be countless as the stars, God led Abraham into a dark satanic plot that would attempt to frustrate the divine plan of God for his generational promise, saying ‘“Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. (Genesis 15:13).
Just as Satan thought he had the last laugh after the death of Jesus, not being privy to His resurrection and eventual victory, God also gave Abraham a counter plan of victory assuring him “But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions’. (Vs 14).
Here we see that after a glorious revelation there would always be a counter offensive strategy of Satan to deter a promise, but we should be assured that there will always be a redeeming victory planned by God for his children because He is Faithful.
Revelation 19:11 opens our eyes to the character of the risen Jesus who helps us in all our battles and trials of righteousness, and this should serve to encourage us in our walk of faith: ‘Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war’.
Beloved, in the scheme of Satan there may be an absence of resistance and an initial glory, but the truth is that Satan has no good thing for anyone, and all his ways are at best a deception ‘to steal and kill and destroy’; but only Jesus offers eternal life and peace (John 10:10).
Trials in the things of God are to grow you and deliver you from the love of this world which is presently ruled by Satan while trials in the world outside of Jesus are designed by the wicked one to deceive, destroy and hold captive.
Beloved, life is a battle, but there is a choice to be made in the battlefield of life: to side with Satan for a passing glory or side with Jesus for eternal treasures.
Our choices have consequences. God himself had warned about the consequences of our choices and I bring this warning again to you today:
‘This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live’ (Deuteronomy 30:19).
Reading
Matthew 26:36-56
