Matthew 26:38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”
Following the Holy week, I read again the events that led to Jesus’ death. While in the garden of Gethsemane, I noticed a burden that Jesus wished could have been shared, but wasn’t.
This should be taken seriously within intercession as a whole.
We see Jesus with the inner three, but even after various pleas … Peter, James and John failed to watch with Jesus for an hour. The scripture says He was exceedingly sorrowful. Exceedingly, even unto death!
Sometimes all another person may need, is for you to not only be with them in low times (the ministry of presence) but to pray with them. Watch didn’t mean ‘be.’ It represents ‘fight with me, reason with the Lord with me, share in my travail…’
The Bible says one chases a thousand and two chase ten thousand (Deut 32:30). The maths doesn’t add up! The result of two or three gathering in His name is exponential and not merely additive!
Meaning, if my burden is two thousand, or five thousand, and alone I can only chase a thousand, your standing with me creates a strength more than enough to evaporate my extra weight or burden.
It means, the cup may not be taken away, but its suffering may be lightened. Or diluted, if another person watches with you well. Paul and Silas while in prison didn’t neglect the activity to another. They both praised God together. One could have been with the other, but asleep!
Their combined effort, and accord, did not only lead to their freedom. All chains were loosed! All the other prisoners benefited as well! Can you see the two ‘chasing’ ten thousand? All doors opened by themselves! All!
We see this pattern amidst Abednego, Shadrach and Meshach. We don’t know how the story would have gone if two of them got cold feet. Yes there is a place for individualistic consecration and testing and prayer. But there is also that of community.
Even the followers were in unison in that upper room…
May you be a partner worthy to share another’s burden. May you hold that dear friend’s cup of bitterness and sorrow, and help them drink it all, especially if it is God’s will for them. May you walk with others through the fire; being the assurance that the fire won’t consume them.
Likewise, may God send you men with understanding that can discern your seasons well with you. May they stand, and share in your travails; and watch with you, and stand with you, in crucial matters of your life; where you are at crossroads of destiny, or at junctions of kairos moments.
May you be that Naomi to a Ruth, or that Jonathan to a David. Or Elizabeth to Mary. May not only destiny helpers come, but burden bearers, fellow watchers, unconditional friends, and along with them the grace to share the burden (as two share a meal), and the ever present help: the Holy Spirit in bigger dimensions.
•
Isaiah 62:6-7 I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent, And give Him no rest till He establishes And till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.
Biggie's Big Blogs 