THE ESSENCE OF MID-NIGHT PRAYERS

                                                            

                                                                      GENERAL INTRODUCTION

Why pray in the midnight? Midnight (or hours between 11.00pm and 3.00am) is known to be the most spiritual active period of the day. You will notice that dreams, revelations, attacks, visitations from the spirit world (both by angels and demonic powers) often come by this time, especially when you are sleeping.

I. It was "while men slept" that the enemy sowed his tares among the wheat. The phrase is equivalent to "at night," and must not be further urged. This enemy seized his opportunity when all eyes were closed in sleep, and wrought the secret mischief upon which he was intent, and, having wrought it undetected, withdrew.

II. The enemy that sowed them is the devil. We behold Satan here, not as he works beyond the limits of the Church, deceiving the world, but in his far deeper malignity, as he at once mimics and counterworks the work of Christ.

III. The mischief done, the enemy "went his way," and thus the work did not evidently at once appear to be his. How often, in the Church, the beginnings of evil have been scarcely discernible, and that which bore the worst fruit in the end will have shown at first like a higher form of good.

IV. In the question, "Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?" the temptation to use violent means for the suppression of error—a temptation which the Church itself has sometimes failed to resist—finds its voice and utterance. But they who thus speak are unfit to be trusted in the matter. Our Lord’s answer, "Nay," does not imply that the tares shall never be plucked up, but only that this is not the time, and they not the doers. "Let both grow together until the harvest,"—pregnant words, which tell us that evil is not, as many dream, gradually to wane and disappear before good, the world to find itself in the Church, but each to unfold itself more fully out of its own root, till at last they stand face to face, each in its highest manifestation, in the persons of Christ and of Antichrist—on the one hand an incarnate God, on the other the man in whom the fulness of all Satanic power will dwell bodily. Both must grow until the harvest—till they are ripe, one for destruction, and the other for full salvation.

R. C. Trench, Notes on the Parables, p. 80.

References: Mat_13:24.—A. P. Stanley, Christian World Pulpit, vol. xix., p. 81. Mat_13:24, Mat_13:25.—C. Girdlestone, A Course of Sermons, vol. i., p. 175. Mat_13:24-30.—R. Winterbotham, Sermons and Expositions, p. 122; R. Calderwood, The Parables of our Lord, p. 199; Homiletic Quarterly, vol. i., p. 470; M. Lucas, Ibid., vol. xv., p. 355; Clergyman’s Magazine, vol. ii., p. 80; J. C. Jones, Studies in St. Matthew, p. 199; J. Sherman, Thursday Penny Pulpit, vol. iii., p. 163; A. B. Bruce, Parabolic Teaching of Christ, p. 38; C. Kingsley, Discipline and other Sermons, p. 274. Mat_13:24-43.—Parker, Inner Life of Christ, vol. ii., p. 235; J. R. Macduff, Parables of the Lake, p. 72.

“For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I AM THE LORD” (Exodus 12:12 KJV).
“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.” (Acts 16:25 – 26 KJV).
One of the most powerful spiritual tools that God has given, but grossly neglected by Christians, is the midnight prayer. Midnight prayer (or vigil) is the prayer done about 12am. From the Bible and through ages, the prayers done around this particular time have always brought tremendous and unprecedented results. As a Christian, it is imperative that you live a life of vigil. There are levels you can never attain in the spirit without mastering the act of praying in the midnight. There are levels of revelations you cannot get without prolonged midnight prayers. And there are also satanic entities, thrones and chains you can never dismantle unless through prolonged midnight battles. The aim of this write-up is to awaken the church (Christians) to this great spiritual weapon made available to us by God. I believe (and by experience too) that any Christian that masters the act of praying in the midnight will ultimately control what happens in the day.
Why pray in the midnight? Midnight (or hours between 11.00pm and 3.00am) is known to be the most spiritual active period of the day. You will notice that dreams, revelations, attacks, visitations from the spirit world (both by angels and demonic powers) often come by this time, especially when you are sleeping. And the reason is simple: Human beings are easily overwhelmed while asleep. Naturally, the body is always weak at this time. And this makes it susceptible to any spiritual manipulation. For one to be powerful in the spirit world, the person’s human spirit must be guided and led by a higher Spirit, which in the case of a Christian is the Holy Spirit. Let’s not go farther with this explanation. All I want to say is that midnight is always a period of intense spiritual activities both by the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Satan.
If you must control the activities around you and dismantle Satanic ordinances in your life, then you must learn to wake up at midnight to fight against the powers of darkness. For example, look at the activities of the witches and wizards. These are agents of darkness possessed by the spirit of witchcraft. This spirit is known to be one of the most wicked spirits in the kingdom of darkness. It revels in causing harm and sometimes totally destroying human beings. The witches don’t have the word mercy in their dictionary. That is why a person, even a relation that is possessed with this wicked spirit, can go ahead and destroy the closest person to him/her. And these set of agents of darkness mostly operate in the midnight.
Their mode of operation is usually to shoot their evil arrows (attacks) while their victim is asleep. And by the time the person wakes up, he/she will see everything going wrong. They can attack businesses, ministries, marriages and relationships, health, etc. Sometimes, destinies of the victims are taken to their Covens (where they meet) and tied. Or the victim is killed outrightly. God knew how terrible these wicked agents of Satan are, consequently He commanded Israel not to allow them (witches) to stay alive.
Now, our interest here is that for you to battle and defeat these agents of darkness that mostly operate in the midnight, you must also be awake at the same time of their operation. You must wake up to render their evil arrows, enchantments, curses and incantations against you ineffective. And not just that, you can at the same cause serious and perpetual havoc on them. All these can only be possible through powerful and sustained midnight prayers.
Not just the witches. We are also aware that the most dangerous satanic sacrifices and wicked ordinances are usually done in the middle of the night. If God opens our eyes to see what goes on in our society or even around us at midnight, we will be shocked. So many people you see looking innocent, honourable and decent in the day get involved in some satanic and devilish activities in the night. This does not stop them from coming to church, donating money to religious bodies and charity. Some are actually moving ‘satanic altars’.
How can the Christian or the church battle against all these? It’s only by engaging in very dynamic, prolonged prayers, especially in the middle of the night.
Now, the Bible does not keep us ignorant of the activities that go on in the night hours. Job said: “Do not long for the cover of night, for that is when people will be destroyed (people are cut off in their place)” Job 36:20. The Psalmist calls it “the terrors of the night” (Psalms 91:5). Then Jesus said that night is the time when the enemy comes to sow tares (Matthew 13:25).
You may not believe it, most of the problems we’re going through today were first shot into our lives by demonic forces while we were sleeping. Do you know that almost everything about this life is decided in the spirit realm before they manifest physically? This explains why some of us will always see things (including blessings) in our dreams or visions before we receive them physically. Does it happen to you? The same is with satanic arrows. They are first shot in the spirit realm before they manifest physically.
Nothing happens just like that. There is always a cause in the spirit realm, then the effect in the physical. We must wake up and begin to control our midnights. This is where we have the battlefield. And our exploits here will determine how great, powerful, prosperous and healthy we will become in the daytime.
Please, we’ll go into the examples of great men and women (including Jesus) in the Bible, who won their midnight battles and consequently controlled the day.

PROPHETIC PRAYERS BY GOD'S PROPHET: DR. D. K. OLUKOYA 

“While men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.” (Matthew 13:25)

The midnight battle is a programme vomited by the Holy Ghost in order to arouse the Lord of Hosts to fight your battles and give you total victory.

This is a program of uninterrupted prayer and spiritual warfare targeted at disgracing the enemies of your destiny.
[adsense]
Through this prayer session, God shall lift your head over the heads of your enemies. Welcome to the Holy Ghost hour, the hour of Midnight Battles. Follow the prayer session till the end, and your testimony shall give birth to multiple testimonies.
– By Dr. Daniel Olukoya.

Anchor Scripture: Psalm 2: 1-end

1.      My Father, I am in your courtroom now, avenge me of my adversaries, in Jesus Name.

2.      Domestic witchcraft, I drag you to the court of the Almighty, in Jesus Name.

3.      My stubborn enemies, I drag you to the court of the Almighty, in Jesus Name.

4.      Enemies of my progress, I drag you to the court of the Almighty, in Jesus Name.

5.      O God Arise! Judge them by fire! in Jesus Name.

6.      Garment of darkness on my body, CATCH FIRE! in Jesus Name.

7.      Power of environmental covens, Die, in Jesus Name.

8.      Opportunity wasters, my life is not your candidate, Die! in Jesus Name.

9.      Any chain binding my finances, Break Now! in Jesus Name.

10. Spiritual powerlessness, Die! in Jesus Name.

11. Drinkers of blood and eaters of flesh, Hear the word of the Lord, DIE! in Jesus Name.

12. My inner-man RECEIVE FIRE! (Pray it like machine-gun by repeating it several times), in Jesus Name.

13. By the power that healed blind Bartemaeus, O God Arise! Heal me by Fire! in Jesus Name.

14. Power of infirmity, Die, in Jesus Name.

15. Inherited infirmities, you are a liar! Die! in Jesus Name.

16. Blood of Jesus, sanitize my blood, in Jesus Name.

17. Witchcraft-sponsored infirmities, BACK-FIRE! in Jesus Name.

18. Bondage of infirmities, B-R-E-A-K! in Jesus Name.

19. Curses of infirmity B-R-E-A-K! in Jesus Name.

20. Any power prolonging infirmity, DIE! in Jesus Name.

21. Eaters of flesh; Drinkers of blood, my life is not your candidate, therefore, DIE! in Jesus Name.

22. Arrows of infirmity assigned against my head, B-A-C-K-F-I-R-E! in Jesus Name.

23. Agents of infirmity from my food, Die! in Jesus Name.

24. My Father, You are the One who created times and seasons, and You put me here to operate, I thank You Father for bringing me here today, by the power of the Holy Ghost, I recover my destiny from the hands of the wicked. Father, as David cried unto You, so do I cry today, that: Father, my times are in Your Hands deliver me from my wicked enemies. OH GOD ARISE AND RESCUE MY DESTINY FROM THE HANDS OF THE WICKED in Jesus Name.

25. (Raise up your right hand to the heavenlies). In the name of Jesus, I de-programme whatever the enemy has programmed into the sun, into the moon and into the stars, concerning my life. I destroy every evil that has been programmed against me in the heavenlies, in the name of Jesus. Every enchantment, every evil pronouncement, that has been made against me into the atmosphere, I nullify them by Fire! I nullify them by Fire!! I nullify them by Fire!!! in Jesus Name.

26. Every altar of darkness raised against me in the heavenlies, DIE! in Jesus Name. (Kill the altar of darkness).

27. Every problem programmed into my life from the heavenlies, DIE! in Jesus Name.

28. Blood of Jesus, Wipe Out, the handwriting of darkness assigned against me in the heavenlies, in Jesus Name.

29. Every arrow fired against me from the heavenlies, B-A-C-K-F-I-R-E! in Jesus Name.

30. Every diviner assigned against me from the heavenlies, RUN MAD! in Jesus Name.

31. My Father! Arise! Fight for me Now! in Jesus Name.

32. Every power assigned to destroy my destiny, DIE! in Jesus Name.

33. Every power of frustration that pursued me last year, Your Time Is Up! DIE! in Jesus Name.

34. Every enemy of my promotion and advancement S-C-A-T-T-E-R in Jesus Name.

35. Every operation of darkness in my family line, DIE! in Jesus Name.

36. I shall have unstoppable advancement in Jesus Name.

37. This year, the wealth of the unbelievers shall be transferred to my bosom, in Jesus Name.

38. This year, my star shall arise and fall no more, in Jesus Name.

39. This year, men shall chase me around with blessings, in Jesus Name.

40. I recover ten-fold all my wasted years, in Jesus Name.

41. Every power of the night programmed against my progress, S-C-A-T-T-E-R! in Jesus Name.

42. Mountain of affliction before me, S-C-A-T-T-E-R! in Jesus Name.

43. Every dream affliction, Die! in Jesus Name.

44. This year, men shall compete to favour me, in Jesus Name.

45. Every evil hand that shall point to my star this year, W-H-I-T-H-E-R! in Jesus Name.

46. Every satanic malpractice over my family, I cut you off! in Jesus Name.

47. Every power assigned to use my life as a dumping ground, C-A-T-C-H-F-I-R-E! in Jesus Name.

48. Every tree of failure of my father’s house, Die! in Jesus Name.

49. (Sing three hot songs with boiling aggression… No. 1 song: Let God Arise and my enemies be scattered [3ce] Let God, My God Arise. No. 2 song: The Lion of Judah has broken every yoke, He has given me the victory again and again. No. 3 song: The walls of Jericho fell down flat, As children of God we’re praising the Lord, the walls of Jericho fell down flat.) EVERY WALL OF JERICHO ASSIGNED AGAINST MY SUCCESS, S-C-A-T-T-E-R! in Jesus Name.

50. Every opposition against my possession, DIE! in Jesus Name.

51. Every tongue anointed by satan to speak against my life, You Are A LIAR! DIE! in Jesus Name.

52. Every power declaring that it is over for me, You Are A LIAR! DIE! in Jesus Name.

53. Every good thing that I have laid my hands upon, my hands shall finish it, in Jesus Name.

54. Every yoke upon my hands, B-R-E-A-K! in Jesus Name.

55. Any curse issued against my hands, B-R-E-A-K! in Jesus Name.

56. Thou power of poor finishing, DIE! in Jesus Name. (I refuse to finish poor).

57. Thou power of bad luck, DIE! in Jesus Name.

58. Serpents of death; serpents of wastage, assigned against my hands, DIE! in Jesus Name.

59. Every strongman assigned against my hands, What Are You Waiting For? DIE! in Jesus Name.

60. Every evil power of my father’s house assigned against my hands, DIE! in Jesus Name. (Lift up your two hands and wave it to the Lord, as u are waving those hands, every arrow of darkness upon the hands is being shaken out, every cobwebs and spirit of death and hell upon the hand are being taken out….)

61. Blood of Jesus, Arise in your POWER! ENVELOPE my hands! in Jesus Name. (declare this seven times with faith in your voice: “My hands have laid foundations, my hands shall also finish it in the name of Jesus”).

62. My hands shall bury bad things; it shall not bury good things, in Jesus Name.

63. Any power that has tied down my destiny, BREAK-LOOSE, from my life, in Jesus Name.

64. Wherever the stars have been programmed to disturb my destiny, O God Arise! Manifest your POWER! in Jesus Name.

65. Every witchcraft power toying with my destiny, DIE! in Jesus Name.

66. O God of Elijah! ATTACK my red sea! in Jesus Name.

67. My Father! Reshuffle my environment to favour me! in Jesus Name. (Let there be a re-shuflement to favour me).

68. My Father! If I have been disconnected from the socket of my destiny, reconnect me by fire! in Jesus Name.

69. My Father, whatever you have not positioned into my life, wipe them off! in Jesus Name.

70. O God Arise! And dismantle the poison in my foundation! in Jesus Name.

71. Negative circumstances that is affecting my success, BOW! in Jesus Name.

72. I curse the spirit of backwardness, in Jesus Name.

73. Every witchcraft register bearing my destiny, C-A-T-C-H-F-I-R-E! in Jesus Name.

74. Every power delaying the manifestation of my breakthroughs, DIE! in Jesus Name.

75. O God Arise! And rearrange my circumstances to bring me into glory! in Jesus Name.

76. Every proclamation of the powers of darkness against my life, DIE! in Jesus Name.

77. O God Arise! And package testimonies for me in Jesus Name.

78. Satanic decree working against my life, DIE! in Jesus Name. (Nullify the decree, cancel it).

79. Every calendar of the enemy, working against my life, CLEAR AWAY! in Jesus Name.

80. You evil programmers, let me go! in Jesus Name.

81. Anything programmed into my foundation to waste my destiny, DIE! in Jesus Name.

82. Any seasonal problem, programmed into my life, I de-programme you by fire! in Jesus Name.

83. You altar of evil programmers, assigned against my life, DIE! in Jesus Name.

84. My Father! If I have obeyed any evil command, KILL IT! in the name of Jesus.

85. Witchcraft programming; You are A LIAR! DIE! in the name of Jesus.

86. Any negative power, programmed against my head, JUMP OUT NOW! in the name of Jesus.

87. Satanic programming in the dream, Your Time Is Up! Therefore, DIE! in the name of Jesus.

88. Every witchcraft material planted into my life from the womb, DIE! in the name of Jesus.

89. In the Name of the King of kings, In the name of the Lord of lords, In the name of the President of presidents: JESUS CHRIST! Every witchcraft bondage in my life, B-R-E-A-K!

90. Any power calling my name into a cauldron, You Are A LIAR! DIE! in the name of Jesus.

91. Blood of Jesus, WIPE OFF every witchcraft name assigned against me, in the name of Jesus.

92. Every witchcraft padlock assigned against me, LOCK UP YOUR OWNER, in the name of Jesus.

93. Every astral projection against my life, BE ARRESTED! in the name of Jesus.

94. Every witchcraft power that have set eyes on me, RECEIVE BLINDNESS! in the name of Jesus.

95. Every witchcraft coven assigned against my destiny, S-C-A-T-T-E-R! in the name of Jesus.

96. Poverty stronghold, I cast u down, I set u ablaze! in the name of Jesus.

97. Every power contesting for my oil, DIE! in the name of Jesus.

98. Every good thing stolen from my life by night, COME BACK NOW! in the name of Jesus.

99. Every good thing stolen from my life by the day, COME BACK! in the name of Jesus.

100.                     Arrows of the day, Arrows of the night assigned against my life, B-A-C-K-F-I-R-E! in the name of Jesus.

101.                     Every mouth of the wicked speaking against me, SHUT UP! in the name of Jesus.

102.                     Ministry of fear in my life, DIE! DIE!! DIE!!! in the name of Jesus.

103.                     Every power stealing my promotion, DIE! in the name of Jesus.

104.                     Every abnormal pattern in my family line, DIE! in the name of Jesus. [Pray this seven hot times]

105.                     O God Arise and make me a wonder! in the name of Jesus.

106.                     Every power reporting me to witchcraft meetings, DIE! DIE!! DIE!!! in the name of Jesus.

107.                     Every meeting summoned to waste my life, in the name of Jesus.

108.                     Information about my life present on any wicked altar, C-A-T-C-H-F-I-R-E! in the name of Jesus.

109.                     Camera of darkness, taking my pictures in the dark world, C-A-T-C-H-F-I-R-E! in the name of Jesus.

110.                     Every inherited power assigned to waste my destiny, COME OUT NOW! In the name of Jesus.

111.                     Communication gadgets of darkness transferring my information, C-A-T-C-H-F-I-R-E! in the name of Jesus.

112.                     Every agenda, Every programme, Every plan of darkness for my life, DIE! in the name of Jesus.

113.                     My wealth, buried in the earth, COME FORTH! in the name of Jesus.

114.                     Every arrow of witchcraft fired into my prosperity, DIE!!! in the name of Jesus.

115.                     Garment of poverty, C-A-T-C-H-F-I-R-E! in the name of Jesus.

116.                     You financial killer of my father’s house, I am not your candidate! Therefore, DIE!!! in the name of Jesus.

117.                     Expected and unexpected financial breakthrough, LOCATE ME BY FIRE! in the name of Jesus.

118.                     Poverty activator dreams, Hear the word of the Lord! S-C-A-T-T-E-R! in the name of Jesus.

119.                     O God Arise and use me to change my family history, in the name of Jesus.

120.                     My end shall be better than my beginning, in the name of Jesus.

121.                     Anything buried that is pulling me down, DIE! in the name of Jesus.

122.                     Oracles of my father’s house, speaking against my progress, in the name of Jesus.

123.                     Power of collective captivity, my life is not your candidate, therefore, S-C-A-T-T-E-R! in the name of Jesus.

124.                     Parental curses, that is working against my life, CLEAR AWAY!!! in the name of Jesus.

125.                     I rewrite my family history by the power in the blood of Jesus.

126.                     Any problem that came into my life through any dead relative, you are a liar, DIE!!! in the name of Jesus.

127.                     My life, reject wastage, in the name of Jesus.

128.                     Every agenda of the enemy to capture my spirit-man, FAIL! in the name of Jesus.

129.                     Spirit of perdition, spirit of perverseness, LOOSE YOUR HOLD, upon my life, in the name of Jesus.

130.                     Every power tying me down to iniquity, B-R-E-A-K-A-W-A-Y!!! in the name of Jesus.

131.                     Hell fire shall not harvest my life, in the name of Jesus.

132.                     My Father, if I am presently wrongly scheduled, RESCHEDULE ME! in the name of Jesus.

133.                     The enemy would not write the last chapter of my life, in the name of Jesus.

134.                     Every evil master, rejoicing at my sadness, DIE! in the name of Jesus.

135.                     Every power drawing my virtues, You are a LIAR! DIE! in the name of Jesus.

136.                     My transferred blessings, hear the word of the Lord, C-O-M-E B-A-C-K!!! in the name of Jesus.

137.                     Every padlock holding down my progress, C-A-T-C-H-F-I-R-E! in the name of Jesus.

138.                     Spiritual robbers in my habitation, LOOSE YOUR POWER!!! in the name of Jesus.

139.                     [For Sisters only] Satanic agents wearing my wedding garments, Take It OFF by Fire! in the name of Jesus.

140.                     [For Brothers Only] Power of hard labour, DIE!!! in the name of Jesus.

141.                     Merchants of souls, assigned against my destiny, DIE! in the name of Jesus.

142.                     My heavens OPEN! My rain of blessing FALL!! in the name of Jesus.

143.                     My Father, do anything to turn my life around, in the name of Jesus.

144.                     Commanded blessings! Overtaking Blessings!! Added Blessings!!! APPEAR IN MY LIFE!!! in the name of Jesus.

145.                     O God of the turn-around, I am here, LOCATE ME NOW! in the name of Jesus.

146.                     Star Hunters, assigned against me, DIE! in the name of Jesus.

147.                     Powers assigned to make my life useless, DIE! in the name of Jesus.

148.                     My breakthroughs from the 4 corners of the earth, LOCATE ME NOW! in the name of Jesus.

149.                     Any power disconnecting me from the virtues of the Lord, DIE! in the name of Jesus.

150.                     My lost FIRE! COME BACK!!! in the name of Jesus.

151.                     Powers assigned to push me to the back, E-X-P-I-R-E!!! in the name of Jesus.

152.                     In my dream life, My Father, APPEAR!!! in the name of Jesus.

153.                     My eyes OPEN! SEE the Lord!! in the name of Jesus.

154.                     What stopped my father, will not stop me! in the name of Jesus.

155.                     Power of limitation, you are a LIAR! DIE!!! in the name of Jesus.

156.                     I dismantle every power of backwardness, in the name of Jesus.

157.                     Every power assigned to disorganise my life, you are a LIAR! DIE! in the name of Jesus.

158.                     My hands Receive power to prosper, in the name of Jesus.

159.                     My Father, rearrange my circumstances to catapult my life, in the name of Jesus.

160.                     Every power reporting me to covens You Are A LIAR! DIE! in the name of Jesus.

Matthew 26:36

The Conflict in Gethsemane.

I. The place of the conflict calls for a brief notice. Gethsemane is now only a name for one of the booths in Vanity Fair. There are two rival Gethsemanes, and rival guides wrangle about the truth of this and that local identification. One place, called the true Gethsemane, is walled round by the Latins. Another, a little more to the north, is walled round by the Greeks; both enclosures being under lock and key. The New Testament lends no help to enquiries that have reference to sanctity of places.

II. The story of this conflict. (1) Its intensity is the first fact in the story that strikes us. (2) This awful inward conflict was in a scene of outward peace. (3) The conflict wrung from the Saviour a great cry: "O, My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou wilt." We have a glimpse here of the conflict carried on by Christ for us, single-handed. (4) We see that under all the sorrows of the Man of Sorrows, in this night of conflict, there was tender personal thought about His disciples.

III. The sleep of the disciples while this conflict was going on. While the Lord’s great cry rang they were dropping asleep. On three occasions He came back from His own terrible post, that He might see how they were faring at theirs, and on these occasions He found them asleep. "Couldest not thou watch one hour?" He had only asked Peter and his associates to watch. As a true man, He longed to have at least their sympathy, though He would not have their cooperative work. In your measure you know the feeling. "The spirit, indeed, is willing; but the flesh is weak." There was tender remonstrance, but not severe reproof. The sleep of the disciples has been cited as a sign of indifference; but it was treated by Jesus only as a symptom of mortality. In the case of excessive sorrow and care, the immense fatigue demands the enormous sleep. There is no master so merciful as He, no friend who makes such allowances. This quick apology of love for weakness is set on record for all who need it; and we, ashamed of our slumbers, and alarmed at our deadness of soul to things tremendous, may sometimes be kept from despondency by these words of Christ—golden words to be hidden in our most sacred treasury.

C. Stanford, Evening of Our Lord’s Ministry, p. 171.

References: Mat_26:36.—Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. xii., No. 693; H. J. Wilmot-Buxton, Sunday Sermonettes for a Year, p. 199; Preacher’s Monthly, vol. vii., p. 215.

Matthew 26:36-46

Gethsemane.

I. The first thing to which we direct attention, is the intense severity of the suffering which now overwhelmed and oppressed the mind of Christ. The extreme severity of Christ’s sufferings in the garden are indicated by several circumstances. (1) It appears that as soon as He had retired with the three disciples who were permitted to be near Him, the internal conflict commenced, and a sudden change took place in His appeareance. "He began to be sorrowful and very heavy." There was a complete prostration of the bodily powers; a suspension or deprivation, so to speak, of nervous energy. His internal strength seemed to fail and forsake Him, and He appeared in danger of passively yielding to the onset of sorrow, as if it were hopeless to bear up against it. (2) The next particular that shows the severity of His suffering, is the language in which He Himself describes it, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death." (3) The crushing and agonising nature of our Lord’s sufferings may be seen in His earnest appeal to His three friends: "Tarry ye here, and watch with Me." (4) There appeared an angel from heaven, strengthening Him. But this shows to what a mysterious condition of weakness He was reduced. Physically and mentally He was brought very low, and needed to have His anguish assuaged, His courage recalled, and His frame supported, by one from heaven.

II. The seat of our Lord’s suffering was the soul. The Scriptures seem to refer to three sources of this distress and anguish. (1) There was some mysterious conflict with the great adversary of God and man. (2) There was some mysterious infliction direct from the hand of God, some wonderful withdrawal of His countenance and complacency, or, at least, of their sensible manifestation. (3) Our iniquities were laid upon Him, and He bore the curse and penalty of transgression.

III. Note the conduct of Jesus under His mysterious trial. He was sorrowful, amazed, and very heavy; but He roused Himself to pray, and was heard in that He feared. He was not literally delivered from death, nor from those deadly mental pangs, so much worse than the cross itself; but He was saved from sinking under them, He was strengthened by an angel sent to Him from the Father, and was thus enabled to bear up until the darkness had passed away.

T. Binney, King’s Weigh-house Chapel Sermons, 2nd series, p. 150.

References: Mat_26:36-41.—A. B. Bruce, The Training of the Twelve, p. 469. Mat_26:36-46.—Homiletic Quarterly, vol. xv., p. 70; Christian World Pulpit, vol. ii., p. 325. Mat_26:36-50.—Preacher’s Monthly, vol. i., p. 275.