Pray that God Strengthens Your Soul (Matt. 6:13; Luke 21:36; Heb. 12:1-2)

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Pray that God Strengthens Your Soul (Matt. 6:13; Luke 21:36; Heb. 12:1-2)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on Sunday, February 8, 2026

Pray that God Strengthens Your Soul (Matt. 6:13; Luke 21:36; Heb. 12:1-2)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on Sunday, February 8, 2026

How does prayer affect revival?

Listen to this-

Tim Keller writes:

Let me tell you about the 1850s. In 1855, London churches were dead and in a lot of trouble. There was a great big Baptist chapel called New Park Street Chapel that seated 1,500 people, and only 150 or so people were ever there. It was a typical big-city church, great big sanctuary, built for all these people, and there’s just a little tiny group of people huddled together in one corner. They called a 19-year-old man to preach at that church. He had never even finished high school. His name was Charles Spurgeon.

Spurgeon led lots of people to begin to pray for a visitation of God, and he even developed a structure where the people … There was always a group of people praying for him whenever he preached. For the rest of his life he had people who probably never heard him preach because they always prayed for him when he was preaching. There were 150 people or less in that church when he got there. One year later, there were 3,000 people coming, and he baptized 300 converts.

It got worse and worse. They had to knock the building down, so while they were building a new building they went into something called the Surrey Music Hall that seated 10,000 people, and sure enough, whenever he was in there 10,000 people showed up. At one point they went to something called the Crystal Palace which seated 27,000 people, and sure enough, 27,000 people showed up.

In the year 1859, the revival broke out across the world. In 1859, not only did Spurgeon have a thousand converts get baptized and come into his church, but in that year a little group of people started praying. A group of six businessmen at Fulton Street started praying in September, I think, of 1858, and by a year later there were 10,000 businessmen praying every noon for a visitation of God. It broke out.

Some of these names may not mean much to you at this point, but Hudson Taylor, who went to China; Dwight Moody, who was a great preacher and mover and founder of colleges and so on; the Cambridge Seven; which was not a group of people who were up on charges at some courtroom but was seven graduates of the University of Cambridge who went into missions … All of the men and women who were to lead the church for the next 40 years were all converted that year: 1859.

For example, we believe that during that tremendous awakening, one-third of all of the population of Northern Ireland was converted and brought into the church. At least two million new people joined the churches in the northeast United States from 1858 to 1859. Two million … back when the population was considerably smaller.[1]

We are spending a year-long focus on prayer.

Today, my theme is:

Pray that God strengthens your soul.

  1. Luke 21:36 is about praying for spiritual strength, but what is the context?
    1. Context:
    2. Beginning in Luke 21:25, Jesus begins teaching about the signs that will precede His second coming.
    3. In Luke 21:5-24, Jesus warned of the destruction of the Temple.
  2. Let’s look at the events preceding Jesus’s second coming.
    1. Luke 21:25–26 (ESV)
    2. 25 “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
    3. He is now speaking of something more distant.
    4. Signs in the heavens- sun, moon, and stars. These may be metaphorical and not literal.
    5. Nations dealing with calamities.
    6. One source shares: Jesus described the days prior to the second coming itself as days of upheaval—cosmic, 21:25a, 26b (cf. Jl 2:30–31; Ac 2:19–20a); international, Lk 21:25b; terrestrial, 21:25c; and social, 21:26a (cf. Rv 15–19). “Humans will be overcome by fear” (Bock, Luke, 1683).[2]
    7. Luke 21:27–28 (ESV)
    8. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
    9. Now, they see Jesus. “Son of Man” is Jesus’s favorite title for Himself. This goes back to Daniel 7:13ff.
    10. Jesus is coming on the clouds with power and great glory.
    11. Jesus is coming again.
    12. Look at verse 28:
    13. You see these things begin to take place…
    14. Straighten up and raise your heads, your redemption is drawing near.
    15. It is as if He is saying, “Don’t be discouraged. Look up! Be encouraged!”
    16. Before this, Jesus talked about the many difficult times as the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. Then Jesus taught about the cosmic upheaval that would occur in the future.
    17. Many think this is now at the beginning, or some point, during the tribulation period. If so, there is a lot of suffering.
    18. Jesus says, “Your redemption is drawing near.”
    19. “Redemption here is used in a broad sense, not deliverance from the penalty of sin but deliverance from a fallen world” (Bock, Luke, 1687). Jesus’ return will mark the ultimate victory over the forces of the world and Satan.[3]
    20. Redemption refers to the time of Christ’s return, when mortality puts on immortality (1 Cor. 15:53) and the redemption of the body takes place (Rom. 8:23).[4]
  3. The lesson of the Fig Tree (Luke 21:29-33).
    1. Luke 21:29–33 (ESV)
    2. 29 And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
    3. I imagine Jesus looking at the trees as He shared this illustration.
    4. What is the point?
    5. Jesus tells us in verse 31. We can interpret seasons based on the leaves on the trees; likewise, when we see these events, we know that the Kingdom of God is near.
    6. In this case, the Kingdom of God means “God’s rule.”
    7. Luke 21:32 is interesting. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place.
    8. A “generation” can have many different meanings. This could mean “this generation of believers” throughout the entire present age, or (b) to “this evil generation” that will remain until Christ returns to establish his kingdom (cf. Matt. 12:45; Luke 11:29).[5] Another thought (from the Moody Bible Commentary): The note about this generation (21:32a) is best taken to refer to the generation that is alive when these events begin to unfold (not to the generation to whom Jesus was speaking; similarly). Jesus’ point is, “When the signs come, they will proceed quickly; they will not drag on for generations. It will happen within a generation” (Bock, Luke, 1692)[6]
    9. However, there are other respectable views, such as, “This generation” refers to those alive in the tribulation period.
    10. Notice verse 35: God’s word, Jesus’s word, will not pass away.
  4. Watch Out and Be Ready! Pray! (Luke 21:34-38)
    1. Now, we get to the part about prayer.
    2. Luke 21:34–38 (ESV)
    3. 34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
    4. Verse 34 is a warning, and that ought to lead to applications for all of us.
    5. Jesus is saying, “Don’t let your heart be weighed down with wasteful living.” Dissipation means the squandering of money, time, and energy.
    6. Jesus is saying, “Focus on what matters.”
    7. Jesus is saying, “If you are focused on worldly things, drunkenness, affluence, living for this age alone, you will miss the signs.”
    8. Verse 35: the judgment will come upon all, everyone.
    9. This indicates the universality of judgment.[7]
    10. Verse 36 brings out praying for God to strengthen your soul.
    11. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
    12. “Stay awake”: does this mean, don’t sleep? No, Jesus is using an idiom to mean “stay alert.” Don’t fall into spiritual sleep.
    13. Be spiritually alert at all times.
    14. Be watchful.
    15. “Pray that you have strength,” but what for? Strength to “escape all these things.”
    16. He is saying pray for spiritual strength so that you know Christ and you do not abandon your faith. You escape the judgment of the world.
    17. That is: pray to escape judgment and hear him say, “Well done” (Luke 19:17).[8]
    18. What are we praying for?
    19. Two things are on my mind.
    20. First, pray that you stay alert so that you can stand before the throne of God and hear “well done.”
    21. Secondly, pray that you may have the strength to escape all these things. I think Jesus means escape to heaven. No matter what, these things do not trap us. They do not destroy us spiritually. We do not lose faith. One writes: Jesus’ blood and righteousness will shield them from God’s wrath, which will come on the wicked at the end of history (3:7; 1 Thess. 1:10).[9]
    22. Further, praying brings spiritual strength to maintain alertness. It enables disciples to withstand the temptation to depart from God’s will and consequently to stand before the Son of Man when He returns without shame. Faithful perseverance in the midst of persecution is in view (cf. v. 19).[10]
  5. Final thoughts-
    1. Jesus gives us a strong warning in Luke 21:34. Are we weighed down with dissipation? What is that? It is wasteful living. It is the squandering of money, time, and energy. Are we weighed down with wasteful living?
    2. Jesus is saying, “Focus on what matters.”
    3. Jesus is saying, “If you are focused on worldly things, drunkenness, affluence, living for this age alone, you will miss the signs.”
    4. Are we focusing on what matters?
    5. That leads to prayer.
    6. Are we on alert?
    7. Are we living as if we are in a spiritual battle (Eph. 6:10-12)?
    8. Are we praying for spiritual strength?
    9. Are we praying that the Lord gives us the ability to withstand sin?
    10. Are we praying that the Lord gives us the ability to resist the devil (James 4:7)?
    11. Are we in the Scriptures?
    12. How can we study the Bible, study the promises of God, and not worship the One those promises are about? I believe the Bible is written about a Big God. An atheist student once confronted Tony Campolo. The young man told Campolo, “For me to believe in God, I have to have a God that I can understand.” And Campolo replied, “God refuses to be that small!”[11]
    13. Timothy Keller shares: In Eugene Peterson’s book called Answering God, He makes a strong case that we only pray well if we are immersed in Scripture. We learn our prayer vocabulary the way children learn their vocabulary—that is, by getting immersed in language and then speaking it back. And he said the prayer book of the Bible is the Psalms, and our prayer life would be immeasurably enriched if we were immersed in the Psalms. So that was the first step. I realized I needed to do that, but I didn’t know how.[12]
    14. In Matt. 6:13 Jesus instructs us to pray: “lead us not into temptation.” Are we praying against sin?

Keep your eyes on Jesus-

Tim Keller shares:

Jesus is the true and better Adam who passed the test in the garden and whose obedience is imputed to us.

Jesus is the true and better Abel who, though innocently slain, has blood now that cries out, not for our condemnation, but for acquittal.

Jesus is the true and better Abraham who answered the call of God to leave all the comfortable and familiar and go out into the void not knowing wither he went to create a new people of God.

Jesus is the true and better Isaac who was not just offered up by his father on the mount but was truly sacrificed for us. And when God said to Abraham, “Now I know you love me because you did not withhold your son, your only son whom you love from me,” now we can look at God taking his son up the mountain and sacrificing him and say, “Now we know that you love us because you did not withhold your son, your only son, whom you love from us.”

Jesus is the true and better Jacob who wrestled and took the blow of justice we deserved, so we, like Jacob, only receive the wounds of grace to wake us up and discipline us.

Jesus is the true and better Joseph who, at the right hand of the king, forgives those who betrayed and sold him and uses his new power to save them.

Jesus is the true and better Moses who stands in the gap between the people and the Lord and who mediates a new covenant.

Jesus is the true and better Rock of Moses who, struck with the rod of God’s justice, now gives us water in the desert.

Jesus is the true and better Job, the truly innocent sufferer, who then intercedes for and saves his stupid friends.

Jesus is the true and better David whose victory becomes his people’s victory, though they never lifted a stone to accomplish it themselves.

Jesus is the true and better Esther who didn’t just risk leaving an earthly palace but lost the ultimate and heavenly one, who didn’t just risk his life, but gave his life to save his people.

Jesus is the true and better Jonah who was cast out into the storm so that we could be brought in.

Jesus is the real Rock of Moses, the real Passover Lamb, innocent, perfect, helpless, slain so the angel of death will pass over us. He’s the true temple, the true prophet, the true priest, the true king, the true sacrifice, the true lamb, the true light, the true bread.

The Bible’s really not about you – it’s about him.[13]

Let’s pray now

[1] Timothy J. Keller, The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive (New York City: Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2013).

  1. compare or consult
  2. compare or consult

[2] Kevin D. Zuber, “Luke,” in The Moody Bible Commentary, ed. Michael A. Rydelnik and Michael Vanlaningham (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2014), 1592.

[3] Kevin D. Zuber, “Luke,” in The Moody Bible Commentary, ed. Michael A. Rydelnik and Michael Vanlaningham (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2014), 1592.

[4] Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2003.

[5] Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1875.

[6] Kevin D. Zuber, “Luke,” in The Moody Bible Commentary, ed. Michael A. Rydelnik and Michael Vanlaningham (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2014), 1592.

[7] John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Lk 21:35.

[8] Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2004.

[9] R. C. Sproul, ed., The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) (Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust, 2015), 1832.

[10] Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Lk 21:36.

[11] (From a sermon by Jeff Strite, Trusting in Ravens, 8/8/2011)

[12] Tim Keller

[13] Tim Keller address: “Gospel-Centered Ministry,” from the Gospel Coalition conference in 2007. Website posting article on May 23, 2007. Accessed on Dec. 22, 2025

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/keller-gospel-centered-ministry/

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