“Jesus and Others Did It Anyway” #3

Pastor Mike Barnett

October 1, 2006

THEME: WHEN WE ARE BURDENED AND ANXIOUS, IT IS HARD TO LET GO AND TRUST GOD, BUT SURRENDER TO HIM ANYWAY!

Matthew 26:36-46 says:

36Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." 37He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."

39Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

40Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. 41"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

42He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."

43When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

45Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

· On their way out of Jerusalem, Jesus and his disciples stop at a place called Gethsemane.

· In the Hebrew Gethsemane means “oil-press”.

· Most Bible Scholars agree that Gethsemane was a garden area among the olive tree groves on the Mount of Olives that had a place for the preparation of olive oil.

· Jesus and his disciples visited the garden of Gethsemane often.

John 18:2 says:

2Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples.

· Apparently on the night of Jesus’ betrayal, the disciples go to the cultivated garden area to sleep in the cave that they frequently visited on several occasions.

· Once they arrived to the garden, Jesus directed the larger group of disciples to stay in the cave.

· But he ask the inner group of three disciples, Peter, James and John to stay awake with him while he prays.

· Jesus sensed that the time for him to be crucified on the cross was near.

· Jesus now wants them to share with him this overwhelming time of sorrow and trouble as he faces the cross.

· He tells Peter, James and John, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

· Jesus was grievously anticipating his looming death of the cross and it lead him to utter brokenness.

· As he became sorrowful to the point of being overwhelmed and troubled in Spirit, he told Peter, James, and John to stay awake with him and watch over him while he prayed.

· Jesus did not ask them to pray, but to watch.

· He invites his close friends to stay awake with him and to watch over him.

· This action by Jesus is astounding because we see here that Jesus, the son of God needed love, support and connection with other human beings in his last hours here on earth.

· If Jesus who was fully man and fully God needed a support system to bear the burden of doing God’s will, then so will we all the more.

· Jesus brings his support system with him as far as he can, but ultimately goes deeper into the Garden alone to commune with his Father in Heaven.

· He then went out a little farther in the Garden of Gethsemane to meet with God alone and he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

· Jesus faced the biggest temptation of his life.

· Now, at the moment when Jesus is ready to accomplish his life’s mission, the temptation is intensified to its maximum.

· This is the devils last ditch effort to attempt to convince Jesus that the cross is unnecessary.

· Jesus prophesied that he must endure this cup of crucifixion to accomplish the salvation and redemption of humanity, but Satan still tempts him to believe that it is not absolutely necessary.

· In his final temptation and test, Jesus surrendered to God and prayed “Never the less your will be done, your kingdom come”.

· In The Bible, a Cup is a symbol of deep sorrow and suffering.

· It refers to the Fathers face being turned away from him when he who had no sin was made sin for us.

· Jesus came back to his disciples and found them sleeping ….he asked them….”Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?”

· In his lowest moment, Jesus desired his disciples to partner with him in prayer, yet they did not carry the burden with him.

· Jesus would have to carry the burden alone.

· After exhorting his disciples to pray so they would not fall into temptation he went back to praying a second time, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done”.

· Once again Jesus prayed that “this cup”, this suffering would be taken from him.

• Jesus was asking God to spare him from the crucifixion…”because no natural person would want that burden, but become Jesus was completely surrendered to God’s will he added…never the less your well be done thy kingdom come”.

STEPS TO SURRRENDERING CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE TO GOD:

1. DON’T TRY TO ACCOMPLISH GOD’S WILL _______________________(ALONE) – YOU WILL NEED A _____________________(TEAM) OF CHRISTIANS CLOSE TO YOU, CARRYING THE BURDEN WITH YOU!

· THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A “____________________ _______________________” (LONE RANGER) CHRISTIAN.

· If Jesus needed a human support system comprised of three men to help carry the burden of doing God’s will so will we need other “Christ followers” to help lift the load.

· Like Jesus, have an inner core of trusted brothers and sisters in Christ that can carry the burden with you.

· A Christian cannot submit to God until they have submitted to people.

1 Peter 5:1-11 says:

1To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. 5Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."^[a] 6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 10And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

2. REALIZE THAT YOUR SUPPORT TEAM CANNOT GO ALL THE WAY INTO THE GARDEN WITH YOU – YOU HAVE TO ULTIMATELY GO TO THE HEART OF GOD ALONE BY SPENDING A __________________(DAILY) _____________________(QUIET) _________________(TIMES) WITH GOD IN YOUR GARDEN (QUIET AREA).

· Other Christians can only walk so far into the Garden with you.

· Every day, you will have to leave your family and friends to go into the depths of the Garden to commune with God.

A DAILY QUIET TIME SHOULD CONSIST OF:

1) BEING STILL BEFORE GOD.

Psalm 46:10 says:

10 "Be still, and know that I am God;
       I will be exalted among the nations,
       I will be exalted in the earth."

2) PRAYER

3) BIBLE READING

4) MEDITATION / CONTEMPLATION / REFLECTION

5) PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

6) JOURNALING,FASTING, OTHER

3. ___________________________(SURRENDER) THE ______________________(BURDEN) TO GOD, NOT JUST TO PEOPLE.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

7To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

· When a Christian is anxious, fearful, angry or selfish, it is a sure sign that the He/She has not fully surrendered to God, which can give the ___________________(devil) a _____________________(foothold).

Ephesians 4:22-30 says:

22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26"In your anger do not sin"^[a]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold. 28He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. 29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

4. REALIZE THAT PEOPLE MAY LEAVE YOU AND BREAK THEIR PROMISES TO YOU, BUT GOD NEVER WILL – HE WILL ALWAYS BE YOUR _________________________(PROTECTOR), _________________________(DELIVERER), AND _________________________(DEFENDER) TO THE VERY END HOWELVER LONG THAT MAY BE.

2 Timothy 4:9-18 says:

9Do your best to come to me quickly, 10for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. 12I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments. 14Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. 15You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message. 16At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth. 18The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

· WHEN WE ARE BURDENED AND ANXIOUS, IT IS HARD TO LET GO AND TRUST GOD, BUT SURRENDER TO HIM ANYWAY!

Psalm 37:1-9 says:

1 ^[a] Do not fret because of evil men
       or be envious of those who do wrong;

2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
       like green plants they will soon die away.

3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
       dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

4 Delight yourself in the LORD
       and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the LORD;
       trust in him and he will do this:

6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
       the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
       do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
       when they carry out their wicked schemes.

8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
       do not fret—it leads only to evil.

9 For evil men will be cut off,
       but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.