Facing Difficulty God's Way
Jesus had a usual spot He went to hear and gain strength from His heavenly Father, the garden of Gethsemane. The key to being a strong Christian is having a secret place, intimacy and Godly authority go hand in hand.
When you are about to face something real difficult is it much easier having the support of others than being on your own?
So, Jesus facing his soon coming betrayal, crucifixion, and death brought some of his disciples to pray along with him. Friends and family are not always the best support as would be expected. What we have to face might be beyond what they can handle, and instead of helping the matter they make it worse. Jesus warned His disciples to pray so they don't fall into temptation. When we are tested our flesh will not like it and sin is knocking on the door. Our only hope is prayer for the spirit of God can help us overcome how we feel so we do what is right.
Have you ever wanted to just go off but something kept you in check?
Jesus went slightly away from the disciples and began to pray. Praying with others is good but somethings can only be said in private, Jesus knowing the limited understanding the disciples had about what was about to happen needed to hear from the Father Himself.
Jesus here showed how human He really was, He asked the Father that if what was about to be done could be done another way, please do so.
Why do you think we have such a hard time facing difficulties knowing in the end it is for our benefit and the benefit of others?
Feelings and faith collide durring trying times. We know what we should do but we don't feel like doing it. Following our feelings will often lead us away from God's will. When we are young under the care of others we can often get away with being feeling led. As a adult if one can not move beyond their feelings they will be crippled from being responsible and life will not take them far.
Do you know any adult that still behaves like a child, who cannot hold on to a job, a wife, raising children, simply because they are feeling driven?
Jesus, for the sake of us having eternal salvation, though He wished their was another way, said "nevertheless, not my will, but Yours, be done."
Bottom line: Are we living for ourselves or for Jesus? Jesus did nothing without the Father leading Him. So the question is, who is leading us? Our Feelings or our Heavenly Father?
Have you ever had an unlikely person help you through a difficult time?
God sent an angel to strengthen His Son, while He was in complete anguish to the point of sweating blood. Facing Betrayal, Rejection, and Death is not an easy thing, not even for the Son of God. Some people use Religion as a crutch, another way to Heaven, than through the cross. Where they are justified by their church attendance, tithing, program involvement, etc. Jesus said one must deny themselves in order to follow Him. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, only by following Him can we have eternal life. So no matter how we feel we have no other choice, it is either His way or the highway.
Think of a time when you accomplished something great even though you had not felt like it. How did that feel? Now imagine that being your daily lifestyle. That is what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.
When Jesus got up from prayer the disciples were sleeping. Trying times can be the most tiring times, it's called emotional exhaustion. We would love to sleep through our pain hoping that when we wake up and it has disappeared.
If one stayed home and slept every time their was a test at school, would they ever pass?
If you don't pass you don't advance, and are held back. Many of us are being held back because we are not willing to face the trials of life, we are spiritually asleep. God is saying wake up, sleepy heads, I want you to experience the abundance of my life, yes it comes with a price, but the reward is so much worth it. Each test passed bring promotion, God wants to promote us but it takes walking by faith, being led by the Spirit, crucifying our flesh.
Jesus warned the disciples for the second time "get up and pray, so that you won't enter into temptation." Falling does not just mean gross sin, it is whenever we choose not to obey God at His word. He told His disciples that they must deny themselves, take up the cross, and follow Him.
When was the last time we sought the will of God? Do we live for ourselves, while God is just a crutch to lean on when in need of help? Do we acknowledge God in all our ways so that He can direct out path?
When you are about to face something real difficult is it much easier having the support of others than being on your own?
So, Jesus facing his soon coming betrayal, crucifixion, and death brought some of his disciples to pray along with him. Friends and family are not always the best support as would be expected. What we have to face might be beyond what they can handle, and instead of helping the matter they make it worse. Jesus warned His disciples to pray so they don't fall into temptation. When we are tested our flesh will not like it and sin is knocking on the door. Our only hope is prayer for the spirit of God can help us overcome how we feel so we do what is right.
Have you ever wanted to just go off but something kept you in check?
Jesus went slightly away from the disciples and began to pray. Praying with others is good but somethings can only be said in private, Jesus knowing the limited understanding the disciples had about what was about to happen needed to hear from the Father Himself.
Jesus here showed how human He really was, He asked the Father that if what was about to be done could be done another way, please do so.
Why do you think we have such a hard time facing difficulties knowing in the end it is for our benefit and the benefit of others?
Feelings and faith collide durring trying times. We know what we should do but we don't feel like doing it. Following our feelings will often lead us away from God's will. When we are young under the care of others we can often get away with being feeling led. As a adult if one can not move beyond their feelings they will be crippled from being responsible and life will not take them far.
Do you know any adult that still behaves like a child, who cannot hold on to a job, a wife, raising children, simply because they are feeling driven?
Jesus, for the sake of us having eternal salvation, though He wished their was another way, said "nevertheless, not my will, but Yours, be done."
Bottom line: Are we living for ourselves or for Jesus? Jesus did nothing without the Father leading Him. So the question is, who is leading us? Our Feelings or our Heavenly Father?
Have you ever had an unlikely person help you through a difficult time?
God sent an angel to strengthen His Son, while He was in complete anguish to the point of sweating blood. Facing Betrayal, Rejection, and Death is not an easy thing, not even for the Son of God. Some people use Religion as a crutch, another way to Heaven, than through the cross. Where they are justified by their church attendance, tithing, program involvement, etc. Jesus said one must deny themselves in order to follow Him. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, only by following Him can we have eternal life. So no matter how we feel we have no other choice, it is either His way or the highway.
Think of a time when you accomplished something great even though you had not felt like it. How did that feel? Now imagine that being your daily lifestyle. That is what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.
When Jesus got up from prayer the disciples were sleeping. Trying times can be the most tiring times, it's called emotional exhaustion. We would love to sleep through our pain hoping that when we wake up and it has disappeared.
If one stayed home and slept every time their was a test at school, would they ever pass?
If you don't pass you don't advance, and are held back. Many of us are being held back because we are not willing to face the trials of life, we are spiritually asleep. God is saying wake up, sleepy heads, I want you to experience the abundance of my life, yes it comes with a price, but the reward is so much worth it. Each test passed bring promotion, God wants to promote us but it takes walking by faith, being led by the Spirit, crucifying our flesh.
Jesus warned the disciples for the second time "get up and pray, so that you won't enter into temptation." Falling does not just mean gross sin, it is whenever we choose not to obey God at His word. He told His disciples that they must deny themselves, take up the cross, and follow Him.
When was the last time we sought the will of God? Do we live for ourselves, while God is just a crutch to lean on when in need of help? Do we acknowledge God in all our ways so that He can direct out path?
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