April 4/5, 2020 - Palm Sunday
Patrick Conrad, Lead Pastor
The Church United
“Not My will, but Yours be done.”
Matthew 26:36-46 (ESV) - The Garden of Gethsemane
36Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” 39And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 40And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. 45Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”
Gethsemane means “Oil press”
Three things occurred in a Garden:
1 - His will was
2 - The desire for anything other than the Father’s will was
3 - The seed of surrender
John 12:23-24 (NLT) “Jesus replied, ‘Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into His glory. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels — a plentiful harvest of new lives.”
Challenge:
“I want to PLANT my will in the soil of complete surrender!”
“God give me the courage to PRUNE anything away from my life that would compete with / compare to the healthy development of your will.”
“I desire to PRODUCE the life which reflects your purpose / design for me!”
The surrendered will of man, planted in the soil of God’s love, and pruned by the disciplines of faith and obedience, will ALWAYS yield the fruit of righteous living.