Jesus' Prayer of Submission
Notes
Transcript
“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”
Why Listen: Submission: Placing your desires and decisions beneath someone else’s.
Why Listen: Submission: Placing your desires and decisions beneath someone else’s.
Is this bad? (staying in a bad marriage?)
Submit to authority every day (political authority, employer; parents) our opportunity to make decisions is limited)
We submit, not because of the person we are submitting to, but because we have to (company? country? too bad)
Consequences of submitting to cruel, uncaring, disinterested authority
In those contexts submission is bad.
How submit to God? Prayer
How is this good? Leave our desires and decisions to God. Submit to the one who created you. The decision: wise, loving, powerful God. The only path to joy.
Why listen? -
Why listen? -
The point: In prayer, leave your desires and decisions up to God. This is the only path to joy.
The point: In prayer, leave your desires and decisions up to God. This is the only path to joy.
Jesus: Symbolized by the cross: loved us; gave his life for us; suffered for us; purchased: forgiveness; removal of guilt; healing from pain; accepted by God;God is accessible to us. Times when he didn’t want to do that!
Jesus: Symbolized by the cross: loved us; gave his life for us; suffered for us; purchased: forgiveness; removal of guilt; healing from pain; accepted by God;God is accessible to us. Times when he didn’t want to do that!
Jesus was god in the flesh, but a servant to others. Traveled long distances; confronting people in power; crowds with desperate needs; Washing feet,…that was his ministry - Death. The final act of service.
What if I told you that there were times he didn’t want to do it?
There will be times when you do not want to do it. Submission is hard - we can’t do it alone. Strong desires. Determined decisions. Self centered. Need prayer. We are afraid.
Follow your desires, make your own decisions. Make it all about you - no joy.
1. Posture, 2. Transparency; 3. Trust
1. Posture, 2. Transparency; 3. Trust
Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
1. Posture. Prayer without the right posture? Difference between sitting with hands in face listening passively. v. Face to the ground, head to the skies;
1. Posture. Prayer without the right posture? Difference between sitting with hands in face listening passively. v. Face to the ground, head to the skies;
Going 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.”
Making suicidal comments? How did they fall asleep?
Ever fallen asleep in prayer?
Right conditions: not enough sleep; the right posture (resting head in hands); not interested (passive observer) = perfect storm....falling asleep in prayer
Posture reveals our beliefs
Not just keeping us awake (stand up desk) Our posture says a lot about our belief and situation: An all wise, all powerful, all loving God is there; situation is desparate;
Application: you may not fall to your face, but you will remove distractions; examine your attitude; you will express your true self to God (not giving a speech to God)
king walked into a room: stopped; full attention; nothing more important
2. Prayer of Agony; (doesn’t want to do it) Let this cup be taken...
2. Prayer of Agony; (doesn’t want to do it) Let this cup be taken...
Going 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.”
Acknowledge and accept tragedy, when we don’t
Let go of anger, resentment
Express yourself honestly: I don’t want to do this.
Managing Moments of Misery in Ministry:
Initiating that unpleasant conversation
Speaking truth when you worry about the reaction.
Staying and caring when it is costly and inconvenient.
Giving when you feel possessive.
Going to a strange place when you are content.
3. Not my will but thine
3. Not my will but thine
Going 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.”
pray that prayer:
1. track your time (what you are doing v. what is the most important)
2. pray that prayer again - not my will but yours
3. what is essential? what is not? what is missing?
4. pray that prayer: live the list
Need prayer support - sustained “wake up” - submission is hard, but it is the only path to joy
Need prayer support - sustained “wake up” - submission is hard, but it is the only path to joy