The Greatest Overcomer

The Greatest Overcomer

Next week-Easter. This week want to take a look at this moment in Jesus’ life just before his arrest and, in it look at how he dealt with what was probably one of his most overwhelming situations so that we can learn from him and take one more look at overcoming and overflowing with God’s love.

Overwhelmed:

  Take a look at biblical account: Mark 14:32-36

            -even Jesus got overwhelmed. When I point out that God does not want us to feel overwhelmed, doesn’t mean that we won’t have those moments. The world we live in is not safe, predictable or easy on us.

            We will face difficulties. Sometimes, even when follow God as Jesus did, we will face overwhelming moments…the question is, “what do you in those moments? How do you respond?”

            Do you try to drown your frustrations, worries?  Bury them with things that deaden your senses or distract you?

Fill yourself up with things that make you forget or temporarily stop worrying?

            Do you try to escape? Shut self off yourself?

            Do you spend time blaming the people and circumstances around you for the problems you are facing?

            Do you take your anger and frustration out on others?

            Or maybe you just hold it all in…don’t want to be weak and let anyone know you are suffering.

            Notice what Jesus did. His example is the one to follow. He didn’t try to hide his trouble from his friends. They saw that he was distressed and greatly troubled. He said, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death.”.

            Not supposed to face tough situations on our own. Part of the reason God puts us in relationship with others is for support. He gives us spouses, brothers, sisters, friends to turn to in times of need. And when we know our brothers & sisters and friends are in trouble, we need to do what we can to support them,

            Powerful prayers in this church!

            While Jesus shared his concern with his friends, he didn’t go to them to solve his problem. He went to God-his heavenly Father. The one we all need to turn to.

            In times of trouble we all need to remember it’s God who really knows what we need. It’s He who can truly fill the void we feel in life when something is troubling us. It’s He who can give you the right answers for you problems and give you the strength to deal with it. It’s He who can truly satisfy our lives when we are worried and want our troubles to go away.

            Jesus was facing his most difficult trial. He knew that is was time to be put to death. He knew the brutality of the Romans. He had seen people tortured and crucified before…imagine the stress he was under as he imagined what was ahead of him. He faced his problem head on, leaned upon His closest friends and turned to His heavenly Father for help.

            This is example for all of us to follow as we face trials.

Overcome:

   How did Jesus overcome this situation? Mark 14:36.

   Notice-did not overcome by escaping death. Did not get what he wanted.

            Not my will, but your will  Maybe not totally overcome by that point…but by v.42…I believe he had overcome.

            More dramatic representation of this moment-scene from beginning of “Passion of Christ”. (recommend for Easter).

Video clip

Other person-Satan.  In every overwhelming situation we face, Satan is there tempting us to go our own way. Don’t worry about what’s right or wrong. Just take care of yourself. Do what’s best for you. You don’t need to deal with this situation. Just ignore it.  You don’t need to give up any of your time, your desires…your life for anyone else…these are lies we all need to fight past in overwhelming situations to get to God.

Actual overcoming...more mental/spiritual act than anything physical we do. Overcoming is the moment we accept and embrace God’s will for our lives. That begins when we take our eyes off ourselves and what we want. Jesus admitted what He wanted, but then He stopped and sought God’s will. We need to learn to turn away from what we want…stop telling God how much a situation is affecting us…and simply say, “Your will, God, not mine”.

Jesus did not simply resign himself to God’s will.  He embraced it. Overcame all the resistance and stood boldly to face what was ahead.

            -me: could share some stories of overcoming..but not overcoming yet in some…have not fully embraced that doing this for God.

What does God want for your life?  Remember…first seek him…then submit to and embrace His plan for you.

Overflow:

  You see the overflowing of God’s love throughout the rest of the events leading up to Jesus’ death in a couple of ways. We’ll be talking in more detail about those events next week.

            God poured his overflowing love into Jesus-sustained him.  God will sustain you in many ways as you walk through a trial depending on Him…may be little moments along the way. May be hearing from Him in the silence as you pray for God’s will...

            …me wanting to give up.

            Jesus overflowed with love for us-willing to die

If you’ve felt overwhelmed before and have overcome by submitting to and embracing God’s will for your life…is there anything to stop you from overflowing into the lives of others?

            Consider what Jesus did for you and I...willingly gave up His life for us. Put’s things into perspective doesn’t it? Shouldn’t we be just as willing to lay down our lives for others so that they could know God, too? In reality, God asks for far less than that from us.

He may ask you to give up the life you have…sell you things, move somewhere else-to another city, another state, or even across the world…so that other may know Him

            …or He might just ask you to give up some of the things you has planned for you day ….and go out of your way to show some kindness to a stranger...make an extra effort to show unconditional love to someone who seems unlovable to you…or simply go out of your way to invite them to church.

            For Jesus those people were all worth dying for.  They are certainly worth us sacrificing something of ourselves for.

In this week before Easter…many church traditions refer to this as Holy Week…take some time to think about this example Jesus has given us in his most overwhelming moment.

You have nothing to fear from overwhelming moments…share them ..get people praying with you…and seek God with all your heart.

Overcome by getting your mind off yourself and embracing God will….let his overflowing love sustain you.

And make an opportunity for yourself this week to show overflowing love for someone else…go out of your way to let them know that what Jesus gave up for them…

As you focus on these things, you’ll come back here next week prepared to celebrate the victory gained for us as He overcame even death on that cross….

Pray…