From Jim McGuiggan... Food Stains and Price Tags

Food Stains and Price Tags

C.J. Dennis has an extended poem called Jim Of The Hills that's really worth the read (if you're a poetry person). Our hero worked in a logging factory and was hard at it when the boss came around with a group of visitors explaining things to them. None of them got a second glance from Jim except the one that took him by storm and set his mind reeling. In fact he was so taken with her that he clumsily tripped and banged his shin. The mortified Jim puts it this way:

Next thing I know the boss is there, an' talkin' fine and good, Explainin' to the visitors how trees are made of wood. They murmur things like "Marvellous!" an' "What a monster tree!" An' then the one with sunlit hair comes right up bang to me.

"I saw you fall," she sung at me: you couldn't say she talked, For her voice had springtime in it, like the way she looked and walked. "I saw you fall," she sung at me, "I hope you were not hurt?" An' suddenly I was aware I wore my oldest shirt.

That's a hateful lovely experience, isn't it? There he is in all his glory and there you are with the sales ticket still hanging from the sleeve of your sweater. There she is tantalisingly near, your heart's beating like a bass drum; your speech is wise and sophisticated while bits of your sandwich are hanging on the side of your face. Oh the horror of it all. In your shame that's close to stupidity you hope she didn't notice.

It's silly but it's fine to be so taken by someone that for them you want to be at your best in every way. Some of the old comedy movies let us in on the experiences of those who innocently show off for the one they're nutty about and we like it. There's something really nice about someone becoming so important to you that you want to run faster, jump higher, look slimmer and all the way round to be more attractive for.

And we aren't so sunk in our sin that we don't every now and then feel deeply disappointed in how we look in God's presence. We feel grubby and shabby and wish we could bolt from his presence. It isn't even dramatic enough to say with Peter, "Depart from me, Lord, for I'm a sinful person." The experience isn't that shattering but it may be more dangerous for all that. It's a despondency, a sense of well, yes, grubbiness. As if we were going through life with dirty collar and cuffs on our shirt or a blouse with a button missing and food stains on it.

It's all right to want to shine. It's okay to want to impress. Well of course it can be overdone but it's nothing to apologise about. It's as much a comment on her or his warm desirability as it is on your own wants. We want to please those who please us, or at least, we don't want to disappoint them and in that lies love's power to transform us for the better.

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Mark Copeland... The Betrayal Of Jesus

                        "THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"

                    The Betrayal Of Jesus (26:47-50)

INTRODUCTION

1. Certainly one of the saddest moments in the life of Jesus was His
   betrayal by Judas...
   a. One of Jesus' closest disciples, even one of His twelve apostles
      - Mt 26:47-50
   b. Who had been privileged to a part of Jesus' ministry here on
      earth - Ac 1:17

2. What led Judas to betray his Lord and Savior?  How could one who had
   been with Jesus...
   a. Seen His miracles
   b. Heard His teachings
   ...betray Him with a kiss?

3. What about us, who claim to be Jesus' disciples today?
   a. Could we be guilty of betraying Jesus in some way?
   b. Are there things that misled Judas that could have a similar
      effect on us?

[What might we learn from "The Betrayal Of Jesus"?  Lest we follow the
same path of Judas, let's reflect for a few moments on what we can
glean from the Scriptures...]

I. JESUS WAS BETRAYED BY A CLOSE FRIEND

   A. JUDAS WAS NO STRANGER TO JESUS...
      1. As already mentioned, he was one of the apostles - Mt 10:2-4
      2. He was among those whom Jesus loved - Jn 13:1
      3. Yet as prophesied, Jesus was betrayed by "a familiar friend" 
         - Ps 41:9

   B. BEING CLOSE TO JESUS IS NO GUARANTEE...
      1. Just being His disciples is no assurance we could not betray
         Him
      2. Like several of the churches in Asia Minor, we could...
         a. Leave our first love - Re 2:4-5
         b. Begin to tolerate false doctrine - Re 2:14-16
         c. Permit false teachers to spread their doctrines - Re 2:20
         d. Fail to perfect our works, and not be watchful - Re 3:1-3
         e. Become lukewarm - Re 3:15-16
      3. Yes, we can betray Jesus by denying Him who bought us - 2 Pe 2:1

[Therefore we need to heed Jesus' admonition to be "faithful unto
death" (Re 2:10), and not assume that close proximity to Jesus in the
past guarantees faithfulness in the future.]

II. JESUS WAS BETRAYED BY A LOVER OF MONEY

   A. MONEY WAS A PROBLEM FOR JUDAS...
      1. He often pilfered from the money box - Jn 12:4-6
      2. The opportunity to make money led him to betray Jesus - Mt 26:
         14-16

   B. MONEY CAN BE A PROBLEM FOR US...
      1. The deceitfulness of riches can render us unfruitful - Mt 13:
         22
      2. The desire for riches and the love of money can lead us to
         stray from the faith and drown in destruction and perdition
         - 1Ti 6:9-10
      3. The Laodiceans' preoccupation with wealth made them lukewarm
         - Re 3:16-17

[Could we be guilty of betraying Jesus by our desire for riches,
letting such things take precedent over our service to God and His
church?]

III. JESUS WAS BETRAYED BY A SHOW OF AFFECTION

   A. JUDAS BETRAYED JESUS WITH A KISS...
      1. He could have simply pointed...perhaps by kissing he sought to
         soften the blow of betrayal - Mt 26:48-49
      2. Jesus noted the obvious contradiction - Lk 22:47-48

   B. DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION DON'T ENSURE FAITHFULNESS...
      1. Many people are very emotional in their religion
         a. As displayed in their worship
         b. Believing it to be evidence of being "Spirit-filled"
      2. Yet emotions alone are not a reliable guide
         a. They can easily mislead us - cf. Pr 16:25; Jer 10:23; 17:9
         b. They are often present in the unstable believer - Mt 13:
            20-21
      3. This is not to discount the place and value of emotions
         a. We are to love God with all our heart and with all our mind
          - Mt 22:37-38
         b. The Spirit does produce fruit in our lives that affects our
            emotions - Ga 5:22-23
         b. But we must keep them in the proper order:
            1) Our emotions must come from faith, not faith coming from
               emotions
            2) Otherwise we are led by emotionalism, not faith
            -- And true faith comes from the Word of God - Ro 10:17;
               Jn 20:30-31

[If we believe that displays of affection in our religion can make up
for our failure to heed God's Word, we deceive ourselves and betray
Jesus in the process!]

IV. JESUS WAS BETRAYED BY A MISTAKEN DISCIPLE

   A. JUDAS MISTOOK THE CONSEQUENCES OF HIS ACTION...
      1. He evidently didn't think Jesus would be condemned - Mt 27:3-4
      2. This has prompted some to think that Judas was motivated by
         more than money
         a. That perhaps his betrayal would force Jesus to act, show
            His true power
         b. That in such a way it would demonstrate who Jesus truly was

   B. WE CAN BE GUILTY OF MISTAKEN SERVICE...
      1. Thinking our service is acceptable, when it is not - Mt 7:
         21-23
      2. Thinking we can improve on God's way, when we can't know what
         He wants unless He reveals it - Isa 55:8-9
      3. We need to head the Preacher's advice - cf. Ec 5:1-2
         a. Come to hear and do what He says
         b. Not presume to know what pleases God and offer what we
            think is best

[In our zeal, we may be guilty of acting on mistaken knowledge (cf. Ro
10:1-3).  Dare we possibly betray Jesus by presuming we know what is
according to His will and plan?]

V. JESUS WAS BETRAYED BY AN OVERWROUGHT FOLLOWER

   A. JUDAS REACTED TO HIS SIN THE WRONG WAY...
      1. He was overcome with grief - Mt 27:3
      2. He took the wrong course of action and hung himself - Mt 27:5

   B. WE CAN REACT TO OUR SINS THE SAME WAY...
      1. There are two kinds of sorrow - 2Co 7:10
         a. Sorrow of the world that produces death
         b. Godly sorrow that produces repentance
         -- The first is sorrow where one is preoccupied with self; the
            other is sorrow due to sinning against God
      2. It is natural to be sorrowful for our sins
         a. But we should not wallow in our grief
         b. But repent, as did Peter who denied Christ
      3. Paul provides another example of one who did not let his sins
         of the past hinder his service in the present
         a. He focused on God's grace which gave him another chance 
            - 1Co 15:9-10
         b. He directed his attention on striving for the upward call
            of God - Php 3:12-14

CONCLUSION

1. While Jesus was betrayed by all these things, let's not forget the
   influence of Satan...
   a. Satan used Judas to betray Jesus - Lk 22:3-4
   b. Satan put it in Judas' heart to betray Jesus - Jn 13:2
   -- For this reason Jesus referred to Judas as "a devil" - Jn 6:70-71

2. Yet how did Satan influence Judas?  By some of the very things we've
   noticed...
   a. Through his love of money
   b. Through his emotionalism
   c. Through his mistaken ideas
   d. Through his preoccupation with self
   -- Even Peter was influenced by Satan through some of these things
      (cf. Mt 16:23)

And so while we may decry the treachery of Judas, we should humbly
learn from his mistakes, taking to heart the words of Peter:

   "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks
   about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.  Resist
   him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings
   are experienced by your brotherhood in the world."
                                                    - 1Pe 5:9-10

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

 

From Gary... incunable?

Yesterday, I was watching an episode of "Pawn Stars" and I saw an old book.  OK, this is nothing new, but they called it something I had never heard before- an incunable, which they defined as a handwritten book before the year 1500.  So when I saw this picture today, I started to write incunable but was unsure how to spell it, and when my dictionary did not find anything, I went to the web and found the following...

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Incunabula" redirects here. For other uses, see Incunabula (disambiguation).

Page from Valerius Maximus,Facta et dicta memorabilia, printed in red and black by Peter Schöffer (Mainz, 1471). The page exhibits a rubricated initial letter "U" and decorations,marginalia, and ownership stamps of the "Bibliotheca Gymnasii Altonani" (Hamburg).

An incunable, or sometimes incunabulum (plural incunables or incunabula, respectively) is a book, pamphlet, or broadside (such as the Almanach cracoviense ad annum 1474) that was printed—not handwritten—before the year 1501 in Europe. "Incunable" is the anglicised singular form of "incunabula", Latin for "swaddling clothes" or "cradle"^[1] which can refer to "the earliest stages or first traces in the development of anything."^[2] A former term for "incunable" is "fifteener," referring to the fifteenth century.

The first recorded use of incunabula as a printing term is in a Latin pamphlet by Bernhard von Mallinckrodt, De ortu et progressu artis typographicae ("Of the rise and progress of the typographic art", Cologne, 1639), which includes the phrase prima typographicae incunabula, "the first infancy of printing", a term to which he arbitrarily set an end, 1500, which still stands as a convention.^[3] The term came to denote the printed books themselves in the late seventeenth century.

The convenient but arbitrarily chosen end date for identifying a printed book as an incunable does not reflect any notable developments in the printing process, and many books printed for a number of years after 1500 continued to be visually indistinguishable from incunables. "Post-incunable" typically refers to books printed after 1500 up to another arbitrary end date such as 1520 or 1540.

As of 2008, there are between 28,000 and 30,000 distinct incunable editions known to be extant, while the number of surviving copies in Germany alone is estimated at around 125,000.^[4][5]

Well, after comparing the picture with that of the article, the picture looks mechanically produced and not what I thought it was.  However, I suppose it could be- after all, even a pawn shop owner had to call in an expert to be sure.  One thing is sure, the book in the topmost picture looks old.  And from the amount of pages opened ,the picture, and the word "porphera", I would guess this is from Isaiah.  If so, then this would be part of what is displayed.  Since I don't read German, remember, this is only a guess.

Isaiah, Chapter 6

  1 In the year that king Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each one had six wings. With two he covered his face. With two he covered his feet. With two he flew.  3 One called to another, and said, 

“Holy, holy, holy, is Yahweh of Armies!

The whole earth is full of his glory!”

  4  The foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke.  5 Then I said, “Woe is me! For I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for my eyes have seen the King, Yahweh of Armies!” 

  6  Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar. 7 He touched my mouth with it, and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away, and your sin forgiven.” 

  8  I heard the Lord’s voice, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” 

Then I said, “Here I am. Send me!” 

  9  He said, “Go, and tell this people, 

‘You hear indeed,

but don’t understand;

and you see indeed,

but don’t perceive.’

  10 Make the heart of this people fat.

Make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes;

lest they see with their eyes,

and hear with their ears,

and understand with their heart,

and turn again, and be healed.”

God is HOLY; we who have fled to Jesus for refuge are holy because HE is HOLY.  Sometimes, I forget how awesome this fact is and if I do, probably others do as well.  When the prophet saw the great scene described in the verses above, he was MOTIVATED to act.  God of Hosts, referred to as Yahweh of Armies in the World English Version, tells him to "Go".  Since I know that this is none other than the Old Testament manifestation of Jesus, then I must ask myself-- does this apply to me?  The Scriptures from the New Testament immediately come to mind...

Matthew, Chapter 28

 18 Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.   19  Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,   20  teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. 

Now, I could be wrong about the graphic in the top picture, but not about the prophet's attitude or Jesus' command.  Someone said to me the other day, something like... how do you do post every day?  The answer is found in my understanding of the Isaiah and Matthew passages as applied to me.  I do what I can, and encourage you to as well.  It probably won't be blogging, but who knows?  Whatever form your zeal takes, remember that picture in the top graphic and realize you are doing it for Jesus- who is awesome beyond our comprehension!!!!

From Gary V. Womack...FAITH and PERSISTENCE IN PRAYER

FAITH & PERSISTENCE IN PRAYER

Lk. 11:5-13 Parable of the friend at midnight.

Some things to be learned from his example.

1. He went DIRECTLY to his friend

Jn. 16:23-27 Jesus taught His disciples to pray to the Father and ask in His (Jesus') name.

We go to our FRIENDS first

Jn. 15:13-14 "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you."

Have we laid down our lives for Him? Is He our FRIEND?

Mt. 16:24-26 We must DENY self, take up our cross, and FOLLOW Him.

2 Cor. 8:1-5 The Macedonians "First gave themselves..."

There is a BOND between friends that allows us to CONFIDE in them. (What we might be afraid to ask a stranger, we can ask a friend - even at midnight)

2. He went PERSONALLY to his friend

Mt. 6:6 "But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly."

Not only is prayer intimately personal, but it is CONFIDENTIAL.

(We can bring to Him our most shameful problems - that which we are embarrassed for the world to know - knowing that He will keep them confidential - That's what friends do)

But it will not be so in the judgment where sin will be exposed for all to see

1 Cor. 4:5 "Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts; and then each one's praise will come from God."

3. He went with URGENCY & PERSISTENCE

Mt. 7:7-11 Ask, Seek, Knock

He did his part in trying to obtain his need. (The Lord helps those who help themselves)

Mt. 6:11 "Give us this day our daily bread."

2 Thess. 3:10 "For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall we eat."

Jas. 2:14-17 Faith without works is dead (Based on our work - should we eat?)

4. He went INTENDING to receive his request

Jas. 1:5-8 If we lack faith - don't expect to receive our request.

(This is the mark of an unstable, double-minded person.)

Lack of confidence = lack of trust = lack of commitment

Lukewarmness - Indifference - Lack of zeal = Unacceptability to God.

Rev. 3:15-16 "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth."

1 Cor. 15:58 "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast , immovable , always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in

vain in the Lord."

Are we morally sound - spiritually grounded - faithfully active?

(Firm in conviction - faithful in attendance - responsible - dependable)

Heb. 4:14-16 " ...let us hold fast our confession" COMMITMENT !!! (so we can "...come boldly..." in order to "...obtain..." our requests.)

To abide in Christ & His word in us - is a prerequisite to answered prayer.

Jn. 15:7 "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what

you desire, and it shall be done for you."

If we are not in Christ - we do not have access to the blessings in Him

Eph. 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ."

vs. 7-8 "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound

toward us in all wisdom and prudence."

vs. 11 "in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the counsel of His will,"

INVITATION - How do we gain access to these blessings in Christ?

Gal. 3:26-29 "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abrahams's seed, and heirs according to the promise."

From Jim McGuiggan... EMPTINESS and THE HUMAN CONDITION

EMPTINESS & THE HUMAN CONDITION

Jesus said he hadn't come to steal from anyone! He came to bring life to the full (John 10). Doctors and physicists, ditch-diggers and bricklayers, school-teachers or auto-mechanics—not one of them is poorer at the job because they meet and embrace Jesus as Lord. It doesn't matter where you find yourself in life, Jesus only enriches you.

Still, for all our talk many of us tire of living. He offers more than we can presently embrace and enjoy all the time. Sometimes it doesn't matter how lovely the meal our host or wife or husband or parent sets before us—we're simply not in the mood, we have no appetite for it. Who knows why this is so when we ourselves can't put our finger on the reason why gloom [or something like it] settles on us? Of course we can make educated guesses, sensible guesses, but in the end it is what it is. The "human condition" is prone to vague [or a deep] sense of emptiness in life [have you read Ecclesiastes lately?].

In Spielberg's E.T. the little alien is befriended by a boy, who, if it came to it, would give his life for the little creature. And what's more ETsenses this and finds a deep pleasure, even joy, in the child's company. However brief the relationship it was one of those that blossomed immediately, as if it was meant to be. You might have seen such a thing or, if you've been very blessed, you might have experienced one like it. A lot depends on the persons involved, doesn't it? It seems some people can love a lifetime in only a few moments and others, poor souls, seem not to be able to commit to love even for a few moments even in a lifetime.

The child asks ET where he lives, pointing to a place on a world map and then to himself, indicating where he lived. That was his home and he asks ET where his home was. The little alien makes some balls float in the air to illustrate galaxies and then waddling to the window he points out into the night sky and with a heart-jerking and mournful tone he says, "Home." Several times in the movie we hear that mournful, missing-home tone as he expresses the hurt he feels, "Home."

I'm not now speaking of those whose lives are one prolonged crucifixion. Most of us have some pain and loss to bear even though we truly believe that all in all we have a good life. But however fine life is for us—if we're not hedonist to the core—don't you experience a weariness sometimes? Some say they never do and I fully believe them and I'm glad for them. But for the rest of us I suspect we get world-weary. Sometimes, however rarely, there comes the distant but definite longing just to lay down "the burden" of existing. Just to go to sleep—permanently! We can all, I'm sure, make a list of possible reasons for those feelings and I'm sure too that some of them would be on target.

It doesn't seem to matter that our finances are adequate, our family is loving and supportive and doing well. It doesn't seem to matter that we have a job that is satisfying in the various ways we think important or that our health is better than we have a right to expect. We're able to enjoy music, creation, friends, political freedom, the respect of our peers and the other things that make life sweet. And yet…here it comes…that sense of…unease or weariness; a loneliness that [in the words of Paul Williams] "fills the wishing well and fills the bars" sets in.

The boy was all to ET that he could be and he would have been more if he could—gladly! But for all his longing to please and satisfy him, he still sees ET waddle to the window, point into the night sky with that long bulbous finger and sadly say, "Home!"

And if it should be that every now and then when, despite your blessings and despite the fact that you know you are richly blessed, you feel an inner emptiness, don't deny it, acknowledge it. It might well be God nibbling at the edges of your mind, telling you that you were made for more than all you now have; that in truth you'll always be "homesick" away from profound fellowship with God. It might well be that while gratefully enjoying what you have some night you should look into the heavens and hear yourself saying, "Home."

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Mark Copeland... The Garden Of Gethsemane

"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW" 

The Garden Of Gethsemane (26:36-46)

INTRODUCTION

1. The last supper of Jesus with His disciples was finished...
   a. He predicted the betrayal by Judas - Mt 26:21-25
   b. He observed the Passover, instituting the Lord's Supper - Mt 26:
      26-30
   b. He then foretold Peter's denial of Him, as they made their way to
      the Mount of Olives - Mt 26:31-35

2. Jesus and His disciples then came to a place called Gethsemane...
   a. A garden outside the city, across the Kidron brook and on the
      Mount of Olives
   b. It's name means "olive press", and was possibly a remote walled
      garden
   c. A place where Jesus often went with His disciples - Jn 18:1-2

3. Note the contrast between the Garden of Eden, and the Garden of
   Gethsemane...
   a. In the first garden, the first man fell by yielding to temptation
   b. In the second garden, the Second Man (cf. 1Co 15:47) conquered
      by yielding to the will of God

[Yes, "The Garden Of Gethsemane" was a place of victory for Jesus (and
consequently for us as well).  But the victory did not come easy, as we
notice first of all that...]

I. THE GARDEN WAS A PLACE OF SUFFERING

   A. WHERE JESUS EXPERIENCED GREAT DISTRESS...
      1. He went to pray, accompanied only by Peter, James, and John 
         - Mt 26:36-37
      2. Before He began praying, He was "deeply distressed" - Mt 26:37
      3. Mark records that He was "troubled and deeply distressed" - Mk 14:33
      4. Later, Luke records that He was "in agony", and His sweat
         became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground 
         - Lk 22:44
      5. He was likely troubled for He knew that His hour had come 
         - cf. Jn 12:27
         a. He knew what was imminent, for He had told His disciples
            three times - Mt 16:21; 17:22-23; 20:17-19
         b. There was not only physical pain to endure, but also the
            burden of our sins and separation from His Father as He
            bore our sins on the cross! - cf. Isa 53:6; Mt 27:46

   B. WHERE JESUS ENDURED INTENSE SORROW...
      1. He described Himself as "exceedingly sorrowful, even to death"
         - Mt 26:38
      2. The writer of Hebrews refers to His "vehement cries and tears"
         - He 5:7
      3. Again, His grief and sorrow was partly due to the fact that He
         was taking upon Himself our own griefs and sorrows! - cf. Isa 53:4-5

   C. WHERE JESUS ENCOUNTERED SOLEMN LONELINESS...
      1. He wanted His closest disciples to watch with Him - Mt 26:
         37-38
         a. Those who had been with Him from the beginning - Mt 4:18-22
         b. Those who were privy to one of His greatest miracles - Mk 5:37-43
         c. Those who saw Him transfigured on the mountain - Mt 17:1-2
         d. Including the disciple "whom He loved" - Jn 13:23; 19:26;
            20:2; 21:7,20,24
      2. Yet after each episode of praying, He found them sleeping - 
         Mt 26:40-41,43,45
         a. When He desired fellowship for comfort, there was none to
            be found
         b. The Psalmist foretold this would happen - cf. Ps 69:20

[Alone in His distress and sorrow, our Lord found "The Garden Of
Gethsemane" to be a place of great suffering for Him.  Then something
happened.  Before He left to face the mob led by Judas to arrest Him,
Jesus found that...]

II. THE GARDEN WAS A PLACE OF STRENGTH

   A. WHEN JESUS EXPRESSED AGONIZING PRAYER...
      1. The agony in His prayer is:
         a. Seen by His posture:  "He...fell on His face" - Mt 26:39
         b. Heard in His words:  "O My Father, if it is possible, let
            this cup pass from Me" - Mt 26:39,42,44
      2. It was "godly fear" Jesus expressed, and for such His prayer
         was heard - He 5:7
         a. Not that the cup (of suffering) was removed
         b. But that He would be able to drink it

   B. WHEN JESUS EXTENDED ENTIRE RESIGNATION...
      1. As evidenced by His words:
         a. "Not as I will, but as You will." - Mt 26:39
         b. "if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it,
            Your will be done." - Mt 26:42
      2. When man first said "My will, not Thine be done..."
         a. It opened the flood gate of sin
         b. It turned man out of the Paradise of God
      3. But when Jesus said "Not as I will, but as You will..."
         a. Victory over sin and access to the Tree of Life became
            possible
         b. For it prepared Jesus to go to the cross to make it 
            possible

   C. WHEN JESUS ENJOYED SPECIAL COMFORT...
      1. Jesus received an answer to His prayer - cf. Lk 22:43
         a. Not the answer He requested (let this cup pass from Me)
         b. But strength from an angel!
      2. Like the apostle Paul would pray later - cf. 2Co 12:7-10
         a. Asking the Lord to remove his thorn in the flesh
         b. Receiving an answer different than requested, but more than
            sufficient to meet the need!

   D. WHEN JESUS EVINCED RENEWED RESOLVE...
      1. Strengthened, Jesus was ready to face the hour at hand - Mt 26:45
      2. He was ready to meet His betrayer and those with him - Mt 26:
         46-47

CONCLUSION

1. So "The Garden Of Gethsemane" was a place of both suffering and
   strength...
   a. Jesus entered the garden suffering
   b. He left the garden strengthened in His resolve

2. Notice what turned the place of suffering into a place of strength:
   prayer!
   a. Prayer that is fervent and persistent
   b. Prayer in which one submits to the will of God
   c. Prayer in which one is strengthened
   d. Prayer that enables one to face the cup of life given them

3. There will be times when we must enter our "Garden of Gethsemane"...
   a. Times of distress, sorrow, loneliness
   b. But such times can also be a time of comfort and strength
   -- Provided we spend them in prayer, and be willing to accept the
      Father's will

Jesus found prayer to be the key for turning a garden of suffering into
a garden of strength.  As Christians we have a similar blessing in
prayer:

   "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and
   supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known
   to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
   will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." - Php 4:6-7

May we never neglect to utilize this wonderful gift, especially since
we now have Jesus Himself to intercede on our behalf!

   "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed
   through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast
   our confession.  For we do not have a High Priest who cannot
   sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted
   as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly to
   the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace
   to help in time of need." - He 4:14-16

   "Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who
   come to God through Him, since He always lives to make
   intercession for them." - He 7:25






Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011