Apprehension in the Garden

Introduction: The journey Jesus took from APPREHENSION TO ASCENSION is one marked by struggle, prayer, and trust. We see in the Garden of Gethsemane; Jesus provides us with a profound example of how to navigate the heaviest burdens in life.

In the Garden, we witness the deep humanity of Jesus as He confronts the weight of His divine mission. Faced with overwhelming fear, He exemplifies SUBMISSION through prayer and ultimately, SURRENDER to God’s will, uttering, “Not as I will, but as thy will”.

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 26:36–46

3-ACTIONS WE MUST TAKE WHEN THE CUP GETS TOO HEAVY TO HOLD

1. ACKNOWLEDGE THE STRUGGLE:

A.  Always bring HONESTY before God.

      i.    Matthew 26:36-27 "Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be sorrowful and very heavy."

B.  Jesus openly expressed the sorrow and heaviness of His heart. Here He opens His HEART to the FATHER.

C.   There is no shame in acknowledging our FEARS or WEAKNESSES, as this act of TRANSPARENCY draws us closer to Him and allows His strength to carry us.

D. WHEN THE CUP GETS TOO HEAVY, WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE STRUGGLE

2. SUBMIT THROUGH PRAYER, & SURRENDER THROUGH PEACE:

A.  SUBMISSION is trusting God's plan. SURRENDER is letting go of your own agenda.

   i.    Matthew 26:42 "He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done."

B.  This moment of SUBMISSION shows He is trusting God’s plan. His SURRENDER demonstrates the power of aligning His will with God’s.

C.   In our seasons of APPREHENSION, we are called to emulate Jesus by SUBMITTING and SURRENDERING our desires to God’s greater purpose.

D. WHEN THE CUP GETS TOO HEAVY TO HOLD, WE MUST SUBMIT THROUGH PRAYER AND SURRENDER THROUGH PEACE

3. RECOGNIZE THE STRENGTH FOUND IN COMMUNITY AND WATCHFULNESS:

A.  Don’t go to the Garden by yourself. Even Jesus took people with Him to the Garden.

    i.    Matthew 26:41 "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

B.  Jesus urged His disciples to stay vigilant in prayer.

  i.    WHY? Because the FLESH IS WEAK!

C.   Surround yourself with fellow believers who can stand with you in prayer and support. Listen church, you need a WOLFPACK.

D. WHEN THE CUP GETS TOO HEAVY, DON’T TRY TO CARRY IT ALONE

4. CONCLUSION:

A.  The Garden of Gethsemane teaches us how to turn APPREHENSION INTO ASCENSION.