God's Will - Remaining Faithful - Matthew 26:36-46 and 1 Peter 4:12-14 - August 30, 2009

Sunday School Lesson – God’s Will – Remaining Faithful – August 30, 2009

This is our final lesson in our series of study entitled “Finding and Following God’s Will.”

Our scripture is Matthew 26:36-46 and 1 Peter 4:12-14, 19.

We began our study and learned that it is GOD’S will for all people to accept CHRIST as their SAVIOR. This is ground zero. GOD gives each person the freedom to choose CHRIST or not. Many people reject the idea that a loving GOD would not accept people on other terms such as good works, living a moral life, etc. JESUS said in John 14:6:
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

People can argue with gravity and can devise methods to defy gravity but in the end gravity always wins. GOD gives every human the right to chose. HE presents the need for salvation to every person and they chose. If they reject CHRIST, they assume the consequences, which is eternal death for that decision.

Once people become believers through CHRIST, GOD’S desire is for all believers to live for HIM and obediently serve HIM in their everyday activities. Some believers are called or asked by GOD to work for HIM on special projects or in certain areas of ministry. All believers are called to obediently serve GOD because they know the truth and are the light of the world and the salt of the earth to those who are lost.

Believers are to share what they have with others as led by the HOLY SPIRIT.

It is GOD’S desire for all believers to have such a relationship with HIM that they “naturally” respond to HIS calling. Obedient children respond “naturally” when their parent asks them to do something. They may ask a question but their desire is to please their parent. They trust their parent. It is a natural response because of their relationship with their parent. GOD wants each believer to have a trusting, obedient relationship with HIM.

When believers have the right relationship with GOD, they may test the request because they want to verify the will of GOD but they do not run from GOD. There are times when a believer does not have to question the call because he/she knows it is from GOD and is according to HIS will and purpose. He/she responds “naturally.”

Our study today focuses on remaining faithful to the will of GOD until it is finished. Our scripture focuses on the night JESUS was betrayed. Some of the events preceding our scripture were: JESUS had washed the feet of the disciples, HE had instituted and observed what we refer to as the LORDS’ Supper, revealed to HIS disciples that HE would be betrayed and told Peter that he would deny HIM before the cock crowed. Judas had left the last supper or Passover Meal to betray JESUS by leading the soldiers to HIM and identifying with a kiss so the soldiers could arrest HIM. JESUS needed to go to a quite place to pray.

JESUS was called to fulfill GOD’S plan to redeem mankind. It was vital that everything went according to GOD’S plan and purpose. Was JESUS trying to get out of it or was HE asking the FATHER if there was any other way for HIM to be betrayed other than by Judas? Was this the right time or was Satan trying to deceive? We know that Satan tempted JESUS at the beginning of HIS ministry to take a short cut to redeem mankind. We know that JESUS was 100% human and was HE fighting with HIS flesh nature in these final moments? HE was tempted in all ways as we are. Such a struggle with HIS flesh would allow HIM to know how believers struggle to confirm that unfolding events are according to GOD’S will. We do not know. We can only speculate. The bottom line is that obeying GOD’S will is often not easy. Let’s examine our scripture.

Let’s read Matthew 26:36-46:

36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane,[10] A garden east of Jerusalem at the base of the Mount of Olives; Gethsemane = olive oil press and He told the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38 Then He said to them, “My soul is swallowed up in sorrow[11] Or I am deeply grieved, or I am overwhelmed by sorrow; Ps 42:6,11; 43:5 —to the point of death.[12] Lit unto death Remain here and stay awake with Me.” 39 Going a little farther,[13] Other mss read Drawing nearer He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.” 40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He asked Peter, “So, couldn’t you[14] You = all 3 disciples because the verb in Gk is pl stay awake with Me one hour? 41 Stay awake and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, “My Father, if this[15] Other mss add cup cannot pass[16] Other mss add from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” 43 And He came again and found them sleeping, because they could not keep their eyes open.[17] Lit because their eyes were weighed down 44 After leaving them, He went away again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more.
45 Then He came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting?[18] Or Sleep on now and take your rest. Look, the time is near. The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Get up; let’s go! See—My betrayer is near.”

JESUS knew that the time had come for HIM to give HIS life to redeem mankind from sin and death through HIS shed blood. The forces of evil were rampant. This was the most critical period of time for all mankind and things had to go exactly according to GOD’S plan and purpose. This led JESUS to prayer.

During a crisis period is when believers must pray and ask others to pray along with them. JESUS was teaching HIS disciples then and believers now the importance of prayer. GOD, the FATHER held the final decision regarding the course of events and HE had to be consulted.

JESUS was 100% human and yet 100% divine. Was JESUS experiencing HIS flesh crying out with a desire to live as HE approached this critical moment in HIS earthly life? We need to keep in mind that JESUS was tempted in all ways as we are, yet without sin. JESUS had encountered severe temptation in the desert at the beginning of HIS ministry (Matthew 4:1-11). Satan tried to bargain with CHRIST by offering HIM a short cut to redeem mankind. Was JESUS checking with The FATHER to make absolutely certain that the unfolding events were according to HIS plan and purpose? When we are tempted, JESUS knows what it is like. That is why HE is our advocate before the FATHER when Satan accuses us before the FATHER.

To speculate on all the dynamics JESUS was facing is impossible because there are many.

Our scripture focuses on the need for prayer, especially when believers are doing the will of GOD. These are the unfolding events:

JESUS had asked HIS eleven (11) disciples to go with HIM to the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives, which was east of the Jerusalem. HE needed a special place to pray because HIS time had come. HE asked eight (8) of HIS disciples to wait in a certain area and then HE asked Peter, James and John, known as the inner circle, to go with HIM farther. Was JESUS setting up barriers to make certain that HE had answers to HIS prayers before HE was arrested?

JESUS confided in the inner circle that HE was very distraught, troubled or overwhelmed with sorrow about what was about to happen. They likely did not understand what HE was saying but HE had told them at the last supper or Passover meal that HE would be betrayed.

We need to keep in mind that what we refer to as the last supper was to commemorate the Passover meal which was eaten the night before GOD delivered the Israelites from the bondage of Egyptian slavery as described in Exodus, Chapter 12. The blood from the slain lamb had to be placed over the doorpost of the Israelite home for the death angel to Passover that home and not kill their first born son or first born cattle. The blood of the lamb protected them. JESUS instituted a new covenant for delivering mankind from the slavery of sin and death by the shedding of HIS blood. HE instituted this new covenant at the last supper when HE referred to the “cup” of wine as symbolizing HIS blood and the bread as HIS body.

HE asked the inner circle to watch, which meant to stay awake and alert. JESUS went farther to pray to the FATHER. HE was still in hearing distance because HIS inner circle heard HIS prayer and reported what HE said. It was a teachable moment for HIS disciples and for believers in the future.

JESUS wanted to verify whether or not there was any other way for the FATHER’S will to be accomplished – verse 39. What did JESUS mean by “this cup?” JESUS had just instituted what believers know as the LORDS Supper. JESUS made it clear that the shedding of HIS blood was vital and necessary for the salvation of all believers. The shedding of HIS blood established an eternal covenant between GOD and mankind. HE paid the price or penalty GOD required to remove the barrier of sin for mankind. GOD, through JESUS, did HIS part to redeem mankind. However, each person must do his/her part by making a decision to accept or reject the death and resurrection of JESUS. JESUS died for the sins of each person who accepts that HE died for his/her sins. HE died where we should have died.

JESUS ended this first prayer with “Not as I will but as YOU will.” That is always the key when doing GOD’S will, not my will but YOUR will.

JESUS returned to find Peter, James and John asleep. JESUS admonished Peter. JESUS seemed to be speaking directly to Peter and urged him to stay awake and this time added “pray.” Peter was about to encounter a traumatic event in his life. He would deny JESUS not once, not twice but three times. The difference between Peter’s denial of JESUS and Judas’ betrayal of JESUS was their response to what each had done. Peter wept and was sorry. Peter repented of his sin and GOD forgave him. Peter went on to become a faithful disciple. Judas fully realized what he had done, confessed his sin, returned the 30 pieces of silver but he took matters into his own hands. He likely felt unworthy to seek forgiveness, so he killed himself.

JESUS urged Peter to pray. When the HOLY SPIRIT leads believers to pray it is always for a very good reason. We never know what lies ahead but HE does. So when prompted to pray, always pray. A person’s name may pop into your mind that you have not thought of in years. Pray for him/her. You may never know why you are being prompted but GOD does.

JESUS prayed a second time. Here JESUS’ prayer seemed to reveal that HE understood there was no alternative, the die was cast and HE told the FATHER, “YOUR will be done.”

HE returned to find the inner circle sleeping. HE left and HE prayed for the third time, repeating what HE had already prayed. I think HE still prayed that Judas would change his mind, which he could have done up to a few moments before he identified HIM. If he had changed his mind the soldiers could still arrest HIM. But this is not what happened.

After the third prayer it seemed that JESUS knew HE had done all HE could and that the events would unfold according to GOD’S plan. HE woke up the inner circle and announced that HE had been betrayed.

Remaining faithful to accomplish the will of GOD is difficult. Prayer is the engine that keeps believers in touch with GOD and keeps them focused during times of uncertainty and on completing the will of GOD. We know that Satan can use our flesh and other things to lure us away from doing or completing the will of GOD. JESUS did not face this time in HIS ministry alone. HE asked HIS disciples to join with HIM in prayer. Believers must do the same.

Let’s read 1 Peter 4:12-14, 19:

12 Dear friends, when the fiery ordeal[21] Lit the burning arises among you to test you, don’t be surprised by it, as if something unusual were happening to you.[22] 1 Pt 1:6–7 13 Instead, as you share in the sufferings of the • Messiah rejoice,[23] Ac 5:41 so that you may also rejoice with great joy at the revelation of His glory. 14 If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ,[24] Ps 89:50–51; Ac 5:41; 1 Pt 2:20 you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on[25] Isaiah 11:2; Ac 5:41; 1 Pt 2:20 you.[26] Other mss add He is blasphemed because of them, but He is glorified because of you.
19 So those who suffer according to God’s will should, in doing good, entrust themselves[31] Ps 31:5 to a faithful Creator.

The Apostle Peter wrote First Peter about 62-64 A.D. Peter was writing to fellow believers who were facing or about to face persecution. Peter opened with a cordial, friendly greeting. The persecution of Christians began during the rule of Nero.

Peter writes of “the fiery ordeal.” This likely alludes to testing, like a quality control test to evaluate the quality of a metal. Metals were tested by fire to check for their purity and to strengthen them. A fiery ordeal tests the genuineness of believer’s faith, proves them to be genuine and strengthens their relationship with GOD through CHRIST.

Peter cautions believers then and believers today not to be surprised when circumstances come along that test them. As believers, testing is part of serving CHRIST and it is an honor because it shows that they bring Glory to the LORD and shows they are following in HIS foot-steps.

Remain faithful.