Stuart Presbyterian’s Podcast

God is All-Sufficient.

We can not add anything to God.  God does not need anything or ultimately anyone beyond himself.

But the good news is that though God does not need us; God wants us; God chose us.

God chose to create us; God chose to redeem us; God chose us for service.

And because God is all-sufficient we can depend upon God!

Two "secret disciples" buried Jesus along with two women.

Really no such think as a secret disciple.  We must stand with Jesus.

Four people at his burial, but oh what a difference the empty tomb made.

Transformed the disciples and the early church and it transforms us.

Jesus was mocked and forsaken upon the cross to take away our shame and guilt.

He was forsaken so that we might be accepted!  Forsaken so that we might not ever be forsaken by God!

Look and remember the humiliation Jesus endured.  Remember he endured it for our salvation; he endured it because he loves us.

Look and see yourself in this scene.

Repent, obey, and worship the King of kings and Lord of lords.

 

Two Trials were going on that Thursday evening:

Jesus was before the Sanhedrin.

Meanwhile, Peter had a trial of his own before a servant girl.

The symbols or images in the garden of Gethsemane tell the story.

Warren Wiersbe suggests we find in this text: a lonely garden, a costly cup, a hypocritical kiss, and a useless sword.

This message looks at each of these images and asks,  Which will we choose in our own Garden of Gethsemanes?"  Betrayal, Our Own Strength, or Trust in God?

Jesus had a definite plan.  Jesus and God were in control of that last Passover meal with the disciples.  Even the location was kept secret.

Judas was the betrayer.

However, all the disciples understood that they had the potential to betray Jesus.  Thus they asked, "Is It I, Lord?"

We all must ask that difficult question.  It could be and probably has been all of us.

But the good news is that the story doesn't end here.  Jesus was in control, thus it means Jesus willing gave his live for us.  His body was broken; his blood was shed for us.

 

This message following along with the Prayer Course is about contemplation and listening.

Not only should we speak to God in prayer but we should also listen to God.

It is hard for us to listen because we are distracted by busyness.  If we're going to listen, we must "ruthlessly eliminate hurry" (Dallas Willard).

Meditating on God's word and practicing "Sacred Reading" or "Lectio Divina" is one way to listen to God; and this message presents one way to do so (A method suggested through the Prayer Course).

Unanswered Prayer is difficult for us all.

Sometimes there are reasons why they are not answered like: We're not right with God or we ask with the wrong motives or what we ask is not in accord with God's will.  Sometimes we even give up too soon.

But what about when we feel like we're asking with the right motives and in accord with God's will and God's Word?

It helps to know that Jesus had to abide by the same rules.  He prayed, "Yet not my will but Thy will be done."

It helps to know God is storing up our prayers (Rev. 8:3-5).

And then we've got to trust and keep asking, seeking, and knocking.