Thy Will Be Done
Series: The Gospel Can't Be Contained
March 20, 2022
Frank Foreman
Praying for God's will is a tricky thing. So often, we are in the habit of God's will correlating with our own pre-determined plan of action. Rather than actually praying for His divine guidance, our requests can come off like permission seeking endeavors. ---------- Of course, this isn't to say that it is wrong for us to make plans and have ideas for implementation, especially in areas of spiritual growth and ministry, but we must be careful not to simply utter those words, "Thy will be done," and assume that God has signed off on our plans. ---------- For instance, what happens when God's will becomes difficult to endure? What about when it calls for changes we didn't anticipate or worse, don't want? The will of God for our life is not always the easy, comfortable journey--see, that would be our will. It was exactly the dilemma that Jesus faced in the garden on the night before His crucifixion. He understood the will of God and He also knew it would be painful and dreadful. So He asks a question: could there be any other way? And then, with all faith and all conviction, He says those words that truly carry so much weight and power: not my will, but yours be done, Father.
Episode Notes
Big Idea: Jesus teaches us to pray for God’s will….
Even when God’s will is the most difficult thing for which to pray.
1. Jesus explained that their courage would fail and they would abandon Him.
(Journal) Mark 14:26-31
Proverbs 16:18, Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Philippians 2:6-8, ….who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
(Journal) Mark 14:32-34
2. Jesus asked if the cross might be avoidable within God’s redemptive plan.
(Journal) Mark 14:35-36
John 6:38, For I have come down from Heaven, not to do My own will but the will of Him who sent Me.
Luke 9:22, The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.
(Journal) Mark 14:37-41a
3. Jesus left the Garden confident and committed to do all that the Father willed.
(Journal) Mark 14:41b-42
Hebrews 12:2, ….looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Romans 6:3-4, Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Next Step: Pray for God’s will no matter how difficult it may be….
Romans 12:2, Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Discern God’s will by testing with a renewed mind.
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