Sis Dorothy Sunday School 1/29/12

Sis Dorothy Sunday School 1/29/12

Seeking God’s will in the gardens

The first garden, the Garden of Eden, God created man a two-fold being, first made of dust and the second that He breathed into Him and he became a living soul.

1Co 1:23  But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

1Co 8:9  But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

The tree of the knowledge of good and evil became a stumbling block.  If we are not careful the liberty we have in salvation can be a stumbling block.  There can be no sin.  We can stumble if we’re not careful.

In reason there is the power to act.  These capacities were played out in the Garden of Eden.  The serpent deceived them by means of reason.  God then told the serpent that He would bruise his head and did this through Christ.  He destroys the power of Satan through Christ. 

The seed of the woman symbolizes the remnant which are born from above and have turned from the power of darkness unto the light of God.

1Co 15:45  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

1Co 15:46  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

1Co 15:47  The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

1Co 15:48  As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.

1Co 15:49  And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

1Co 15:50  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

When Jesus washed the disciple’s feet He told them that they would not understand what He had done.  He washed their feet and told them to be humble as He was.  A servant is not greater than his Lord.  Love one another: by this shall all men know that you are mine. 

Mansion means abode.  He wants us to be where He is.  He has sent the comforter to teach us and give us peace. 

John 13-17.  Jesus’ words:  He that is purged can bear much fruit.  There is no greater love than that a man lay down his life for His friends, you will also bear tribulation and sorrow.  I came from my father and must return. 

I seek eternal life for those that you have given me.  Keep them from the evil that is in the world.  I sanctify myself that they may be sanctified.  I also pray for all that may believe on me through their word.  You loved me before the foundation of the world; I pray that this love may be in them and I in them. 

Jesus was also a two-fold being, flesh and spiritual.

I would like to show three scenes in the garden: Christ’s agony, the love of the disciples, and the betrayal of Judas.

Joh 18:1  When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.

In the temple there was a chamber called Gethsemane where they put their wine and oil used for worship.

Jesus went often to the Mount of Olives to Pray.  Judas was with Him a lot so knew where to find Him.

Gethsemane was a closed garden at the foot of Mount Olive and there are still eight very old olive trees standing there.  You can tell they are ancient by their gnarled trunk and scanty foliage.  It is neat to think that they may have been there when Jesus was there praying.

Isa 63:3  I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.

No created being could have any part of the sacrifice that was of divine merit. 

Rom 8:17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Jesus bid them to enter into His suffering, “Watch and Pray.”  He wanted someone to share His suffering and yet He knew they couldn’t.  He had to suffer alone.  When we have suffering to do, it is so wonderful to have someone to suffer with us.  “Just stay awake, share with me as much as you can.” 

Those who are best prepared to suffer with Christ have shared with Him His glory in worship.  Suffering will come our way.  This day and age it may be that we will have to endure some hard persecution.  While you can, behold His glory. 

“Now is my soul troubled.”  He was close to that time and began to feel the anguish.  He put Himself in that agony to show that He was a freewill offering.  “I lay it down of myself.”  He let them know that they did not take His life, He gave it.

The disciples were sleeping from sorrow: sadness and grief.  Sometimes when people are sorrowing they sleep; it is a balm and a release from sorrow.  There was much that they didn’t understand; they were grieving so they slept. 

He cautioned them to wake and watch because there is danger coming.  Many times if we will just take the instruction of our pastor or the instruction from reading the Word we will be prepared and be on our guard when trouble comes. 

Sleep is the body’s natural response but Jesus was telling them to not yield to that because we need to be fully awake having prayed and sought God, and not yield to the tendency to withdraw from the stress of whatever trouble it might be. 

We need to spend more time in prayer and draw closer together.  We need each other.  We don’t know what will come on us in our life and in our day.  We need the time with God and in prayer and we need each other.

Jesus knew what was going to happen and was trying to prepare them for the onslaught of the enemy.  Be close to each other.  Don’t let one thing come between another and us.  Jesus said, watch with me; that means that they were together in this.

Jesus’ agony or conflict was not of mortal wounds but within.

Psa 22:14  I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.

Psa 22:1  To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

Heb 5:7  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

Heb 5:8  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

God was not going to take this suffering from Him.  His suffering was not just from the agony of the flesh but also from the weight of sin. 

Luk 22:53  When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.

Jesus encountered the power of darkness.  This is a great darkness.  Darkness can be overwhelming. 

Joh 14:30  Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

The prince of this world cometh; he is rallying his forces and preparing for an assault.  Jesus was prepared for the battle.  Jesus’ flesh was a stumbling block; He did not want to suffer.  But the greater agony was the weight of sin.  “Father let this cup pass from me” were His words.  “Never the less not as I will but as thou wilt.”  He was victorious; He did not stumble over the stumbling block.

Luk 22:43  And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

Luk 22:44  And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Luk 22:45  And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,

When the angel came and strengthened Him, Jesus prayed harder.  He became totally prepared for battle and went willingly.  Jesus went through perfectly and did not stumble.  If we are in a struggle, be of good cheer, He has overcome.  We can use those stumbling blocks to step up on and go forward and not stumble.

This word is wonderful, it fits every situation in life.

Judas had a mission, we see him approaching Jesus and kissing Him. 

Matt 26:56 All the disciples forsook Him and fled.  If they would have watched with Him they wouldn’t have entered into temptation.  They stumbled and this is used as an example to us and probably was a great help to them down the road.  When we stumble it also works to help us stand firm down the road. 

Judas may have expected Jesus to escape from His enemies: Christ would then have the honor, the Jews would be ashamed, and Judas would have the money.  He probably thought everything would be all good. 

Sin is a downhill spiral and Judas cursed the day he was born, the bag of money, and those that crucified Jesus.  Sin will soon change the taste.  If you fall into it then what had looked so good will not taste well.  There is a law of sowing and reaping.  Sin is a detriment to everything. 

Judas tried to make restitution and give the money back.  He confessed.  He did not lay blame.  But he did not confess the wicked love of money that was the fault of his sin.  The priest threw it back in his face and said, “What is that to us.”

He left the money and went and hung himself.  He said as Cain did, “The weight of sin is more than I can bear.”

When we come to one that is in despair, point them to Jesus; He is the only one that can deliver.

Luk 22:61  And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

Luk 22:62  And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

The look Jesus gave Peter broke his heart.  With that look Peter was torn up inside and went out and wept bitterly.

Where was Peter when Jesus was being crucified?  John was there, where was Peter?  I think that He was weeping bitterly.  Could it be that He was the very first one to plunge under the blood of Jesus?  The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin.

One of the first things we see when people backslide is the worldly appearance; they don’t want to be associated by look or anything else that they are one of ‘those people’.

There was young man sitting by the sepulcher of Jesus that said to tell the disciples and Peter

How big is His Love?  Don’t be ashamed; hold your head high and give the look that Jesus would give when people are being rebellious.  When the woman was caught in adultery, Jesus didn’t have to say anything, He just bent down and wrote in the dust and their own consciences convicted them.

Mat 16:24  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Mat 16:25  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Mat 16:26  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Except a corn of wheat die… 

Complete dying to self and Satan.  Deny the right to yourself.