A Place to Stand
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Series: Praying Under Pressure
DescriptionPraying Under Pressure #2 “A Place to Stand” Mark 14:36Intro: Tell the simple story of Shepherd with 10 sheep…Finds Lost • Jesus Loves People, working to Gather them to Himself and His Flock! Round Up….Get, Stay connected. • Life Is Hard. You are Vulnerable. Sheep w/out Shepherd t/s – Life is Hard == Pressures of Life….Praying Under Pressure Trouble, Pain, Anxiety, Disappointments….HEAVINESS Jesus Knows…. Tell the Story of Gethsemene (Olive Press) -- His Powerful Prayer (one verse!) t/s – His Prayer provides a Place to Stand…Keep Feet under pressure. ILL – Moving Day at OU… • Heavy load in arms or on back….Prepare Feet! • To Carry a Load requires a Solid, Steady Base…Footing! A Place to Stand Under the Pressures or Heaviness of Life Intimacy with God(Review Last Sunday) “Dear Father” == Access, Attention, Affection Lie #1 – God Does Not Care Confidence in His Power God Has the Capacity to Help Me. (Picture Two Feet Under the Load of Life) Lie #2 – God Cannot Help ILL – Harold Kushner, “When Bad things Happen to Good People” • Both Love and Power Cannot be Supreme • Some things are Beyond His Capacity. In the First Five Words of His Prayer, Jesus Plants His feet firmly in Both these Theological Realities! Mark 14: 35-36 (Note: vs. 39 – “Same Words” – Peter remembered) First Five Words of Jesus’ Prayer Abba, Father, All Power You “dunata” = Ability, Capactiy, Power Jesus Begins with a Confident Affirmation of the Father’s Power All Power You When you carry a heavy burden in Life, Stand firm in this Bible Truth… This Heaviness is not Beyond My Father’s Power! Thesis: Don’t ever Stop Praying because you loose confidence in God’s Power to Help. All Power You (Jesus, “Let me Lay this Foundation”) Walk through the Bible with me…Seven Sacred Affirmations of God’s Power….All Power You…Each in Context of Disappointment, Decline, Defeat… Genesis 17:1 El Shaddai…. I am God Almighty Genesis 18:14 to Old Barren Sarah Job 42:2 Job’s Stubborn affirmation of God’s Power Jer. 32:17 Clinging to God’s promises in face of Exile Zech 8:4-6 Jerusalem in desolation… Luke 1:37 Promise of Incarnation to Mary Matt. 19:26 Promise of God’s Salvation ALL POWER YOU When I am inclined to doubt the Lord’s power to help, discouraged, I remember the story in Mark 9… a boy sick brought to Jesus by his Dad. “IF you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” Jesus’ Response…tone of indignation… IF YOU CAN? Many things about God we do not know…cannot understand. ILL – James Denney, Scottish Teacher warning student at Seminary Gentlemen, to study Infinity requires Eternity We Do Know this…… All Power You Thesis: Don’t ever Stop Praying because you loose confidence in God’s Power to Help. Affirmation == My Trouble Is not Beyond my Father’s Power Abba, Father, All Power You… When I establish this firm ground, praying under pressure, I find myself assured of one of Two Realities… 1. Deliverance from the Trouble 2. Purpose in the Trouble This is my Father’s World, O let me ne’er forget That though the wrong sees oft so strong, God Is the Ruler yet! |