1. When My Love For Christ Grows Weak #297

2. Background Published in 1837 By John Reynell Wreford (1800- 1881) Tune by Mrs. Phoebe Palmer Knapp (1838-1908) A song that challenges us to turn to Him when our faith begins to waver.

3. Vs. 1 & 2 – I go to the Garden When my love for Christ grows weak Love is fundamental to our faith God loved us – John 3:16, Rom. 5:8-9 Jesus loved us – John 15:13, Phil. 2:5-8, 1 John 3:16 We should love Him – 1 John 4:19

4. Vs. 1 & 2 – I go to the Garden When my love for Christ grows weak But loving and serving God can weaken! Rev. 2:4, cf. Matt. 24:12 Galatians 6:9 let us not grow weary

5. Vs. 1 & 2 – I go to the Garden Then in thought I go to thee, Garden of Gethsemane Go to the garden! (In thought and contemplation)

6. Vs. 1 & 2 – I go to the Garden Vs.2 – There I walk amid the shades, while the lingering twilight fades Obviously we are not physically there, but we picture in our minds Jesus as He go there

7. Vs. 1 & 2 – I go to the Garden Vs.2 – See the suffering, sinless One, weeping, praying, there alone. IN the Garden: He was sorrowful, in agony He prayed 3 times, He surrendered, He told Peter to put his sword away, He was abandoned. Matt. 26:30-56, Luke 22:44, Mark 14:35

8. Vs. 1 & 2 – I go to the Garden Vs.2 – Consider: Why so much agony? Jesus knew what He was about to suffer! In the garden alone He experienced betrayal, abuse, abandonment Does what He ask of us compare to what He DID for us? Psalm 116:12 WE cannot repay Him – Luke 17:10 But we can serve Him – Matt. 6:33

9. Vs. 3 & 4 – I go to the cross Vs.3 - When my love for man grows weak What is the greatest commandment? Matt. 22:37-39

10. Vs. 3 & 4 – I go to the cross Vs.3 - When my love for man grows weak We have to care! Concern for souls 2 Cor. 5:10-11, Acts 17:16, 2 Peter 2:8 Loving my brethren John 14:34-35, Rom. 12:10, 1 Peter 1:22 1 John 4:20-21 But this too can grow weak

11. Vs. 3 & 4 – I go to the cross Vs.3 – When for stronger faith I seek Hill of Calvary I go Calvary – Luke 23:33 Greek, κρανίον (kranion) – skull Calvary is Late Latin for skull Golgotha (Aramaic), “place of the skull.” Matt. 27:33

12. Vs. 3 & 4 – I go to the cross Vs.3 – Hill of Calvary I go Where Jesus was crucified. We consider what Jesus endured as He was crucified. Vs. 3 – to thy scenes of fear and woe Before Jewish and Roman leaders He was illegally tried. Falsely accused. He did not resist! He was slapped, beaten, mocked, blasphemed. 7 times Pilate thought he was innocent Yet He maintained His composure!

13. Vs. 3 & 4 – I go to the cross Vs.4 – There behold His agony, suffered on the bitter tree Luke 23:33, “there they crucified Him.” That is all they had to say and we know He suffered. Crucifixion was a barbaric form of torture and punishment. Death came from infected wounds, lack of oxygen, poor blood circulation, etc. Add to this the pre-crucifixion torture.

14. Vs. 3 & 4 – I go to the cross Vs.4 – See His anguish, see His faith! In all this Jesus demonstrated great trust, composure! Hebrews 5:8 Luke 23 34, 43 John 19:30, Luke 23:46 How would we stand up in the face of such trials?

15. Vs. 3 & 4 – I go to the cross Vs.4 – Love triumphant, still in death! In all this Jesus demonstrated true love! Revelation 1:5 Ephesians 5:2

16. Vs. 3 & 4 – I go to the cross Vs.4 – Consider: Why did He do this? For you and me! 1 Timothy 2:15 2 Cor. 5:21 He cares about me - 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 He loves me and treats me like men should! 1 Peter 2:21-23

17. Vs. 5– my resolve! Vs.5 – Then to life I turn again While we consider what He did, let us live our lives Vs. 5, learning all the worth of pain, Life is tough! BUT how we endure “pain” will determine what we are James 1:3-4, Rom. 5:3-5

18. Vs. 5– my resolve! Vs.5 – Learning all the might that lies, in a full, self-sacrifice. Serving God is simple, but it is the hardest thing you will ever do We must deny ourselves Luke 9:23-26, Romans 12:1-2 If we are to succeed in serving God, we MUST surrender to Him Matthew 6:24

19. When your love for Christ grows weak – where do you turn?