1. “Trusting God in Life’s Trials”
Home of Christians
Summer Conference 2018
“Trusting God in Life’s Trials”

2. Genuine Faith Obeys God in Trials Mark 14:32-42
Home of Christians
Summer Conference 2018
“Trusting God in Life’s Trials”
June 30, 2018

3. Mark 14:32-42 New Testament Matthew Luke John
Genuine Faith Obeys God in Trials Mark 14:32-42

4. Go to God in Prayer Mark 14:32-34
32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”
Genuine Faith Obeys God in Trials Mark 14:32-42

5. Struggling with Prayer?
Lack of Words
Lack of Concentration
Lack of Discipline
Lack of Response
Lack of Faith
Genuine Faith Obeys God in Trials Mark 14:32-42

6. Ask for Support Mark 14:32-34
32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”
Genuine Faith Obeys God in Trials Mark 14:32-42

7. Our Difficulty in Asking for Support
Counter-Culture
Our Culture Values Bible Encourages
Independence  Interdependence
Privacy  Transparency
Counter-Nature
Our Nature Prefers Bible Stresses
Self-Sufficiency  Community Support
Self Image  God’s Glory
Genuine Faith Obeys God in Trials Mark 14:32-42

8. How Does Asking for Support Help Us with Prayer?
Asking for Support Strengthens Us to Pray.
Asking for Support Encourages Us to Pray.
Asking for Support Teaches Us to Pray.
Asking for Support Disciplines Us to Pray.
Genuine Faith Obeys God in Trials Mark 14:32-42

9. Pray Honestly & Submissively Mark 14:35-36
35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
Genuine Faith Obeys God in Trials Mark 14:32-42

10. What Makes Prayer Possible & Powerful
What makes prayer possible is our relationship with God!
“…Abba, Father…”
What makes prayer powerful is God’s ability to help us!
“…everything is possible for you…”
Genuine Faith Obeys God in Trials Mark 14:32-42

11. Praying with Honesty “…Take this cup from me…”
God already knows what is in our hearts and on our minds.
So why pray?
Prayer is not for God’s benefit, but for our benefit.
We can be real with God because God loves us just as we are.
We don’t need to win and we can’t lose God’s approval and love for us in Jesus Christ.
Genuine Faith Obeys God in Trials Mark 14:32-42

12. Praying to Submit “…Yet not what I will, but what you will…”
Health
Wealth
Success
etc.
God
Prayer
Goodies
Genuine Faith Obeys God in Trials Mark 14:32-42

13. Praying to Submit “…Yet not what I will, but what you will…”
Prayer
Genuine Faith Obeys God in Trials Mark 14:32-42

14. Our Difficulty in Submitting to God
Counter-Culture
Anything is possible if we try hard enough.
Counter-Nature
We want to be the master of our own life.
God’s will may not be our will.
God’s will is not always comfortable or convenient, and often involves hard work and sacrifice.
God’s Will for Us is Always the Right Thing to Do
Genuine Faith Obeys God in Trials Mark 14:32-42

15. How Do Honesty and Submission Help Us with Prayer?
When we pray honestly, prayer becomes what it is always meant to be: a means of genuine communication with God.
When we pray submissively, prayer becomes what it is always meant to be: a means of expressing genuine trust in God.
Genuine Faith Obeys God in Trials Mark 14:32-42

16. Prayer Prepares Us Mark 14:37-42
37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” 39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing.
Genuine Faith Obeys God in Trials Mark 14:32-42

17. Prayer Prepares Us Mark 14:37-42
40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him. 41 Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
Genuine Faith Obeys God in Trials Mark 14:32-42

18. How Does Prayer Prepare Us for the Challenges in Life
Prayer reminds us we are not alone.
Prayer reminds us we don’t have to be in control because God is in control.
Prayer may not necessarily change our circumstances, but it can change us and our perspective.
Prayer gives us the courage and strength to move forward because of God’s promises to see us through.
Genuine Faith Obeys God in Trials Mark 14:32-42

19. Genuine Faith Obeys God in Trials Mark 14:32-42
When facing trials, remember to:
Go to God in Prayer
Ask for Support.
Pray Honestly and Submissively.
Let Prayer Prepare You in Facing the Trials in Life.

20. Genuine Faith Obeys God in Trials Mark 14:32-42
When you face trials, who do you go to for help and why?
When you pray, how honest and submissive are you with God? Explain.
How have prayers helped you in facing trials in life?
Pray for each other, so we can support each other to endure trials, trust and obey God in trials.