Lessons of Lent: The Pains of Purpose!

Lessons of Lent: The Pains of Purpose!

[My Offline Bible] Matthew 26
36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. 37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. 38 Then saith he unto
them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

[My Offline Bible] John 16
19 Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? 20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. 21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. 22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

Jesus Christ was prophesied to be a man acquainted with sorrow. This definitely speaks of the pain He went through in the quest towards accomplishing His purpose on the earth.

He was in the garden moments before His arrest and He was exceedingly sorrowful even unto death and all He had to do was to seek audience with His Father.

The writer of the book of Hebrews put that experience this way.

[My Offline Bible] Hebrews 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;

It is clear that in the face of the challenges of fulfilment, the rich also cry! The pangs of birthing a destiny have no respect for anyone. It is a moment of great danger, a moment of vulnerabilities to the extent, a moment of life and death.

Jesus at this point nearly gave up the vision. It was difficult to remain one with the plan. At that point it was revealed that He had His own will He could have fallen back on.

Many had fallen back to doing their own things, and following their own ways at that point of sorrow. Many have given up on the cause to do what's convenient. Many have silently refused the cup of God's purpose and plan and had 'escaped' the demanded endurance.

It is understandable, but not expected that many would bend to permit the cup pass over even when God won't pass it over them. When you have no one to share the pain with...the three closest friends were sleeping off. One was about to deny ever knowing him. Even God would soon feel so faraway and someone is asking why you aren't strong?

These are lonely times in the quest for purpose fulfilment. People who don't take fulfilling God's purpose that seriously or people whose path of purpose looks as if is not passing through Golgotha or those who have traded the way with other means may not also have to pass through Gethsemane. Gethsemane wasn't just a mountain of prayer...it is a solitary and sorrowful point of trembling soul. Jesus didn't go there to pray until this time...

But He was heard!

He was heard not by the plan changing or that He was able to find a way out but He got help from the Father.
The Father set His face to see the joy beyond the pain. And the excitement helped to wade through the trouble.

[My Offline Bible] Hebrews 12
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Jesus Himself had told His disciples about the joy that comes after pain. Purpose delivery is just like child delivery, they both come with their pains that people that aren't in your shoes won't sometimes mind sending words and jabs to add to the pain...

But after the child is born, the sorrow is gone and forgotten as if it wasn't ever there.

The lesson is this...
Sorrow and pains are real on the pathways of purpose and vision. Even loved ones can add their portion.

Even the closest to you would sleep off as you wrestle with the pain.

But look beyond the pains and the sorrows to the joy set before you.

These are very vulnerable times, nobody would understand you but God will. Be careful not to fall!
Even if you have to cry before God it's understandable.

Let His will be the anchor to hold.

In a few days, you'll be out of that grave and be glorified beyond the pain and the insults!

He will not leave your soul in that hell... [My Offline Bible] Psalms 16
10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Good morning!

THE ESSENCE OF EASTER
Continues@

The Bible Class
Non Denominational Bible Discussion Cafe

Thursday, 26th March 2015
After work hours 6:00pm

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