Will - Not My Will
Will
- Not My Will
Seemingly, one of the hardest things for man to do is to submit to the will of God. The Apostle Paul says the carnal mind is enmity against God and is not subject to the Law of God (Romans 8:7). For those who wish to make Heaven their home, it is absolutely necessary to conform to God’s will; not only when their lives are first surrendered to the Lord, but they must submit daily to the will of God.
KEY VERSE: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2)
Eleven disciples accompanied the Lord.
He took Peter, James, and John with Him when He went to pray.
The answer to the second question will be based somewhat on conjecture, but we can substantiate certain characteristics of these men which may have been the reason they were chosen by Christ.
John was obviously devoted, as he leaned on Jesus’ breast.
He is described as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.”
John and his brother James seemed to be inseparable.
Peter was quick to speak and act for Christ, and undoubtedly Christ recognized the basic strength of character in him.
It is interesting to note that these three who accompanied Him to the Garden and saw His agony were also the ones who saw the raising of Jairus’ daughter and Christ’s transfiguration.
Universal call - All are welcome
Responsibility - Making our call and election sure
-Consecration, commitments, perspire, spend resoures, be spent...
Inner circle - Deeper walk and relationship
- Go all the way
Tried and tested - Displayed consistent loyalty and faithfulness
Successor strategies - Success without success is a failure
Why Inner circle?
- Vessels unto honour
- Willingness
- Availability
- Going extra mile
- Tested and trusted
- Levels of understanding
- Future events casting its shadows
- Learning process
Does God Has favourites?
- God doesn’t discriminate
They Had a Closer Spiritual Relationship:
- They were spiritually more exposed and trusted.
A Call to Deeper Fellowship:
- Jesus desired companionship in His sorrow
Training for Future Leadership:
- Gethsemane was a moment of spiritual preparation—to understand sacrifice, prayer, and surrender.
Not Everyone Goes the Same Depth:
- Deeper intimacy requires greater commitment and sensitivity.
The Importance of Spiritual Support:
- Even Jesus sought companionship—how much more do we need godly support systems?
Watchfulness in Prayer:
- Staying spiritually alert, especially in critical moments.
God Prepares Leaders Through Trials:
- Before elevation comes testing and exposure to deeper truths.
RELATED SCRIPTURES:
Matthew 13:11 “He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.”
James 4:8 “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you…”
“Eight disciples remained behind, but three were drawn nearer—reminding us that spiritual depth is not about numbers, but nearness.”
“Jesus Christ chose twelve to follow, but in Gethsemane, He revealed that even among the faithful, there are moments reserved for the inner circle.”
“Those who witness His glory on the mountain must also witness His agony in the garden.”
“Jesus invited them not just to watch, but to pray—showing that spiritual battles are not fought alone, but with those who will tarry with us.”
“The same three who saw His transfiguration were called to see His trial; God balances revelation with responsibility.”
“When God invites you deeper, it may not always be into joy—it may be into intercession, burden, and spiritual growth.”
“Can you stay awake in another’s hour of need? The garden still asks this question of every believer.”
“The measure of true friendship is not who celebrates with you in glory, but who stand by you in sorrow.”
No.
Christ bore a much greater burden than this as He sought to fulfill the will of His Father.
He carried the weight of man’s sin, and because of that, God the Father turned away from Him in rejection.
This rejection at the time of His agony in the Garden was felt until Jesus’ Blood was shed.
At that time His Blood covered the sins of the world, and then at His death He could commend His spirit to God.
The depth of His anguish over this rejection can be parallelled to the anguish parents feel when a child rejects them, or the grief when one chosen as a marriage partner renounces his agreement.
- the grief Christ suffered when He felt rejected by His own Father in Heaven.
Redemption price was a heavy task
-"Who will go?" created total silence in heaven
A price paid for the past, present and future
-Jesus was about to bear the sins of the entire world
-This brought a sorrow far beyond physical pain—it was spiritual burden and moral weight.
Separation from the Father:
-This was likely the deepest source of His anguish—not nails, but distance from divine fellowship.
The Cup of God’s Wrath:
-The “cup” symbolized God’s judgment against sin.
The Intensity of Spiritual Warfare:
-Gethsemane was a place of deep spiritual conflict
-Jesus faced the full force of darkness, yet chose surrender.
The Cost of Redemption:
-He understood the immense cost of saving humanity.
Isaiah 53:6 “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
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…”
“In Gethsemane, His anguish reveals that His suffering began long before the nails—it began in the soul.”
“The cross was physical pain, but the garden was spiritual agony.”
“His sweat like great drops of blood reveals the intensity of inner conflict and divine submission.”
“Jesus prayed, ‘Not my will, but Thine be done’—a prayer that turned sorrow into surrender.”
“True love is seen not in avoiding pain, but in embracing it for the sake of others.”
Identify one “cross-like” responsibility you’re avoiding
- Choose one area where obedience to Jesus costs you comfort
An angel.
Even in times of great anguish, there is comfort if one is striving to follow God’s will for him.
What are the ways in which this comfort may come.
Getting the right help - suitable and beautiful for the situation
- God always knows when His children need strength and sends help from heaven at the right time.
Heaven Responds to Earthly Agony:
- Sometimes God does not take away the burden; instead, He gives us strength to carry it.
- When we fully submit to God’s will, we open the door for supernatural empowerment.
Even Jesus Received Help:
- If Jesus received strength, we too should be willing to receive help from God and others.
Ministry of Angels:
- God’s resources are not limited to what we see—there is unseen divine support working for us.
Strength for Purpose, Not Escape:
- God strengthens us, not to avoid purpose, but to accomplish it faithfully.
God Never Leaves Us Alone in Our Hardest Moments:
- In your darkest moments, you are never alone—God is actively providing strength, even if unseen.
Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Isaiah 41:10 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee…”
2 Corinthians 12:9 “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness…”
“In His moment of deepest agony, Jesus Christ was strengthened by a messenger from heaven—showing that even the Son of God received divine support.”
“Gethsemane reminds us that God does not always remove the burden, but He sends strength to endure it.”
“Heaven responded to the Son’s surrender by sending an angel—proof that obedience invites divine assistance.”
“The same God who calls you to the struggle will send the strength to carry you through it.”
“Heaven’s ministry is revealed in moments of human weakness.”
Write down one situation where you feel weak, fearful, or under pressure.
Then list one practical way you will seek God’s strengthening in that exact moment
- Strengthening often comes through God’s people. Choose one person to tell (or message): “I’m going through a hard time—please pray for me today.”
The word cup is frequently used in the sacred writings to point out sorrow, anguish, terror, death.
It seems to be an allusion to a very ancient method of punishing criminals—a cup of poison was put into their hands, and they were obliged to drink it.
Jesus was willing to drink this cup if the Father would not let it pass from Him.
The cup of the wrath of God against sin
The cup of the consequences of sin
Compounded and advance consequences
- Sometimes God’s will includes difficult paths, but they lead to greater purpose and victory.
The Cup of Sin Bearing:
- Christ took what we deserved so we could receive what we did not deserve—grace and salvation.
The Cup of God’s Wrath and Judgment:
- God’s justice is real, but His love made a way—Jesus took the judgment for us.
- The depth of Christ’s love is seen in what He was willing to endure to restore our relationship with God.
The Cup of Obedience:
- True obedience is trusting God even when the path is hard and unclear.
The Cup of Redemption:
- God can turn the most painful experiences into powerful instruments of redemption.
“When Jesus said, ‘Let this cup pass,’ He revealed His humanity; when He said, ‘Not my will, but Thine,’ He revealed His perfect obedience.”
“The cup represents God’s will—even when it includes pain, it always leads to purpose.”
“Jesus teaches us that saying ‘yes’ to God may involve drinking from a difficult cup, but it leads to eternal glory.”
“He drank the cup so we might receive the cup of salvation.”
Choose one specific moment this week where obedience will cost you comfort (saying no to temptation, forgiving someone, telling the truth, serving when you don’t feel like it).
Write: “Not my will” in practice = _______ and do it.
God’s plan included the death of Jesus, and because of Jesus’ love for mankind He was willing to fulfill His part by submitting His will to the Father’s.
"For God so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son"
God’s Gift of Jesus was love-driven
“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
- True love is proven by sacrifice, not convenience.
Because Sin Required a Just Payment:
- God’s love does not cancel His justice—it fulfills it perfectly.
- Jesus became the bridge between fallen humanity and God.
- Where sin increased, grace abounds even more.
- Obedience to God, even when costly, brings life and righteousness to others.
- If the Son had been spared, sin would remain undefeated.
- God allows temporary suffering to accomplish eternal victory.
To Establish a New Covenant of Grace:
- Not sparing His Son opened the way for grace to reign through righteousness.
- God’s plan is not just to expose sin, but to transform lives through grace.
Because Redemption Was the Only Way:
- No substitute less than the Son of God could accomplish redemption.
- God gave His best because nothing less would suffice.
- Your value is seen in the price God was willing to pay for you.
Romans 8:32 “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son…”
“In the cross, God proved that love is not what we feel, but what we are willing to sacrifice.”
“The Father gave His Son not because we were righteous, but because we were loved.”
“God did not spare His Son because sparing Him would have meant leaving humanity in bondage to sin and death.”
“The Father gave what was most precious to save what was most lost.”
“Where sin reigned, grace now reigns through righteousness unto eternal life.”
“Salvation was free to us, but it cost God everything.”
“The price of our redemption was not silver or gold, but the blood of the Son of God.”
Replace “deserved” thinking with “given” trust
Identify one area where you tend to think, “God will accept me only if…”
Then deliberately counter it by doing one act that trusts grace
The world would have been left without hope.
In this, Christ set the supreme example for us.
While our decisions as to whether or not we will submit our will is of much lesser consequence than was Christ’s, still it will have an eternal effect on our individual lives.
Lawful but not expedient - A matter of sacrifice and self denial
Willing to let go of "self rights" for a bigger common benefits
Leaving us an example to follow His steps
- Sin would remain unatoned, and mankind would be without redemption.
- Our hope today exists because Jesus chose sacrifice over escape.
No Salvation, No Reconciliation with God:
- There would be no bridge back to God.
- Humanity would remain separated, without forgiveness or justification.
- Every act of obedience to God can have eternal impact beyond what we see.
Prophecy Would Not Be Fulfilled:
- God’s redemptive plan, foretold through the prophets, would remain incomplete.
- God’s plans are precise—our role is to align with His purpose, not avoid it.
- The Cross is the ultimate demonstration of God’s love.
- Love is most clearly seen in what it is willing to endure.
- Though He had power to escape, Jesus chose obedience.
- True strength is not avoiding hardship, but embracing God’s will despite it.
Trusting God’s Greater Plan:
- Jesus understood that temporary suffering would bring eternal salvation.
- We may not always understand God’s plan, but we can trust His purpose.
Exercising Self-Control Despite Power:
- Spiritual maturity is not just having power—it is knowing when not to use it.
Enduring for the Sake of Others:
- His submission was not for Himself, but for the salvation of humanity.
- Sometimes our obedience benefits others far more than ourselves.
Demonstrating Perfect Obedience:
- Jesus became the ultimate model of humility and surrender.
- Our lives should reflect a willingness to say, “Not my will, but Yours be done.”
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Philippians 2:8 “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
1 Peter 2:21 “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:”
Hebrews 5:8-9 “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;”
“Twelve legions of angels stood ready, yet He chose the cross—power restrained by purpose.”
“If heaven’s armies had intervened, mercy would have been replaced with judgment.”
“True power is not in what you can do, but in what you choose not to do for the sake of obedience.”
“Jesus showed us that obedience to God may cost us everything, but it will never fail us.”
“The path of submission leads to the fulfillment of divine purpose.”
Choose one situation where you could “get out of it” (avoid responsibility, retaliate, dodge conviction, protect your comfort).
Make a plan to respond with submission instead (a specific action you will take), and do it quickly
Do one tangible act that shows “Your will” over “my will” (serve when inconvenient, forgive quickly, attend church faithfully, give sacrificially).
Some that could be mentioned are Moses, Noah, Esther, and Daniel—notable figures in Biblical history.
For each example, “what might have been” had they not submitted to God’s directives for their lives?
Clouds of witnesses of willing righteous worshipers
God will not force our wills - It is wisdom to hand it over to God in return
Obedience brings blessings
Disobedience brings consequences
Choice: Makes the difference - It begins with you
Obedience Beyond Understanding
- Abraham did not fully understand why, but he trusted the Who.
- Faith obeys God even when the path does not make sense.
Trust in God’s Faithfulness:
- Abraham believed God could still fulfill His promise—even if it required a miracle
- When we surrender what we value most, God proves He is faithful beyond our fears.
Total Surrender:
- Abraham held nothing back—not even his beloved son.
- True submission means placing everything on the altar.
- God revealed Himself as Jehovah-Jireh (The Lord Will Provide) in that moment.
- Disobedience would have forfeited this revelation of God’s nature.
His Faith Would Not Be Proven:
- His obedience became a model of faith for generations.
- Refusal could have left his faith unmatured and untested.
He Might Have Delayed or Disrupted God’s Plan:
-Abraham was part of God’s covenant plan for nations.
-Disobedience could have hindered his role in that plan.
-God provided a ram as a substitute.
-If Abraham had refused, he would not have experienced God’s timely provision.
-Not to harm us, but to deepen our trust.
-Breakthrough often comes after surrender.
c. Delayed Obedience Is Risky
-Saying “no” to God can mean missing divine opportunities.
Moses — If he had refused, Israel might have remained in slavery.
“Abraham’s life shows that trusting God’s plan sometimes requires leaving the familiar and stepping into the unknown.”
“When God called Abraham to go, he went—without knowing the destination, but trusting the One who leads.”
“True submission is measured not by comfort, but by obedience.”
“Refusal to obey may seem small in the moment, but it can alter the course of many lives and even future generations.”
“Had Abraham stayed behind, the promise would have remained, but he would not have been part of its fulfillment.”
“Obedience is not just personal; it is generational.”
“What God does through us often depends on our willingness to say ‘yes.’”
“God’s plans are often revealed step by step, but obedience must come before the full picture is seen.”
“Submission to God is the doorway to divine purpose.”
“Delayed obedience is often disguised disobedience.”
Make a simple plan for when fear, pressure, or convenience tries to stop you: Trigger: What usually makes me refuse?
Initially, one must be sure it agrees with the Word of God, then seek for guidance of the spirit.
This may be revealed by a direct answer from God, the sign of a fleece, through the opening of some doors, the closing of others, or the counsel of the godly.
Our conscience is our guide - We know when we are in God’s will
Does it glorify God?
Does it promote God’s Kingdom and purpose?
Where is it leading to? - What is the outcome? –
- The Holy Spirit bears witness within us when something is right.
- God’s guidance is often inward before it is outward.
Alignment with God’s Word:
- God’s will will never contradict Scripture.
- If it violates the Word, it is not God’s will—no matter how appealing it looks.
Inner Peace from the Holy Spirit:
- God often confirms His will through deep, settled peace—not confusion or turmoil.
- God leads with peace, not pressure.
Consistency in Prayer:
- Persistent prayer brings clarity and aligns our desires with God’s.
- What survives prayer is often guided by God.
Godly Counsel:
- God often speaks through people who walk closely with Him.
Open and Closed Doors:
- Circumstances can indicate divine direction.
- When God closes a door, trust Him; when He opens one, walk boldly.
Check Your Motives:
- God’s will is never rooted in pride, selfish ambition, or fear.
- Pure motives attract clear direction.
Spiritual Fruit Test:
- God’s will produces good fruit—love, joy, peace, righteousness.
- If it leads to godliness, it likely aligns with God.
Timing and Patience:
- Even the right thing at the wrong time is not God’s will.
- God’s will includes His timing, not just His plan.
Obedience in Small Things:
- Faithfulness in little things sharpens discernment for bigger decisions.
- Clarity increases with obedience.
Psalm 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
Romans 8:14 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”
John 16:13 “When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth…”
Through God’s Word:
“The will of God is never contrary to the Word of God—what is written becomes the first test of what is right.”
“When a decision aligns with the Word, it carries the light of God’s truth.”
“Prayer is not just asking God for direction; it is aligning our hearts with His will.”
“The more we pray, the clearer His voice becomes.”
“In quiet surrender, we hear the whisper of God’s guidance.”
“God reveals His will to those who seek Him earnestly and persistently.”
“God’s will is often accompanied by a deep, unshakable peace, even when the path is not easy.”
“When your spirit is unsettled, pause—God’s direction carries calm assurance.”
“Peace is not the absence of challenges, but the presence of divine confirmation.”
“Where there is humility, there is openness to guidance.”
“Surround yourself with voices that reflect God’s wisdom, not just human opinion.”
“Sometimes God’s will opens doors no man can shut—and closes doors no man can open.”
“Circumstances, when guided by God, work together for good.”
“When God is leading, there is a quiet assurance in the heart that transcends logic.”
“The Holy Spirit confirms God’s will within our inner being.”
“Discernment is not just knowing what is right, but sensing what is God.”
“If a path contradicts the nature of God, it cannot be His will.”
“What God approves will never violate His holiness.”
What are some of the ways we can ascertain whether a certain course of action is in the will of God for us?
- Then ask: “Does this option align with what God has already made clear?”
@AFM SEARCH LESSON 85
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