Study in Gospel of Mark

1. Mark 14:1-72 2-21-10 When You Have Difficult Decisions

2. Have you ever been afraid of making the wrong decision?

3. Do you have trouble making decisions? For some people decision making is easy. For most of us, it's difficult to know if we're using good judgment as we make daily decision about life. It becomes even harder with important, life-changing decisions. The decision making process can be fraught with hesitation, confusion, apprehension and indecision yet everyone goes through it. Christian wisdom makes decisions easier.

4. Christian wisdom makes decisions easier. The decision making process can be fraught with hesitation, confusion, apprehension and indecision yet everyone goes through it. Christians are not exempt from making bad decisions.

5. Most of us will face times where we are confronted with difficult decisions. It seems many Christian people get themselves under too much pressure. None of us will face the exact kind of trauma Jesus faced. However we may advise Christian people, at all times, and especially When You Have Difficult Decisions, to follow the Lord’s example.

6. Difficult Decisions Demand . . Seeking The Heavenly Father In Prayer. 14:32-35 A. Seeking The Father In Prayer Will Be Helped By Asking . . Others To Pray With You. 14:32-34 32 Then they came to a place named Gethsemane, and He told His disciples, "Sit here while I pray." 33 He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be deeply distressed and horrified. 34 Then He said to them, "My soul is swallowed up in sorrow—to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake." B. Seeking The Lord In Prayer Will Be Helped By . . Opening Your Mind And Heart. 14:35 35 Then He went a little farther, fell to the ground, and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him.

7. Jesus sought the Father all through His life but especially during this time of difficult decision. The Lord did not just look at death but the taking of the sins of mankind upon Himself. He lived a sinless life but now must take all sin on His person. In difficult times it may very well help to invite others to pray with you. It is sad to note the Lord asked His disciples to pray with Him and a little later, “He asked Peter. "Couldn't you stay awake one hour? (Mk 14:37 HCSB).

8. A. Submitting To The Lord In Prayer May Be Helped By . . Stating Your Desire. 14:36 36 And He said, "Abba, Father! All things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will." Difficult Decisions Demand . . Submission To The Heavenly Father. 14:36-39

9. B. Submitting To The Lord In Prayer May Be Helped By . . Sticking With Your Purpose. 14:37-39 37 Then He came and found them sleeping. "Simon, are you sleeping?" He asked Peter. "Couldn't you stay awake one hour? 38 Stay awake and pray so that you won't enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." 39 Once again He went away and prayed, saying the same thing. Difficult Decisions Demand . . Submission To The Heavenly Father. 14:36-39

10. Do we submit to the Lord when we pray? We ought to state our desires asking for exactly what we want, but with the submission to accept what The Father’s will may be in the matter. Jesus asked for the cup to be taken away. But then note the words, “nevertheless not what I will, but what You will.” That is submission! Follow the example of Jesus as He stayed in submission to the purpose for His life. Can we repeat the same words in our prayer? The Lord did! Can you ask in prayer for the Lord’s will to be done? Jesus did!

11. Difficult Decisions Demand . . Stamina From The Heavenly Father. 14:40-44 A. Stamina In Pursuing God’s Purpose Despite The . . Sleeping Disciples. 14:40-41 40 And He came again and found them sleeping, because they could not keep their eyes open. They did not know what to say to Him. 41 Then He came a third time and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The time has come. Look, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. B. Stamina In Pursuing God’s Purpose Despite The . . Sneaky Betrayer. 14:42-44 42 Get up; let's go! See—My betrayer is near." 43 While He was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, suddenly arrived. With him was a mob, with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. 44 His betrayer had given them a signal. "The One I kiss," he said, "He's the One; arrest Him and take Him away under guard." 45 So when he came, he went right up to Him and said, "Rabbi!"—and kissed Him. 46 Then they took hold of Him and arrested Him.

12. C. Stamina In Pursuing God’s Purpose Despite The . . Splitting Disciples. 14:47-50 1. Stamina Despite The . . Failure Of Disciples To Understand. 14:47 47 And one of those who stood by drew his sword, struck the high priest's slave, and cut off his ear. 2. Stamina Despite The . . Feeble Efforts Of The Soldiers. 14:48-49 48 But Jesus said to them, "Have you come out with swords and clubs, as though I were a criminal, to capture Me? 49 Every day I was among you, teaching in the temple complex, and you didn't arrest Me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled." 3. Stamina Despite The . . Fleeing Efforts Of The Disciples. 14:50 50 Then they all deserted Him and ran away. HCSB

13. Typical Mistakes in Making Decisions "Assume" that everyone agrees on your decision. Delay decisions too long - that means you have to work under too much pressure at the end. Not considering all the implications of a decision Spend lots of time on minor decisions so you don't have time for major ones.

15. Distinguish Major from Minor Decisions Some decisions are big ones, others don't make an enormous difference. Consciously decide which are major and which are minor. If there's a question understand why different members disagree.

16. Give Yourself Time Particularly for major decisions, you want as much time as possible to make them. Identify in advance when decisions must be made. Discuss the decision before you have to make it and then give time to "mull" on it. Often that time can produce changed minds and better decisions.

17. Use Criteria Do I have a plan? What are my choices? What are the pros and cons? It's very tempting to make a decision just by 'talking about it'. It helps greatly to define "criteria" by which you'll evaluate different alternatives. The more important the decision the more important it is to pray about it.

18. Hear the Opinion of Others Learn from the success and failures of others. Sometimes experience counts. Remember, there is usually more than one way to do something

19. Application: How to make good decisions Make the decision to let God be God. You'll never make progress in this area as long as you refuse to give up control. It certainly isn't easy, and it certainly doesn't happen overnight, especially if you're a control freak as I once was. It almost drove me completely nuts when I began giving up control of things. But it helped immensely when I realized there was somebody a bit more qualified than me in charge of my life. Proverbs 16: We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer.

20. Application Study the Word of God. The only way you're going to get to know God and his character is to study his Word. It won't take long before you're able to judge situations and circumstances with a new view. Decisions are easier because you already know in advance the direction you want your life to take. 2 Timothy 2:15: Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

21. Don’t be out of focus When you need to make a difficult decision, you must be in focus with God to get it right and have peace. If you don’t give God complete leadership over your life- your life will remain out of focus. Hebrews 11:8-10

22. Ask for Wisdom (James 1:5 NKJV) If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

23. Application Surround yourself with people who are further along in the journey. There is no reason to learn every lesson yourself when you have perfectly good examples right in front of you. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we often counsel one another from what we've learned through our mistakes. Take advantage of this counsel and learn from the mistakes of others so your own learning curve is not so steep. You'll be very glad you don't have to go through every mistake as you learn from observing and listening to others. But trust me, you'll still make plenty of your own mistakes. You can take comfort in knowing that one day your mistakes may serve to help someone else. Corinthians 11:1: Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

24. Never give up. Be glad about your progress. Let yourself off the hook. You didn't start showing poor judgment overnight and you won't always show good judgment now, just because you want to. Just be happy you're making progress and you're seeing your life improve. Little by little as you gain wisdom from God's Word, you'll begin to see the results reflected in your decisions. Hebrews 12:1-3And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.

25. How do we make Decisions? In submission to God’s revealed moral will – we are not allowed to choose any alternative that will violate Scripture. With wisdom – ask in prayer, counsel, instruction, research and experience. 3) Being sensitive to personal factors: personal preferences, desires, likes or dislikes, circumstances, opportunities and conscience.

26. How do we make Decisions? 4) In humble submission to God’s sovereign interventions – God can intervene in any of our plans, he uses obstacles, problems and circumstances to redirect our paths. We respond by making wise choices as new factors become evident, with an attitude of dependence and trust in God. In the process of making our decisions God fulfills His sovereign purposes.

27. THE GREATEST DECISION –Made for You Throughout the “passion narrative in Chap. 14 we see how Jesus thought about, made and carried out the terms of the greatest decision ever made for the world. Consider His observance of the Passover and His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane in anticipation of His fate. Even while awaiting His fate, Jesus watched over His disciples, praised Mary for her devotion and love and contemplated His betrayal by Judas. All of this is instructive for those who read this account.

28. THE GREATEST DECISION –Made for You Throughout the “passion narrative” in Chap. 14 we see how Jesus thought about, made and carried out the terms of the greatest decision ever made for the world. Consider His observance of the Passover and His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane in anticipation of His fate. Even while awaiting His fate, Jesus watched over His disciples, praised Mary for her devotion and love and contemplated His betrayal by Judas. All of this is instructive for those who read this account.