Joel Osteen - Grace for Gethsemane

Before Jesus went to the cross, before he rose from the dead, he had to go through the Garden of Gethsemane. That's where he was so overwhelmed, and so distressed, knowing what he was about to face, that he sweat great drops of blood.

We celebrate the resurrection, but the real victory was won in Gethsemane. That's where he refused to give up. He didn't get bitter because people betrayed him, didn't get discouraged because disciples fell asleep, didn't live frustrated because the plan wasn't fair. He was squeezed, he was pressured, he was uncomfortable, but he endured the suffering.

Paul said in Philippians 3:10, "I want to know him in the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his suffering". You can't have a resurrection without some suffering. Real victory is not won in public it's won in private, it's what you do in Gethsemane.

I can't promise you that you'll never have a Gethsemane, never feel pressured, overwhelmed, betrayed, but I can promise you there is grace for every Gethsemane.

Sometimes God will take you to a Gethsemane, down a path that's uncomfortable. There's pressure, adversity, you didn't choose it. We like the favor, the blessing, the good times. This battle chose you. And Jesus already knew the outcome, he already knew he would rise again, be seated next to his Father. He knew the end, but in the middle the pressure was so great, he still questioned. He said (Luke 22:42), "Father, if you're willing, take this bitter cup from me".

God wouldn't have let you go to Gethsemane if he didn't have something amazing in front of you. There are levels of favor and blessing you can only see by going through a season of pressing, a season of suffering. Gethsemane is not the enemy, it's designed by God. It's a strategic place to launch you to the power of the resurrection, to see favor that you've never imagined.

You can't have a resurrection without a Gethsemane. You have to pass the test, and here's the key: in the pressure.

You may be in Gethsemane now. God's been good to you, you've seen his blessing, but you're in a time of pressing, squeezing. It's uncomfortable, people have come against you, strain in your finances, a child has an illness. Don't get stuck in Gethsemane, that's not your destiny.

You have to get out of Gethsemane. Enemy would love for you to get stuck there, stuck in blame, stuck in who hurt you, stuck in a bad childhood. All Gethsemane did was get you prepared for the next level. That pressure caused you to develop more muscles, greater trust, greater faith, greater resilience.