How Church Growth is Affected by Gethsemane
by Pastor Dag Heward-MIlls
“And He came out and proceeded as was HIS CUSTOM to the Mount of Olives; and the DISCIPLES ALSO FOLLOWED Him.
And when He arrived at the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
And HE WITHDREW from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and began to pray,
saying, “Father, if Thou art willing, remove this cup from Me; YET NOT MY WILL, BUT THINE BE DONE.”
Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, STRENGTHENING HIM.
And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.
And when He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow,
and said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.””
Luke 22:39-46 (NASB)
The Principles of Gethsemane
1. Gethsemane teaches us that the turning points for your life and ministry are determined in the private and personal times you have with the Lord.
The turning point for Jesus’ ministry came in the Garden of Gethsemane. Gethsemane was the place where Jesus received strength to accomplish the will of God. The turning point for your church will come when you wait on the Lord. The turning point that will give you church growth will take place in your Garden of Gethsemane.
2. Gethsemane shows us the greatest example of waiting on the Lord. There is no man that is used of the Lord who has not interacted with the Lord deeply and personally.
Moses encountered the Lord by the burning bush. It was that personal private burning bush meeting that propelled him into his worldwide ministry. It will be your personal private burning bush experience that will propel you into the church growth you desire.
Jacob’s meeting with the Lord also gave birth to his ministry of producing God’s nation Israel.
3. Gethsemane teaches us that you must have a place you go to often to wait on the Lord. It must be part of your life’s routine to visit Gethsemane regularly. According to the Scripture it was His custom to visit that garden in the Mount of Olives.
And He came out and proceeded as was HIS CUSTOM to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed Him.”
Luke 22:39, NASB
4. Gethsemane teaches us the importance of going away from your usual environment and to places where you benefit from nature. Nature tends to relax you and God’s voice will reach you better when your mind and heart are relaxed. Nature itself has many messages contained within it.
5. Gethsemane teaches us the importance of fellowshipping with your most senior friends and associates. Gethsemane is a place where you can have important life-changing discussions with the most important people in your ministry.
6. Gethsemane teaches us the importance of being alone with God. Gethsemane is a place where you can receive life-changing revelations from the Lord. The disciples received life-changing teachings about prayer. Without revelation you will not be different from the people you lead.
7. Gethsemane teaches us the importance of praying, “Thy Will be done” for several hours. Some people do not believe in repeating prayers. But if we are to follow the example of Jesus, we will spend hours praying. We will pray, “Thy will be done” for hours and hours on end.
“And He came out and proceeded as was HIS CUSTOM to the Mount of Olives; and the DISCIPLES ALSO FOLLOWED Him.
And when He arrived at the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
And HE WITHDREW from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and began to pray,
saying, “Father, if Thou art willing, remove this cup from Me; YET NOT MY WILL, BUT THINE BE DONE.”
Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, STRENGTHENING HIM.
And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.
And when He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow,
and said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.””
Luke 22:39-46 (NASB)
The Principles of Gethsemane
1. Gethsemane teaches us that the turning points for your life and ministry are determined in the private and personal times you have with the Lord.
The turning point for Jesus’ ministry came in the Garden of Gethsemane. Gethsemane was the place where Jesus received strength to accomplish the will of God. The turning point for your church will come when you wait on the Lord. The turning point that will give you church growth will take place in your Garden of Gethsemane.
2. Gethsemane shows us the greatest example of waiting on the Lord. There is no man that is used of the Lord who has not interacted with the Lord deeply and personally.
Moses encountered the Lord by the burning bush. It was that personal private burning bush meeting that propelled him into his worldwide ministry. It will be your personal private burning bush experience that will propel you into the church growth you desire.
Jacob’s meeting with the Lord also gave birth to his ministry of producing God’s nation Israel.
3. Gethsemane teaches us that you must have a place you go to often to wait on the Lord. It must be part of your life’s routine to visit Gethsemane regularly. According to the Scripture it was His custom to visit that garden in the Mount of Olives.
And He came out and proceeded as was HIS CUSTOM to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed Him.”
Luke 22:39, NASB
4. Gethsemane teaches us the importance of going away from your usual environment and to places where you benefit from nature. Nature tends to relax you and God’s voice will reach you better when your mind and heart are relaxed. Nature itself has many messages contained within it.
5. Gethsemane teaches us the importance of fellowshipping with your most senior friends and associates. Gethsemane is a place where you can have important life-changing discussions with the most important people in your ministry.
6. Gethsemane teaches us the importance of being alone with God. Gethsemane is a place where you can receive life-changing revelations from the Lord. The disciples received life-changing teachings about prayer. Without revelation you will not be different from the people you lead.
7. Gethsemane teaches us the importance of praying, “Thy Will be done” for several hours. Some people do not believe in repeating prayers. But if we are to follow the example of Jesus, we will spend hours praying. We will pray, “Thy will be done” for hours and hours on end.
