By Ps. Charles Nieman

I attended Business Seminar by Ps. Charles Nieman in JPCC last Saturday. It was very mind-blowing and very very encouraging. It is basically a teaching for all the businessman, what to do if they are facing problem in their business. But i think it can be applied to everyone of us. Happy learning :)

Matthew 26:36-38 (New King James)

The Prayer in the Garden

³⁶ Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” ³⁷ And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. ³⁸ Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” 

Do you know, that 'Gethsemane' means 'Oil Pressed'.

There's time in our life we will face this 'oil pressed' situation. In other words, feeling stress or pressured?

There is also a possibility when you face this situation, you might want to quit or give up, or making mistake? This point, we usually called as the 'breaking point'.

This point will happen in every aspect of our life, like career, relationship, marriage, relation with God, and so many more. And there will be 2 possibilities come out when you face this 'oil pressed' situation, which are: breakthrough (you win) or breakdown (you lose).

In Matthew 26:36-38, It is described that God is in 'oil pressed' situation.

He felt pressure. Pressured, means to be crowded into narrow space.

It is described in NLT Version that (1) He is crushed with grief point of death. This is the point where usually you feel like quit, giving up. God starts describing what is 'pressured', what is the thing you will feel when you are crowded into narrow space. And then God said that (2)His soul is exceedingly sorrowful (verse 38). Soul means mind and emotion.

If God can feel that way when he is in that situation, we as His creation will definitely feel that way too when we are facing the situation. It is normal, but we have to choose right HOW to react to finish it.

So, HOW to react when we are facing this 'oil pressed' situation? God teaches us how through this story. Let us read until verse 42.

38"...Stay here and watch with Me."

³⁹ He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
⁴⁰ Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? ⁴¹ Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
⁴² Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless^[a] I drink it, Your will be done.” 

Do you realize that God uses the word 'watch' 3 times in 4 verses. That must means something. He teaches us to 'watch' whenever we are feeling pressure.

'watch' in the verse, means be prepared for upcoming temptation and be mindful of threatening danger.

He teaches us to always be prepared and be mindful.

Let us now see, what God does when He is pressured:

1. He asks help, from friend and Father. He ask His students to sit with Him.

2. He committed Himself to the will of God. Read verse 39, He ask Father if He can pass this test, but whatever it is, He wants it to be done according to Father's plan.

A lot of time when we are facing problem, we always pray to God that we want to solve it with OUR way, not according to God's way.

3. He began to pray.

These 3 things are the things that we have to do when we are facing problems.

Now let us learn about some character in the bible who breakdown when they faced this 'oil pressed' situation. 

KING SAUL
In 1 Samuel 13, you can read where that is the point where King Saul lost His kingdom and power as a king. He waited and waited God to answer until finally he is defeated, and at verse 12, he blame God for not helping him. The point to learn is: don't you ever blame God for your disobedience.

Sometimes, you know in your heart what you should do, what is right, Holy spirit talked to you, but you just don't listen. When you lose, don't blame God.

Now let us discuss about other character, that has passed so many 'oil pressed' situation, but he win at the end. He has been through so many awful thing but yet he still praise God. 2 Corinthians 11.

²³ Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.

²⁶ in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; ²⁷ in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness

He is APOSTLE PAUL

Paul never say 'why me?' or blaming God, because he knows that satan tried to make him breakdown. We can learn a lot from him.

Say this to ourselves, whenever we face the problem: whatever it is, it is not my final destination.

God always give the best for us, and we know that.

So, whenever you are in trouble, don't ever quit, because we know it is not your final destination, you have to go forward no matter how hard it is. Pray, be prepared, be mindful and go forward!

Philipians 3:13 (NKJV)

¹³ Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.

So, to go forward:

1. You have to forget the past

2. Keep moving

Hope this will bless you...