Is It Jesus You Want?

John 18:1-7; Exodus 3.13,14

Soul Food

John 18:1-7

“When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it. Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.

Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, ‘Who is it you want?’ ‘Jesus of Nazareth,’ they replied. ‘I am he,’ Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, ‘I am he,’ they drew back and fell to the ground. Again he asked them, ‘Who is it you want?’ ‘Jesus of Nazareth,’ they said.”

Exodus 3:13,14

“Moses said to God, ‘Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?’

God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”

Soul Search

• Are there times in your life where you thought you had control of a situation but it turned out that you didn’t have the control over it that you thought you had?
  Can you talk about it?

• When you realized the situation was out of your control, what did you do?
  After doing everything you knew to do to fix or remedy the situation, how did you respond when it became apparent that you didn’t have the “fix” you thought you had?
  Who or where did you turn to for help?

• Would you say you’re a pretty self-sufficient person?
  Do you like thinking you can handle just about everything?
  Is it difficult for you to ask others for help?

• Have you ever gotten into trouble because you didn’t ask for help when you needed it?

Soul Moves

• It takes belief in Jesus – the all-sufficient One – to go to Him in prayer asking for His help.
  Prayer is talking to God (Jesus) and letting Him know the situations where you need help.
  Begin by entering into a relationship with Him.
  Give Him your heart – your life – and ask Him to take control.

• Make a list of the places, situations, and ways in which you need God’s help.
  Ask Him for that help and mark the list up when you see God begin to answer your prayers.
  Allow God to grow and build your faith as you see Him work in your life through answered prayers.

• Be honest with God where you find it difficult to yield control to Him.
  Ask God to show you areas in your life where you have a pattern of trying to figure things out and control them in your way when in fact He wants you to give control to Him and allow Him to do things His way.
  It can feel irresponsible to let go of some things but He’s teaching you that He has the wisdom and power to do things you will never be able to do.
  He’s God and you’re not.
  That’s a beautiful thing.