Encounter #59: “ How Are You Keeping Warm?” Read: Mark 14:53-59 The Jewish Sanhedrin met to condemn Jesus. Peter followed Jesus at a distance and was at the High Priest's palace. He warmed himself at a fire. He was at the wrong place with the wrong people. It is very easy to just follow the crowd and end up warming yourself with the wrong fire. There is no substitute for the fire of the Holy Spirit. It was at this place that Peter denied Jesus three times. Peter was discouraged, defeated, weak, in a spiritual battle and at the wrong place. He was surrounded by the enemies of Jesus. He should have stayed with the disciples. Previously, while in the Garden of Gethsemane he and the other disciples were sleeping instead of praying. Now he will enter into temptation and deny Jesus. Two examples of people in the wrong place were Eve and King David. What was Eve doing hanging around the “Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil?” Didn't God tell Adam and E
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Encounter #58 : “ Position Yourself” Read: Mark 14:43-52 While Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane with His 11 Apostles, Judas came to betray Him. “Whom did you seek?” Jesus asked. They said “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus was proclaiming that He was God. In spite of God's presence, power and anointing, Judas still betrayed Jesus with a kiss. Peter reacted by cutting off the right ear of the servant of the High Priest called Malchus. Jesus put his ear back on. The captains of the Temple, the scribes, the elders and the Roman soldiers arrested Jesus. What a sight in the Garden that night: Jews, Gentiles, torches, clubs, swords, soldiers, religious leaders, friends, enemies, common people, anger, confusion, betrayal, healing, fear, rejection,etc. Because the Apostles were not prepared for what happened, they ran from Jesus. They weren't prayed-up and therefore they weren't positioned. Jesus was prepared because He was prayed-up and was positioned for what was a
Encounter # 57: “ God's Will” Read: Mark 14:32-42 Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane with 11 of His Apostles. The name “Gethsemane” means “the olive, or oil press.” It was the place where olives were crushed to produce olive oil. Oil was used for lamps, anointing, healing, consecration and symbolized the Holy Spirit. Jesus was exceeding sorrowful; overwhelmed with grief and in mental distress. He knew He was going to be crucified the next day. His Apostles were sleeping while He was praying. Jesus prayed that this hour would pass; that “this cup of suffering” would pass from Him. He asked His Father if it was possible to release Him from this cup. He prayed three times. Nevertheless, He prayed for His Father's will to be done. His Father's will was that Jesus needed to suffer and die for the sins of the world. Jesus yielded to His Father's will. Meanwhile, His Apostles were still sleeping. Jesus told them to watch and pray so that they would