Following Jesus is surrendering our will, not getting our way.
Jesus knows what it's like to face something we don't want, and in the Garden of Gethsemane He shows us that the only real option is surrendering to the Father's will rather than demanding our own way. What Adam and Eve broke by grabbing for what they wanted in the Garden of Eden, Jesus healed by surrendering in the garden of Gethsemane — and that same choice is set before us today.
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Point 1 of 6
Jesus faced His own moment of not wanting what the Father had for Him.
Pastor Rocky walks through Matthew 26:36-46, describing Jesus falling face down in Gethsemane, sweating drops of blood, and praying that the cup be taken from Him. He contrasts this raw, agonized scene with the sanitized flannel-graph version he grew up with in Sunday school, showing Jesus genuinely wrestling before surrendering.
Rewind AI contributed study material from the sermon transcript; church-authored wording and verified sermon quotes keep their own source. Always trust the sermon itself over anything here. How Rewind uses AI
Point 2 of 6
It is not sinful to not want what God wants for you — the sin question is about follow-through.
After Jesus prays a second and third time for another way, Pastor Rocky asks directly whether it's sinful to not want to do what God wants, and answers no — righteousness or sin is determined by whether we follow through, not by our initial reluctance.
“Is it a sin to not wanna do the things that God wants you to do”
— Pastor Rocky High
“Whether it's sinful or righteous is about your follow through”
— Pastor Rocky High
Rewind AI contributed study material from the sermon transcript; church-authored wording and verified sermon quotes keep their own source. Always trust the sermon itself over anything here. How Rewind uses AI
Point 3 of 6
Jesus in Gethsemane reverses what Adam and Eve did in Eden.
Pastor Rocky retells Genesis 3, showing how the serpent got Eve to question God's word, question God's goodness, and question God's provision, leading her to reach outside God's will for the fruit. He quotes Max Lucado's line that in Eden Adam took a fall and Satan led him to a tree that led to death, while in Gethsemane Jesus took a stand and went to a tree that led to life.
Illustration
Max Lucado quote contrasting the two gardens — Eden and Gethsemane
A story from life
Rocky's story about copying math answers from the back of the book in fourth grade and being caught by his teacher
Rewind AI contributed study material from the sermon transcript; church-authored wording and verified sermon quotes keep their own source. Always trust the sermon itself over anything here. How Rewind uses AI
Point 4 of 6
Surrendering our will means praying for change in us, not just in our circumstances.
Using a story about finding the answer key in the back of his math book but getting no credit because he skipped the work, Pastor Rocky shows that God often wants to do something in us before He does something for us. He points out that Jesus's prayer always ended with 'not my will, but yours,' modeling prayer that seeks transformation, not just a transactional answer.
“so often, God wants to do something in you before he does something for you”
— Pastor Rocky High
Rewind AI contributed study material from the sermon transcript; church-authored wording and verified sermon quotes keep their own source. Always trust the sermon itself over anything here. How Rewind uses AI
Point 5 of 6
Surrendering our will means refusing to go it alone and choosing real community.
Pastor Rocky tells the Muhammad Ali seatbelt story to illustrate the false bravado of insisting we don't need help, then notes that Jesus brought Peter, James, and John into the garden to witness Him in a vulnerable state, while Adam and Eve hid from God and each other after sinning. A video testimony from Bria about the Embrace Grace ministry illustrates what it looks like to admit need and receive support from community.
“prayer is not simply meant to just be transactional. Prayer is meant to be relational”
— Pastor Rocky High
Illustration
Muhammad Ali refusing to wear a seatbelt on a plane, claiming he is Superman, until the stewardess points out Superman doesn't need a plane
A story from life
Bria's video testimony about finding community and support through Embrace Grace as a single mother
Rewind AI contributed study material from the sermon transcript; church-authored wording and verified sermon quotes keep their own source. Always trust the sermon itself over anything here. How Rewind uses AI
Point 6 of 6
Surrendering our will means trusting God's character rather than judging Him by our circumstances.
Pastor Rocky returns to the story of his son Orion trusting his father with medicine despite not liking it, applying it to trusting God even when we don't like what He allows. He states that we cannot judge the love of God based on circumstances but based on the empty tomb.
“You judge the love of God based on an empty tomb”
— Pastor Rocky High
A story from life
Rocky's story of his son Orion choosing to take his medication despite not wanting it, as an illustration of trust
Rewind AI contributed study material from the sermon transcript; church-authored wording and verified sermon quotes keep their own source. Always trust the sermon itself over anything here. How Rewind uses AI
Take it into your week
Pastor Rocky frames the response as three moves: pray for change, be in community, and trust in God.
Application
Pray for change in you, not just your circumstances
Don't just ask God to fix the outcome; ask Him to change you in the process, following Jesus's pattern of praying 'not my will, but yours.'
Stop pretending to be Superman or Superwoman
Admit you need help instead of isolating, and let people into your real struggles the way Jesus let Peter, James, and John see Him vulnerable in the garden.
Be the community someone else needs
If your season is stable, look for who around you needs support, and consider giving to Rock Point's Hope Outreach so ministries like Embrace Grace can keep helping people like Bria.
Choose to trust your heavenly Father
Even when circumstances are hard and you don't like what you're facing, decide to trust God's character and goodness rather than judging Him by your situation.
Rewind AI contributed study material from the sermon transcript; church-authored wording and verified sermon quotes keep their own source. Always trust the sermon itself over anything here. How Rewind uses AI