...grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. (Ps 51:12)

There is a spiritual virus that has infected today’s believers and church more powerfully than the H1N1 - causing many to be headed in the wrong direction spiritually. It digs in against God’s leading.

In Ps 51, David’s antidote is a subtle spiritual Vaccine = a Willing Spirit

A Willing Spirit is an Open Door to the spiritual power God uses to make us new.

a. Jesus Prayed about a Willing Spirit

Matt. 26:37-42 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." 40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. 41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." 42 He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."

• Jesus goes from his Emotions to a WILLING SPIRIT
• overwhelmed = to be engraved by these emotions

We Must Respond to God rather than React to our Emotions

The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

The Question is: Whether we have a Willing Heart or a Flesh filled response?

b. Jesus Learned from Willingness in Suffering

Heb. 5:7-8 During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.
8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered

• Spirituality begins in our humanity - During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears
• Reverent submission = is a NT/GK definition of a Willing Spirit. It is a laying down – a freely given offering from a heart of reverence and love.
• Reverent Submission goes from being bound by the trials of life; to willingly giving them to God.
• DOULOS = bond-servant was once a slave – but as a former slave whose chains are loosed … the slave returns to the Master – because freedom is found in the cover of the Master.
• Reverence requires a revelation.
• A Willing Spirit that leads to a new creation, in its truest form, is an eye test.
• We have to have our eyes opened to God’s perspective if we are ever to become a new creation.

  ...he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered

• Willingness puts you in a position to learn what God has in store – and that His way is better!

  Heb. 5:11-12 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!

• When we do not have a willing spirit (reverent submission) we become slow learners!

Conclusion:

Pearlman: “I have learned for a lifetime to make the most out of what is left over”

Audio File: 

2009-11-08.mp3

You can download the audio and sermon notes by clicking the links above.

Subscribe to our Podcast to have new sermons automatically downloaded onto your audio player.