Michael Miller talked about those instances when God would take His children into a personal Gethsemane. He reminded the congregation that the Christian life was hard, but it was worth it.
Michael Miller
The founder and Senior Pastor of UPPERROOM, Michael Miller, talks about those moments when people would experience their personal Gethsemane. He mentioned Matthew 26, wherein Jesus took some of His disciples and went to Mount Gethsemane to pray. He first defined Gethsemane as the olive press, a place of crushing and pressing. According to him, it was a place on the Mount of Olives which represented the location where Jesus prayed.
Then, he believed that in a Christian’s spiritual life, there would be times when the Lord would take His children into a personal Gethsemane. It was a place of crushing, pressing, and refinement. He explained, “We love new wine, but new wine comes from a fresh crushing. We love the oil of Heaven, we Love anointing, but anointing comes from the olive press.”
UPPERROOM. (Screenshot). (2024). Gethsemane. Retrieved April 26, 2024: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TuOgdp2N4k
Personal Gethsemane
Furthermore, he stressed that Gethsemane was a place where the anointing was birthed. He highlighted that it came from seasons of trials and pressing. Then, he pointed out the difference between gifting and anointing.
“We’ve called gifting anointing. And you think that gifting and platform is the point. It’s not. Gifting and platform is not the point. Anointing from the pressing is. And the oil that you receive, it’s actually not about Ministry, it’s about the knowledge of Him. The oil is an oil of intimacy,” he emphasized.
Moreover, he shared that the pressing was all about producing an oil that led people to experience intimacy with Jesus. Then, he talked about instances when people felt entitled every time they experienced struggles in life.
He said, “I don’t believe in understanding of suffering when suffering comes because we think we’re entitled to something. We get offended at God; we feel like He faked us out. We feel like you know, ‘You didn’t tell me the full thing. I didn’t know it would be this hard.’ Listen, it’s going to be hard.” He reminded the congregation that the Christian life was not easy, but it was worth it.
Watch the full sermon here.
Reference | UPPERROOM
Header Image: UPPERROOM. (Screenshot). (2024). Gethsemane. Retrieved April 26, 2024: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TuOgdp2N4k