Timothy Keller Sermons Podcast by Gospel in Life

Struggle: Thy Will Be Done

Feb 7, 2025

Dive into the essence of prayer and its transformative power in the face of cultural beliefs about freedom and happiness. Explore Jesus’ agonizing moment in Gethsemane, where he modeled obedience amid immense suffering. Discover the deep emotional turmoil he faced and how it reshapes our understanding of 'Thy will be done.' Gain insights on submitting to divine will as a source of strength and resilience. Plus, find practical tips to deepen your prayer life and embrace a relationship with God that goes beyond mere intellect.

38:32

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Quick takeaways

The podcast emphasizes that prayer, particularly the phrase 'Thy will be done', is essential for deepening one's personal relationship with God amid cultural challenges.

Tim Keller highlights Jesus' immense emotional turmoil in Gethsemane, illustrating how His agony informs believers' understanding of faith and trust in God during struggles.

Deep dives

The Importance of Prayer in Knowing God

Prayer is essential for developing a personal relationship with God, as it allows for deeper self-understanding and growth in faith. Knowing about God is different from knowing Him personally, and prayer serves as the bridge to fostering that connection. Engaging in sincere prayer can lead to transformative experiences, enabling individuals to comprehend and embody their faith more fully. Tim Keller emphasizes that without prayer, the depth of one's relationship with God cannot be fully realized.

Intro

3min

Understanding 'Thy Will Be Done' Through Prayer and Agony

4min

Jesus' Agony in Gethsemane

12min

The Voluntary Sacrifice and Deepening Prayer Life

2min

Jesus in Gethsemane: A Lesson in Obedience

15min

Embracing Strength Through Submission to Divine Will

3min

We need every bit of help we can get to learn to pray, “Thy will be done,” because we’re going right into the teeth of our culture.

The essence of American culture is the belief that the more free we are to decide for ourselves, the happier we’ll be. But Jesus Christ says every time you pray to God, you need to say to him, “Thy will be done.” That goes right against probably everything you’ve been taught in our culture.

To understand this phrase, we need to see that when Jesus himself prayed it, he was in the midst of terrible agony. Let’s reflect on 1) the magnitude of that agony, 2) the immediacy of that agony, and then 3) how that helps us understand what it means to pray, “Thy will be done” in a life-transforming way.

This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on October 19, 2014. Series: The Prayer of Prayers. Scripture: Matthew 26:36-46.

Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.

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