Keys to Effective Prayer

Mark 14:32-50
February 20, 2010

Introduction – Why Do We Pray?
To discern God’s Will
To discover God’s Nature
To develop God’s Character

Barriers to Effective Prayer:
Emotion – Jesus was “deeply distressed” ... “swallowed up” (v32)
Personal desires – Jesus asked that the “cup be taken”
Fatigue – Jesus was probably tired, as the disciples “could not keep their eyes open” (v39)
Peer pressure – Judas was “one of the twelve” (v43)
Opposition – Jesus’ disciples all “deserted Him and ran away.” (v50)

Bridges to Effective Prayer:
Place of prayer – Gethsemane was a favorite location of Jesus to pray (v32)
Partners in prayer – All disciples went to the gate, he took three into the garden (v33)
Passion in prayer – Jesus “fell to the ground” (v35)
Purpose in prayer – Jesus’ goal was specific for his disciples – to resist temptation (v38)
Persistence of prayer – “Once again, He went away and prayed”. (v39)

Then He went a little farther . . . fell to the ground . . . and began to pray. (Mark 14:35)