When We Fail at Prayer - Mark 14:32-41
When We Fail at Prayer - Mark 14:32-41
By Pastor Lee Hemen
March 6, 2011 AM
Why is the Christian church a mere shadow of what it once was? Some think it is because we do not allow the Spirit of God to work. Others say we are not reaching out enough, witnessing about our faith here at home. While others believe that it is because the church has lost the aspect of being set apart from the rest of the world and has lost its holiness. I believe all of these have some validity, but at its core I believe that all of these things can be reduced to the fact that the church no longer prays as it should. A weak Christian faith or a weak Christian church is the result of when we fail at prayer.
Here in Mark’s gospel we find Jesus during the last few hours of his life. As each moment draws him closer to his final act of sacrifice, we discover some wonderful truths for our lives. And there is no greater truth than the power of prayer. From when his own disciples asked him to teach them how to pray, to the last moments of his life we discover Jesus teaching over and over the importance of prayer. Why is it if Jesus displayed prayer in his own life and taught the importance prayer in the lives of his followers that we so often fail at prayer? Let’s find out why this morning…
READ: Mark 14:32-41
Over and over we find the writers of the New Testament asking their friends, the churches, and fellow believers to pray for them. Why? They learned this lesson from the Lord himself. As we join Jesus and his disciples in the garden, we learn that…
I. We fail at prayer when we do not ask others to join us! (Vv. 32-34)
1. There is strength in numbers! Here we find the few remaining moments of Jesus’ life and he has a simple request for his disciples: “Sit here while I pray.” All Jesus desires is that they would be steadfast, remain where they were, and stay awake while he prayed. He needed the assurance of his fellows in faith. This brings me to several thoughts: How often do we ask others to sit with us during our worst trials? How often do we sit with others when they ask us to? And finally, why would we want our brothers and sisters in Christ to do such a thing? I have learned that if Jesus said it, wanted it, or taught it we should listen closely to what he asks, wants, and teaches. If Jesus asked his own close disciples sit with him shouldn’t we do the same when we are stressed or facing trials? The answer is, “Yes.” It reassures us that we are not alone. It strengthens us in knowing others care. And it shows the importance of the body of Christ encouraging one another as long as it is called today. We should ask, as Jesus did, our fellows in faith to “sit” a while and pray. He went to his best friends and asked them to walk with him in prayer. He knew he needed the closeness of their presence but he also needed them to, “Stay here and keep watch.” What did Jesus need them to “keep watch” for? Certainly it was not for the Roman soldiers, the disciples were no match for them. It would not have been to watch for those who sought to kill Jesus they too would have had temple guards with them. I believe Jesus wanted them to stay and keep watch for their added spiritual assistance and strength. Jesus knew we easily fall prey to Satan’s schemes when we do not ask for help. And when faced with a severe trial, as Jesus was he was easy prey for the spiritual attacks Satan would begin to do in this situation. Jesus could not afford to face the next few hours alone. He needed the support and prayers of those he was closest to. The same is true for us. We need to ask another to sit and join us in our moment of trial because if Jesus knew there is strength in numbers how foolish are we when we do not depend on those we are supposed to. We fail at prayer when we do not ask others to join us!
EXAMPLE: Christians can be like armadillos. When faced with danger these little animals curl up into a tight ball. They have poor eyesight but great hearing and wait for danger to pass before uncurling themselves. We often want to curl up into a tight little ball and shut out the rest of the world when we are going through stress or the trials of the moment. It is a natural armadillo/human response. We think it protects us from getting hurt physically or emotionally, but this is not what the believer is to do. We are to seek out our fellows in Christ and ask them to “sit” with us while we pray. And if we are the one being asked to do such a thing, we are to sit quietly and pray for the one who requested us to sit with them through their trial. We are comforted knowing that where two or more are gathered in his name, he is right there in the body of his church. It is there we find our strength for the day, in him, with his body of believers, as we sit together and pray. You may be the one who needs to “uncurl” or you may be asked to sit a while. Don’t be an armadillo ask another believer, “Sit here while I pray.” We fail at prayer when we do not ask others to join us!
Knowing and doing the will of God should be the greatest goal of the believer. We know God’s will through the power of the Holy Spirit because of our circumstances, through our church, through Scripture, and our prayer. As we join Jesus and his disciples in the garden, we learn that…
II. We fail at prayer when we do not openly seek God’s will! (Vv. 35-36)
1. Our will is not necessarily God’s will! Here is one of the most poignant moments in all of history. Jesus is going to be betrayed, taken by armed guard, tried and convicted, and brutalized beyond human comprehension simply because of what he preached and did. Jesus knew that his time on this earth was rapidly coming to a close. Jesus knew God had plans for the accomplishment of his will for his life. Jesus knew what he would go through in order to finish the plan of God. Does Jesus ask, “Why me?” No. Does he whine about the unfairness of it all? No. Does he begin to argue with God about the plan already laid out for him? Again, the answer is “no.” Now least you argue that Jesus was God in human flesh, and as such he could endure it, never forget what he willingly laid aside to do so. (Philippians 2:6-8) Instead we find Jesus going to the Father in prayer. He comes before the throne of God asking, “Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” He goes to the One who would know what to do, and the One he could rely on the most. His “Abba”, literally his “Papa” God! We are to look to see where God is working and join him there. This is what Jesus was doing. He knew everything is possible with God, but Jesus also knew God’s will had to be done. When Jesus prays, “Yet not what I will, but what you will,” he was not making God the scapegoat for what happened next in his life. Nor was Jesus asking for a way out, he was asking that God’s will be done no matter how he felt. Jesus praying that “if possible the hour might pass from him,” was a request to be strengthened in what was about to occur. Jesus desired God’s will be done no matter what “cup” he had to drink from or face in life. Do you ask for his will to be done no matter how you feel about the outcome or the situation you are in? Be careful what you reply, because God knows if you are telling the truth. Never be afraid to give God your will and join him in his. We fail at prayer when we do not openly seek God’s will!
EXAMPLE: How sad to realize that Christians have often taken this prayer of Jesus and used it as their own escape clause. Here’s what I mean: I have heard Christians end their prayers, they already know the answer to, with the formula, “Thy will be done,” thinking they have just placed themselves into a righteous recipe of disguising their true motivation. They tacitly think they will somehow gain God’s approval or have him acquiesce to their will. Jesus was not trying to manipulate God’s plan. Nor was he trying to justify his own actions. All Jesus desired in life was to be completely in the will of God. As sinful humans we often have a hard time with this concept and struggle with it constantly. After all, shouldn’t God desire for our lives be what we desire for our lives? Of course the answer here is, “No.” We can only mean “Thy will be done,” if we have completely given God permission to do whatever he sees fit in our lives. That means our submission and willingness to be proven by his hand. Otherwise we do not mean what we are praying, and God knows it. God desires all of us. We fail at prayer when we do not openly seek God’s will!
Laziness comes easily to the American church today. We willingly allow others to do the heavy lifting we are commanded to do. We do not want to be bothered with serving, witnessing, giving, or any of the other things we are commanded to do as Christians. In fact, we allow others to pray for us and if we do pray it is usually done in a minute to win it scenario as we are driving to work! We are literally spiritually asleep at the wheel. As we join Jesus and his disciples in the garden, we learn that…
III. We fail at prayer when we fall asleep! (Vv. 37-41)
1. A little sleep in pray can lead to spiritual death in life! Mark’s narrative shifts from Jesus’ prayer, to the disciples’ inability to stay awake. After asking them to “keep watch” he returns and finds them sleeping! Can you believe it? Interestingly, Jesus addresses Peter with his old name of “Simon.” Perhaps suggesting Peter had slipped back into his old nature. Sadly, Jesus asks him, “Are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?” No great life was ever lived for God nor any great thing ever attempted for God, that has not been first been bathed in fervent prayer. All Jesus desired is that they pray with him for an hour. One simple hour of prayer. In our day, we think we have prayed up a storm if we pray for more than five minutes. Jesus knew that prayer is the lifeline of the Christian experience. He needed his disciples to stay awake and pray for him. So, “Once more he went away and prayed the same thing.” However, before leaving to pray by himself, Jesus admonishes them to “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” Sin is always so close. And we often allow any little thing to pull us away from doing what we know we should do. We often say we will pray for another but how often do we actually follow through? “The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” And in fact, we find that Jesus returns a second time and “he again found them sleeping.” Now certainly “their eyes were heavy” from being up most of the night, but we discover they were ashamed because, “They did not know what to say to him.” What could they say? Yet, again, “Returning the third time, he said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and resting?’” They had actually fallen asleep a third time! Jesus’ time is done and it is now time for God’s plan to be accomplished. He no longer desires to hear any excuses, so he declares, “Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.” Interestingly, three times Peter failed to watch and pray; three times he would fall into temptation and disown Jesus. This warning applies to all believers to stay awake and pray, for all are susceptible to spiritual failure. We fail at prayer when we fall asleep!
EXAMPLE: Far too many Christians are relying on emotions or feelings rather than their actual walk with Christ. The reason is simple: They do not spend time with Christ in order to know what God’s will is. When believers rely on emotions or feelings, sin crouches at the door. In fact, I have heard believers use Jesus’ words to the disciples to excuse their ungodly actions. They flippantly respond, after being caught in their transgressions, “The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” God did not mean for us to use his words as a means of escaping our spiritual responsibilities nor as an excuse for our sin. When we fail to go to God in prayer, we are doing the very thing that Peter and the disciples did that evening when Jesus asked them to stay awake and pray. We betray a trust God has given us to depend on him. We also betray our walk with him, the relationship Jesus established through his death, burial, and resurrection. The reason our body is weak is because our spirit truly is not very willing. We fail at prayer when we fall asleep!
Conclusion:
We fail at prayer when we do not ask others to join us, we fail at prayer when we do not openly seek God’s will, and we fail at prayer when we fall asleep. Have you failed at prayer?
----
Pastor Lee Hemen has been the outspoken pastor of the same church for 25 years in Vancouver, WA. He writes regularly on spirituality and conservative causes and maintains several web blogs. This article is copyrighted © 2011 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.
By Pastor Lee Hemen
March 6, 2011 AM
Why is the Christian church a mere shadow of what it once was? Some think it is because we do not allow the Spirit of God to work. Others say we are not reaching out enough, witnessing about our faith here at home. While others believe that it is because the church has lost the aspect of being set apart from the rest of the world and has lost its holiness. I believe all of these have some validity, but at its core I believe that all of these things can be reduced to the fact that the church no longer prays as it should. A weak Christian faith or a weak Christian church is the result of when we fail at prayer.
Here in Mark’s gospel we find Jesus during the last few hours of his life. As each moment draws him closer to his final act of sacrifice, we discover some wonderful truths for our lives. And there is no greater truth than the power of prayer. From when his own disciples asked him to teach them how to pray, to the last moments of his life we discover Jesus teaching over and over the importance of prayer. Why is it if Jesus displayed prayer in his own life and taught the importance prayer in the lives of his followers that we so often fail at prayer? Let’s find out why this morning…
READ: Mark 14:32-41
Over and over we find the writers of the New Testament asking their friends, the churches, and fellow believers to pray for them. Why? They learned this lesson from the Lord himself. As we join Jesus and his disciples in the garden, we learn that…
I. We fail at prayer when we do not ask others to join us! (Vv. 32-34)
1. There is strength in numbers! Here we find the few remaining moments of Jesus’ life and he has a simple request for his disciples: “Sit here while I pray.” All Jesus desires is that they would be steadfast, remain where they were, and stay awake while he prayed. He needed the assurance of his fellows in faith. This brings me to several thoughts: How often do we ask others to sit with us during our worst trials? How often do we sit with others when they ask us to? And finally, why would we want our brothers and sisters in Christ to do such a thing? I have learned that if Jesus said it, wanted it, or taught it we should listen closely to what he asks, wants, and teaches. If Jesus asked his own close disciples sit with him shouldn’t we do the same when we are stressed or facing trials? The answer is, “Yes.” It reassures us that we are not alone. It strengthens us in knowing others care. And it shows the importance of the body of Christ encouraging one another as long as it is called today. We should ask, as Jesus did, our fellows in faith to “sit” a while and pray. He went to his best friends and asked them to walk with him in prayer. He knew he needed the closeness of their presence but he also needed them to, “Stay here and keep watch.” What did Jesus need them to “keep watch” for? Certainly it was not for the Roman soldiers, the disciples were no match for them. It would not have been to watch for those who sought to kill Jesus they too would have had temple guards with them. I believe Jesus wanted them to stay and keep watch for their added spiritual assistance and strength. Jesus knew we easily fall prey to Satan’s schemes when we do not ask for help. And when faced with a severe trial, as Jesus was he was easy prey for the spiritual attacks Satan would begin to do in this situation. Jesus could not afford to face the next few hours alone. He needed the support and prayers of those he was closest to. The same is true for us. We need to ask another to sit and join us in our moment of trial because if Jesus knew there is strength in numbers how foolish are we when we do not depend on those we are supposed to. We fail at prayer when we do not ask others to join us!
EXAMPLE: Christians can be like armadillos. When faced with danger these little animals curl up into a tight ball. They have poor eyesight but great hearing and wait for danger to pass before uncurling themselves. We often want to curl up into a tight little ball and shut out the rest of the world when we are going through stress or the trials of the moment. It is a natural armadillo/human response. We think it protects us from getting hurt physically or emotionally, but this is not what the believer is to do. We are to seek out our fellows in Christ and ask them to “sit” with us while we pray. And if we are the one being asked to do such a thing, we are to sit quietly and pray for the one who requested us to sit with them through their trial. We are comforted knowing that where two or more are gathered in his name, he is right there in the body of his church. It is there we find our strength for the day, in him, with his body of believers, as we sit together and pray. You may be the one who needs to “uncurl” or you may be asked to sit a while. Don’t be an armadillo ask another believer, “Sit here while I pray.” We fail at prayer when we do not ask others to join us!
Knowing and doing the will of God should be the greatest goal of the believer. We know God’s will through the power of the Holy Spirit because of our circumstances, through our church, through Scripture, and our prayer. As we join Jesus and his disciples in the garden, we learn that…
II. We fail at prayer when we do not openly seek God’s will! (Vv. 35-36)
1. Our will is not necessarily God’s will! Here is one of the most poignant moments in all of history. Jesus is going to be betrayed, taken by armed guard, tried and convicted, and brutalized beyond human comprehension simply because of what he preached and did. Jesus knew that his time on this earth was rapidly coming to a close. Jesus knew God had plans for the accomplishment of his will for his life. Jesus knew what he would go through in order to finish the plan of God. Does Jesus ask, “Why me?” No. Does he whine about the unfairness of it all? No. Does he begin to argue with God about the plan already laid out for him? Again, the answer is “no.” Now least you argue that Jesus was God in human flesh, and as such he could endure it, never forget what he willingly laid aside to do so. (Philippians 2:6-8) Instead we find Jesus going to the Father in prayer. He comes before the throne of God asking, “Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” He goes to the One who would know what to do, and the One he could rely on the most. His “Abba”, literally his “Papa” God! We are to look to see where God is working and join him there. This is what Jesus was doing. He knew everything is possible with God, but Jesus also knew God’s will had to be done. When Jesus prays, “Yet not what I will, but what you will,” he was not making God the scapegoat for what happened next in his life. Nor was Jesus asking for a way out, he was asking that God’s will be done no matter how he felt. Jesus praying that “if possible the hour might pass from him,” was a request to be strengthened in what was about to occur. Jesus desired God’s will be done no matter what “cup” he had to drink from or face in life. Do you ask for his will to be done no matter how you feel about the outcome or the situation you are in? Be careful what you reply, because God knows if you are telling the truth. Never be afraid to give God your will and join him in his. We fail at prayer when we do not openly seek God’s will!
EXAMPLE: How sad to realize that Christians have often taken this prayer of Jesus and used it as their own escape clause. Here’s what I mean: I have heard Christians end their prayers, they already know the answer to, with the formula, “Thy will be done,” thinking they have just placed themselves into a righteous recipe of disguising their true motivation. They tacitly think they will somehow gain God’s approval or have him acquiesce to their will. Jesus was not trying to manipulate God’s plan. Nor was he trying to justify his own actions. All Jesus desired in life was to be completely in the will of God. As sinful humans we often have a hard time with this concept and struggle with it constantly. After all, shouldn’t God desire for our lives be what we desire for our lives? Of course the answer here is, “No.” We can only mean “Thy will be done,” if we have completely given God permission to do whatever he sees fit in our lives. That means our submission and willingness to be proven by his hand. Otherwise we do not mean what we are praying, and God knows it. God desires all of us. We fail at prayer when we do not openly seek God’s will!
Laziness comes easily to the American church today. We willingly allow others to do the heavy lifting we are commanded to do. We do not want to be bothered with serving, witnessing, giving, or any of the other things we are commanded to do as Christians. In fact, we allow others to pray for us and if we do pray it is usually done in a minute to win it scenario as we are driving to work! We are literally spiritually asleep at the wheel. As we join Jesus and his disciples in the garden, we learn that…
III. We fail at prayer when we fall asleep! (Vv. 37-41)
1. A little sleep in pray can lead to spiritual death in life! Mark’s narrative shifts from Jesus’ prayer, to the disciples’ inability to stay awake. After asking them to “keep watch” he returns and finds them sleeping! Can you believe it? Interestingly, Jesus addresses Peter with his old name of “Simon.” Perhaps suggesting Peter had slipped back into his old nature. Sadly, Jesus asks him, “Are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?” No great life was ever lived for God nor any great thing ever attempted for God, that has not been first been bathed in fervent prayer. All Jesus desired is that they pray with him for an hour. One simple hour of prayer. In our day, we think we have prayed up a storm if we pray for more than five minutes. Jesus knew that prayer is the lifeline of the Christian experience. He needed his disciples to stay awake and pray for him. So, “Once more he went away and prayed the same thing.” However, before leaving to pray by himself, Jesus admonishes them to “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” Sin is always so close. And we often allow any little thing to pull us away from doing what we know we should do. We often say we will pray for another but how often do we actually follow through? “The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” And in fact, we find that Jesus returns a second time and “he again found them sleeping.” Now certainly “their eyes were heavy” from being up most of the night, but we discover they were ashamed because, “They did not know what to say to him.” What could they say? Yet, again, “Returning the third time, he said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and resting?’” They had actually fallen asleep a third time! Jesus’ time is done and it is now time for God’s plan to be accomplished. He no longer desires to hear any excuses, so he declares, “Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.” Interestingly, three times Peter failed to watch and pray; three times he would fall into temptation and disown Jesus. This warning applies to all believers to stay awake and pray, for all are susceptible to spiritual failure. We fail at prayer when we fall asleep!
EXAMPLE: Far too many Christians are relying on emotions or feelings rather than their actual walk with Christ. The reason is simple: They do not spend time with Christ in order to know what God’s will is. When believers rely on emotions or feelings, sin crouches at the door. In fact, I have heard believers use Jesus’ words to the disciples to excuse their ungodly actions. They flippantly respond, after being caught in their transgressions, “The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” God did not mean for us to use his words as a means of escaping our spiritual responsibilities nor as an excuse for our sin. When we fail to go to God in prayer, we are doing the very thing that Peter and the disciples did that evening when Jesus asked them to stay awake and pray. We betray a trust God has given us to depend on him. We also betray our walk with him, the relationship Jesus established through his death, burial, and resurrection. The reason our body is weak is because our spirit truly is not very willing. We fail at prayer when we fall asleep!
Conclusion:
We fail at prayer when we do not ask others to join us, we fail at prayer when we do not openly seek God’s will, and we fail at prayer when we fall asleep. Have you failed at prayer?
----
Pastor Lee Hemen has been the outspoken pastor of the same church for 25 years in Vancouver, WA. He writes regularly on spirituality and conservative causes and maintains several web blogs. This article is copyrighted © 2011 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.
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