Our Fuel

Mark 14:32-36

32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” 35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

Prayer Principles 

1. Prayer is an expression of our hearts and our mouths to God.
2. Effective prayer is not a of matter of how much time we spend.
3. Answers to prayer are not dependent upon the amount of our faith.

Ecclesiastes 5:2 –  Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God.  God is in heaven, and you are on earth, so let your words be few.

Luke 17:5-6  –  The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”  He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

Two Conditions for Answered Prayer:

1. Distressed or Desperate

• … he became deeply distressed and troubled… My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. 
• James 5:13  –  Is anyone among you in trouble?  Let them pray. 
• 2 Corinthians 1:8-11  –  We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure.  But this happened that we might not rely upon ourselves, but upon God, who raises the dead. 

2. Faith that Moves You to Pray

• Abba, Father… nothing is impossible for you. 
• El Shaddai  –   God Almighty
• Luke 1:37  –  For nothing is impossible with God. 

• Take this cup from me….
• Ask boldly and specifically.
• James 4:2-3  –  You do not have because you do not ask!  When   you ask you do not receive because you ask with wrong motives.

• Yet… not what I will, but what you will.
• I trust you Lord to always do what is loving and best for me. I want what you want for me. 
• The will of God is what you would choose if you knew all that   God knows.