Multiply Christian Church

Questions Jesus asked: could you not keep watch for one hour?

In the Garden of Gethsemane, we see two examples of prayer: one of spiritual alertness (Jesus) and one of spiritual slumber (the disciples).

Prayer is not merely a tool for asking for things or expressing gratitude. It is a means of maintaining our spiritual vigilance, of staying awake to the presence and power of God in our lives.

Jesus shows us that prayer is not about imposing our will on God, but about submitting our will to His. It is about seeking His will, trusting in His wisdom, and surrendering to His purpose.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus also teaches us about the importance of perseverance in prayer.

Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane teaches us about the power of prayer to strengthen us in times of trial.

Jesus' request to His disciples wasn't just about physical wakefulness. It was about spiritual wakefulness.

γρηγορῆσαι = to stay awake, to be vigilant, to be on guard.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was asking His disciples to be spiritually vigilant.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, we find a powerful lesson on preventing spiritual slumber. We find a warning in the disciples' failure to stay awake. We find an example in Jesus' spiritual vigilance. And we find a challenge to be spiritually awake and alert, to be in tune with God's will and God's purposes.

To prevent spiritual slumber, we need to be people who pray like Jesus did in the Garden. We need to persevere in prayer.

Perseverance in prayer:
1. Understand its necessity.

2. Understand its power

"God shapes the world by prayer. The more praying there is in the world the better the world will be, the mightier the forces against evil." - E.M. Bounds

3. Understand its role in spiritual growth

4. Understand its demonstration of our faith in God

True prayer is neither a mere mental exercise nor a vocal performance. It is far deeper than that — it is a spiritual transaction with the Creator of Heaven and Earth. - Charles Spurgeon

“Keep watching and praying”

1. Use prayer to “stay awake”
2. Prevent spiritual slumber
3. Persevere in prayer