The One Indispensable Thing That Missionary Care-Givers Must Not

Neglect

Dr. George W. MurrayColumbia International University

Matthew 26:36-46

“Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’

He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along

with him, and he began to be sorrowful and

troubled.”

Matthew 26:36-37

“Then he said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’”  

Matthew 26:38

“Going a little farther, he fell with his face to

the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is

possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not

as I will, but as you will.’”

Matthew 26:39

“Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. ‘Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?’ he asked Peter. ‘Watch and pray so that you will not fall

into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the

body is weak.’”

Matthew 26:40-41

“He went away a second time and prayed, ‘My

Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I

drink it, may your will be done.’”

Matthew 26:42

“When he came back, he again found them

sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he

left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying

the same thing.”

Matthew 26:43-44

“Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, ‘Are you still

sleeping and resting?’ Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is

betrayed into the hands of sinners.’”

Matthew 26:45

“Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

Matthew 26:46

Look for recurring words

and phrases

“Sit here, while I go over there and pray.”

Matthew 26:36

“…going a little farther he fell on his face and

prayed…”

Matthew 26:39

“Watch and pray.”

Matthew 26:41

“…for the second time he went away and prayed…”

Matthew 26:42

“…leaving them again, he went away and

prayed.”

Matthew 26:44

The one indispensable thing:

PRAYER

“Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter.

Matthew 26:40

“…watch with me for one hour…”

Three Principles

of

Prayer

Principle #1

We should pray.

“watch”

Why pray?1. Christ’s command2. Christ’s example3. To overcome

temptation4. Faith and dependence5.God’s way of thrusting

out harvesters

Principle #1

We should pray.

Principle #2

We should pray with Christ.

“watch with me”

“Sit here, while I go over there and pray.”

Matthew 26:36

“…stay here, and keep watch with me.”

Matthew 26:38

Principle #2

We should pray with Christ.

“When I pray, I just launch my little canoe on

the mighty stream of Christ’s intercession.”

F.B. Meyer

Principle #1

We should pray.

Principle #2

We should pray with Christ.

Principle #3

We should pray with Christ one

hour.

“watch with me for one hour”

“…non siete stati capaci di vegliare con me un ora

sola?”

Matthew 26:40Italian Bible

“un ora sola?” =

“only one hour?”

Principle #3

It takes time to really pray.

“Do not be in a hurry to leave the King’s

presence.”

Ecclesiastes 8:3

George Mueller was once asked:

“How long do you pray?”

“I pray, until I have prayed…”

George Mueller

“…watch with me one hour…”

Matthew 26:40

Principle #1

We should pray.

Principle #2

We should pray with Christ.

Principle #3

We should pray with Christ one hour.

Principle #3

It takes time to really pray.