3 Keys to Effective Prayer

Introduction

A popular talk show host said that he would answer on his live show any questions his regular viewers sent in. They just had to follow three rules: 1) Include your first name 2) Say where you're from 3) Keep your question to 3 sentences or shorter Jake was thrilled. Finally, he could ask his favorite person his most difficult question! A week went by and the host had answered scores of questions but hadn't mentioned Jake's. Jake sent his question again in case it had gotten lost. Still no answer... After a few times of sending his question in and getting no answer, Jake grew frustrated. He started complaining to his friends. One of the friends, after hearing Jake's complaint for the fourth or fifth time, asked if Jake had followed the rules. Turns out that while Jake had been careful to keep his question to three sentences, he didn't include his name or location. At his friend's suggestion, Jake tried again - this time including his name and city. To his delight, Jake heard the host answer his question live on the show the very next day! So often Christians pray without one or more of the three keys to receiving an answer. Study Mark 11:12-14, 20-26 to discover the three keys that will allow you to unlock effective prayer.

Observation

Pray

Take some time to talk to the Lord and thank Him for His Word. Ask Him to help you understand it and live by what He shows you in it. Commit to forsake any sin or wrong thinking you realize you have and to embrace the truth in His Word whatever it is.

Read Focus Verses

Read Mark 11 verses 12-14 and 20-26 and consider the object lesson Jesus gives in these verses.

Context

Now read Mark 11:15-19 which is between the two sections about the fig tree to more fully understand today's passage.

Fig Tree

What physical object did Jesus use to teach the lesson in today's verses?

Prayer

What is the main lesson Jesus says He is teaching us through the fig tree?

Keyword - Prayer

Marking the keywords in a passage helps them stand out every time you read it. As you just realized, prayer is the main idea of these verses so marking the words pray and prayer helps us visualize the theme.

Prayer

Mark the words pray and prayer in Mark 11:12-26.

Keyword - Jesus

If you've done some of the other Inductive Bible Study plans from Mark you've seen that Jesus is the main Character all through the book. Marking His Name in this passage helps us continue to see His central role.

Jesus

Mark the Names of Jesus and the words like He and Him that refer to Him in Mark 11:12-14, 20-26.

Where?

The fig tree in today's passage was between which two cities according to verses 12 and 15?

Timing

The day before today's passage was Palm Sunday. Which of the verses in today's passage happened on Monday and which tell us about Tuesday?

Leaves and Fruit

What did Jesus notice about the fig tree that attracted His attention to it?

Found

What did Jesus not find on the fig tree?

Jesus' Words

What did Jesus say to the fig tree?

Impact

What impact did Jesus' words have on the tree?

Instruction

In verse 22, what instruction does Jesus give us?

Faith and Prayer

What does Jesus say about the relationship of faith and prayer in verses 23-24?

The Third Key

What does Jesus instruct us to do in verse 25?

The Reason

According to verse 26, what is one of the reasons we should forgive?

Interpretation

Body

Today's passage opens with a surprising statement - Jesus was hungry. John 4:6 tells us about another time He experienced the same needs of the human body that we experience.

Hungry and Tired

How does it impact the way you think about Jesus to know He too got hungry and tired while He lived on earth just like we do?

Explained

Hebrews 2:14-18 explains why Jesus humbled Himself and took a human nature and body to become like us.

Why?

Why did Jesus become a person like us?

Response

A couple of chapters later in Hebrews 4:14-16 we see how this reality should impact a Christian's prayers.

The Way We Pray

How should knowing that Jesus faced all the same struggles as we do and yet didn’t sin impact the way Christians pray?

Self-Control

Some people have said that Jesus cursing the fig tree was a show of irritation and anger. Let's see if that is consistent with His character by first considering what He said in Matthew 4:2-4.

More Important Things

You just read about a time Jesus was weary and sat down by a well. While He was there, He witnessed to a lady who had come to the well. The disciples, who had gone to buy food, came back. Read what happens in John 4:31-34 while the lady went into the town to gather people to see Jesus.

Jesus and Food

Based on these passages, was Jesus the kind of person who was ruled by His belly or was He self-controlled when it came to food?

No Sin in His Mouth

1 Peter 2:22 is even clearer.

What We Know

So, no matter what it may seem like to us, should we ever interpret Jesus' actions as sinful?

Breba Figs

Learning more about fig trees can help us understand what is going on in this passage. Fig trees sometimes have a few small fruits called breba. They grow early and are not commercially harvested. This is what Jesus was looking for to eat.

Other Figs

Passover was only about 6 weeks before the time figs ripened in that part of the world. Not only did Jesus not find breba figs to eat, He did not see the dozens of young, ripening figs that should have been on the tree behind the many leaves.

More Information

If you have extra time and want to learn more about this passage, this article provides more information.

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A Living Parable

The fig tree is often used as a picture of Israel in Old Testament prophesy (Jeremiah 8:13; Hosea 9:10, 16-17; Micah 7:1; etc.). How are Jesus' actions in the first part of today's passage - looking for fruit on this tree, finding none, and judging it - a picture of what He was doing with Israel?

Fruit

The word-picture of bearing fruit through godly living is not just for Old Testament Israel. See what Jesus says in John 15:8. (If you have time to read or listen to the first 8 verses of John 15 you'll understand even more about this important theme.)

More Fruit

In Matthew 5:16 Jesus tells us another reason Christians should live fruitful lives.

Identity, God's Glory, Others

What are the three reasons for bearing fruit in these two verses? (Hint: check the title of this question for a tip if you need one)

Wheat and Tares

Read Matthew 13:24-30 and 36-43. As you read remember that tares and wheat look almost the same until near harvest when only the wheat bears fruit.

Faith Without Works

James 2:17-20 talks about the role of works with faith.

Caution

Ephesians 2:8-10 helps us understand this in context of salvation and the Christian life.

Can Works Save?

Based on these verses, can good works save you?

Can the Saved Not Work?

Based on these verses, can someone be a true Christian without bearing at least some spiritual fruit?

Fruits

What are some things that would be good fruit in a Christian's life?

Key #1

In John 15:16 we see that fruitful (obedient) living is the first key for effective praying. (Note: This is talking about believers. God has not put Himself under obligation to answer any prayer of an unbeliever except one of repentance and faith for salvation. Because of this, you could say that salvation is the first key, but in this study plan, we are assuming salvation and talking about Christians. If you are not yet a Christian, God loves you and calls you to turn from your sin and believe in Jesus Christ with all your heart. If you will ask Him to save you because of Jesus' death and resurrection in sincerity and faith, He promises to do so no matter who you are or what you've done.)

Impacts What You Ask For

Why do you think living a godly, obedient (fruitful) life is one of the keys to effective prayer?

The Second Key

Read Mark 11:22-24 again and find the second key to effective prayer.

Key #2

What is the second key to effective prayer for a Christian?

Faith

Jesus has already emphasized faith in prayer in Mark 9:23-24.

Ask in Faith

James 1:5-8 explains why it is important to ask in faith.

Why Faith?

Why is it important to pray with faith?

Ask

How do these verses teach us to get more faith if we realize we are lacking it?

The Third Key

Jesus also links forgiveness and effective prayer in Matthew 6:14-15.

A Story Explanation

If you have time, read or listen to the story Jesus tells in Matthew 18:21-35 that explains the relationship between forgiving and being forgiven.

If I Hold onto Sin

Reading Psalm 66:18 helps us understand why it is so important to forgive others - and thus be able to live in God's forgiveness - to be able to pray effectively.

Key #3

Why must a Christian forgive others to be able to pray effectively?

3 Keys

What are the three keys to effective prayer for a Christian?

All 3

Sometime people emphasize just one of the keys to the exclusion of the others. How could you use today's passage and the verses you've used to study it to show why emphasizing just one of these keys to prayer isn't the whole picture?

Paul's Experience

In 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 we see that praying as Jesus teaches us doesn't always mean God will give us what we want even though it does mean He will answer us. (His answer can be yes, no, or wait. Sometimes He gives us something different than what we requested because He knows it's better.)

Jesus' Example

In Mark 14:36 Jesus shows us what making a request in godly prayer looks like.

God's Will

How did Jesus make His request in this verse?

Request vs. Demand

Based on Jesus' example, does praying in faith mean demanding that God do what we want?

No Surprise

It shouldn't surprise us that the fig tree obeyed Jesus if we look at Hebrews 1:1-3.

Creator

What is Jesus' relationship to created things like trees and people?

Deity

As this passage opened, we saw a clear example of Christ's humanity in His hunger. What do we learn about Him by the way the fig tree obeyed His command?

Once More

Read Mark 11:12-14 and 20-26 once more in light of what you've studied.

About Jesus

What do these verses tell you about Jesus?

About Prayer

What do these verses tell you about prayer?

Application

Key #1

Take a minute to consider how you're doing with the first key to effective prayer: Are there things in your life that are keeping you from living fully for Him (bearing fruit)? What are you going to do about them? Be specific both with the problem and with the action you're going to take to get victory. Are there things you know God wants you to do (which means they would be spiritual fruit)? How are you going to make sure you start and stick with it?

Key #2

Next, consider how you're doing with the second key to effective prayer: When you pray, do you pray in confidence that God can do anything and that He wants to bless you? How will you remind yourself of these things when you pray? Can you ask in faith for the things you've been praying for? Are there prayer requests you need to change or remove from your list?

Key #3

Finally, consider how you're doing with the third key to effective prayer: Is there anyone in your life that you have not fully and freely forgiven? Is it worth not being able to pray with assurance that you'll get an answer to keep holding it against them? God promises that He will make everything right someday - our responsibility is to forgive them and leave it to Him.

Pray!

What are some things you should start praying about or for as you learn to pray in this way?

Wrapup

Closing

We hope this study plan has helped you understand the three keys to effective prayer and has challenged you to live a fruitful life, pray in faith, and forgive others so that you can have confidence that God will answer your prayers.

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