Prayer
Prayer
INTRODUCTION
"Prayer is talking with Jesus. " - answer given by Westminster student in Sunday School. "Prayer is an offering up of our desires to God for all things lawful and needful, with humble confidence that we shall obtain them through the mediation of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." "Prayer is worship addressed to the Father, in the name of Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit." (Dr. H. W. Frost) "Prayer is the soul of man talking to God."
"Prayer should consist of at least four parts-ACTS--remember the word ACTS. Adoration-praise and worship of the soul to God, Psalms 95:6.
Confession-repentance from every known sin, Psalms 32:5.
Thanksgiving-Php 4:6 -be thankful for anything, everything.
Supplication-intercession, requests, petitions and desires, 1 Timothy 2:1." Our prayers should be directed to God the Father, Acts 12:5, in the name of Jesus Christ, John 14:13, through the power of the Holy Spirit, Ephesians 6:18.
WHERE TO PRAY
Everywhere. 1 Timothy 2:8, "I will therefore that men pray every where. 2. In the closet.
Matthew 6:6, "But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret."
In the Temple (church), Luke 18:10, "Two men went up into the temple to pray." Psalms 26:12, praying before the great congregation. Solomon in 1 Kings 8:22-53.
Private prayer will be made in the secret place.
Family prayer will be made with a small group.
Public prayer will be made before the congregation.
WHEN TO PRAY
Always. Luke 18:1, "Men ought always to pray, and not to faint."
1 Thessalonians 5:17, "Pray without ceasing."
In the morning, Psalms 5:3, "My voice shalt Thou hear in the morning, 0 Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up."
At noon and in the evening. Psalms 55:17, "Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice. "
Daily. Psalms 86:3, "Be merciful unto me, 0 Lord: for I cry unto Thee daily."
Day and night. Psalms 88:1, "0 Lord God. . . I have cried day and night before Thee."
Daniel prayed three times a day, Daniel 6:10.
SUBJECTS FOR PRAYER
Matthew 6:9-13 (the Lord’s prayer)--the second coming of Christ, the will of the Lord, daily bread, forgiveness, guidance, victory over temptation and sin.
James 5:13-16, pray for the sick.
1 Timothy 2:1-4, pray for all men, for kings, for all in authority, for our own personal lives, and for the salvation of sinners.
Isaiah 38:1-5, pray for a longer life.
Daniel 6:18-23, pray for personal safety and the safety of others.
1 Kings 3:5-9, pray for wisdom and understanding.
Matthew 6:25-34, pray for clothing, shelter and food.
Romans 1:10, pray for a prosperous journey.
Colossians 1:28, pray for every Christian to be made perfect in Christ Jesus.
Matthew 5:38-48, pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you, pray for your enemies.
1 Timothy 5:17, pray for those over you in the church.
HOW TO PRAY
We should be guided by the Holy Spirit in our praying. Romans 8:26-27, "... for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God."
We must pray with faith in the existence of God, Hebrews 11:6, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is (exists)."
We must believe that God rewards faithful intercession. Hebrews 11:6, "... and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."
There must be persistence in prayer. Luke 18:1-8, the persistant widow got the request. Luke 11:1-13, the persistent knocker received the bread.
We must pray with humility. 2 Chronicles 7:14, "if My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves,and pray, and seek My face..."
We must be prepared to repent of our sins. 2 Chronicles 7:14, "... and turn from their wicked ways."
CONDITIONS OF PRAYER
We must pray in the will of God. Romans 8:27 (quoted in point IV.); Matthew 26:39, Jesus prayed, "... not as I will, but as Thou wilt."
We must forgive others before God will hear and answer our prayers. Mark 11:25, "And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any."
We must pray in faith believing. Mark 11:24, "What things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." James 1:6-7, "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord."
We must keep His commandments. 1 John 3:22, "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight."
We must abide in Christ. John 15:7, "If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."
We must pray in the Holy Ghost. Jude 1:20, "... praying in the Holy Ghost."
We must pray in Jesus’ name. John 16:24. "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”
HINDRANCES TO PRAYER
Unbelief, James 1:6-7, quoted above.
An unforgiving spirit, Mark 11:25, quoted above.
Iniquity, Psalms 66:18, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me."
Ask amiss. (Asking with wrong motives or out of the will of God) James 4:3, "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. "
SOME PRAYER PROMISES
Mark 11:24; John 15:7; 1 John 5:14-15; Ephesians 3:12; Ephesians 3:20; Php 4:19; Php 4:6; Matthew 7:7-8; Luke 11:9-13; Hebrews 4:16.
CONCLUSION What answers does God give to prayer? God gives one of three answers:
(1) Yes,
(2) No,
(3) Wait.
Isaiah 65:24, "And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Paul prayed for healing and God said, "No." I prayed for my father’s conversion for 17 years and then God answered in His own scheduled time. We must wait for God’s will and God’s time. The one prayer of a sinner that God promises to hear is, Luke 18:13, "God be merciful to me a sinner." See also 2 Peter 3:9.
We will never learn to pray by reading books on the subject. We must pray. Be sure to thank Him constantly for answered prayer.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
Define prayer.
What 4 things should prayer include?
List 3 places where prayer ought to be made.
Give 2 illustrations to prove that it is possible to obey Luke 18:1.
List 15 things for which we should pray.
What do we learn about prayer from Romans 8:26-27? (3 things)
Name one absolute essential before prayer becomes effective.
List 7 conditions of prayer.
Give 4 hindrances to prayer.
Mention 4 possible answers to a single prayer.