Prayer Lecture

7/29/2019 Prayer Lecture

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/prayer-lecture 1/49

PRAYER"A CLOSER WALK WITH GOD"



A. INTRODUCTION

1. Recall the ―Wheel Diagram‖ of the Christian Life Series. One of thespokes is prayer. This is a very basic way of growing in our relationshipwith the Lord Jesus Himself took prayer very seriously. His own life was characterized by

prayer (cf. Mark 1:35, 6:46; Luke 5:16, 6:12; notic that He prayed beforechoosing the twelve apostles

He taught His disciples how to pray (cf. Luke 11:1)

2. Prayer is something we can learn; we can learn to do it better.

3. In the talk, we will see what prayer really is, and how we can grow inour prayer-relationship with God.



A. Prayer is asking God to provide our needMat 7:78 ―Ask and it will be given to you, seek

and you will find, knock and the door will be

opened to you. For everyone who asks receives,he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, the

door will be opened.‖

II. WHAT IS PRAYER



B. It is coming to God‘s pressure in order toworship and honor him You would consider it an honor to be invited to meet

the president or the pope. What a greater honor to

have an audience with the king of kings and Lord of Lords.

The Lord takes notice of us. He listen to us andenjoy our company.



C. It is time spent with the Lord so we mat know and loveHim more as well as experience His love This is true in human level. We cannot know (and love) other

people unless we spend time with them. E.g. husband andwife relationship.

Prayer is a dialogue, not a monologue. Not only should youspeak to God, but let Him speak to you

It is an opportunity to express our dependence and reliance onHim.



PRINCIPLES OF PRAYER:

1. One of the greatest blessings enjoyed by Christians in this life is the privilege of PRAYER, bywhich we can approach God a. Through prayer, the Christian can find FORGIVENESS for sins –

1Jn 1:9 ―If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from allunrighteousness―

b. Through prayer, the Christian can find PEACE to replace anxiety

Php 4:6-7 ―If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all

unrighteousness.‖

c. Through prayer, the Christian can receive STRENGTH from God through His Spirit

- Ep 3:14-16 “For this reason I bow my knees to the r Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom thewhole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, saccording to the riches of His glory,tto be strengthened with might through His Spirit in uthe inner man,‖

http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/1Jn%201.9

http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/Php%204.6-7

http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/Ep%203.14-16
























2. For such reasons, Paul frequently exhorted Christiansto be diligent in their prayers... a. "praying always with all prayer and supplication."

Ep 6:18 ―Praying always with all prayer and supplication in theSpirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and

supplication for all the saints‖ b. "Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with

thanksgiving" -Col 4:2

c. "Pray without ceasing― - 1Th 5:17

http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/Ep%206.18

http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/Col%204.2


http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/1Th%205.17

http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/1Th%205.17








3. Yet Jesus knew that people would tend to become slack in their prayers.

Lk 18:1 - ―Then He spoke a parable to them, that men alwaysought to pray and not lose heart,‖

a. It is out of a similar concern that prompts two lessons devotedspecifically to "PRAYER"

b. It is hoped that you will be encouraged to be more diligent in prayer as we examine: 1) Basic PRINCIPLES of prayer taught in God's Word

2) Suggestions concerning the PRACTICE of prayer in our daily lives

http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/Lk%2018.1






IN THIS LESSON, THEN, PRINCIPLES OF

PRAYER, BEGINNING WITH...



I. CHARACTERISTICS OF ACCEPTABLE PRAYER

A. IT MUST BE OFFERED "IN FAITH"... 1. "And in all things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." - Mt

21:22

2. We must have faith in God, and in His ability to answer ―But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that

He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him‖ - He 11:6

3. Otherwise, prayer will not be answered ―If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without

reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he whodoubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man supposethat he will receive anything from the Lord; he is ia double-minded man, unstable in all hisways ―-Jm 1:5-8

4. Is our faith weak? Then increase it with the help of God's Word ―So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.‖ - Ro 10:17

http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/Mt%2021.22


http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/He%2011.6


http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/James%201.5%E2%80%938

http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/Jm%201.5-8

http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/Ro%2010.17

http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/Ro%2010.17













B. IT MUST BE OFFERED "IN THE SPIRIT OF HUMILITY"... 1. Notice the example of the Pharisee and the publican

―Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despisedothers: ―Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ThePharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‗God, I thank You that I am not like other men— extortioners,unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.‘ Andthe tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast,saying, ‗God, be merciful to me a sinner!‘ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather thanthe other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.‖ -

Lk 18:9-14 2. Remember, "The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a

contrite spirit" - Ps 34:18

3. As quoted by James: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble" - Jm 4:6

http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/Lk%2018.9-14

http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/Ps%2034.18


http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/Jm%204.6













C. IT MUST BE OFFERED "IN HARMONY WITH GOD'S WILL"... 1. God answers prayer that is offered "according to His will"

―Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to Hiswill, He hears us.‖ - 1Jn 5:14

2. Jesus provided the example for us in His prayers at Gethsemane

The LORD

is

near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contritespirit. - Lk 22:42

3. Too often, prayers are unanswered because they are more concerned withOUR will, rather than GOD'S will! You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your

pleasures. -Jm 4:3














D. IT MUST BE OFFERED "BY THOSE RIGHTEOUS BEFOREGOD"...

1. "For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears areopen to their pr ayers; but the face of the LORD is against those who doevil" - 1Pe 3:12

2. The prayers of the righteous person are effective ―Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you

may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.Elijah was a man twith a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that itwould not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its

fruit.‖- Jm 5:16-18

http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/1Pe%203.12














3. But those continuing in sin He will not hear! One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination. - Pr

28:9; Is 59:1-2

4. To be righteous before God...

a. Requires that we submit to the "righteousness of God" offered in Christ ―Brethren, my heart‘s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I

bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For theybeing ignorant of God‘s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness,have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. ―- Ro 10:1-4

b. Respond to the gospel of Christ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for wit is the power of God to salvation for

everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousnessof God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ―The just shall live by faith.‖ - Ro 1:16-17

http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/Pr%2028.9


http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/Is%2059.1-2

http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/Ro%2010.1-4




















E. IT MUST BE OFFERED "IN THE SPIRIT OFTHANKSGIVING"...

1. "giving thanks always for all things to God" - Ep5:20

2. "in everything by prayer and supplication withthanksgiving" - Php 4:6

3. "...prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving" -Col 4:2

4. "pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks" -1Th 5:17-18




http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/Php%204.6


http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/1Th%205.17-18














-- DO WE THINK GOD WILL HELP US WITH

OUR PRESENT BURDENS IF WE DON'T

TAKE THE TIME TO THANK HIM FOR PASTBLESSINGS?




F. IT MUST BE OFFERED "WITH PERSISTENCE"... 1. Jesus illustrated this aspect of prayer through two parables

a. The parable of the persistent friend - Lk 11:5-10 And He said to them, ―Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and

say to him, ‗Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him‘; and he will answer ...

b. The parable of the persistent widow - Lk 18:1-8 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,

saying: ―There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Nowthere was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, .















2. The virtue of persistence is demonstrated in the prayers of: a. Jesus at Gethsemane - Mt 26:44

So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying thesame words.

b. Paul, pertaining to his "thorn in the flesh"-2Co 12:7-8 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the

revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan tobuffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleadedwith the Lord three .

c. The early church - Ac 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles‘ doctrine and fellowship, in

the breaking of bread, and in prayers.


http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/2Co%2012.7-8

http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/Ac%202.42

http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/Ac%202.42








G. IT MUST BE OFFERED "IN THE NAME OF JESUS"... 1. "Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" -

Ep 5:20

2. This means much more than simply adding a little phrase "in Jesus' name" at the end of our prayers! a. We must realize that Jesus is the only way by which we can approach God - Jn 14:6

Jesus said to him, ―I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

b. We must view Him as our "high priest" who intercedes for us - But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also ab le to save to the

uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them He 7:24-25

And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son ; Jn 14:13

3. Appealing to God in the name of His Son can give us great confidence that God will give uswhat we need! - He 4:14-16 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of

God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points ...



http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/Jn%2014.6

http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/He%207.24-25





















SUCH ARE THE CONDITIONS THAT MAKE

PRAYER ACCEPTABLE TO GOD. BUT IT

MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO ALSO NOTICE AFEW...



II. OBSTACLES TO PRAYER




A. UNCONFESSED SIN...

1. "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lordwill not hear" - Ps 66:18

2. The BASIS for prayer rests upon our beingin fellowship with Him; such fellowship isbroken if we do not confess our sins to Him!






B. IMPROPER TREATMENT OF OTHERS... 1. How we treat others has a bearing upon

whether God will hear our prayers! a. E.g., how we treat the poor - Ps 41:1-3

b. E.g., how one treats his friend - Mt 5:23-24

c. E.g., how a husband treats his wife - 1Pe 3:7

http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/Ps%2041.1-3

http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/Mt%205.23-24












2. We must correct our relationships with

others (if possible) before we can expect

God to hear our prayers!

3. Especially if we desire to receive

forgiveness for our sins! - Mt 6:14-15; 18:21-

23












FINALLY, IT IS IMPORTANT TO BEAR IN

MIND THAT GOD ANSWERS PRAYER IN

VARIOUS WAYS...



III. ANSWERS TO PRAYERS




A. "REQUEST GRANTED"...

1. God may answer "YES" , and grant the

petitions we ask of Him

2. Such will be the case the more we try to

do His Will in our lives - 1Jn 3:22






B. "REQUEST GRANTED, BUT NOT YET"...

1. God may grant our request, but in time andaccording to His purpose for our lives

2. "To everything there is a season, a time for everypurpose under heaven" - Ec 3:1

3. So we may think God is saying "NO", when He isreally saying "YES, BUT WAIT"

http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/Ec%203.1







C. "REQUEST GRANTED, BUT NOT AS YOU

MIGHT EXPECT"...

1. Sometimes God says "YES", but answers it in

way differently than we anticipated 2. Remember, God's thoughts and methods are

often much different than ours - Is 55:8,9

http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/Is%2055.8







3. Like asking God for strength and perseverance... a. He may give us trials to bear

b. Which in turn develops the virtues we prayed for!

4. We should be careful and not dictate to God HOW

to answer our prayers... a. Limit the "HOW" and we might be limiting the

"RESULT"

b. For example, the way some pray for the sick, they limitGod as to how He might restore them




D. "REQUEST DENIED"... 1. Often God says "NO"

2. But we must trust that God, who knows all andwhat is best, would do so only if granting our request

might not be for our good - cf. He 12:5-11 3. We may not fully understand, but we can still fully

trust Him! - cf. Hab 3:17-19

4. Especially in light of the promise in 1Co 10:13


http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/Hab%203.17-19

http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/1Co%2010.13

http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/1Co%2010.13











CONCLUSION



CONCLUSION

1. The ability to pray to God and receive answers in our lives is truly one of the greatest blessings we can have aschildren of God!

2. Hopefully, understanding and applying the principlesdiscussed in this lesson will assure greater success in

having our prayers answered 3. Our next lesson will deal with "THE PRACTICE OF

PRAYER", offering suggestions on the when, with whom,how and what of prayer



SOME QUESTIONS TO STIMULATE YOUR

THINKING...

1. Do you find it easy or difficult to pray?

2. Do you believe in the power of God to answer prayer?

3. Should you be disappointed when it appearsthat God has answered your prayer with a"NO"?

4. Are you spending time every day devoted to

prayer?



PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS

1. It is important to find the RIGHT TIME and theRIGHT PLACE to pray

The right time should be ―prime time‖, when

you are most alert and attentiveRight place is the one with the least

distractions e.g. Quiet chapel, own room whereyou can worship spontaneously




2. Stick to the decision to pray daily

Even when it‘s difficult. God will honor us for theeffort we put into it. Important principle: ― Success inprayer depends on whether or not we were able to

honor God, not on how we feel‖ Good News: As we continue to remain faithful in our

prayer life, our own feelings will begin to betransformed by our decision




3. Pray for at least 15 Minutes

Never decrease, rather INCREASE the

length of your prayer time




4. Use SCRIPTURES

Psalms give us great examples of prayer.The gospels help us to focus on Jesus. God

also speaks to us personally through manyother passages

Recommendation: meditate on the Gospelreading for each day




5. On handling distractions Ask for grace to fight against it; call to mind

your decision to pray

Do spiritual warfare

If the distracting thought is important, write itdown and set it aside.

If you‘re feeling sleepy, STAND UP. Be moreactive and don‘t give in to laziness, tiredness,etc.




6. Share with someone (or your action group)

what you are experiencing in prayer; get

input from them

7. Be Patient. Don‘t expect perfect prayer timesand immediate results (see Luke 18:1-7)




8. Don‘t be too self -evaluative or introspective.When we pray, the focus should be on God,not on ourselves.

9. Pray ―intelligently‖. We need to pray with our

mind, not only our mouths. Jesus warnedagainst mindless, repetitive prayer (cf Mt 6:7).Pray consciously and deliberately, not absent-mindedly.




10. Be EXPRESSIVE. We want to worship

God freely with our mind and body.



HELPFUL FORMAT (ACTS)

1.ADORATION(PRAISE)

Coming before the Lord to honor and praisehim, because he is worthy of it

We express our honor, and proclaim God‘scharacteristics, His acts, our relationship toHim, etcFeel free to worship using bodily postures andgestures(raising hands, clapping, kneeling,standing as a sign of respect)




2. CONFESSIONWe need to repent of our sins each day,

since these sins can prevent us from

entering into God‘s presence. Have confidence that, when you repent of

sins, God forgives you




3. THANKSGIVING

We want to be grateful for all the Lord has

done for us




4. SUPPLICATION (INTERCESSION)Coming before the Lord to seek His help and to

acknowledge our need for Him

The Lord knows our needs, but He wants us to

ask.(Luke 11:9-13)




5. SILENCE

We want to be silent before God, to listen toHis word, or to reflect (meditate) on someChristian truth

An ACTIVE not passive part of prayer. Applythe truths of Scripture to your life; use your imagination; ask the Lord for greater understanding about something, or for

personal message



QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1. How have you experienced prayer in your life?

2. What have you found helpful in your prayer time?



THANK YOU!

Documents

Prayer Lecture