Chapter 18: Prayer
Why does God want us to pray? How can we pray effectively?
Definition: Prayer is personal communication with God.
A. Why Does God
Want Us to Pray?
1.
Prayer expresses our trust in God
Matthew 6:8 (ESV) [8] Do not
be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
2. Prayer expresses our acknowledgment
of dependence upon God as a loving and wise Father
Matthew 6:9 (ESV) [9] Pray
then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Luke 11:9-13 (ESV) [9] And I
tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and
it will be opened to you. [10] For everyone who asks receives, and
the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. [11]
What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish
give him a serpent; [12] or if he asks for an egg, will give him a
scorpion? [13] If you then, who are evil, know how to give good
gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy
Spirit to those who ask him!”
3. Prayer brings us into deeper
fellowship with God
4. Prayer allows us to be involved in
activities that are eternally important
B. The
Effectiveness of Prayer
1. Prayer changes the way things happen
in our lives
2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV) [14] if
my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my
face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will
forgive their sin and heal their land.
1 John 1:9 (ESV) [9] If we
confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse
us from all unrighteousness.
What kind of
prayer is most effective? (What kind of prayer is God most pleased with?)
a.
Prayer that interacts personally with God
Hebrews
4:16 (ESV) [16] Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne
of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
b.
Prayer that asks for what is pleasing to God
1 John 5:14-15 (ESV) [14] And
this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything
according to his will he hears us. [15] And if we know that he hears
us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of
him.
2. Effective prayer is made possible by
our mediator, Jesus Christ
1 Timothy 2:5 (ESV) [5] For
there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ
Jesus,
Hebrews 10:19-23 (ESV) [19] Therefore,
brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of
Jesus, [20] by the new and living way that he opened for us through
the curtain, that is, through his flesh, [21] and since we have a
great priest over the house of God, [22] let us draw near with a
true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an
evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. [23] Let us
hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is
faithful.
3. What is praying "in Jesus'
name"?
John 14:13-14 (ESV) [13] Whatever
you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the
Son. [14] If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
a. It does not simply mean adding the
phrase “in Jesus’ name” after every prayer
b. Praying in Jesus’ name is prayer
made on his authorization
c. It is also praying in a way that is
consistent with his character and reflects his manner of life
d. It is not wrong to add “in Jesus’
name” to the end of our prayers, as long as we understand what is meant by it
and that it is not necessary to do so.
e. To help our understanding, we could
even express the same thought in other words: “Father, we do not come on our
own merits but on the merits of Jesus Christ, who has invited us to come before
you….”
4. Should we pray to Jesus and to the
Holy Spirit?
Acts 7:59 (ESV) [59] And as
they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
2 Corinthians 12:8-9 (ESV) [8] Three
times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. [9] But
he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in
weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that
the power of Christ may rest upon me.
[Based
upon last week’s lesson, how should we answer this question?]
5. The role of the Holy Spirit in our
praying
Jude 1:20 (ESV) [20] But
you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the
Holy Spirit,
Romans 8:26-27 (ESV) [26] Likewise
the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we
ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for
words. [27] And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the
Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of
God.
Ephesians 6:18 (ESV) [18] praying
at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep
alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
C. Some Important
Considerations in Effective Prayer (382)
1. Praying according to God's will
Matthew 6:10 (ESV) [10] Your
kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Matthew 26:39 (ESV) [39] And
going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if
it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as
you will.”
1 John 5:14-15 (ESV) [14] And
this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything
according to his will he hears us. [15] And if we know that he hears
us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of
him.
James 1:5-8 (ESV) [5] If any
of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without
reproach, and it will be given him. [6] But let him ask in faith,
with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is
driven and tossed by the wind. [7] For that person must not suppose
that he will receive anything from the Lord; [8] he is a
double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
John 15:7 (ESV) [7] If you
abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be
done for you.
2. Praying with faith
Matthew 21:22 (ESV) [22] And
whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”
Hebrews 11:1 (ESV) [1] Now
faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:6 (ESV) [6] And
without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to
God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
James 1:6 (ESV) [6] But let
him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of
the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
Mark 11:24 (ESV) [24] Therefore
I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and
it will be yours.
3. Obedience
Psalm 66:18 (ESV) [18] If I
had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
Proverbs 15:8 (ESV) [8] The
sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the
upright is acceptable to him.
1 Peter 3:12 (ESV) [12] For
the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their
prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
1 John 3:21 (ESV) [21] Beloved,
if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;
4. Confession of sins
Matthew 6:12 (ESV) [12] and
forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
1 John 1:9 (ESV) [9] If we
confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse
us from all unrighteousness.
James 5:15-16 (ESV) [15] And
the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him
up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. [16] Therefore,
confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be
healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
5. Forgiving others
Matthew 6:14-15 (ESV) [14] For
if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive
you, [15] but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither
will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Isaiah 59:1-2 (ESV) [1] Behold,
the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it
cannot hear; [2] but your iniquities have made a separation between
you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does
not hear.
6.
Humility
James 4:6 (ESV) [6] But he
gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to
the humble.”
1 Peter 5:5 (ESV) [5] Likewise,
you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you,
with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to
the humble.”
Matthew 6:5 (ESV) [5] “And
when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and
pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by
others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
7. Continuing in prayer over time
Luke 6:12 (ESV) [12] In
these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in
prayer to God.
Luke 5:16 (ESV) [16] But he
would withdraw to desolate places and pray.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 (ESV) [17] pray
without ceasing,
Colossians 4:2 (ESV) [2] Continue
steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
Acts 6:4 (ESV) [4] But we
will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
8. Praying earnestly
Hebrews 5:7 (ESV) [7] In the
days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries
and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because
of his reverence.
Daniel 9:19 (ESV) [19] O
Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your
own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.”
9. Waiting on the Lord
Psalm 27:14 (ESV) [14] Wait
for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!
Psalm 38:15 (ESV) [15] But
for you, O LORD, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.
Psalm 130:5-6 (ESV) [5] I
wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; [6] my
soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen
for the morning.
10. Praying in private
Daniel 6:10 (ESV) [10] When
Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he
had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his
knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had
done previously.
Luke 5:16 (ESV) [16] But he
would withdraw to desolate places and pray.
Matthew 6:6 (ESV) [6] But
when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who
is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
11. Praying with others
Matthew 18:19-20 (ESV) [19] Again
I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be
done for them by my Father in heaven. [20] For where two or three
are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
Acts 4:24 (ESV) [24] And
when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said,
“Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything
in them,
12. What about unanswered prayer? (391)
a. We do not always know how to pray as
we ought
Romans 8:26 (ESV) [26] Likewise
the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we
ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for
words.
b. We do not pray according to God’s
will
James 4:3 (ESV) [3] You ask
and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
c. We do not always ask in faith
James 1:6-8 (ESV) [6] But
let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave
of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. [7] For that
person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; [8] he
is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
d. We think that one solution is best,
but God has a better plan
Genesis 50:20 (ESV) [20] As
for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it
about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
e. We must continue to pray
Romans 8:28 (ESV) [28] And
we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for
those who are called according to his purpose.
1 Peter 5:6-7 (ESV) [6] Humble
yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time
he may exalt you, [7] casting all your anxieties on him, because he
cares for you.
2 Corinthians 12:8-9 (ESV) [8] Three
times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. [9] But
he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in
weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that
the power of Christ may rest upon me.
D. Praise and Thanksgiving
Philippians 4:6 (ESV) [6] do
not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
No comments:
Post a Comment