Prayer

PRAYER.

The privilege of prayer.

The power of prayer.

The purpose of prayer.

The place of prayer

The promise of prayer

The priority of prayer

The pitfalls of prayer.

The pattern of prayer

Praise

Pardon

Petition

Provision

Protection

Prayer should not be seen as a duty but as a privilege bought for us by Jesus Himself.

Hebrew 4:14-16.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Just as the High Priest Samuel was an intercessor on behalf of Israel, so likewise Jesus our High Priest is our intercessor before the throne of God.

Romans 8:31-34.

If God is for us, who can be against us? 

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 

Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?

It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one.

Christ Jesus who died, more than that, who was raised to life, is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

We are equipped to face

trails and tests.

Matthew 26:40-41.

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. Couldn’t you men 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 flesh is weak.

The purpose of Prayer is:

Most Christians don’t have a problem talking to God, they neglect to do it at times and remember very quickly when challenging situations arise, but many Christians don’t listen to the Lord. Some don’t know how to, some don’t care to and still others hear him and choose to ignore him and in so doing silence him.

Jeremiah 6:10. To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The Word of the Lord is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.

Ecclesiastes 5:1. Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God.

God is in heaven,` and you are on earth, so let your words be few.

A dream comes when there are many cares, and many words mark the speech of a fool.

GOD’S Word is a central part of prayer

Mark 4:23-25. He who has ears to hear let him hear.

Consider carefully what you hear, with the measure you use it will be given to you and even more. He who hears will be given more, he who does not hear even that which he has will be taken away.

When we stop listening, God stops speaking.

The purpose of Prayer

1 John 5:14-15. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.  

And if we know that he hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have what we asked of him.

What we want is not always what God wants.

I was thinking about how we as a nation not too long ago prayed for rain and how God graciously answered but imagine being in Elijah’s position and being told by God to pray that it would not rain for 3 and 1/2 years, not something that would make you popular with the rest of the country!

James 5:15-18.

The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again, he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

Matthew 26:38-44.

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

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. Couldn’t you men 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 flesh is weak. 

Matthew 26:38-44 (continued)

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. 

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.

Job 42:7-10.

After the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has. So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has. So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite did what the Lord told them; and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer.  After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before. 

Luke6:28. Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 

The example of Stephen.

Acts 7:59-60. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” 

When he had said this, he fell asleep.

The example of Jesus.

Luke 23:34. Then Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.

1 Timothy 2:1-8.

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people, for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 

This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.....

Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.

1 Timothy 2:3-4.

This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

John 6:40.

For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.

2 Peter 3:9.

God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Jesus' involvement in seeing this implemented, culminated in His going to the cross and suffering at the hands of those He was desiring to save.

What are you and I doing to see God’s will implemented.

Do we pray “Thy will be done”?

Are we available to do God’s will?

.

The place of Prayer

Luke 5:15-16. Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

The place of Prayer

The priority of Prayer

The priority of Prayer

Praise

Pardon (asked for and given)

Provision

Protection

Petition (with thanksgiving)

Philippians 4:6. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Our prayer must be continuous conversation with thankfulness

1 Thess:5:17,18. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Colossians 4:2. Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

Ephesians 6:18. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

Thumb: Those Closest to You Your thumb is the nearest to you, so it represents those closest to you. For me, this is my family and closest friends.

Pointer finger: Those in Authority Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. These could be teachers, nurses, doctors and ministers.

Middle finger: Our Leaders The next finger, the middle finger, is the tallest finger and represents our leaders. Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. The people who shape our nation and guide public opinion.

Ring finger: Those Who Are Weak The ring finger is the weakest finger and can remind us to pray for those who are dealing with illness, those who are weak, in trouble or in pain.

Pinky finger: Me And lastly comes our little finger; the smallest finger of all. Which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. Your pinky should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective, and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.

Matthew 7:7-12.

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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Matthew 7:7.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 

Ask

Seek

Knock

We need to be persistent, determined, desperate

Luke 18:1-8. (persistent prayer)

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.  He said: In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought.  And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary. “For some time, he refused. But finally, he said to himself, Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think,  yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me! And the Lord said, Listen to what the unjust judge says.  And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?  I tell you; he will see that they get justice, and quickly.

Luke 18:35-43

Jesus and his disciples went to Jericho. And as they were leaving, they were followed by a large crowd. A blind beggar by the name of Bartimaeus son of Timaeus was sitting beside the road. When he heard that it was Jesus from Nazareth, he shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” Many people told the man to stop, but he shouted even louder, “Son of David, have pity on me!”

Many people told the man to stop, but he shouted even louder, “Son of David, have pity on me!”

Jesus stopped and said, “Call him over!”

They called out to the blind man and said, “Don't be afraid! Come on! He is calling for you.” The man threw off his coat as he jumped up and ran to Jesus.

Jesus asked, “What do you want me to do for you?”

The blind man answered, “Master, I want to see!”

Jesus told him, “You may go. Your eyes are healed because of your faith.”

At once the man could see, and he went down the road with Jesus.

Praying despite Un-repented sin. 1 Peter 3:8-12. Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.

Praying instead of doing - Selfish prayers - James 4:2-3.

Self-righteous prayer - Luke 18:9-14.

Vain repetitions- 1 Peter 3:7.

Lack of persistence – Luke 18:1-7.

The Lucky charms like “Binding and loosing” – Matt 6:18-19.

Thank you, God, that I am not like other people

I fast and tithe and pray

Luke 18:10-14.

Two men went up to the temple to pray, one Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: God, I thank you that I am not like other people robbers, evildoers, adulterers or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get. But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

D.L. Moody ministered during the latter half of the 1800s, a time when crossing the Atlantic ocean could only be done by ship. During one of his voyages a fire broke out aboard the ship. The crew immediately formed a line to pass buckets of water, and some volunteers also joined the line. A friend said to Moody, Mr. Moody, let us go to the other end of the ship and pray.” But Moody answered, “Not so, sir. We will stand right here and pass buckets and pray hard all the time we are doing so.

 1 Hebrews 5:7.

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears … and He was heard because of His reverent submission.

Disrespectful behaviour will hinder your prayers.

Prayers are “requests” not demands   (Phil. 4:6)

Demanding things from God treats Him as our servant, not our sovereign.  It whistles to Him as our bellhop, rather than submitting humbly to Him as our King.  

Christians should be careful even in the use of imperative verbs when we pray.  

It might be better if we used the word “please” in our prayers.  

Manoah gave us a good example:

Judges 13:8,15. 

Then Manoah prayed to the Lord: “Pardon your servant, Lord. I beg you to let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born.”

ON BENDED KNEE, I COME WITH A HUMBLE HEART, I COME BOWING DOWN BEFORE YOUR HOLY THRONE LIFTING HOLY HANDS TO YOU, AS I PLEDGE MY LOVE ANEW I WORSHIP YOU IN SPIRIT I WORSHIP YOU IN TRUTH MAKE MY LIFE A HOLY PRAISE UNTO YOU