Prayer

Prayer 

 Introduction
"Prayer is talking with Jesus."
 "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 meditation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." "Prayer is worship addressed to the Father, in the name of Jesus 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 atleast 4 parts - ACTS - remember the word ACTS. 
Adoration - praise and worship of the soul of God, Psalms 95:6 Confession - repentance from every known sins, Psalms 32:5 Thanksgiving - Philippians 4:6 - be thankful for anything, everything. Supplication - intercession, requests, petitions, and desires, 1 Thimothy 2:1 Our prayers should be directed to God the Father, Acts 12:1, in the name of Jesus Christ, John 14:13, through the Power of the Holy Spirit, Ephesians 6:18.

I. Where to Pray

1. Everywhere, 1 Timothy 2:8 "I will therefore that men pray everywhere."
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."
3. In the Temple (Church). Luke 18:10 "Two men went up into the Temple to pray."
Psalms 2:6, praying before the great congregation.Solomon in 1Kings 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.

II. When to Pray

1. Always. Luke 18:1 "Men ought always to pray, and not to faint."
1Thesalonians 5:17 "Pray without ceasing"
2. In the morning. Psalms 5:3 "My voice shall thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up."
3. 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."
4.Daily. Psalm 86:3 "Be merciful unto me, Oh Lord: for I cry unto Thee daily."
5. Day and night. Psalm 88:1 "Oh Lord God...I have cried day and night before Thee."
Daniel prayed 3 times a day, Daniel 6:10.

III. Subjects for Prayer

1. 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.
2. James 5:13-16 - pray for the sick.
3. 1Timothy 2:1-4 - pray for all men, for kings, for all in authority, for our own personal lives, - and for the salvation of sinners.
4. Isaiah 38;1-5 - pray for a longer life.
5. Daniel 6:18-23 - pray for personal safety and the safety of others.
6. 1Kings 3:5-9 - pray for wisdom and understanding.
7. Matthew 6;25-34 - pray for clothing, shelter and food.
8. Romans 1:10 - pray for a prosperous journey.
9. Colossians 1:28 - pray for every Christian to be made perfect in Christ Jesus.
10. Matthew 5:38-48 - pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you, pray for your enemies.

11. 1Timothy 5:17 - pray for those over you in the church.

IV. How to Pray

1. 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 make intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered. And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketg intercession for the saints according to the will of God."
2. 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 mus believe that He is (exists)."
3. We must believe that God rewards faithful intercession. Hebrews 11:6 "...and He that is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."
4. There must be persistence in prayer. Luke 18:1-8, the persistent widow got the request. Luke 11:1-13, the persistent knocker received the bread.
5. We must pray with humility. 2Chronicles 7:14 "If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face..."
6. We must be prepared to repent of our sins. 2Chronicles 7:14 "...and turn from their wicked ways."

V. Conditions of Prayer

1. We must pray in the will of God. Romans 8:27 (qouted in point IV); Matthew 26:39, Jesus prayed, "...not as I will, but as Thou wilt."
2. 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."
3. 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 anything of the Lord."
4. We must keep His commandments. 1John 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."
5. 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."
6. We must pray in the Holy Spirit, Jude 20 "...praying in the Holy Ghost."
7. 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."

VI. Hindrances of Prayer

1. Unbelief, James 1:6,7 (qouted above). 
2. An unforgiving spirit, Mark 11:25, qouted above.
3. Iniquity, Psalm 66:18 "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me."
4. Asking amiss. (Asking with wrong motives or out of th will of God) James 4:3 "Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts."

VII. Some Prayer Promises

Matthew7:7-8; Mark 11:24; Luke 11:9-13; John 15:7; Ephesians 3:12-20; Philippians 4:6-19; Hebrews 4:16; 1John 5:14-15.

Conclusion

What answers does God gives to prayer? God gives one of three answers: 1) Yes 2) No 3) Wait
Isaiah 65:24 "And i shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear."
2Corinthians 12:7-10, Paul prayed for healing and God said, No." I prayed for my Father's conversation for 17 years - 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 as a sinner." See also 2Peter 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 prayers.

Review Questions
1. Define Prayer
2. What four things should a prayer include?
3. List 3 places where prayers are ought to be made.
4. Give two illustrations to prove that it is possible to obey Luke 18:1
5. List 15 things fow which we should pray.
6. What 3 things do we learn about prayer from Romans 8:26-27.
7. Name one absolute essential before prayer becomes effective.
8. List 7 conditions of Prayer.
9. Give 4 hindrances to prayer.
10. Mention 4 possible answers to a single prayer.

Copyright: 100 Bible Lessons, by Alban Douglas