Prayer

Basics • Why Pray?

Eph. 6:13,18; 1 Tim.6:12; Lk.11:1; Mt. 6:9-13

• What is prayer?

– “Prayer is the conversational part of the most

important love relationship in our lives... with

God the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit.”

– It’s a spiritual communion with God --Acts 2:42

– Prayer is as universal as man --Gen. 4:26;

Ps. 65:2

• What does prayer include?

– Giving of Praise – Mt. 6:9

– Giving of Thanks – Eph. 5:20; 1 Thes. 5:17-18

– Confession of Our Sins – 1 Jn. 1:9; Acts 8:22

– Supplication “a petition, to ask, a request to call

to one’s aid” – Phil. 4:6-7; Lk. 22:40-44

– Intercession “begging on behalf of others”

-- Rom. 15:30-31; Lk. 23:34; Eph. 6:18-19

Prayer

Basics

• What is God’s will concerning prayer?

– God wants our life to be filled with prayer!

-- 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18

– “Always… and never give up” your life of

prayer -- Luke 18:1-7

– “For all men… everywhere” – 1 Timothy 2:1-2, 8

Prayer

Basics

• Whose prayer will God not hear?

– He will not hear those who turn away from His

law… Proverbs 28:9

– He will not hear those who have wickedness in

their hearts… Psalm 66:18

– He will not hear the prayer of the proud…

Job 35:12; 1 Peter 5:5

– He will not hear sinners… John 9:31

Prayer

Basics

• Whose prayer will God hear?

– He will hear the prayers of those who worship

Him. John 9:31; Mt. 7:21

– He will hear the prayer of the humble. Ps. 9:12

– He will hear the prayer of the righteous.1 Pet. 3:12

– He will hear the prayers of those who keep His

commandments. 1 John 3:22

Prayer

Basics

• How then should we pray? – We should pray in the spirit of forgiveness.

Mark 11:25

– We should pray in faith. James 1:6

– We must pray in harmony with God’s will. 1 Jn.5:14

– We must pray in the “name of” Christ. Col. 3:17

– We must pray in the spirit of sincerity. Mt. 6:5

Prayer

Basics

• Why then do we feel some prayers go

“unanswered”? Many prayers go “Unfinished”!

– Pray for health - obey laws of health. 1 Cor. 3:17

– Pray for sick – must help them get well. Jas. 5:14

– Pray for the bereaved – must comfort them.1Thes.5:14

– Pray for wisdom – then must study. Jas. 1:5

– Pray for Spir. Growth – must take Spir. Food. 1 Pet.2:2

– Pray for salvation of sinners – seek & study. Ac. 20:20

– Pray for unity of the church – work for it. Eph. 4:3

– Pray for church growth – be a faithful member.

Heb. 10:25-26

Prayer

Basics

• Only those abiding in God’s will are heard

by God. John 9:31

• Sinners God does not hear.

• We must obey someone to stop sinning!

Who? Hebrews 5:9

• The Gospel plan of salvation says to…

• Believe the gospel – Romans 10:9;1 Cor. 15:3-4

• Repent - Acts 2:38

• Confess – Acts 8:37

• Be Baptized – Acts 22:16

Answer Jesus’

call to save you!

Seeking the Why of Prayer

Prayer is Understandable

• Elijah was a man of prayer – Jas. 5:16-17

– We can relate to him, had was like we are…

• Many have misconceptions about prayer.

– Superstitious, magic, to be selfish, to hurt others, to

tell God what to do, etc.

• Prayer is not just a religious duty. Mt. 6:7

• Prayer is Vital! Luke 18:1

• Prayer was key to Jesus’ life! Mark 6:46

Prayer is Learnable

• Jesus disciples asked Him, “Lord, teach us to

pray, as John also taught his disciples,” then He

taught them… Luke 11:1-4

• In John chapters 14 -17 Jesus says some

things over and over to teach us what is really

important concerning our prayer life.

• Jesus teaches us four things that reveal to us

why we pray.

Why We Pray

• Because Prayer Is An Act of

Dedication! John 15:4-8

• Are you dedicated to God in prayer? Acts 2:42

• Prayer is a type of Spiritual life support

system.

• We are abiding in Him because His words are

truly abiding in us when we pray as He

instructs us to.

• When we are faithful in this we have life in “the

vine” - Jesus.

– “Continue steadfastly in prayer” Col. 4:2

Why We Pray

• Because Prayer Is An Act of

Communication! John 15:15-16 – Communication is a wonderful things if that is what

you are really doing. Luke 18:9-ff

– We cannot truly communicate with someone unless

we know what our relationship is with them.

1 Peter 3:12; John 9:31; Psalm 32:6

• Sometimes we don’t pray because we don’t

understand what a great privilege it is to pray to

God. Psalm 144:3

Why We Pray

• Because Prayer Is An Act of

Supplication! Philippians 4:6

• We should pray seeking God’s help and grace!

1 Peter 5:6-7; Hebrews 4:16

• God knows our needs etc. but requires we A.S.K.

anyway! Matt.7:7-12; Jn.16:22-24

• Why don’t we have? Why do we lack? James

4:2; Psalm 145:19; 37:4; 84:11

Why We Pray

• Because Prayer Is An Act of

Cooperation!

• Team up with God… John 14:11-15

– God’s plan has always been that we

cooperate with His plan to bring about His

will in this world. 1 John 5:14

– Matthew 6:10 “…Thy will be done on earth

as it is in heaven”

– Do you do God’s will on earth?

We Should Pray

• Because we know that God delights to answer

• Because it’s of the most important things we

can do as a Christian… Ephesians 6:18

• This church should pray because a praying

church is a holy, devoted, committed, sensitive,

enthusiastic, happy church!

• Are we a church of prayer? Commit to it!

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18