PrayerPart 1

God’s Plan for Us, Gospel Advocate

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Prayer (Part 1)

a) Learning to prayb) Using prayerc) Sharing our prayers

Acts 2:41-42 (ESV) So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Even a casual glance at the New Testament reveals how much the early church relied on prayer.

After the Church was established on the Day of Pentecost, what dis the Christians do?

1 Thess 5:16-17 (ESV) Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

How often did early Christians pray?

Acts 4:29 (ESV) And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness

It isn’t surprising that many prayers recorded in Scripture contain petitions and requests.

What did Peter and John request of God after their release by the Sanhedrin with the charge “not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus” (Acts 4:18)?

Acts 4:29 (ESV) And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness

It isn’t surprising that many prayers recorded in Scripture contain petitions and requests.

What did Peter and John request of God after their release by the Sanhedrin with the charge “not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus” (Acts 4:18)?

Is this prayer still valid today?

1 John 5:14-15 (ESV) 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.

How do examples like the prayer for boldness give us confidence that God hears and answers our pleas?

Philippians 4:5b-6 (ESV) The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Although prayer provides us with a way to make requests of God (supplication), how else does it serve the connection between our heart and God?

Acts 4:23-24 (ESV) When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 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

Although prayer provides us with a way to make requests of God (supplication), how else does it serve the connection between our heart and God (like this example and Peter and John were released by the Sanhedrin)?

James 1:5-7 (ESV) 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.

Through prayer, we ask for God’s blessings and pour out our hearts to Him, but can it be done without faith?

James 5:16b (ESV alternate) The effective prayer of a righteous person has great power

James 5:16b (NKJV) The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Through prayer, we ask for God’s blessings and pour out our hearts to Him, but can it be done without faith?

Prayer (Part 1)

a) Learning to pray

Luke 11:1 (ESV) Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”

Do we need to learn to pray?

Matt 6:9-13 (ESV, alt) Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name.10 Your kingdom come,your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.11 Give us this day our daily bread,12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen

What is this prayer often called?

Matt 6:9-13 (ESV, alt) Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name.10 Your kingdom come,your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.11 Give us this day our daily bread,12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen

What is this prayer often called?Why did Jesus pray this prayer?How should we use this prayer?

Luke 6:12 (ESV) In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.

Matt 6:7 (ESV) “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.

Although Jesus often spent hours in prayer, what did He emphasize about our prayers?

Where should our prayers flow from?

Matt 6:9-13 (ESV, alt) Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name.10 Your kingdom come,your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.11 Give us this day our daily bread,12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen

The structure of the model prayer is simple: a) praise, b) petition for God’s will, c) petitions for man’s needs, d) close.

Matt 6:9-13 (ESV, alt) Pray then like this:“Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name.10 Your kingdom come,your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.11 Give us this day our daily bread,12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen“The spirit of the prayer implies obedience, loyalty, dependence, faith, and the spirit of forgiveness. The seven petitions imply an obligation to carry out our part that for which we pray.” – H. Leo Boles, A Commentary on the Gospel According to Matthew

Matt 6:9-13 (ESV, alt) Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name.10 Your kingdom come,your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.11 Give us this day our daily bread,12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen

Who do we pray to?Why?

Matt 6:9-13 (ESV, alt) Pray then like this:“Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name.10 Your kingdom come,your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.11 Give us this day our daily bread,12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen“We should not miss the balance in this opening to the prayer. We address God intimately as ‘Father’, but we immediately recognize His infinite greatness with the addition of ‘in heaven’.” –Leon Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew

Matt 6:9-13 (ESV, alt) Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name.10 Your kingdom come,your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.11 Give us this day our daily bread,12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen

Why should we pray that God’s kingdom come?Why should we pray that God’s will be done?

Matt 6:9-13 (ESV, alt) Pray then like this:“Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name.10 Your kingdom come,your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.11 Give us this day our daily bread,12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen“We can pray for the perfect obedience an allegiance of all created beings to the will and word of God, hence the kingdom come in that sense.”– H. Leo Boles, A Commentary on the Gospel According to Matthew

Matt 26:39 (ESV) 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.”

James 4:3 (ESV) You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

Matt 6:11-13 (ESV) Give us this day our daily bread,12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

How do pray for our own physical and spiritual needs while praying that God’s will take precedence over our own and not come off in a selfish manner?

Prayer (Part 1)

a) Learning to prayb) Using prayer

Matt 7:7-8 (ESV) “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

Having illustrated how His followers should pray, Jesus described the benefits of being persistent in prayer.

Does God always answer prayers?

Matt 7:7-8 (ESV) “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

Having illustrated how His followers should pray, Jesus described the benefits of being persistent in prayer.

Does God always answer prayers?

Does He always answer prayers in the way man desires?

Heb 5:7-8 (ESV) 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. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.

Did Jesus have prayer requests that were denied?

Matt 7:11 (ESV) If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Is God willing to bestow blessings upon those who ask?

Mark 11:24 (ESV) Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Are our prayers of any value if we don’t believe that God hears them or is capable of answering them?

Mark 11:24 (ESV) Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Are our prayers of any value if we don’t believe that God hears them or is capable of answering them?

How do we fix that?

Luke 18:9-14 (ESV) He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”How do we ensure that our prayers are in the manner God intends, rather than just for show?

Prayer (Part 1)

a) Learning to prayb) Using prayerc) Sharing our prayers

1 Tim 2:1-2 (ESV) First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

Once we recognize the power of prayer, we come to rely on it. Although it is natural to pray for personal matters, we must not limit our prayers to our own struggles.

Why pray for all men?

1 Tim 2:1-2 (ESV) First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

Once we recognize the power of prayer, we come to rely on it. Although it is natural to pray for personal matters, we must not limit our prayers to our own struggles.

Why pray for all men?

How difficult is it to pray for our enemies and those who persecute us?

1 Tim 2:1-2 (ESV) First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

Once we recognize the power of prayer, we come to rely on it. Although it is natural to pray for personal matters, we must not limit our prayers to our own struggles.

Why should we pray for those in positions of authority?

1 Tim 2:1-2 (ESV) First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

Once we recognize the power of prayer, we come to rely on it. Although it is natural to pray for personal matters, we must not limit our prayers to our own struggles.

Why should we pray for those in positions of authority?

1 Tim 2:3-7 (ESV) This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. 7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Should we also pray for the well-being of the church?

2 Thess 1:11-12 (ESV) To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Col 1:9-10 (ESV) And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

Should we also pray for the well-being of the church?

1 Tim 2:8 (ESV) I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;

How does our attitude factor into our prayers?

Prayer is a blessing the children of God should not take for granted.

To know the Creator of our universe concerns Himself with our difficulties should thrill our souls.

God still expects us to approach Him with our concerns. Some do not have because they have failed to ask.

James 4:2 (ESV) You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.

Jesus’ model prayer includes the simple pattern and balance that our prayers should take into consideration.

Matt 6:9-13 (ESV, alt) Pray then like this:“Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name.10 Your kingdom come,your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.11 Give us this day our daily bread,12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen

Our prayers should include petitions for others as well as praise and thanksgiving to God.

Philippians 4:5b-6 (ESV) The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Pray continuously, not just when we are in need.

1 Thess 5:16-17 (ESV) Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Keep asking. Keep seeking. Keep knocking. Pray!

Matt 7:7-8 (ESV) “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

James 5:16b (ESV alternate) The effective prayer of a righteous person has great power

Next WeekPrayerPart 2

Matt 26:36-46

Eph 6:17-201 Pet 3:8-12