Prayer

PRAYER

Prayer is as old as man, as universal as religion, and as instinctive as breathing (Gen. 4:26). And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD. It is practiced in some form by all men of all faiths. Prayer springs from the heart with a need – a need greater than man’s ability to encounter. Prayer is man’s acknowledgement of a being higher than himself.

Most men try to pray, yet so few know how. There are two kinds of prayers: the prayer that does not reach God, and the prayer that does reach God. This is illustrated by our Lord in the parable of the Pharisee and the publican (Luke 18:9-14) 9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon 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 every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Both men went to the SAME PLACE, at the SAME TIME, for the SAME PURPOSE - TO PRAY.

The Pharisee pray in his religious pride, expecting God to answer because he thought himself worthy. He informs God of his own good ness, that he was better than others. He boasted of his good works. He said “ I FAST; I GIVE.” This is the kind prayer that does not reach God. It is self righteous prayer.

Now take a look at the publican and his prayer. He came to God in great humility, conscious of his unworthiness, confessing himself a sinner, and begging for mercy. This is the kind of prayer that does reach God. THIS IS RIGHTEOUS PRAYER AND GOD GIVES YOU A RIGHT STANDING IN HIS PRESENCE. The MERCY OF GOD accepts you and HIS GRACE provides you a right standing.

It is a rare privilege to pray; because it brings you into close fellowship with God, admitting your need for Him and your utter dependence upon Him.

1. WHAT IS PRAYER? (MATT. 7:7-11)

2. WHY PRAY? (LUKE 18:1)

3. HOW TO PRAY? (MATT. 6:9-13)

4. WHERE TO PRAY? (ACTS 12:5)

5. HINDRANCES TO PRAYER (1PET. 3:7)

6. DOES GOD ANSWER ALL PRAYER? (JOHN 15:7)

TOP

I. WHAT IS PRAYER? (Matt. 7:7-11)

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

8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

9 "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?

10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?

11 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!

Prayer is asking and receiving; it is talking with God. It is making you request known unto Him in faith. The above scripture is so simple on the surface, that we are in danger of failing to recognize its immensity. Our Lord instruct the believer to ask, seek and knock; because these three words cover the whole spectrum of prayer.

1) PRAYER IS ASKING AND RECEIVING. When you know the will of God regarding a need, whether it be material or spiritual, you can ask and receive. This is prayer according to the revealed will of God (1John 5:14,15). 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.15 And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him.

2) PRAYER IS SEEKING AND FINDING. When you do not know the will of God regarding a need, whether it be material or spiritual, then you are to seek His will in prayer concerning this need until you find it. This is prayer for a knowledge of the unrevealed will of God in a specific need. (Col. 3:1 & Jer. 29:12-13). Col. 3:1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Jer. 29:12-13 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.13. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

3) PRAYER IS KNOCKING AND OPENING. When you know the will of God, and yet you find a closed door, you are to knock, and keep on knocking until God opens the door. This is tenacious prayer – prayer for mountain-moving faith. Knocking prayer perseveres until the impossible becomes possible. This is miracle-working prayer (Matt.17:14-21) And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,

15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is a lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.

16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.

17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.

18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?

20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

TOP

2. WHY PRAY? (LUKE 18:1)

18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

Pray:

1. Because Jesus Said, “Men ought always to pray.” Prayer is imperative. You are commanded to pray (Matt. 26:41) "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

2. Because prayer is the only way to get things from God. “You do not have, because you do not ask God” (James 4:2) You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God.

3. Because there is joy in prayer (John 16:24) Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

4. Because prayer will deliver you out of all your troubles (Psalm 34:6) This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.

5. Because prayer can unlock the treasure chest of God’s wisdom (James 1:5) If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

6. Because prayer is a channel of power (Jeremiah 33:3) 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'

7. Because it is a sin not to pray (1Sam. 12:23) As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right.

8. Because sinners can be saved when they pray in faith (Rom. 10:13,14) 13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?

9. Because Jesus, while here in the flesh, prayed often to the Father. Now if Jesus, the Son of God, need to pray, then we should “Pray without ceasing.” (1Thes.5:17) pray continually; (NIV)

TOP

3. HOW TO PRAY (MATT. 6:9-13)

9 "This, then, is how you should pray: "'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 today our daily bread.

12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'

“This, then, is how you should pray: " Our Lord gave this as a model prayer after one of His disciple said unto Him, “Lord teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples”

1. We are to pray to “Our Father which art in heaven,” because He is all wise, all-loving, and all powerful. We are also instructed to pray in the name of Jesus (John 14:13-14) 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it., depending on the mediative influence of the Holy Spirit (Rom.8:26,27) 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

2. We are to pray for His will to be done in everything.

3. We are to pray for the coming of the Kingdom (Matt. 25:31-46) 31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' 37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' 41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' 44 "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' 45 "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' 46 "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

4. We are to pray for our daily necessities

5. We are to pray for forgiveness, and practice forgiving others

6. We are to pray for the leading of the Lord, and deliverance from evil.

7. We are to pray in faith, for “without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Heb.11:5-6) 5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

This model prayer is brief, to the point, and not repetitious. It is the prayer perfect.

TOP

3. WHERE TO PRAY (ACTS 12:5)

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

There was a remarkable change in the prayer life of the disciples after the resurrection of Jesus, and it is noted again after Pentecost. Before the death of Jesus, the disciples slept while Jesus prayed in the garden (Matt 26:36-46). But after His death and resurrection:

1. They assembled in the upper room, waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit, and they prayed. We should always pray when assembled with believers

(Acts 1:13-14).13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they

were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and

Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the

Zealot, and Judas son of James.14 They all joined together constantly in prayer,

along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

2) They prayed as they went from house to house (Acts 2:42-47) 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.

44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.

45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.

46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,

47. praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to

their number daily those who were being saved.

3. They prayed in the church when Peter was in prison

4. Paul and Silas prayed in prison (Acts 16:25) About midnight Paul and Silas were

praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Here we see Christians praying in the presence of unbelievers, but not to be heard of them. NEVER PRAY TO PLEASE OTHERS PRESENT, PRAY ONLY TO PLEASE GOD.

3. The most important place to pray is any place where you can be alone with God

(Matt. 6:6) But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

6) We are instructed to pray in all places at all times (1Tim. 2:8) I want men

everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.

It is a great joy to be able to talk with God, any time, any place, under any condition, and to know that He will hear and answer.

TOP

V. HINDRANCES TO PRAYER (1PETER 3:7)

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

When prayers are not answered, you should examine yourself in the light of God’s Word. If you find anything not pleasing to God, confess it, believing God for forgiveness that your prayers may be answered (1Jn. 1:9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

1. An unharmonious relationship between husband and wife will hinder prayer

2. Selfishness will hinder prayer (James 4:3)

3. An unforgiving spirit will hinder prayer (Matt. 5:22-24). Many Christians go without answers to prayer because they have wronged others, or have been wronged and have failed to humble themselves and seek reconciliation.

4. Unbelief will hinder prayer (Jam. 1:6,7; Hebrew. 11:6)

5. Known sin in the heart will hinder prayer (Isaiah 59:1-2; Psalm 66:18)

When you pray, go to God in all humility. Ask Him to reveal anything in your life that is not pleasing to Him. Then judge it, confess it, calling it by name and forsake it. Pray in all simplicity and earnestness, believing, and God will hear and answer.

TOP

VI.DOES GOD ANSWER ALL PRAYER? (JOHN 15:7)

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.

The Bible is filled with answered prayers from Genesis to Revelation. You are commanded to pray, and God has promised to answer (Jeremiah 33:3) 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.' In the above Scripture, there are two requirements for answers to prayer. First: you are to abide in Him; that is to continue in Him. It means to remain in His perfect will al all cost (Romans 12:1,2). Second: His Words are to abide in you; they are to become a vital part of your life. You are to be filled with, and guided by, His words (Col. 3:16,17). Meet this two requirements, and your prayers will be answered.

1. The answer is sometimes immediate. Peter walked on the water to go to Jesus, and as he began to sink, he prayed “Lord save me”. The answer was immediate

(Matt. 14:22-31)

2. The answer is sometimes delayed. The delay is according to His will (Rom. 8:28). The resurrection of Lazarus is a good example of delayed answer to prayer. Lazarus was sick. Mary and Martha sent for Jesus to come and heal him. But Jesus delayed coming until Lazarus was dead and in the tomb for four days. Then He came and raised Lazarus from the dead. The answer was delayed - but not denied. (John.11:1 – 44)

3. The answer is sometimes “no.” When God answers with a “no,” He always accompanies the answer with peace (Phil. 4:6-7) and grace (2Cor. 12:7-10).

4. The answer is different from what you expect. You pray for patience and God sends tribulation – because “tribulation worketh patience” (Rom.5:3). God answers all your prayers – not according to your wishes, but according to His perfect will.

N.B: A BELIEVER NEED TO GIVE PRIORITY TO PRAYER (Talking to God) TOGETHER WITH BIBLE MEDITATION (God talking to us from His Word through the author of the Bible HOLY SPIRIT by intuition and conviction and revelation)

TOP

HOW WILL IT ALL END