Christian Doctrine Resources: Systematic Theology, Wayne Grudem & A Theology for the Church, ed. Daniel Akin

Prayer

Prayer Prayer is personal communication with God. Prayer is “one of the ways God allows his creation to stay involved with him.” “Through prayer we can communicate our requests to God, confess our sins to God, and give adoration, praise, and thanksgiving to God.” Also God communicating to us indication of his response.

Prayer: Why do we need to Pray? 1st Reason: God wants us to pray so that our dependence on him can increase. The primary emphasis of the Bible’s teaching on prayer is that we are to pray with faith, which means trust or dependence on God. Praying in humble dependence also indicated that we are genuinely convinced of God’s wisdom, love, goodness, and power. Compares it to a child asking for food, trusting his father to bring him that food. (Luke 9:11-12)

Jesus Speaking Luke 11:9-12: So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; see, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. Now suppose one of father is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish will he? Or if he is asked for an egg; he will not give him a scorpion will he?

Prayer: Why do we need to Pray? 1st Reason: God wants us to pray so that our dependence on him can increase. It will allow us to trust God more and more. Compares it to a child asking for food, trusting his father to bring him that food. Just like we trust our parents to provide for us we need to trust God to provide for us. This can come from prayer.

Prayer: Why do we need to Pray? 2nd Reason: God desires that our love for him and our relationship with him will deepen and grow. Just like any relationship, time spent grows our love toward another.

Prayer: Why do we need to Pray? 3rd Reason: God wants us to pray because it allows us to be a part of a story that is greater than our own. It allows us to be involved in activities that have eternal significance. Gives us the opportunity to share in the advancement of the Kingdom of God. Allows us to be apart of his kingdom plans. If you can do nothing else, then you must pray.

Prayer: Why do we need to Pray? 4th Reason: We bring glory to God. We are obedient. We follow the example set by many Biblical characters. We follow the example set by Jesus.

Prayer’s Effectiveness Prayer often changes the way God acts. James 4:2- You do not have, because you do not ask. This implies if you were to ask for something God would give it and change your current situation. God tells Moses he is going to destroy the Israelites. Moses pleads with God to not destroy them. Exodus 32:12- Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people. God responds, “the Lord relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people.” (Exodus 32:14) God decides to pull back his punishment after Moses’ prayer.

Prayer’s Effectiveness Our prayers effectiveness comes from Jesus. Because we are sinful and God is holy we have no right to talk with God. However through Jesus we have one who makes intercession for us. (talks to God on our behalf) 1 Timothy 2:5- There is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. Jesus is our high priest. Hebrews 4:14-15

Prayer’s Effectiveness Does God hear the prayers of unbelievers? In once since yes, since God is all knowing. God may even, from time to time, answer these prayers in order to bring them closer to salvation and His mercy. “However, God has nowhere promised to respond to the prayers of unbelievers. The only prayers that he has promised to “hear” in the sense of listening with a sympathetic ear and understanding to answer when they are made according to his will, are the prayers of Christians offered through the one mediator, Jesus Christ (cf. John 14:6).”

Prayer’s Effectiveness What is Praying “in Jesus’ Name”? John 14:13-14- Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; if you ask anything in my name, I will do it. (cf. John 15:6; John 16:23-23) To be given this name, to pray in, is to be given the authority that comes from that name. Thus we are making the prayer in His authority. In ancient times your name represented your whole self. Importance of a “good name.” Thus we are to pray consistent with His name. Be careful to make “in Jesus’ name” to common. It is also not required for your prayers. No prayers recorded in the NT use “in Jesus’ name”

Prayer: Things to Consider in Prayer Pray according to God’s will 1 John 5:14-15- This is the confidence which we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of him. Jesus prayer in Matthew 26:39- My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.

Prayer: Things to Consider in Prayer Praying according to God’s will (cont) Sometimes it is simple to know God’s will Furthering his kingdom Spiritual Growth Sometimes we do not know or understand God’s will. Getting a specific job. Life changing choices. In these instances we need to bring Scripture into it. Then pray for these things to happen “if it is Your (God’s) will”

Prayer: Things to Consider in Prayer Pray with faith Mark 11:24- Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. We need to trust that God will provide for us like he says he will. It is not wishful thinking, hoping maybe God will hear me. Pray knowing God hears you and desires what is best for you.

Prayer: Things to Consider in Prayer Confessing our Sins Our prayer time should be one of confessing our disobedience to God. Allows our day-to-day relationship with God to be restored. We should confess all our know sin. Also should pray the prayer of David in Psalm 19:12- “Clear me from hidden faults”

Prayer: Things to Consider in Prayer Forgiving Others Matthew 6:14-15- For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions. We need to forgive others in our prayers and ask for forgiveness when we have not forgiven someone. God declares that he will distance himself from us until we forgive others.

Prayer: Things to Consider in Prayer Humility Definition: modest opinion or estimate of one's own importance/ rank. This is the right attitude in prayer. James 4:6- God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. James 4:10- Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you. “God is rightly jealous for his own honor. Therefore he is not pleased to answer the prayers of the proud who take honor to themselves rather than giving it to him. True humility before God, which will also be reflected in genuine humility before others, is necessary for effective prayer.”

Prayer: Things to Consider in Prayer Humility (cont.) Example of the humble vs. the proud Pharisee’s prayer in Luke 18:11-12- God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get. Tax Collector’s prayer in Luke 18:13- But the Tax collector was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast saying, “God, be merciful to me, the sinner!” Pharisee felt he had no sin and was just fine. The Tax Collector knew he was a sinner and asked for forgiveness properly with an attitude of humility.

Prayer: Things to Consider in Prayer Unanswered prayer There will always be prayers of ours that seem to not be answered. Reasons why: We do not always know how to pray as we ought (Rom. 8:26) We do not always pray according to God’s will (James 4:3) We do not always ask in faith (James 1:6-8) God does answer but according to a better plan. As long as God is God there will be unanswered prayer. There are somethings that will come about only according to God’s decree and timing. Israel prayed for generations for the Messiah to come.

Prayer: Things to Consider in Prayer Unanswered Prayer in the Bible David in 2 Sam. 12:20-23- So David arose from the ground, washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house; and when he requested, they set food before him, and he ate. Then his servants said to him, “What is this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive, but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” And he said, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who can tell whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.”

Prayer: Things to Consider in Prayer Unanswered Prayer in the Bible (cont.) Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:8-9- Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness " Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Jesus in Luke 22:42- Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but yours, be done.

Prayer Praise and Thanksgiving This is a must in our prayers to God. Philippians 4:6- In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know to God. Colossians 4:2- Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. Our thankfulness should not be a mere “thank you” to God but an outpouring of the heart.

Helps on Prayer If you are weak in prayer seek advice of those who are strong in prayer. Pray throughout the day, not just at meals or before bed. Pray through Scripture. Prayer journaling. Write out what you want to pray for. Set out specific time to pray.