Back to the Basics: The Elements of Prayer: A.C.T.S. Scripture reading: Phil 4:6-7

Introduction: What is the Purpose of Prayer? In August 2005, Newsweek and Beliefnet asked 1,004 Americans what they believe and how they practice their faith One of the questions was this: What do you think is the most important purpose of prayer? Here are their responses... To seek God's guidance (27%) To thank God (23%) To be close to God or the divine (19%) To help others (13%) To improve a person's life (9%) Other (4%) Don't know (5%) What is the purpose of prayer? As the answers above suggest, there are many reasons to pray.

Preparation for Prayer: Ask Yourself These Questions prior to Praying Have I confessed my sins? (1 Jn 1:9-10) Is 59:1-2 “Behold, the L ORD ’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.” What are my motives? Jam 4:3 “ 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” Am I seeking God’s will in all things? 1 Jn 5:14-15 “ 14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, 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 the petitions that we have asked of Him.”

Preparation for Prayer: Ask Yourself These Questions prior to Praying Am I relying on the Lord for direction and wisdom? Prov 3:5-6 “ 5 Trust in the L ORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Jam 1:5 “ 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” Am I ready to accept His answer no matter what? Mt 26:39 “ 39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” 2 Cor 12:8-9 “ 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

“A”doration of the Father (1 Chron 29:11- 13): His attributes are reflected in His name Elohim: Speaks of His omnipotence and sovereignty, He created and governs all things (Gen 1-2) Jehovah: Speaks of God’s persona, eternal, absolute existence; His moral purity, and His covenant relationship with His people (Ex 3:14-15; Lev 19:2) El-Shada: “God Almighty” (One mighty to nourish, satisfy, supply) (Is 60:15-16) Jehovah-Jireh: “The Lord provides” (Ps 116:5; 1 Jn 4:9) Jehovah-Rophe: “The Lord heals” (Is 53:4-5; 1 Pet 2:24)

“A”doration of the Father (1 Chron 29:11-13): His attributes are reflected in His name Jehovah-Nissi: “The Lord our Banner” (1 Chron 29:11-13) Jehovah-Rohi: “The Lord my Shepherd” (Ps 23;3-5; Jn 16:13) Jehovah-Shalom: “The Lord our Peace” (Is 9:6; Rom 8:31-35) Jehovah-Tsidkenu: “The Lord our Righteousness” (Dan 9:14; Rom 10:4) Jehovah-Shammah: “The Lord is Present” (Is 66:1-2; Heb 13:5-6) Jehovah-M’Kadesh: “The Lord who Sanctifies” (Is 6:3; 1 Jn 1:5)

“C”onfession (1 Jn 1:9-10) The Greek word translated “confess” literally means to agree with God about your sin That it violates His holiness That it hinders your relationship with Him And you respond by repenting of it and turning from of it There is mercy to be found in confessing one's sins Prov 28:13 “ 13 He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” The example in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector Lk 18:10-14 “ 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise 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, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

“T”hankfulness (Phil 4:6-7) Being thankful is emphasized repeatedly in exhortations to pray Eph 5:20 “ 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” Col 4:2 “ 2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;” 1 Thess 5:17-18 “ 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Examples of thanksgiving Jn 11:41 “ 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.” Daniel had the custom to thank God three times a day (Dan 6:10)

“S”upplications (1 Tim 2:1-3) We are encouraged to let our requests be known to God (Phil 4:6) We are commanded to make supplications for all men (1 Tim 2:1-3) Examples of supplication 1 Kng 8:28-29 “ 28 Yet regard the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O L ORD my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You today: 29 that Your eyes may be open toward this temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, ‘My name shall be there,’ that You may hear the prayer which Your servant makes toward this place.” Lk 23:34 “ 34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do...” Acts 7:59-60 “ 59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

Conclusion: What can I Pray About? “A”doration (worship) God’s person: who He is (Is 6:3) God’s works: what He has done (Ps 103) “C”onfession: (1 Jn 1:9) Personal sins (Ps 32:5) Family sins (Lev 26:40) National sins (Jonah 3:5-10) “T”hanksgiving (Ps 50:23) For trials (Jam 1:2-4) For blessings (1 Chron 16:7-36) For everything (1 Thess 5:18) “S”upplication (Mt 7:7-11) For my family (Mt 6:11) For my local church (Col 1:9-12) For the church worldwide (Eph 6:18-19) For individual Christians (Acts 12:5) For individual Non-Christians (Mt 5:44) For my nation (1 Tim 2:1-2) For myself (Jam 1:5)