What Is Prayer?

“Teach Us to Pray” Luke 11:1 The human heart’s deepest and most universal need. Finite man’s way to have real and personal communication with God. Even unbelievers turn to prayer during times of crisis.

Christians Need As God’s children, no matter how diligently we strive to please Him in all phases of our lives, if we do not pray, or pray properly, we will fail miserably. We ought to appreciate the great blessing we have in prayer and learn how to pray more effectively.

General Acknowledgements There is a God. –Hebrews 11:6 Man needs God. –John 15:5 God hears prayers. –James 4:8

General Acknowledgements God answers our prayers. –Matthew 7:7-11 God cares for us. –1 Peter 5:7 God understands us. –Matthew 6:8

Addressing God God made it possible for His children to talk with Him. –1 Timothy 2:5 God asks His children to call upon Him. –Ephesians 6:17,18 Prayer is our way of expressing to God what we feel in our hearts. –Romans 9:3 When we pray, we talk with God. –Philippians 4:6

Privilege and Duty of the Righteous –James 5:16 Jesus’ teaching on prayer –Matthew 6:9 God approves of the prayers of those who endeavor to live righteously. –1 Peter 3:10-12 –Isaiah 59:1,2

Prayer is Asking, Seeking and Knocking Matthew 7:7-11 –Asking petitions of God –Seeking answers to life’s problems –Knocking to achieve entrance into a more abundant life –Knowing God gives only good gifts

An Act of Faith We must have faith. –James 1:5-7 That faith must be a working faith. –James 2:14,24 Prayer is not a substitute for good works. –James 2:18 We must be doing God’s will.

Prayer Is More Than Thinking Prayer is communication—God listens; the Christian talks. Must private prayer be verbalized? God knows our hearts. –Hebrews 4:13 –Acts 15:8 –1 Samuel 1:12-17

Kinds of Prayers and Elements Supplication (deesis) –1 John 5:14,15 Prayers (proseuche) –General term Intercessions (enteuxis) –Acts 4:24-31 Thanksgiving (eucharista) –Colossians 2:6,7

Attributes to Cultivate So Our Prayers Will Be Accepted Humility –Luke 18:9-14 Love –Matthew 18:21-35 Expectation –Matthew 17:19-21 Watchfulness –Matthew 26:38-41 A Godly Life –John 15:7

Specific Conditions of Prayers In the name of Christ –John 14:13,14 –1 Peter 2:5 According to His will –1 John 5:14,15 Persistence and fervency –Luke 11:5-8

Things That Hinder Prayer Marital problems –1 Peter 3:7 Selfish requests –James 4:3 Disbelief –James 1:5-8 Persistent sin –Proverbs 28:9

Things That Hinder Prayer Failure to forgive others –Matthew 6:12-15 Self-Righteousness –Matthew 6:1-5 Unrighted wrongs –Matthew 5:23,24

For What Should I Pray? We should pray to praise God. –Matthew 9:6 We should pray for others. –Matthew 5:43,44 –1 Timothy 2:1 –Romans 10:1 We should pray for ourselves. –Matthew 6:8, 31-33

Things Prayer Does not Have the Power to Do Prayer does NOT have the power to: –Save the sinner who is outside of Christ. –Work miracles today. –Help those who refuse to do God’s will. –Obtain forgiveness for the sins of those who have already died.

Power of Prayer Its power is assured. –James 5:16 God is anxious to answer our prayers. Examples: –Acts 8:18-24 –James 1:2-8 –Matthew 7:1-12 –Philippians 4:6,7 –1 Corinthians 10:13

Power of Prayer—God is Able! God’s power—Ephesians 3:20 Elijah’s prayer—James 5:16-18 Moses’ prayer—Exodus 32:31,32 Hezekiah’s prayer—2 Kings 20:15-19 Nehemiah’s prayer—Nehemiah 2:4 Prayer for Peter’s release—Acts 12:5ff

Prayer Life Prayer is a spiritual blessing. Prayer cannot help if we don’t do it. Prayer is a means by which God works His providence. If I don’t pray—I must ask myself WHY?