1. Learning from the Prayers of the Bible We do not so much need a course or treatise on “How to Pray,” as we simply need to read and imitate the prayers of the Bible. In a very real sense one cannot get involved with Bible study and devotion without being drenched in prayer by the Scriptures. Each example teaches us something.

2. You see, true prayer really begins with God. It starts in the heart of God, with the purposes of God, in the things that God wants to do. He then plants those ideas and longings in your heart. He speaks to you. If you listen, He will reveal His purpose and His plan to you. Then you, in turn, offer those things up in prayer to Him. This is a wonderful, God-designed cycle, beginning with the heart of God, coming down through your heart, passing back to God in prayer, and then opening the door and the opportunity for God to do things He desires to do. - Chuck Smith, Prayer: Our Glorious Privilege, 2007, pp.45-46

3. We generally look at prayer as a means of getting things for ourselves, whereas the biblical idea of prayer is that God’s holiness, purpose, and wise order may be brought about. If we look at prayer as a means of developing ourselves, there is nothing in it at all, and we do not find that idea in the Bible. Prayer is other than meditation; it develops the life of God in us. When a man is born from above, the life of the Son of God begins in him, and he can either starve that life or nourish it. -Oswald Chambers, If You Will Ask: Reflections on the Power of Prayer, 1958, p.10

4. PRAYERS OF ABRAHAM (Gen 13:14-18; Heb 9:11-14; Heb 13:10-12) 1. Why did they so frequently build altars to the Lord in the Old Testament? 2. Why do we no longer do this today? The Bible characterizes Abraham as a “friend of God.” (James 2:23; James 1:6-8; Romans 14:23) 3. What caused Abraham to be called “a friend of God”? 4. Why can doubt be a sin?

5. Genesis 15:1-6 “What will You give me, seeing I go childless? 5. Later on we remember Abraham’s response to Isaac at the sacrifice in answer to the question, “Where is the lamb?” Abraham simply replied, The Lord will provide” (Gen 22:7-8). Have you ever said something similar in prayer?

6. (Gen 24:12-15) Lord, please give me success this day (Eliezer) Faith is contagious I may be but a cog in the wheel of God’s machinery, but isn’t it awesome that I can be a part of God’s miraculous plan? The servant has the same opportunity of faith as the master he serves. 6. Does your family witness your faith? Did they learn from you? 7. Do new Christians learn from your faith?

7. PRAYERS OF ISAAC (Gen 26:1-5) God’s promise to Abraham was passed down to Isaac. Isaac is the connection between Abraham and Jacob/Israel When we are in conversation with God, He will keep us from error when He chooses. He will over-ride our uninformed decisions before they can happen. (Rom 8:28) We can trust and rely on God for the big decisions in life that must be made. He is entirely reliable and faithful. (Jer 29:11)

8. 8. Have you had God change your plans? How did you know that it was Him? PRAYERS OF JACOB (Gen 28:10-22 esp. 13-15) It is noble to stand on the promises of God, for He cannot lie nor in Him is there even “a shadow of turning.” 9. Have you stood on the promises of God? Give an example.

9. PRAYER OF JABEZ (1 Chron 4:9-10)  Keep me from evil.  Enlarge my territory.  Keep me from causing pain in other people’s lives. 10. “Enlarge my territory” What might that prayer mean for you? 11. Why should we pray, “Lord, keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain”? 12. It is said that “misery enjoys company.” Why is that not a Christian attitude?

10. PRAYERS OF MOSES AND THE EXODUS Commissioning of Moses (Exodus 3:1-14) We learn through prayer that God does not ask us anything He has not equipped us to accomplish small or great. (Exodus 34:27) We pray to, we serve, we respond to... we experience the very same God, the God of Moses.

11. 13. Do we pray to a different God than Moses did? 14. Did Moses have the Scriptures to read and listen to? 15. The Pentateuch authorship is generally attributed to Moses. Who is ultimately responsible for authorship of the Bible?

12. Moses’ Personal Relationship with God (Exodus 33:13) This very personal conversation with God is one of the most tender and amazing moments in the Bible. Don’t you and I wish that we had leaders like this to represent us before God? (Exodus 33:12-23)

13. 16. This intimacy with God followed the great sin of the people in worshiping the Golden Calf. What was Moses’ role as intercessor for the people? 17. In Moses’ absence how might Aaron have handled the complaints of the people differently? Why did he relent to their request for the idol? 18. What is the significance of Moses’ prayer, “Show me Your glory” (Exod 33:18)

14. Moses’ Intercession (Numbers 6:24-27) Moses’ priestly blessing (Numbers 12:1-16) Moses’ special office Consider God’s hedge of protection and empowerment around the pastor. These gossips and grumblers are on thin ice before God and close to being judged quickly by a protective God.

15. 19. Was Moses’ intercession for Miriam and Aaron reflected in Jesus? How? 20.Do you complain about your pastor or do you pray for him? How do you pray? 21. If you were without a pastor, what kind of pastor would you ask God for?

16. Prayer for New Leaders (Numbers 27:15-17) We need to pray for our leaders, for our young pastors whom God is preparing, that they be men in whom is the Spirit, that they be enabled to “lead them out and bring them in,” that the congregation of the Lord my not be like sheep which have no shepherd.

17. 22. In what sense do we pray for our successors? 23. How does God prepare people for leadership in the ministry?

18. When Prayer Should Cease (Deuteronomy 3:23-29) God stopped Moses’ pleading saying, “Enough of that!” Pleading with the Lord in prayer should stop when we hear God say, “Enough of that!”

19. 24. When do you know that you should stop praying for something? 25. Why didn’t God answer Paul’s request for removal of the thorn from his flesh? What was Paul’s resolve when God did not grant his request? (2 Cor 12:9) 26. What is the lesson learned from Jesus’ prayer, “If it be possible let this cup pass from Me”? (Matt 26:39)