1. Glimpses of Our God Lesson 10 The Promise of Prayer

2. Memory Text Psalm 55:17 (NKJV)Psalm 55:17 (NKJV) Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice.Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice. What can we learn about prayer from this verse penned by David?What can we learn about prayer from this verse penned by David? Were David’s heartfelt prayers always answered the way he wanted? (2 Sam 12: 16-18)Were David’s heartfelt prayers always answered the way he wanted? (2 Sam 12: 16-18)

3. Definition of Prayer How would you define prayer?How would you define prayer? How do our prayers get to God? (Rom 8:26)How do our prayers get to God? (Rom 8:26) How do His answers get back to us?How do His answers get back to us?

4. Benefits of Prayer Where will the Spirit lead us as He intercedes between us and God? (John 16:13)Where will the Spirit lead us as He intercedes between us and God? (John 16:13) What is God’s will for us? (1 Tim 2:4)What is God’s will for us? (1 Tim 2:4) How important is prayer in becoming a Christian?How important is prayer in becoming a Christian? How important is prayer to remaining a Christian?How important is prayer to remaining a Christian?

5. Benefits of Prayer Ps 91:15-16 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.Ps 91:15-16 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation. Jer 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.Jer 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. Eph 3:20 Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think…Eph 3:20 Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think… James 4:2 …ye have not, because ye ask not.James 4:2 …ye have not, because ye ask not. James 5:15 the prayer of faith shall save the sick,…James 5:15 the prayer of faith shall save the sick,… James 5:16 The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.James 5:16 The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

6. Jesus on Prayer Matt 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:Matt 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: Matt 18:19 if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them.Matt 18:19 if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them. Matt 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.Matt 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. John 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do.John 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do.

7. Fixed or Flexible From what you read in the Bible, does it sound to you like the future is fixed or does prayer change things?From what you read in the Bible, does it sound to you like the future is fixed or does prayer change things? What glimpse of the nature of God does this give you?What glimpse of the nature of God does this give you?

8. Conditions to Answered Prayer Psalm 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:Psalm 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: 1 John 5:14 if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:1 John 5:14 if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: John 9:31 Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him.John 9:31 Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 1 John 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.1 John 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, … giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, … that your prayers be not hindered.1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, … giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, … that your prayers be not hindered.

9. Answered & Unanswered Prayer What prayer can we count on God to always answer, especially for sinners? (1 John 1:9)What prayer can we count on God to always answer, especially for sinners? (1 John 1:9) How should we deal with unanswered prayer?How should we deal with unanswered prayer? –Let’s say we’re praying for a friend to recover from cancer and he dies, or a daughter to have a safe trip and her plane crashes.

10. Summary Our glimpse of God this week reveals a God who wants to communicate with us and have a relationship with us.Our glimpse of God this week reveals a God who wants to communicate with us and have a relationship with us. He has given us prayer so that we can communicate with Him in thought, meditation, spoken words, writing, poetry, and song.He has given us prayer so that we can communicate with Him in thought, meditation, spoken words, writing, poetry, and song. He has given us the Holy Spirit to intercede for us: to take our thoughts and words to God and God’s thoughts and words to us.He has given us the Holy Spirit to intercede for us: to take our thoughts and words to God and God’s thoughts and words to us.

11. Summary The Spirit leads us into all truth: to God’s Word as truth and to Jesus as the Truth, and prayer is essential to receiving the Holy Spirit.The Spirit leads us into all truth: to God’s Word as truth and to Jesus as the Truth, and prayer is essential to receiving the Holy Spirit. Without prayer, we cannot even begin the Christian life by asking for forgiveness nor can we grow in grace and have a love relationship with the Lord.Without prayer, we cannot even begin the Christian life by asking for forgiveness nor can we grow in grace and have a love relationship with the Lord. Every relationship requires time and communication.Every relationship requires time and communication.

12. Summary The Bible is clear that prayer changes things: The future is flexible rather than fixed.The Bible is clear that prayer changes things: The future is flexible rather than fixed. God gives us the freedom of choice to actually determine the countless details of our lives and, most of all, our eternal destiny.God gives us the freedom of choice to actually determine the countless details of our lives and, most of all, our eternal destiny. Will you trust the Lord today to answer your prayer for forgiveness and use this means of grace to build an everlasting relationship with Him?Will you trust the Lord today to answer your prayer for forgiveness and use this means of grace to build an everlasting relationship with Him?