BASIC
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PRAYER
The first New Testament reference of prayer is given in
Matt. 6:5. This is not a command to pray. It voices an expectation. Jesus expected that his followers would pray
and therefore he left some specifics on how prayer should and
should not be offered. Jesus had much to say on prayer and was an example of one with a dedicated prayer life. (Note that Jesus taught his disciples very little on what was needed to preach well, but much on praying well.) Through prayer man can interact and fellowship with the eternal creator, the unseen and most Holy One. The power and supreme force of the universe interacts with man through prayer. Prayer then is the channel of blessings, the secret of power and abundant life. I. Introduction Luke 11:1
- 4; Matt. 6:9 - 13
A. Our Father Which Art in Heaven B. Hallowed be thy name C. Thy Kingdom Come D. Thy will be done in earth as
it is in heaven The New Testament uses
5 different words for sin. E. And
Lead us not ... evil F. For thine
is the kingdom ... amen The
prayer that began with praise also ends with praise. II. Basic Types of Prayer (Eph.
Commentaries on this verse usually say something like "praying
with all manner of Prayer" or "praying with all kinds of prayer.
The Amplified Bible says Pray at all times, on every occasion,
in every season, in the Spirit, with all manner of prayer and
entreaty. As we study the
Bible we will find that there are several different types of prayer. A. Worship - Matt. 6:5-13, Ex. 34:8-9 In
the presence of God, before asking for anything Moses bowed and
worshipped, he then began to make his request of God. Acts 13:1-4 - Amplified "While they were
worshipping the Lord and fasting.
This is a group of believer’s fellowshipping. The
focus of their fellowshipping was in ministering to the Lord.
God made man so that He would have someone with whom to
have fellowship. He wants our love, our worship and fellowship
with Him. As they ministered
to the Lord, the Holy Ghost spoke. (Ps 22:3)
With hearts yielded to the Lord, full of love and praise, the Holy Spirit can manifest Himself and
make known God's will and leading for our lives. B. Confession - I John 1:9, Judges
C. Petition - Eph. This is a prayer were
we are asking God for our individual concerns.
D.
Intercession - Eph. 6:18 Intercession
is praying for others. (I
Kings E. Thanksgiving - Eph. 5:18-20,
I Thess. 5:18 F. Casting - I Peter 5:7, Phil
4:6 III. Why Pray Matt
6:8 - Since God already knows what we need before we pray, then
why bother to pray? From
the last two week we should understand that Pray is about much
more than getting what we need or want from God.
Pray is the avenue through which we develop a relationship
with God. It is our means
of communicating with Him and He with
us. A. Because Jesus said so - Luke
18:1, Matt. 26:41 B. To find grace and mercy - Heb.
C. We are exhorted to pray - I
Tim. 2:8 D. To get wisdom from God - James
1:5 E. We are commanded to pray - I
Thess. IV. Who
Can Pray? A. Everyone can pray - I Peter
B. Sinner's - Ps 66:18 (hear - Hb.
shama - means to consider, give ear
to, to regard) -
John IV. How
to's A. Positions There are no special positions that should
or should not be used to pray. 1.
Knees - Ez. 9:5, Luke 22:41 2.
Prostrate - Deut. 9:18 3.
Standing - Judges 4.
Fish belly - Jonah 2:1 5.
Silent prayer - I Sam 1:13 B. Not 1.
for vain glory - Matt. 6:5-6 2.
in meaningless words - Matt. 6:7 C. In Tongues In
I Cor 14 we see this gift operating
in two fashions; personal edification, and edification of the
body when followed by interpretation. Interpretation
of tongues is the supernatural ability to hear understand and
translate God's intended message spoken in tongues so that the
entire body can be built up and further equipped to serve as a
redemptive agent. The Greek word used here is diermeneuo (dee-er-main-yoo-o) which
means to make the meaning clear, to explain the message, to expound
upon the meaning, to translate into another language or vernacular
for understanding. Simply
put, the interpreter gives a declaration or thorough meaning of
the message given in tongues. Verse
2: This is a private or
personal use of tongues. This
is intended to be conversation between God and the person, not
God and the body of believers.
The audience is God. He speaks mysteries unknown even to himself.
However, he can be confident that the Spirit will intercede
according to the will of God (Rom. 8:26-27:The Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered in articulate speech). Verse
4: In personal us the believer
edifies himself. To edify
(oikodomeo) means to build up, to strengthen,
to promote spiritual growth and development
of character of believers. Verse
6: This no longer refers
to private tongues but now to public tongues; for I am speaking
to another. To speak to another in tongues is profitless
unless it is followed by interpretation in one's own language. Verse
13: If tongues are addressed
to the public, then the speaker should pray to interpret. Verse
14-17: If one is addressing
the public, whether it be in prayer or in song, if it is in tongues
then it should be followed by an interpretation. D. In
the Name of Jesus (John Having
read these three scriptures, one might quickly conclude that as
Christians we can ask God for anything whatsoever in the name
of Jesus and expect to receive what we have asked for.
Yet in our personal lives we have know many who have asked
and not received and we ourselves have asked God for many things
in the name of Jesus and yet have not received.
He also have a Biblical example
of this in Paul (II Cor 12:7-9).
Adding balance to our understanding of these 3 passages,
will require two things; 1) understanding what it means to do
something in the name of another and 2) reading the passages in
the context in which they were given. 1. In the name of another As
discussed earlier the word for name does not merely mean the name
by which we are called. In
Hebrew the name means the whole nature, character and personality
of the person in so far as it is known or revealed to us.
When we mention or hear a person’s name it calls up
in our minds the whole person, what I know of him and the impressions
he has made on me. To do
something in the name of another is to come with the power and
authority of that person; to come as his representative or substitute. However, authority to use the name of another
always assumes a common interest.
No one would give another the free use of his name without
first being assured that his honor, and
interest were as safe with the other as with himself.
The free use of the name of another is always the token
of great confidence, of close union. He who gives his name to another,
stands aside to let the other act for him. He who takes the name of another
gives up his own as of no value.
When one goes in the name of another he must deny himself
and take up the interest of the other as opposed to his own interest. Jesus
has given us power of attorney.
But there are rules governing the use of power of attorney. The power of attorney means the legal and written
authority to transact business in the name of another. The agent having power of attorney can not use
the resources left in his care for own personal use or gain. The resources must be used to promote and further
the interest of the grantor. When
Jesus went back to heaven, He left His work, the management of
His kingdom on earth, in the hands of His servants.
He also left with us His name with which we could draw
all the supplies needed for the due conduct of His business.
We have the right to avail ourselves to the name of Jesus
only to the extent that we yield ourselves to live completely
for the interest and work of the Master.
The use of the name signifies the surrender of our interests
to take on the interest of the one who has granted us use of His
name. (Col. 3:17) The
fact that we are to ask in His name is its own safe guard. Whatever we ask is to be asked by His authority
and for the purpose of His interest.
The name must be used properly in order for it's
use to be effective. (James
4:3 - One reason that a believer may not get what he ask for is
that he asks with wrong motives.
We ask to suit our own pleasures, without the purpose,
will or interest of Jesus in mind.) I
John 5:14-15 - This promise shows the need in our prayers to seek
out and know the will of God.
We can have the assurance that if we ask anything that
is in His will for us, we will have the petition we desire of
Him. In our prayer and
petitioning of God we must take time to discern His will, His
interest and His divine purpose.
Only then can prayer be offered in His name and according
to His will. When we pray, we must ask ourselves, Can this
prayer honestly be made in the name of Jesus 2. the context a. John 14:12-14 Jesus
says here that He will answer our prayers so that God may be glorified. This is the chief object and purpose of Jesus
(John Also
note that Jesus gave this passage of scripture when talking about
the work the believer would do.
This is the interest to which we have been given power
of attorney to act in His name. It is through this work that God will be glorified.
Jesus will equip us with all that is needed to carry out
the work commissioned to us to do. b. John 15:16 Jesus
gives this verse after having spent some time in the beginning
of this chapter discussing fruitbearing
and its necessary prerequisite of abiding in Him.
He states that He has chosen the Christian for a purpose
and that purpose is fruit bearing.
He not only wants us to bear fruit but we are to bear much
fruit and He wants our fruit to be lasting (John 15:1-2).
To this end, whatever we ask to assist us in fruit bearing
God will give us. Now fruit
bearing is not just witnessing. Obedience and total subjection to Christ also
bears fruit in our lives (patience, temperance, peace, etc.) I
John 3:19-22 - When we know that we are living in obedience to
the will of God we can have confidence In God and in what He will
do. This verse lists obedience and commitment to
God as prerequisites
for receiving what we ask in prayer. c. John 16:23 Jesus
spoke this verse after having talked to His disciples about His
death. The things that He had said to them caused them
to be sorrowful (John 16:1-6).
He then explains to them that it is necessary for Him to
go away so that the Holy Spirit can come (John 16:7).
He teaches them a little about what the Spirit will do
and helps them to understand His going away.
He then comes to verse 23.
In that day, after I have gone away,
came back again and the Holy Spirit has come. In that day the disciples would not ask Jesus
because Jesus would not be present with them. They would then need to ask of the Father.
When Jesus was there the disciples looked to Him to meet
their needs, to give instruction and directions.
He was their friend and their lives revolved around Him.
As their understanding of who He was grew and their relationship
with Him further developed, there was a sense of peace, love and
acceptance. In His presence, living and abiding with Him
brought joy. Though they
could become close friends with Jesus, there is a different level
of intimacy associated with having the Spirit of God dwell in
us. Having the Spirit of
God dwell in us brings joy. Jesus'
motive in saying that we should ask the Father for what so ever,
is that in doing so a fullness of joy would be developed. Though we often times think that we know what
would bring us joy, later reflection has proven that what we thought
would bring joy, might indeed bring heartache.
God will give us those things that will bring complete
joy. Since only God can know for certain where true
joy lies for us, it is essential that we are in agreement with
Him in those things we request.
Thus we need the Spirit of God directing our prayer life.
We must yield our desires to Him, recognizing that His
interest in this scripture is our full joy. (Ps. V. Attitudes A. Pray in faith - Heb. 11:6, James
1:6-7 B. Exalted, self-righteous - Luke
18: 9-12 C. Humbled - Luke 18:12-14 VI. Prayer Promises In
section III of our study we discussed who could pray. At that time we made the point that though all
can pray, that God has not promised to acknowledge the prayer
of the sinner unless it is the prayer of repentence
(I Peter 3:12, Ps. 66:18). The
five promises that we are going to study were spoken by Jesus
to His disciples.
A. Matt.
7:7-11 The
three words that Jesus uses here (ask, seek, knock)
cover the whole spectrum of prayer.
The form of the imperative used here is to say go on asking,
go on seeking and go on knocking.
Jesus is telling us tobe persistant in prayer; to not
be discouraged in prayer. Prayer
is asking and receiving. When
we know the will of God regarding a need, whether it be material,
physical or spiritual, we can ask and receive.
This is prayer according to the revealed will of God. I
John Prayer
is seeking and finding. When
we do not know the will of God regarding a need, whether it is
material, physical or spiritual, then we are to seek His will
in prayer concerning the need until we find out His will.
This is prayer for knowledge of the unrevealed will of
God for a specific need. (Col. 3:1; Jerm. 29:12-13) Prayer
is knocking and opening. When
we know the will of God, and yet we find a closed door, we are
to knock and keep on knocking until God opens the door.
This is persistent, tenacious prayer. (Luke 11:5-13) |