22. Prayer I

 

Acts 2: 42  -  …..they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Prayer simply means communication with and worship of God.

 

 

A. Jesus taught us how to pray

 

                The sermon on the mount  -  Matt. 6: 5-15

                Ask, seek and knock  -  Matt. 7: 7-12, Luke 11:13; in this regard see also Jms. 4:1-10

                Have faith in Jesus when you pray  -  Jhn.14:12-14

                We are to ask, so that our joy may be complete  -  Jhn.16: 23,24

 

 

B. Basic teaching from the New Testament

 

                  1Tim. 2:1-8 is a good overview on prayer, showing the main types of prayer:

-        requests;

-        prayers;

-        intercession;

-        thanksgiving.

This verse also elaborates whom we should be praying for:               

-        everyone;

-        kings;

-        those in authority.

                  Heb. 4:14-16  -  Jesus is our High Priest, representing us before God, so we can go to Him with our needs, no matter how great or desperate.

                  Rom. 8: 26,27  -  The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness, so that we can pray the will of God. This we do as we pray in the Spirit; see also 1Cor.14:13-15, Eph. 6:18.

                  Eph. 6:19, 20, Col. 4: 2-4  -  Paul often requested prayer for the spreading of the gospel; see also Ps. 2: 8.

                  Rev. 5: 6-8,  8: 2-5  -  Our prayers fill vials in heaven, the answers of which will one day be poured on the earth.

 

 

C. Jesus’ example of a life of prayer

 

Luke 4: 42,  5:16,  6:12,  9: 28,  11:1,  21: 37,  22: 39  -  Prayer is not to become a ritual, but a lifestyle of communion with God, supplemented with us crying out to God in faith for the various issues we face or are trusting Him for.

 

 

D. Jesus and the Holy Spirit pray for us

 

Rom. 8: 27, 34  -  Paul also prayed for the churches; see Eph. 1:15-23,  3:14-19.

This should inspire us to rise up and become those who are devoted to prayer.

 

 

E. Jeremiah 33:3

 

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”

 

Prayer is the highest form of communication.

Prayer is the simplest act a creature of God can perform.

It is divine communication with our heavenly Father.

It is the vision of the believer, it gives eyes to our faith.

As in the Lord’s prayer, Thy will be done is the overture to all  prayer.

 

The Impulse, which makes prayer effective, is the Holy Spirit  -  Rom. 8: 26 

 

Prayer does not impose burdens  -  it lifts burdens.

Prayer produces patience. It does not require advanced education.

In prayer we see beyond ourselves and focus spiritual eyes on God’s infinite power.

Prayer is not optional. Absence of prayer = absence of power.

 

                Jesus, the Master Teacher of prayer, revealed all that we really need to know about the power of prayer.

                Listen, as He stands at the tomb of Lazarus, who had been dead for four days, and watch while He lifts His eyes and prays: Father, I thank Thee, that Thou heardest Me. And I knew, that Thou hearest Me always (Jhn.11: 41,42). Then He turned towards the door of Lazarus’ grave and made the halls of hades ring with His command: Lazarus, come forth.

                Jesus’ kind of praying was not that of a feeble voice, whispering weakly into His Father’s ears, but was a result of prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears (Heb. 5: 7).

                Jesus’ life was one of praying. He was up early in the morning to pray, sometimes praying all night, fasting and praying, continually praying  -  His was a life of continual prayer. Great prayer people are people who walk with God and who don’t expect God to walk with them and their plans.

 

Genuine prayer is not asking for things, it is a relationship.

Have faith in God  (Mk.11: 22), not “Have faith in prayer”.

It starts with waiting on Him.

The point of prayer is to get God, not “answers”.

Prayer is most meaningful when God is thought of most.

A man’s concept of God determines the depth of his prayer life.

Real prayer begins and ends with God enthroned.

 

Jhn.14:13	And whatever you ask in My Name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Jhn.14:14	If you ask Me anything in My Name…..
Jhn.15:16	.....whatever you ask of the Father in My Name…..
Jhn.16:23	.....if you shall ask the Father for anything, He will give it to you in My Name.
Jhn.16:24	Until now you have asked for nothing in My Name; ask, and you will receive…..
Jhn.16:26	In that day you will ask in My Name…..

 

After His death and resurrection, He became Mediator, Executor of His own testament. He has taken up the reins of authority.

Praying in His Name is a totally new teaching on prayer, and is found only in John.

The Name isn’t a magic wand/formula, e.g. Abracadabra, Shazam. We cannot manipulate God. Praying in Jesus’ Name means to pray by the authority of, sanctioned by Jesus Christ.

To pray in the Name of Jesus is to pray according to His will, with His approval, consistent with His nature, character and purpose. Therefore, it is as though Jesus Himself were making the request. That is our authority.

God welcomes us to the throne of grace, not because of what “spiritual things” we have done, but because of what Christ has done.