Prayer
1. HOW TO PRAY:
Lk.11:1-4 – Lord, teach us to pray…when ye pray, say, Our Father which art in Heaven… (See also Mat.6:9-13)
A. Praise & thank the Lord before petitioning Him:
Psa.95:2 – Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving
Psa.100:4 – Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, & into His courts with praise: be thankful…& bless His name
Phi.4:6 – With thanksgiving let your requests be made known
B. If you have the gift of tongues, pray & praise in it:
1Cor.14:2,4 – He that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh…unto God (&) edifieth himself
Rom.8:26,27 – The Spirit…maketh intercession for us with groanings
Eph.6:18 – Praying always with…supplication in the Spirit
Jude 20 – Building up your…faith, praying in the Holy Ghost
1Cor.14:39 – Forbid not to speak with tongues
C. Be specific & ask for what you need:
1Ki.3:5,9,10 – [God told Solomon,] Ask what I shall give thee
Mat.7:7,8 – Ask, & it shall be given you; seek, & ye shall find
Mat.21:22 – Whatsoever ye ask in prayer…ye shall receive
Jn.16:24 – Ask, & ye shall receive, that your joy may be full
Phi.4:6 – Let your requests be made known unto God
Jam.4:2b – Ye have not, because ye ask not
D. Pray to the Father in Jesus’ name:
Jn.14:13,14 – Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do
Jn.16:23 – Whatsoever ye…ask Father in My name, He will give
(See also Jn.15:16b; 16:26; Eph.2:18.)
E. Prayer also includes you listening to God:
1Sam.3:9,10 – If He call thee…say, “Speak, Lord; for Thy servant heareth ”
Gen.24:63 – Isaac went out to meditate in the field at eventide
Num.9:8 – Stand still, & I will hear what the Lord will command
Psa.4:3,4 – Lord will hear…commune with your heart…& be still
Psa.46:10 – Be still, & know that I am God
(See also Eccl.5:1; Zeph.1:7; Zech.2:13.)
F. Listen by meditating on God’s Word:
Josh.1:8 – Thou shalt meditate therein (the law) day & night
Psa.1:2 – In His law doth he meditate day & night
Psa.119:148 – [Before] the night watches…I meditate in Thy Word
1Tim.4:15 – Meditate on these things; give thyself wholly to them
G. Be diligent to pray, don’t be lazy:
Isa.64:7 – There is none that calleth upon Thy name, that stirreth himself to take hold of Thee
Dan.9:13 – All this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer
Jon.1:6 – What meanest thou, O sleeper? Arise, call upon God
Lk.22:46 – Why sleep ye? Rise and pray
Lk.18:1 – Men ought always to pray, & not to faint
2. CONDITIONS TO GETTING PRAYER ANSWERED:
A. Pray in faith:
Mat.21:21,22 – Have faith…doubt not…whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive
Mk.11:24 – When ye pray, believe that ye receive & ye shall have
Rom.4:21 – Being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform
Heb.11:6 – He that cometh to God must believe that He is
Jam.1:5-7 – Let him ask in faith, nothing wavering
(See also Mat.17:18-20; Lk.7:1-10.)
B. Obey God & do His will:
Jn.9:31 – If any man…doeth God’s will, him He heareth
Jn.15:7 – If ye abide in Me, & My Words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, & it shall be done unto you
1Jn.3:22 – We ask, we receive, because we keep His (commands)
(See also Isa.58:6-9a)
C. Submit yourself to God & pray according to His will:
Psa.143:10 – Teach me to do Thy will; for Thou art my God
Mat.6:10 – Thy will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven
Lk.22:42 – Nevertheless not My will, but Thine (God’s), be done
Jn.5:30 – [Jesus:] I seek not Mine Own will, but will of (God)
1Jn.5:14 – If we ask anything according to His will, He heareth
D. Pray humbly:
Dan.9:18b – We do not present our supplications…(because of) our righteousnesses, but for Thy great mercies
Lk.18:10-14 – The publican (said), God be merciful to me a sinner
Jam.4:6 – God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble
3. PRAYER PROMISES:
2Pet.1:4 – Are given unto us exceeding great & precious promises
A. Remind God of His promises when praying:
Gen.32:6-12 – Jacob was greatly afraid & distressed [& prayed, reminding God of His promises of protection]
Neh.1:4-11 – [Nehemiah prayed:] Remember…the word that Thou commandest Thy servant Moses
B. Some promises to claim in prayer:
Psa.37:4,5 – Delight thyself in Lord: & He shall give thee desires
Isa.65:24 – Before they call, I will answer; & while they are yet speaking, I will hear
Jer.33:3 – Call unto Me, & I will answer thee & shew thee great & mighty things
Jn.15:7 – Ask what ye will, & it shall be done unto you
Jn.15:16b – Whatsoever ye ask in My name…[God will] give it
Psa.81:10b – Open thy mouth wide, & I will fill it
C. The Lord promises to hear prayer:
2Sam.22:7 – In my distress I called…He did hear my voice
Psa.34:15,17 – The righteous cry, & the Lord heareth
Psa.72:12 – He shall deliver the needy when he crieth
Psa.91:15 – He shall call upon Me, & I will answer him
D. God’s blessings for those who seek Him:
2Chr.26:5 – As long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper
2Chr.31:21 – He (sought God) with all his heart, & prospered
4. HOW NOT TO PRAY:
A. Don’t be disobedient:
Deut.1:43,45 – Ye would not hear, but rebelled against (Word) of the Lord…the Lord would not hearken to your voice
Deut.3:23-27 – [Moses' request to enter Canaan denied. Num.20:12]
1Sam.28:5,6 – When Saul enquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not [See the reason in 1Sam.28:15-19]
Isa.1:15 – When ye make many prayers, I will not hear
Mic.3:4 – Then shall they cry unto the Lord, but He will not hear… they have behaved themselves ill (See also 1Sam.13:8-14; 14:37; Hos.5;6.)
B. Don’t be disbelieving:
Job 9:16 – If I called, & He answered me; yet would I not believe He had hearkened unto my voice
Mat.17:19,20a – Why could not we cast him out? Because of your unbelief
Heb.11:6 – Without faith is it impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is
C. Don’t harbour unrepented sin in your heart:
Psa.66:18,19 – If I regard iniquity in my heart, Lord will not hear
Isa.59:1,2 – Your sins have hid His face…that He will not hear
Jam.5:16 – Confess your faults…& pray one for another
D. Don’t doubt & disobey the Word:
Pro.1:24-28 – Then shall they call upon Me, but I will not answer
Pro.28:9 – He that turneth ear…his prayer shall be abomination
Zech.7:12,13 – Therefore…they cried, & I would not hear
Jam.1:5-7 – Let not that man [who doubts] think he shall receive anything of the Lord
E. Don’t hold resentment or “oughts” in your heart:
Mk.11:25 – When ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought
F. Don’t have selfish motives:
Jam.4:3 – Ye ask, & receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts
Deut.23:4,5 – They hired against thee Balaam…to curse thee. [But] the Lord would not hearken unto Balaam
G. Don’t pray in pride, but sincerely & humbly:
Mat.6:5,6 – Not be as hypocrites (who) love to pray [publicly]
Lk.18:10-14 – God, I thank Thee, that I am not as other men are
H. Don’t pray long, repetitive prayers:
Eccl.5:2 – God is in Heaven…let thy words be few
Mat.6:7,8 – When ye pray, use not vain repetitions
Mat.23:14 – Woe unto you (who) for a pretence make long prayer
Josh.7:6,10 – [God told Joshua to stop praying & get up]
I. What happens when we don’t pray:
Jam.4:2 – Ye have not, because ye ask not
(See also Isa.64:7)
5. PRIVATE PRAYER & UNITED PRAYER WITH OTHERS:
A. Private prayer:
Mat.6:6 – When thou prayest, enter into thy closet…in secret
Mk.1:35 – He…departed into a solitary place, & there prayed
Mk.6:46 – He sent them away, He departed to a mountain to pray
Lk.5:16 – He withdrew Himself into the wilderness, & prayed
B. United prayer:
Mat.18:19,20 – Where two or three are gathered together in My name
Acts 1:13-15 – These all [120 people] continued with one accord in prayer…in an upper room
Acts 4:23-31 – [After a beating, Peter & John held a prayer meeting]
Acts 12:12 – House of Mary… many were gathered together praying
C. “Watching” in prayer:
1Sam.15:11 – It grieved Samuel; & he cried unto the Lord all night
Mat.26:40,41 – Could ye not watch with Me one hour? Watch & pray
Lk.6:12 – He (Jesus) continued all night in prayer to God
Acts 12:5 – Peter was kept in prison…prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him
Eph.6:18 – Praying always…& watching thereunto
6. WHEN TO PRAY:
A. Be in a constant attitude of prayer:
1Chr.16:11 – Seek the Lord…seek His face continually
Pro.3:6 – In all thy ways acknowledge Him, & He shall direct
Lk.18:1 – Men ought always to pray
Lk.21:36a – Watch ye therefore, & pray always
1Thes.5:17 – Pray without ceasing (See also Eph.6:18)
B. Pray in time of special need:
Psa.50:15 – Call upon Me in the day of trouble
Psa.27:8 – When Thou saidst, “Seek ye My face”
Psa.107:19 – They cry unto the Lord in their trouble, & He saveth
Heb.4:16 – Let us come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may…find…help in time of need
Jam.5:13 – Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray
(See also 2Chr.14:11,12; Psa.34:4,6.)
C. Morning prayer:
Psa.5:3 – In the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee
Psa.63:1 – O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek Thee
Psa.119:147 – I [rose before] the dawning of the morning, & cried
Pro.8:17 – Those that seek Me early shall find Me
Mk.1:35 – In the morning, rising up before day, He…prayed
D. Evening prayer:
Mk.6:46,47 – (Jesus) departed to mountain to pray…even was come
Gen.24:63 – Isaac went out to meditate in the field at eventide
Psa.55:17 – Evening, & morning, & at noon, will I pray
Dan.6:10 – Daniel…kneeled three times a day, & prayed
E. Prayer in the night:
Lam.2:19 – Arise, cry out in the night…pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord
Psa.42:8 – In the night His song shall be with me, & my prayer
Psa.63:5b,6 – When I…meditate on Thee in the night watches
Isa.26:9a – With my soul have I desired Thee in the night
Lk.6:12 – (Jesus) continued all night in prayer to God
Acts 16:25 – At midnight Paul & Silas prayed, & sang praises
(See also Psa.4:4; 119:55,62.)
7. WHOLEHEARTED DESPERATE PRAYER:
A. Stir yourself up; call on God wholeheartedly:
1Sam.15:11,16 – It grieved Samuel; & he cried unto the Lord all night
Isa.64:7a – None…stirreth up himself to take hold of Thee
Jer.29:13 – Ye shall seek Me, & find Me, when ye search for Me with all your heart (See also Deut.4:29)
Lam.2:19 – Arise, cry out…pour out thine heart like water
Lk.22:44 – Being in an agony, He (Jesus) prayed more earnestly
Heb.4:16 – Let us therefore come boldly…in time of need
Heb.5:7 – (Jesus) offered up prayers…with strong crying & tears
Jam.5:16b – Effectual fervent prayer…availeth much
(See Psa.61:1,2; 119:10.)
B. Praying fervently & desperately for others:
Rom.15:30,31 – Strive (agonise) together with me in our prayers to God
Col.4:12 – Epaphrus…always labouring fervently for you in prayers
C. Don’t give up; be persistent:
Gen.18:23-32 – [Abraham repeatedly asks God to spare Sodom for the sake of the righteous. God agrees, if there are 10]
Gen.32:24-28 – [Jacob refuses to let angel go until he blesses him]
Lk.11:5-10 – Because of his importunity (insistence) he will give
Lk.18:1-8a – [Widow & unjust judge] Lest by her continual coming
Rom.12:12 – Continuing instant (steadfast, persevering) in prayer
Eph.6:18 – Praying always…watching thereunto with perseverance
Jam.5:16b-18 – The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man (See 1Ki.18:2,41-45)
D. Challenge God to keep His Word & answer prayer:
2Ki.2:14 – [Elisha challenges:] “Where is the God of Elijah?”
Isa.45:11b – Concerning the work of My hands command ye Me
(See also Exo.32:11-14)
E. Sometimes you can change God’s mind through prayer:
Gen.19:17-21 – I will not overthrow this city (Zoar), for the which thou hast spoken
Exo.32:9-14 – Moses besought the Lord…& the Lord repented of the evil which He [had] thought to do
2Ki.20:1-6 – [King Hezekiah was told he would die, but when he prayed, God changed His mind & healed him]
Amos 7:1-6 – The Lord repented for this: This also shall not be
Jon.3:4-10 – [Nineveh cried out & repented, so God spared it]
F. Repeating your desperate prayer:
1Ki.18:42,43 – Elijah…put his face between his knees…Go 7 times
Mat.26:44 – (Jesus) prayed the third time, saying the same words
G. Fasting & prayer:
Ezra 8:23 – So we fasted & besought our God for this: & He was intreated of us
Joel 2:12 – Turn ye to Me with all your heart, & with fasting
Mat.17:21 – This kind goeth not out but by prayer & fasting
(See also Deut.9:9,18; Acts 13:2,3; 1Cor.7:5.)
8. OTHER POINTS ON PRAYER:
A. Jesus mediates & prays for us:
Rom.8:34 – Christ…Who is at the right hand of God…maketh intercession for us
Heb.7:25 – He ever liveth to make intercession for [us]
(See also Lk.22:32; Jn.17:9.)
B. The Holy Spirit prays for us:
Rom.8:26,27 – (The Spirit) maketh intercession for the saints
C. Be thankful to the Lord for answering prayer:
Psa.116:1,2,7 – I love the Lord, because He hath heard my (prayers)
(See also Psa.30:1-4; 66:16,17,19,20.)
D. Prayer is precious:
Psa.141:2 – Let my prayer be set before Thee as incense
Pro.15:8b – The prayer of the upright is His delight
Rev.5:8 – Golden vials full of odours are the prayers of saints (See also Rev.8:3)
E. Giving thanks before eating:
1Sam.9:13 – People will not eat till he…bless the sacrifice
Mat.14:19 – Looking up to Heaven, He blessed & brake…the loaves
Mat.26:26 – Jesus took bread, & blessed it, & brake it, & gave
Mk.8:6 – He (Jesus) took the seven loaves, & gave thanks
Acts 27:35 – He (Paul) took bread, & gave thanks to God
1Tim.4:3-5 – [Food] sanctified (cleansed) by prayer
9. WAYS GOD ANSWERS PRAYER:
A. Answer to prayer greater than request:
1Ki.3:7-14 – [Solomon prayed for wisdom & God granted him much more]
Eph.3:20 – Able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask
Acts 12:1-16 – [Church prayed for Peter, but not quite expecting his miraculous release from prison (vs. 15,16)]
B. Answer to prayer delayed (It tries our faith):
Job 30:20 – [Job's prayer not answered immediately]
Psa.40:1 – I waited patiently for the Lord, & He…heard my cry
Jer.42:4,7 – [Jeremiah's prayer answered 10 days after he prayed]
Lam.3:25,26 – The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him (See also Psa.62:1)
Dan.10:2,12,13 – [The answer to Daniel's prayer was delayed for 21 days]
Lk.18:7,8 – [Answer] His elect…though He bear long with them
Heb.10:36 – Patience…after ye have done will of God, receive
Rev.6:10,11 – How long, O Lord? [Answer:] Rest yet a little season
C. Answer to prayer different from request:
Deut.3:23-27 – [Moses allowed to view the promised land, not enter]
Jn.11:1-3,6 – [Jesus is asked to heal Lazarus, but lets him die, then resurrects him] (See Jn.11:14,15,32,37,43-45)
2Cor.12:7-9 – [Paul prays for healing; instead is given grace to bear his affliction]
(See also 2Ki.5:9-13)
D. Beware about insisting that God grant your request:
Psa.106:15 – He gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul
(See 1Sam.8:4-22; 12:1,13,16-19 – re: asking for a king)
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