Documents
Documents about different biblical subjects
Prayer Life
March 31st, 2013Pattern
Our Father
We are his sons and daughters – Galatians 4:7
God is our father – he really loves us
Not a servile fear, but a confident affectionate love
- Psalms 16:3, 103:13-14, 147:11, 149:4
- Proverbs 3:12
- Isaiah 62:4, 65:19
- Zephaniah 3:!2
- Romans 8:1, 15-16
- Galatians 3:26-4:7
- Ephesians 3:12
- Hebrews 10:19-23
- 1 John 3:19-20, 4:16-18
in heaven,
Confidence to enter into the very throne room of God
God has control on earth and in heaven
- Romans 8:22-25
- Philippians 4:19
- 1 Peter 1:3-5
- Revelation 4,5,7:9-17, 19:1-10, 21:1-4, 22
hallowed be your name,
God is holy – set apart, above all else
Honoring God
your kingdom come,
Pray for the kingdom where it has not gone – every person to be saved
Pray for the Lord of harvest to send out workers
Open door to preach the word
Speak boldly and the wisdom to preach (Ephesians 6:19-20, Colossians 4:3)
Pray for leaders in the kingdom
Salvation for your family and friends
- Matthew 9:35-38
- Ephesians 6:19-20
- Colossians 4:2-6
- 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2
your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
God wants us to pray with a surrendered heart
Search my heart and life and point out anything that was missed (Psalm 139:23-24)
Is there challenge or a trail that you wish to avoid? (Matthew 26:36-44)
What keeps us from doing God’s will? Pride, rebellion, and unbelief
- 1 John 5:3-5
- Acts 16:6-10
- 1 Peter 4:1-2
Give us today our daily bread.
Bring specific requests to God – none too big or too small
Depend on God for our spiritual needs
Pray for to-do list – every detail
Pray for calendar/schedule – every detail
Jesus could do nothing apart from God (John15:5)
- Exodus 16:1-32
- John 15:5
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Confession of sin
All sin must be taken seriously
Not practicing confess – results in a hardened heart
Do not be vague in your confession – results in insecurity and self-consciousness
Have times of self-examination
Extend forgiveness to others
Forgive freely as God freely forgives you
- Psalms 139:23-24
- Matthew 18:21-35
- Colossians 3:13
- James 5:16
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. '
Help in facing temptation
Pray for your weakness – where Satan strikes
Depending on God’s strength and power
- Luke 4:13, 22:31, 32
- Ephesians 6:10-20
- 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2
- 1 Peter 5:8-9
For yours is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Return again to praise and glorify him
Recognize that He has all power
Persistence
- What for the answer that is in God’s will
- Never give up praying
Pointed
- The more detailed you are in your prayers, the more you trust God.
Postures
There are many ways to pray.
Kneeling
- Solomon – 1 Kings 8:54
- Elijah – 1 Kings 18:42
- Daniel - Daniel 6:10
- Peter – Acts 9:40
- Paul – Ephesians 3:14
Standing
- Jesus instructed – Mark 11:25
- Tax collector – Luke 18:13
Lifting and spreading out hands
- Psalms 28:2, 63:4, 88:9, 119:48, 143:6
- Ezra – Ezra 9:5
- Moses – Exodus 9:29
- Solomon – 1 Kings 8:22
Gazing upward
- Matthew 14:19
- Mark 6:41, 7:34
Dust on hands
- Genesis 37:34
- Numbers 14:6
- Joshua 7:6
- 2 Samuel 1:11
- Nehemiah 9:1
- Esther 4:1ff
- Daniel 9:3
- Acts 14:14
Out loud
- Ester 4:1
- Hebrews 5:7
- James 4:7-9
Obstacles to Powerful Prayers
- Psalm 66:16-20 ~ If you cherish sin in your heart God will not listen to your prayers.
- Proverbs 21:13 ~ If you ignore the cry of the poor you too will cry out and not be answered.
- Proverbs 28:9 ~ If you close your ears to God's word then your prayers are an insult and detestable in God's site.
- Luke 18:1-8 ~ A lack of persistence in prayer can result in them going unanswered.
- James 1:6-8 ~ If you doubt, you are a double-minded person and will not receive anything from God.
- 1 Peter 3:7 ~ Being a bad husband will assuredly hinder your prayers.
- 1 Peter 4:7 ~ Not concentrating and being alert will prevent you from having effective prayers. If you are drowsy then walk around and pray aloud.
- 8. 1 John 5:14-15 ~ Prayers contrary to God's will shall not be answered. Great men of the bible have experienced this:
- 2 Samuel 12:15-23 - David begs God for his son's life but God refuses his request.
- 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 - Paul's request was turned down by God.
- Mark 14:32-42 - Even Jesus was unable to change God's mind on the crucifixion issue !
{There are 667 specific prayers in the bible with 454 traceable answers}
What prayer is not for?
- Just to feel better (a spiritual placebo), although it will be a by-product.
- A means for God to do our will on earth
What prayer is for?
- A means for God’s will to be done
- Help to understand God’s will better
- Helps us to changes our hearts to do his will
- Helps us find strength to do his will