Bible Teaching on Prayer

Matt 6:5-15, Christ’s lesson on prayer (see separate sheet)
– ingredients from Mt 6: adoration, surrender, supplication, confession, victory, motivation
Example Prayers
– Jesus Jn 17:1-26
– David II Sam 7:18-29
– Hezekiah II King 19:14-19
– Nehemiah 1:4-11
– Moses Ex 32:7-14

We’re commanded to pray:
– God wants it because it is good for “us”, Mt 6:8
– Lk 18:1, always
– I Thes 5:17, without ceasing
– I Chr 16:11, continually
– Ps 55:17, evening, morning, noon
– I Tim 2:8, everywhere
– prayerlessness is sin (disbelief in God)

If we don’t pray, God will bring trials to make us pray:
– Ps 78:34, they returned
– II Chr 33:1-13, example in Manasseh
– Ps 119:67, 71, David’s affliction brought him back
– Jonah 2:1, affliction brought Jonah to prayer

God wants to answer our prayers:
– Ps 65:2, He hears them
– Pr 15:8, delights in them
– Ps 81:10, tells us to open mouth wide
– Jas 4:2, don’t receive because we don’t ask

Elements of Prayer:

1. Communion – Godward Mt 6:9-10 (It is a relationship)
Praise Act 16:25
Adoration/Worship (recognizing God’s power)
Thanksgiving Phil 4:6; Col 4:2
Confession I Jn 1:9

2. Intercession – Outward (for others)
Mt 6:12; Jas 5:16; I Tim 2:1
Christians Eph 6:18
Unsaved (known and the world) Mt 9:37-38

3. Petition – Inward Mt 6:11 (based upon promises)
Material
Spiritual Jas 1:5

What Prayer Can Do For Us:
1. Keep us cleansed of sin I Jn 1:9; Ps 66:18
2. Give deliverance from temptation Mt 6:13; 26:41
3. Strengthen our faith Mt 7:7; Heb 11:6
4. Make us more like Christ Jn 15:7 Give power
5. Make God more Lord of our lives by daily consulting him
about decisions Jas 1:5; Rom 12:1-2
6. Avoid worry Phil 4:6-7; Mt 11:28
7. Give grace to help in time of need Heb 4:16
8. Give joy Ps 16:11

How to Pray:

1. Humbly II Chr 7:14
2. Reverently Ps 51:17 In the fear of God Ps 145:19
3. Thankfully Phil 4:6; Col 4:2
4. Continually Ps 55:17; I Thes 5:17; Lk 11:5-8; 18:1;
I Chr 16:11; Rom 12:12
5. Specifically Jas 4:2 Without repetitions Mt 6:7
6. Privately Mt 6:6
7. Obediently I Jn 3:22; Prov 15:8, 29; I Pet 3:12;
Jas 5:16 Delighting in Him Ps 37:4
8. Concerned for Souls Jn 15:16
9. In faith Mt 21:22; Heb 11:6; Jas 1:6-7; Mt 7:7-11;
Mk 11:23-24; 9:23; I Tim 2:8 (claiming promises)
10. Honestly Ps 145:18
11. In Jesus’ name Jn 14:13-14; 15:16; 16:23-26
12. According to His will I Jn 5:14
13. Abiding in Him Jn 15:7 In the Spirit Eph 6:18

Hinderances to Answered Prayer:
1. Unconfessed Sin Ps 66:18; Prov 28:13; I Jn 1:9
2. Unforgiveness/Unrighted wrongs Mt 5:23-24; Mk 11:25
3. Covetousness/Selfishness (idols) Mal 3:9; Jas 4:3; I Jn 5:14
4. Rebellion to the Word (sin) Prov 15:8; Is 59:1-2; I Jn 3:22
5. Indifference to the Bible Prov 28:9
6. Wrong Husband/Wife relationship I Pet 3:7
7. Unbelieving Jas 1:6-7; Heb 11:6; Mt 21:22
8. Don’t Ask Jas 4:2

What we should pray for, from Matt 6 (previous lesson)

Corporate Prayer

God’s promise of His presence: Mt 18:19-20 (context of church discipline?)

God began His lesson on prayer with a warning about public prayer: Mt 6:5

Corporate Prayer Appears to be in response to a special need:
Lu 24:49, told to tarry until Holy Ghost came (special request): Ac 1:13-14
– “one accord” – they were unified in their purpose for prayer

In response to persecution: Ac 4:23-31; 16:25
– “one accord”

Ac 12:5-17, Jas 5:14-15: praying for a special need

As a farewell: Ac 20:36; 21:5

Warnings about spreading information:
– Pr 11:13, a talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the mater
– Pr 16:28, a whisperer separateth friends
– Pr 17:9, he that repeateth a matter, separateth friends
– I Ti 5:11-13, young widows prone to be tattlers and busybodies
– 1Pe 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.