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Discipling 12
Lesson 14
Prayer
Concept:
In Luke 11, we see the disciples
asking the Lord to teach them to pray and the Lord
responds with what is called the Lord's prayer. I think
it is important for us to ask why His disciples wanted
the Lord to teach them to pray. I realize that there
may be more than one answer to that question. I am
sure that one safe conjecture is that they saw the
consequence of prayer in Jesus' life. Jesus had an
intimate relationship with the Father, which the
disciples had to be desirous of as well as a miracle
flow in His life that always pointed toward His Father.
There is little doubt that the disciples equated the
power flow in Jesus' life to the prayer life that
Jesus modeled.
Jesus was certainly a model of someone devoted to
prayer. Luke 6:12 states, that Jesus prayed all night.
How is that for a challenge? Mark 1:35 states, that
Jesus rose early to pray and it also shows us that
Jesus sought a solitary place. He desired to be
alone with His Father and have intimacy. The classic
example of prayer is of course in the garden. His
intensity of prayer was so great that drops of
blood were coming out of His pores. That shows a
tremendous amount of pressure coming from the inside
and the outside. Wow, that is serious warfare!
The entire bible challenges us to pray. Isaiah 56:7
says that the Lord's House is to be a House of Prayer
for all nations. Jesus chased everyone with a wrong
attitude out of the synagogue because they were not
being obedient in prayer. I wonder if He would chase
anyone out of our churches today! Paul states in
I Thessalonians 5:17, to pray without ceasing, there
is a high goal. I Timothy 2:8 shows us that the Lord
wants men everywhere lifting hands and interceding.
That would be a stretch for most believers!
James 5:13 shows us that if we are in trouble then
our first response should be to pray. That alone
should keep us praying without ceasing.
Hebrews 5:7 shows us Jesus was heard because of His
reverent submission. He demonstrated a respect and
honoring of His Father. This allowed Him to have
access to His Father. We of course need the same
attitude and must realize that the only reason that
we can come into the presence of the Father is
because of what Jesus has done for us on the cross.
We have a confidence because of the grace given to
us at new birth. My sonship affords me the
privilege of entering the very throne room of the
God of creation. Not only can I come in but also
I have an audience of one. The Father is always
listening to my request and answering when I call.
Wow! I can be confident but not arrogant, bold but
not brash, and expectant but not cocky. The
fellowship that is extended to us because of the
blood of Jesus is gigantic. I have the potential
of abiding in the Father at all times. As I learn
to abide and depend on Him, I can ask anything
and receive according to John 15:7. I John 4:7-8
reinforces this by saying if I ask anything in
His will He hears me (God hears me) and answers.
Prayer as we know is fellowship with God. We
communicate our heart to God and He communicates
His heart to us. What an opportunity for all of
us that live here on this earth to communicate
with the creator of the universe. We know that
the Lord is a Spirit and our spirit receives
from the Spirit of the Lord. He also communicates
through His Word, which is spirit and life. We
have an open invitation to fellowship with our
Father any place or anytime. We are truly a
blessed people. The obvious question is why don't
we use this privilege more. Hopefully, we will
after our study.
Definitions:
A lifetime of prayer will be reflected in a depth
of understanding of who you are praying to.
Deesis: 1162 (Greek): petition, supplication, and
asking. Stresses our needs, our inability to meet
needs, and god's willingness to meet those needs.
James 5:16, Luke 1:13, Luke 5:33, Acts 1:4,
II Corinthians 1:11
Deomai: 1189 (Greek): implies an intense request.
I Thessalonians 3:10, Matthew 9:38, Galatians 4:12,
Acts 4:31
Erotao: 2065 (Greek): Ask questions, confident that
answers will come, to ask favor, seek information.
John 4:31, John 17:20, John 16:26, Acts 3:3
Parakaleo: 3870 (Greek): to call to one's side to
help, comforting, earnest appealing for urgent
support, exhort. Mark 1:40, Luke 8:31,
Matthew 26:53, Acts 16:9, Acts 14:22, Titus 1:9
Enteuxis: 1783 (Greek): Meeting of people by
pre-arrangement or by chance, Catching up with
someone you were looking for, invited into
presence of a king, freedom of access into the
Almighty and receiving all of His resources.
I Timothy 2:1, I Timothy 4:5, Hebrews 7:25
Palal: 6419 (Hebrew): To judge, intreat, make
intercession, make supplication.
I Samuel 1:12, Job 42:10, Psalms 5:2, Jonah 2:1-9
Na: 4994: (Hebrew): entreaty, I beseech, go to,
now. Genesis 13:9, Exodus 4:13, Joshua 2:12
Types of Prayer:
Ephesians 6:18 states that we are to use all
kinds of prayer. Let's look at a few types.
Prayer of faith.
John 11:41,42
John 16:23,24
Matthew 21:21,22
Mark 11:22-24
Prayer of Worship
Acts 13:1-4
Acts 16:22-26
Luke 24:50-53
Acts 2:46,47
II Chronicles 20:15-17
II Chronicles 20:21-25
Luke 11:2
Luke 2:37
I Samuel 1:19
Corporate Prayer
Acts 4:23-31
II Chronicles 5:6,7, 11-14
II Chronicles 7:1-3
Prayer of Commitment
I Peter 5:7
Psalms 37:5
Matthew 6:25-27
Philippians 4:6
Praying in the Spirit
I Corinthians 12:7-11
Acts 2:4
Romans 8:26-27
Prayer of Agreement
Matthew 18:19
Leviticus 26:8
Deuteronomy 32:30
James 5:16
General Scriptures on prayer
I Kings 18:42
I Kings 17:19,20
I Kings 8:22
Psalms 37:4,5
Psalms 5:3
Psalms 55:17
Psalms 66:18-20
Psalms 119:47
Psalms 145:18,19
Isaiah 38:2,3
Jeremiah 29:11-13
Jeremiah 33:3
Daniel 6:10
Matthew 5:44
Matthew 6:6
Matthew 7:7-11
Mark 1:35
Luke 18:1
Luke 21:36
Luke 22:44
John 14:13-16
John 15:7
John 17:20
Acts 7:60
Acts 10:9
Acts 10:30
Acts 12:5
Romans 1:9
Galatians 6:7-9
Ephesians 1:15-23
Ephesians 3:14-19
Ephesians 6:12-19
Philippians 1:3-6
Philippians 1:9-11
Colossians 1:9-14
I Thessalonians 3:10
I Thessalonians 5:16-18
I Timothy 2:1-4
Hebrews 4:16
James 4:3-8
James 5:14,15
I Peter 3:12
I John 5:14-15
Jude 20,21
Summary:
The concept that is being stressed
is communication, which enhances fellowship. If I
love someone, I will communicate and fellowship
with them. The Lord desires our communication and
fellowship. Prayer is more than just asking for
our needs, although that is certainly part of it.
We should be spending time in worship and praise
and listening as well as asking. Listening is
probably the weakest area in our lives. We talk
and don't wait for a response. The Lord will
answer when we inquire of Him. Prayer is not just
talking on my part but allowing the Lord to talk
to me. He will speak to my spirit and it will
surface in my mind as an idea. He will speak to
me through His word as I underline a scripture.
He will cause my heart to remember a scripture.
He will show me a picture, or He can give me a
dream. These are a few ways that the Lord
communicates with us. Scripture tells us to be
slow to speak and quick to listen. The Lord has
an answer for us before we have a question.
Action:
Organize your prayer time and
be disciplined in spending time with the Lord.
Also make a conscientious effort to spend time
listening. Journaling is an excellent way to
listen. As you are writing the Holy Spirit will
carry you along and out of your spirit the Holy
Spirit will speak to you. Take a few minutes each
day to write down what the Lord is saying.
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