Why And How Do I Pray?

Prayer definitions:

“Words that are ours, thoughts that are God’s. It is to express what God is feeling.” Roger Forster

“Speaking to God and knowing that you are heard” (SCF)

3 great Christian disciplines:
Praying
Fasting
Giving

3 types of prayer:
Petitions/supplication
Thanksgiving
Intercession

3 conditions to answered prayer:
Ask according to God’s will
Ask in Jesus name
Ask abiding in Jesus – 3 conditions to answered prayer

The Bible says to pray for:
all saints
all men
kings and all rulers
all in adversity
sending forth of labourers
those who labourer for the Gospel
all converts
all believers who have fallen into sin
for one another in our own circles

WHAT IS PRAYER?

Ep 2.18: Through Him we have access to the Father by one Spirit.
TO the Father – our Father, Creator of all, yet with us.

THROUGH the Son – in His name

BY the Spirit – helps in our weakness

WHY PRAY?

We are commanded by God
“God does nothing but by prayer” (John Wesley)

To communicate with God

To cooperate with God
“Bringing in God’s justice, enforcing the victory Jesus won on the cross. It is taking back from Satan what rightfully belongs to God.” Liz Turner.

“What is the meaning of human prayer? It is the linking of our limited spiritual force to the infinite resources of Almighty God … by prayer the realm of God on earth is enlarged.” (Edward Geddings)

To fulfil the purpose for which God made us

To be confirmed to his likeness (i.e. to change)
“The closer we come to the heartbeat of God, the more we see our need and the more we desire to be conformed to Christ”. (Roger Forster)

DOES GOD ALWAYS ANSWER PRAY?

Can’t act in a way that is inconsistent with his character
Unconfessed sin “If I hide iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me…” Psalm 66.18
Disobedience
Wrong motives
Misapprehension of God’s will
Not good for us
He has something different in mind than us
Sometimes is the answer is no, or wait
HOW DO WE PRAY?

“A man prayed and at first he thought prayer was talking. But he became more and more quiet until he realised that prayer is listening.” (Kierkegaard)

“God needs not our words, but reads our heart. The only language of heaven is the language of love. Words help us keep our thoughts stayed on God … the kindling of the love of God is the chief business of prayer.” (Edward Geddings)

The Lord’s Prayer is the model Jesus gave us.

WHEN SHOULD WE PRAY?

Always
Pray without ceasing (1 Thess 5.17)
With all pray and petition pray at all times (Ep 6.18)

Alone
But you when you pray, go into your inner room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret, will reward you. (Matt 6.6)

With others
If two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by my Father who is in heaven … (Matt 18.19)