There are two important matters we need to concern ourselves with in
this lesson, they are Bible Study and Prayer. These two elements work to-
gether to help us grow once we’ve trusted Christ as Savior. Also, they work
together to unleash the power of the almighty God in your life and the lives of
others. These two always work together. There is very little understanding in
out Bible readinvg apart from prayer asking for the understanding as we read.
Likewise, there is little power in our praying if it isn’t guided and structured
by the Word of God, the Bible.
Biblical Prayer -- simply put, prayer is talking to God -- communicating our
feelings, frustrations, sins, joys, good and bad esperiences, as well as every-
thing else.
I. The entire Trinity is involved in prayer
A. Jesus gave instructions for His followers:
1. To Whom are we to direct our prayers in Matthew 6: 9?
___________________________________________
2. In John 17: 1, to Whom did Jesus pray?
____________________________________________
3. To Whom did Paul say we should direct our prayer for all
things in Ephesians 5: 20? ________________________
B. Paul instructs us to render all our prayers to God through the name
of Jesus Christ.
As the Son of God Jesus has the right, the authority to enter into the
presence of God and speak His mind concerning anything. He has given
us, as believers, the right, the authority to speak to God in His name.
When we speak in the name of another we speak in his authority, as
though He Himself were speaking. This is the position we have in Christ.
The Holy Spirit, Who is with us, testifies on our behalf as we pray and the
Son also, at God’s right hand speaks His agreement to the Father. This
is how the believer’s prayers have such great power when offered in His
will and offered expecting only His will to be done. James testifies that
“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James
5: 16 b). Since the believer in Christ has this God-given authority, the
writer of the book of Hebrews encourages us by admonishing:
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may
obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4: 16).
C. James reminds us that we receive all thins graciously from
God as we enter His presence in the name of Jesus Christ.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and
cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no
variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1: 17).
1. Who is the other Person Who assists me in my prayer life,
giving me access to the Father, according to Ephesians 2:
18 and Ephesians 5: 18, Who fills me with godliness and
leads me to praise and prayer? ___________________
2. God’s throne is in heaven where Jesus rose to be at His
right hand when He arose from the dead and ascended
into heaven. From that position He intercedes in prayer
on behalf of believers and pleading our our cause to the
Father.
Where is the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, according
to Paul’s words to the Christians in Ephesians 1: 13; 4:
30; First Corinthians 12: 13? ______________________
The “sealing” or “earnest” of the Spirit spoken of in Ephes-
ians 1: 13 (and following) is an indication of the Holy Spirit
remaining with and in the believer. That is why Romans 8;
26-27 says He prays for us when and how we cannot. That
is comforting knowledge!
3. In order to experience joy in our lives we must find God’s
favor and His blessing. According to Hebrews 11: 6, who
are the ones who will find it? _______________________
4. How is Jesus involved in our behalf in Hebrews 7: 25?
____________________________________________
II. The Bible encourages us to pray
A. First Thessalonians 5: 17 tells us we are to be in the attitude of
prayer how often?
1. all the time (every living, breathing moment)?
2. occassionally (just when the need is serious enough)?
3. most of the time (when we need a specific answer or direction)?
_______________________________________________
B. What does Philippians 4: 6 tell us we need to pray for?
___________________________________________________
We do need to exercise some care in our praying, too. We aren’t to be
hasty or to make lightly of prayer, or any statement made before God
(Ecclesastes 5: 2), and we need to represent a repentent heart (Hosea
14: 2), that is, be ready to see things God’s way.
“Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any
thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy
words be few” (Ecclesiastes 5: 2).
“Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all
iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips”
(Hosea 14: 2).
We must pray in the will of God to be heard of God (First John 5: 14-15).
Also, Jesus said said that if we are continually conscious of His companion-
ship and we are continually thinking on His Word, to do what it says, what-
ever we pray we will get the answers we seek (John 15: 7).
“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing
according to his will, he heareth us:
And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we
have the petitions that we desired of him” (1 John 5: 14-15).
“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will,
and it shall be done unto you” (John 15: 7).
C. How are we directed in these Biblical examples of prayer?
Consider the following:
1. How did King David begin his day in Psaml 5: 3 ?
What example is here for us?
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
2. How did Moses find direction in Exodus 32: 11?
What is our example here?
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
3. Note the energy of Jeremiah’s prayer life in Lamentations
3: 41. What does his example tell us? _____________
___________________________________________
4. David’s prayers were also energetic, showing that his
prayers were not just a matter of form but of conviction
and passion -- agreement between his spirit, mind,
emotions and body. What did David say about prayer in
a. Psalm 3: 4? ______________________________
________________________________________
b. Psalm 62: 8? ____________________________
_______________________________________
Remember, prayer is not intended as a medium to impress other people
in public gatherings. It is a means to communicate with God, from your
heart to His, telling Him how you really feel; how you really think; what
you really need -- without barriers and without pretense. Your prayers
are personal messenger missiles which travel through space, beyond the
stars, above the universes (known and unknown) to the throne-room of
almighty, all-copassionate, all-caring, all-knowing God. He has heard
and answered that prayer even before you have finished formulating the
thought in your mind. But unless we are continually and habitually in an
attitude of prayer in our own hearts, we will never recognize that fact, nor
credit Him with it as an answer to prayer. Prayer is not simply an
exercise of form but a way of life for a child of God, a true Christian.
What did Jesus tell us along this line in Luke 18: 1?
Jesus said, “that men _______ ________ _________ ________,
_______ _________ _________ _________”.
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