Prayer
Hebrew Words
“tephilla” – in general,
supplication (i.e., to ask humbly and earnestly) to God – Psa. 65:2;
80:4.
also intercession, supplication for another – 2 Ki. 19:4;
Isa. 37:4.
“palal” – to judge, and
then to interpose/intervene as empire, mediator (praying for another) –
Gen. 20:7; Deut.
with the general sense of prayer (praying in general)
– 1 Sam. 1:26; 2 Sam. 7:27.
“rib”
– to strive and so to contend before a judge, to plead a cause – Job 15:4; Psa.
55:17.
“athar” – to burn incense,
thence to pray to God – Job 33:26.
the prayers of the righteous being likened to incense – Rev.
5:8.
“halah” – to caress, to
stroke one’s face, to strive to please; spoken of one who entreats (plead/beg)
God’s favor – Zech. 7:2;
“lachash” – to whisper,
prayer uttered in a low voice – Isa. 26:16.
Greek Words
“deesis” – prayer for
particular benefits; supplication; petition for the fulfillment of certain
definite needs which are keenly felt. It
is the humble request which one makes in light of a specific situation in which
God alone can furnish the help that is needed.
“proseuche” – prayer in
general, not restricted as respects its contents; every form of reverent
address directed to God (i.e. confession,
intercession, supplication, adoration, etc.)
“enteuxis” – confiding
access to God; meeting with in order to converse freely; at times it
specifically means pleading in the interests of others, and doing so without
holding back.
Purpose in Prayer – Why Pray?
1. Jn. 14:13
2. Jer. 33:3
3. Mk. 9:28, 29
4. Jn. 4:23,24; Prov. 15:18
5. Mk. 1:35; Lk. 6:12
6. Jas. 5:17, 18
7. Matt. 26:41
8. Lk. 18:1; 1 Thes.
9. 1 Jn. 1:6-9
10.
Psa.
5:2; Matt. 6:11
11.
Phil.
4:6, 7
Procedure in Prayer – What should be included
in prayer?
1. Heb. 13:15; Psa. 9:1, 2 [expressing admiration for who
God is, His attributes].
2. 1 Jn. 1:9; Isa. 59:1, 2
3. 1 Thes.
4. Matt. 7:7; Jas. 1:5
5. Eph. 6:18, 19; Col. 1:9
Privilege of Prayer – What are the mechanics
of prayer?
1. Matt. 6:9; Jn. 17:1 To Whom do we pray?
2. Rom. 1:8 Through Whom do
we pray?
3. Jude 1:20; Eph. 6:18 In Whom do we pray?
[in harmony with the Holy
Spirit’s will; in the realm/sphere of; under the influence/control of the Holy
Spirit].
When,
where, and with whom can or should we pray?
Dan. 6:10
Psa. 5:3
Eph. 6:18
Lk. 6:12
1 Thes.
Matt. 6:6
Mk. 1:35
Acts
Acts
Acts 10:9
Acts
Acts 13:1-3
Acts
Acts
Acts 21:4, 5
Whom
should we pray for?
1 Tim. 2:1, 2
Eph. 6:18; Col. 1:3, 9
Matt. 5:44
Power in Prayer – How should or can we
pray?
1. Jas. 4:2
2. Jas. 1:6
3. Lk. 18:1-8
4. Lk. 11:5-8; Eph. 6:18
5. Jn. 15:7
6. 1 Jn. 5:14, 15
7. Psa. 37:4, 5
8.
9. Jas. 5:16
10.
Acts
13:3;
11.
Matt.
6:5
12.
Matt.
26:39; Neh. 8:6
13.
Mk.
11:25
14.
Lk.
22:41
15.
Heb.
4:16
16.
Matt.
6:7
17.
Psa.
40:1
18.
Jn.
9:31
19.
Lk.
18:10-14
20.
Rom.
21.
Rom.
[“groaning”
– Gk. “stenagmos” – is a sigh; an inward, unexpressed
feeling of sorrow].
[“unuttered” – Gk. “alaletos” – is inexpressible; not able to utter/speak].
22. Jn. 15:16 [in harmony with Him; in the realm of or according to
Christ’s will – Dr. C. Brown’s Dictionary of New Testament Theology,
vol. 2, p. 654].
What should or can we pray for (some
examples)?
Acts
1 Thes.
Lk. 10:1, 2
Jas. 1:5
Phil. 1:9
Col. 4:3
Lk. 1:13
Rom. 10:1
2 Cor. 1:11
Col. 4:12
2 Thes.
3:1, 2
Eph. 1:18, 19
Col. 1:9
Pitfalls to Prayer – Why God does not answer
prayer?
1. Jas. 1:6-8
2. Jas. 4:2, 3
3. Psa. 66:18; 1 Jn. 3:22; Job 35: 12, 13
4. Prov. 21:13
5. 1 Jn. 5:14, 15
6. 1 Pet. 3:7
Exceptions in Prayer – When God answers prayer
that’s not His perfect will.
Psa. 106:13-15; (Num. 11:4-6, 13, 19, 20) with 1 Cor.
10:6, 11
My Daily Prayer
Dear
Father,
I
confess all of my sins to you. And I
thank you that you have already forgiven me because of my acceptance of Jesus
Christ as my personal Savior. Fill (control) me with Your Holy Spirit in
every way and at all times throughout this day, so that I might be pleasing to You in all respects.
Father,
I praise You for your infinite grace, mercy, love,
goodness, patience, and forgiveness. And
I pray that You would pour upon my life and ministry
these of Your attributes in abundant measure.
I also praise You for Your holiness, justice,
faithfulness, Almighty power, wisdom, and presence everywhere. I praise You, too,
that You’re unchanging, eternal, infinite, and sovereign.
Father,
work in me both to will and do of Your good
pleasure. And cause the fruit of Your
Spirit to abound and increase in my life more each day. Put in my heart this day a supreme love for
You, a complete obedience to You, a faithfulness in serving You, a pleasing
faith in You, and a complete surrender to You of all my life (my goals,
desires, activities, resources, time, speech, and abilities).
Thank
you Father for health and strength, for the ability to see, hear, speak, walk,
and touch. Thank you for Your protection over me.
Thank you for providing for me the food, clothes, shelter, car, and
finances that You have. And thanks for all the spiritual resources
too, especially the Bible in my own language to read. I thank You for the
education and mind that You’ve given to me, as well as, the talents, abilities
and spiritual gifts that You have endowed me with. Thanks Lord for choosing me for salvation,
and for the peace, joy, and fulfillment that You’ve
given me.
Father,
I pray for Your wisdom, discernment, and understanding
both to lead my own life in the right way as well as to help guide those You
bring across my path. Cause me to walk
in truth and to live a pure and holy life always. Bind Satan and all his demons from in any way
undermining, oppressing, influencing, or controlling my life and ministry. Use me, Lord, as a vessel for honorable use
to evangelize the spiritually lost and to help build up others spiritually all
the days of my life. Give me a burden
for the spiritually lost, a zeal for evangelism, and a shepherding heart for
believers. And Lord, continue to give me
a right perspective of both myself and You – that
apart from You I can do nothing. Cause
me to be spiritually-minded, to view things from an eternal perspective, and
not to view my circumstances from an earthly point of view.
Father,
I pray that all of these things I’ve requested thus far would be granted not
just for myself but for all of Your children.
I
pray, too, for spiritual revival in this country. Open the eyes of all your children to be able
to see life’s purpose – that of glorifying You through
evangelism, building up believers spiritually, and living a holy life. Cause all Your
children to disentangle themselves from the affairs of every day life (worldliness).
Father,
I pray for the leaders of this country – for our president, his cabinet, all
the congressmen and women, all the judges, governors, and mayors of this land –
that You would cause them to make decisions that will keep this country moral,
free, and at peace. Cause them to be
pro-Christian and pro-Bible, so that we would have Your
blessing rather than Your judgment on this country.
And
Father, I thank you for my family and friends, and hope that they are part of Your chosen/predestined ones so that You would draw them to
salvation.
Grant
all Your children a hunger and thirst for You, Your
Word, and righteousness.
Lord,
You know the personal requests that I have for
specific people, and I pray that You would grant them to Your honor and
glory. I love You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.