Transcript Slide 1

Tony E. Denton, 5/07.
ASiteForTheLord.com
When combined, the meanings
of all the Greek words translated as prayer, prayers, pray,
praying, or prayed (especially in
regard to our Heavenly Father)
provide this basic meaning: to
pray means to express to God
the fulfillment of a desire.
Let’s discuss the when, where,
why, who, & how of prayer.
Continually (Not Continuously)
Continuous describes a waterfall; continual describes a busy signal.
Jesus (in Luke 18:1) & Paul (in 1 The.
5:17) both encouraged Christians to
pray continually.
David (Psa. 55:16-17) & Daniel (Dan.
6:10), both of whom prayed 3 times a
day, are good examples for us, teaching us that there is such a thing as a
God-pleasing habit.
When the Need Is Felt
To Praise God (e.g. for Peter & John’s release from the authorities, Acts 4:23-24)
When Others Are in Need (e.g. for Peter
when he was in prison, Acts 12:5)
At Crucial Moments; e.g. Jesus…
At His Baptism (Luke 3:21)
B4 Choosing His Apostles (Luke 6:12)
B4 Leaving His Apostles (John 17)
B4 Dying for Man (Mat. 26:36-44)
At His Death for Man (Luke 23:34).
When Should We Not Pray?
If we don’t love anyone and don’t want anyone
to love us … don’t pray.
If we are completely and utterly sinless and can
handle the world all by ourselves … don’t pray.
If we need no guidance in the world of darkness
or in times of trouble and trial … don’t pray.
If we have all the wisdom we need to meet each
of life’s many changes, and if we have the power
to direct our own steps … don’t pray.
If we don’t need any help keeping our families
safe, sound, well, fed, clothed, sheltered, and
provided for in all the ways God expects folks to
provide for their own … don’t pray.
If we can rely on our own strength to control our
futures and can make the forces of nature work
to our advantage and can manufacture the air
we breathe and the keep the earth spinning and
the sun shining … don’t pray. Otherwise…
WE OUGHT TO PRAY!
In Private
This was Jesus’ directive: When you
pray, go into your room, and when you
have shut your door, pray to your Father (Mat. 6:6).
This was Jesus’ example:
Jesus went … to a solitary place and
… prayed (Mark 1:35, cf. Luke 5:16).
When Jesus had sent the multitudes
away, He went up on a mountain by
Himself to pray (Mat. 14:23).
This was Peter’s example: Peter went
up on the housetop to pray (Acts 10:9).
In Public
In Corporate Worship: If you bless with
the Spirit [only], how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say
“Amen” at your giving of thanks, since
he does not understand what you say?
(1 Cor. 14:16). (We’ll come back to this verse.)
In Restaurants: Every creature of God
is good [for food] and nothing is to be
refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by … prayer (1
Tim. 4:4-5). (Consult Christ’s feeding of the
thousands as well.)
Speaking of silent (private) prayer,
we should all pray everywhere. But…
Speaking of audible (public) prayer,
Paul said for men to pray everywhere
(1 Tim. 2:8)—in private and public,
while of the women he went on to say
that they’re not permitted to teach
(v. 12)—a word for public discourse;
in other words, what’s allowed of the
man is not allowed of the woman (cf.
1 Cor. 14:34-35).
We’re Commanded To: Continue earnestly in prayer… (Col. 4:2).
It Rewards: Your Father will reward you
(Mat. 6:6b).
It Can Change God’s Mind: (Exo. 32:9ff).
It Can Relieve Anxiety: Be anxious for
nothing, but in everything by prayer … let
your requests be made known to God (Php.
4:6, cf. 1 Pet. 5:7).
It Strengthens: We … pray for you … that
… you may be strengthened with all might
(Col. 1:9a & 11a).
It’s said that a little boy was once trying
very hard to lift a heavy stone, and his
father, happening by, noticed his son’s
failure and asked him, Are you using all
your strength?
Yes, I am! he exclaimed impatiently.
No, the father replied, you’re not: you
haven’t asked me for help.
*********************************
Some once wrote, Prayer is always profitable: At night it’s our covering, and in the
morning it’s our armor. Prayer should be
the key of the day & the lock of the night.
Everyone of the World
Every Alien Sinner: My … prayer … is
that they may be saved (Rom. 10:1).
The Sick of the World: The father of
Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and prayed
(Acts 28:8). After all, the longer the
lost live, the more opportunities they’ll
have of being saved.
Rulers: Prayers … [should] be made …
for kings and all who are in authority…
(1 Tim. 2:1-2).
Everyone of the Church
The Sick: Is anyone among you sick?
Let him call the elders of the church
[to] pray over him… (James 5:14).
The Erring: Confess your trespasses to
one another and pray for one another…
(James 5:16).
Wisdom, Knowledge, & Understanding
to Increase: We … pray for you … that
you may be filled with the knowledge
of His will in all wisdom and spiritual
understanding (Col. 1:9).
Faithfulness in Brethren: I pray to God
that you do no evil … that you should
do what is honorable (2 Cor. 13:7).
Laborers in the Field: Pray the Lord …
to send out laborers… (Mat. 9:38).
Success of Preachers: Pray for us that
the Word of the Lord may have free
course and be glorified (2 The. 3:1).
Ourselves
Physical Needs: Give us this day our
daily bread (Mat. 6:11).
Spiritual Needs; e.g….
Forgiveness: If we confess our sins,
God is faithful and just to forgive us
our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
Wisdom: If any of you lacks wisdom,
let him ask of God, who gives to all
liberally and without reproach, and it
will be given to him (James 1:5).
Summary of Whom to Pray For
Pray for Everyone: Prayers … [should]
be made for all men (1 Tim. 2:1).
One Exception: There is a sin leading to
death. I do not say that you should pray
about that (1 John 5:16b).
Humility
Physical Humility; e.g….
Bowed Heads: The tax collector …
would not so much as raise his eyes
to Heaven (Luke 18:13).
Bent Knees: Paul knelt down and
prayed (Acts 20:36b; cf. 21:5b).
Mental & Spiritual Humility: Humble
yourselves under the mighty hand of
God that He may exalt you…, casting
all your care upon Him, for He cares for
you (1 Pet. 5:6-7).
Faith: Let him ask in faith, with no
doubting…. Let not that man suppose
that he will receive anything from
the Lord (James 1:6-7).
Gratitude & Praise: Enter into His
gates with thanksgiving and into His
courts with praise. Be thankful to
Him, and bless His name (Psa. 100:
4, cf. Dan. 2:19-23 & Rom. 1:21-28).
It’s said that in a sea-coast town where
great ships sail the mighty ocean stood a
small church building. The preacher was
accustomed to printing an annual statistical report for the congregation. One year
the members noticed an unusual entry:
among the records indicating facts & figures about the attendees and their family
members was the notation, Missing at
Sea: 9. Since they didn’t know of anyone
who had been lost at sea that year, they
asked the preacher what he meant.
Well, he said, during the year eleven of
you either prayed in church or had the
church pray for family members who were
going out to sea, and since I only heard
two of you thank God for their safe return,
I assumed the others drowned at sea.
Acceptance of God’s Will: Your
will be done (Mat. 6:10, cf. 26:39).
The story is told of a man whose son had a
deadly disease. He continually prayed that
his son be healed, adding that God’s will
be done as he learned. But, alas, his son
died, and the father quit the church. When
a brother asked him why he quit, he said
that it was because God let his son die.
When he was then asked if he prayed that
God’s will be done, he replied, Yes, I did.
Well, he was wisely asked, didn’t you mean
what you said?
Unity among Brethren
Jesus said, If two of you agree on
Earth concerning anything that
they ask, it will be done for them
(Mat. 18:19).
Luke wrote, These all continued in
one accord in prayer… (Acts 1:14).
Honor for Spouses: that your pray-
ers may not be hindered (1 Pet. 3:7).
Specified Sign of Station: Every man
praying … [with] his head covered, dishonors his head. But every woman who
prays … with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that’s … the same
as if her head were shaved…. Judge
among yourselves: Is it proper for a
woman to pray to God uncovered?
Doesn’t even nature itself teach you
that if a man has long hair, it’s a dishonor to him? But if a woman has long
hair, it’s a glory to her, for her hair is
given to her for a covering (1 Cor. 11:
4-5 & 13-15).
Cautions
Prayer isn’t a time for teaching and rebuking others; it’s an address to God,
not people.
Words from the heart are far more important to God than eloquence.
Pray so as to be clear & understandable
(1 Cor. 14:16-17).
Jesus said, Do not use vain repetitions
(Mat. 6:7), implying that a few seconds
of silence between sentences to think
is far better than slipping in a vain repetition as a filler.
Every Christian should speak to
God everyday, any and everywhere (if silent in nature), for
everyone (except the incorrigible)
and at any time, for such is commanded by God.
This will humble us, change the
mind of God, relieve us of worry,
give us strength, and reward us.
We should pray with humility, in
belief, in gratitude, in an attitude
of acceptance of God’s will, in
unity, with loudness and clarity,
with the specified sign of our
stations, and (if we’re married) by
giving honor to our spouses that
our prayers may not be hindered.
We shouldn’t teach and/or rebuke in prayer, and we shouldn’t
pray with vain repetitions or try
to be eloquent to receive praise.
Keeping all this in mind when
we pray helps our prayers to be
in harmony with God’s will; after
all, This is the confidence that
we have in Him: if we ask anything according to His will, He
hears us (1 John 5:14).
The Difference by Grace L. Naessens
I got up early one morning and rushed right into the day;
I had so much to accomplish that I didn’t take time to pray.
Problems just tumbled about me and heavier came each task.
“Why doesn’t He help me?” I wondered; He said, “You didn’t ask.”
I wanted to see joy & beauty, but the day toiled on gray & bleak.
I wondered why God didn’t show me; He said, “You didn’t seek.”
I tried to come into God’s presence; I used all my keys at the lock.
God gently and lovingly chided, “My child, you didn’t knock.”
I woke up early this morning and paused before entering the day;
I had so much to accomplish that I HAD to take time to pray!
************************************
A Bumper Sticker Rightly Reads:
Life Is Fragile; Handle With Prayer.