Prayer (Pt. 1: Overview)

Sanctification & Spiritual Disciplines

Teaching Series = Sanctification & Spiritual Disciplines

These are things that we do to connect w/ God

&& Things God uses to shape us.

>>> These are things we do to grow in sanctification (holiness) <<<

Tonight: focusing in on what prayer is/why we pray

Next week: we’ll focus on how to pray/what to pray about, etc.

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I. Introduction: The Need for Prayer

A. Prayer in its simplest form, is communion with God; speaking to Him.

It’s an interaction with God, spending time in devotion to Him.

It’s an opportunity to bring requests and concerns before God, trusting that He will respond to what we ask according to His perfect will.

§ Worship is a form of prayer.

§ Thanksgiving is a form of prayer.

§ Bringing Requests/Asking is a form of prayer.

1. Tonight = 30,000 ft view.

B. Question for consideration: So, why do we pray?

C. Prayer is an expectation for the Christian.

Turn & Read: 1. Matthew 6:5-8 ESV “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

2. 7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (emphasis added).

>>> Jesus said: “when” you pray, not “if.” <<<

Turn & Read: (Matt. 6:11)

o Jesus also taught His disciples to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matt. 6:11, emphasis added).

>>> This implies daily prayers! <<<

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D. Prayer is a command for the Christian.

Turn & Read: § 1 Thess. 5:16-18 ESV “Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

>>> praying without ceasing = setting aside time to pray! <<<

How Christians should live:

o We are to be rejoicing at all times.

o To pray at all times (without ceasing)

o To give thanks in all things.

§ These are all present, active, imperatives (commands)

· Things we are supposed to do.

o Things we should do consistently.

§ And things that we are commanded to do.

What should the Christian life look like?

What should our church services look like?

§ Rejoicing

§ Praying

§ Thanking

E. Prayer = Great privilege!! God has promised to answer our prayers,, in accordance w/ His will.

>>> Prayer is one of the means that God uses to accomplish the ends of His perfect will. <<<

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II. A Theology of Prayer (Principles of Prayer)

A. Prayer is a great privilege that has been purchased for us through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. It’s only through Him can we come before a holy God as sinful human beings!

Turn & Read: § Eph. 2:18 ESV “For through him [Christ] we both [Jews & Gentiles] have access in one Spirit to the Father.”

O.T. HOLY PLACE = RESERVED for PRIESTS

HOLY of HOLIES = RESERVED for HIGH PRIEST (ONCE a YEAR!)

NOW,, GOD’S PRESENCE/PRAYER = AVAILABLE to ALL!

o See also: Eph. 3:11-12.

Turn & Read: § Heb. 4:15-16 ESV “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

CHRIST = HIGH PRIEST.... &&& CHRIST CAN SYMPATHIZE W/ US!

***WE CAN COME BOLDLY/CONFIDENTLY!!***

NO NEED for NATURAL PRIEST/INTERCESSOR

**OTHERS PRAYING is FINE** BUT JESUS = SOLE MEDIATOR! (1 TIM. 2:5)

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B. Prayer should be made, “in Jesus’ name.”

Turn & Read: § John 14:12-14 ESV “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”

1. D.A. CARSON says;, “Prayers in his name are prayers that are offered in thorough accord with all that his name stands for (i.e. his name is not used as a magical incantation: cf. 1 Jn. 5:14), and in recognition that the only approach to God those who pray enjoy, their only way to God.”[1]

2. JESUS’ NAME ISN’T ABRA-CADABRA!!

>>> IT’S US COMING on BASIS of JESUS FINISHED WORK && IN HIS NAME <<<

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C. The Christian can approach God in prayer as their Father.

§ LORD’S PRAYER: “Our Father, in heaven,” (Matthew 6:9).

Turn & Read: § Matthew 7:7-11 ESV “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”

1. GOD CARES FOR US as HIS CHILDREN,… & CARES BETTER THAN HUMAN FATHERS!

o I like to think in these terms: “God has good intentions for me as my Father and He has the perfect ability to carry them out because He is sovereign.”

2. "ABBA” FATHER (Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6).

o Does this not completely transform how we pray??

§ He is our Lord,

He is our King.

He’s our God.

>>> But He’s also our Father! <<<

WE’RE ADOPTED as HIS CHILDREN,, WE GET ALL the BENEFITS!

**ALL WE HAVE to DO is BE AN ASKER**

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D. Prayer is incredibly powerful because it involves an infinitely powerful God. The only power in prayer is found in the fact that God is Himself omnipotent.

Turn & Read: § Psalm 33:6-17 ESV “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host. 7 He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; he puts the deeps in storehouses. 8 Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! 9 For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. 10 The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. 11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations. 12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage! 13 The Lord looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man; 14 from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, 15 he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds. 16 The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. 17 The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue.”

LOOK @ HOW GREAT “OUR FATHER” IS!

CREATOR of HEAVENS

HOST of HEAVEN MADE W/ HIS BREATH (LOOK @ the STARS!!)

**THIS GOD,, WANTS to HEAR FROM YOU!**

Turn & Read: § Eph. 1:15-23 ESV “For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

1. HOW INCREDIBLE is IT…THAT WE HAVE ACCESS to THIS GOD…IN PRAYER.

LOOK @ VS. 19

IMMEASURABLE POWER TOWARD US!

***SAME POWER THAT RAISED CHRIST FROM the DEAD!!***

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E. Prayer involves ordinary people and an extraordinary God. God is no respecter of persons.

Turn & Read: § James 5:13-18 ESV “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.”

1. ALL GREATNESS in PRAYER == DUE to OUR GREAT GOD...

WE’RE JUST the ASKERS!

ELIJAH = EVERYDAY,, ORDINARY GUY. NOT DIVINE AT ALL.

o God is no respecter of persons!

§ DAN RENO,, “JOKINGLY”,, THE FAVORITE,, PRAYER ANSWERED… WE KNOW THIS ISN’T TRUE!

**I’VE GOT no BETTER CONNECTION THAN YOU DO! THINK ABOUT THIS!**

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F. Prayer is to be prayed in faith.

Turn & Read: § James 1:5-8 ESV “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

Turn & Read: § Mark 9:22b-24 ESV “But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

1. **Note Mark 6:6 on Jesus’ lack of miracles in Nazareth

§ **Importance of getting updates on prayer requests**

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G. Prayer is to be prayed with the right motives.

Turn & Read: § James 4:1-3 ESV “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.”

§ TWO POWERFUL PRINCIPLES of PRAYER:

1. There is the aspect of, “you have not because you ask not.”

o Theologian, Millard Erickson, points out nicely that out of all the disciples PETER was the only one who got to walk on water, and he was likewise the only one to ask.[2]

2. There’s also the idea that if we have the wrong motives, pursuing fleshly desires, we won’t receive what we ask for.

o The Greek word translated “PASSIONS” …WHERE WE GET “HEDONISM” FROM.

LOTTERY ISN’T a GRANTED PRAYER:

o “God, I pray I’d win the lottery, I’d be sure to give 10% to the church, maybe even 20%!”

§ God knows that winning the lottery wouldn’t be good for you, at all.

He likewise knows that the money is not going to the church.

ALSO a SENSE,, THAT ANSWERS FOLLOW RIGHT MOTIVES:

Turn & Read: § John 15:7 ESV “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

Turn & Read: § Psalm 37:4 ESV “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

1. ABIDING && DELIGHTING....GOD SHAPES HEART’S DESIRES

WANTING WHAT GOD WANTS

ASKING FOR WHAT PLEASES GOD

ANSWERS COME

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H. Prayer is to be in alignment with God’s will.

Turn & Read: § 1 John 5:14-15 ESV “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”

Turn & Read: § Matthew 26:36-44 ESV “Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again.”

Turn & Read: § Matthew 6:9-10 ESV “Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

1. BELIEVE ME,, GOD’S WILL = BEST

SHOULDN’T WE TRUST THAT HE KNOWS BEST? AS OUR FATHER...

??**TESTIMONY of BIG UNGRANTED PRAYER**??

o PRAY FOR GOD’S WILL— CONTRAST BILL JOHNSON,, NOT PRAYING “IF SOMETHING is GOD’S WILL”

>>> THERE’S a FINE LINE BETWEEN FAITH & PRESUMPTION/ARROGANCE! <<<

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III. The Results of Prayer

A. Prayer changes us and brings us peace as we humbly submit and yield our lives and requests to the will of God.

Turn & Read: § Philippians 4:6-7 ESV “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Turn & Read: 1 PETER 5:6-7 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,

7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

IT’S a HUMBLING ACT to ACKNOWLEDGE OUR NEED/INSUFFICIENCY...

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§ PRAYER ACKNOWLEDGES GOD as PROVIDER.... OFFERS OPPORTUNITY to GIVE THANKS/WORSHIP....ACKNOWLEDGE DEPENDENCE...

1. See: Matt. 6:11

ABOVE ALL ELSE…PRAYER is AN OPPORTUNITY for COMMUNION W/ GOD...

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B. God answers the requests brought to Him with yes, no, or wait.

§ It’s arrogant to assume that God will GRANT all of our prayers or that we perfectly know God’s will.

1. God told Paul no, see 2 Cor. 12:9.

2. God essentially told His own Son no in the Garden of Gethsemane.

3. Yet, we also see countless times in the Scriptures where God GRANTS the prayers of His people.

o God spared the people of Israel from destruction thanks to the intercession of Moses.

o God granted Hannah her son Samuel.

o Hezekiah had his life extended another decade!

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C. God’s plans in His creation factor in the prayers of His people.

BALANCING DIVINE SOVEREIGNTY & HUMAN RESPONSIBILITY = DIFFICULT...

SELAH “DRIVING” MY CAR HOME.

NO CHANCE SHE’LL WRECK,, EVEN THOUGH SHE is “HOLDING” the WHEEL.

§ Some people say, “Why pray if God is sovereign?”

R.C. SPROUL RESPONDS: “Why pray if He isn’t?”

If God isn’t sovereign He can’t answer our prayers or do anything about them anyways!

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GOD = SOVEREIGN...

WORKING all THINGS ACCORDING to COUNSEL of HIS WILL

WORKING ALL THINGS TOGETHER FOR GOOD...

YET HE EXPECTS & COMMANDS US to PRAY??

1. The easiest way to harmonize these things is to know that God not only ordains the ends (His perfect will) but also the means to get there. These include prayer.

2. Millard Erickson writes, “Thus, prayer does not change what he [God] has purposed to do. It is the means by which he accomplishes his end. It is vital, then, that a prayer be uttered, for without it the desired result will not come to pass.”[3]

o “The Westminster Confession of Faith V.II. . .‘Although, in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first Cause, all things come to pass immutably, and infallibly; yet, by the same providence, he orders them to fall out, according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently.’”[4].

IT’S THIS WAY,, WITH SALVATION, RIGHT?

ORDAINED MEANS: GOSPEL PRESENTATION

**BUT ONLY GOD CAN DRAW SOMEONE to FAITH

WE PLANT & WATER…ONLY GOD GIVES GROWTH..

OUR RESPONSIBILITY is DOING WHAT GOD SAYS,, EVEN IF WE DON’T UNDERSTAND IT.

TRUST HIM, & PRAY.

TAKE HIS WORD FOR IT.

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IV. Takeaways

1. Believers should pray regularly as prayer is an incredible privilege granted to us by the Lord Jesus Christ’s work on our behalf.

2. Prayer is incredibly powerful because it involves our infinitely powerful God.

3. Prayer is an act of humility where we come to God with our requests, trusting His perfect plan.

4. Prayer is one of the means that God has ordained for the fulfillment of His purposes.

5. God will answer prayer with yes, no, or wait.

Extra Material:

o “The concurrence of God with all finite causes is thus a way of naming what is ultimately a mystery to human comprehension, that there is genuine contingency and finite agency in the cosmos but that God is nonetheless an architect of all events and that he leads and directs all events toward his glory and history toward his kingdom.”[5]

[1]Carson, D. A. (1991). The Gospel according to John (p. 497). Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans. [2]Erickson, M. J. (2013). Christian Theology(3rd ed., p. 378). Baker Academic. [3]Erickson, M. J. (2013). Christian Theology(3rd ed., p. 379). Baker Academic. [4]Warren P. (Pagán), J. (2018). Providence and Concursus. In M. Ward, J. Parks, B. Ellis, & T. Hains (Eds.), Lexham Survey of Theology. Lexham Press. [5]Warren P. (Pagán), J. (2018). Providence and Concursus. In M. Ward, J. Parks, B. Ellis, & T. Hains (Eds.), Lexham Survey of Theology. Lexham Press.