2/4 - Let us Pray
Notes
Transcript
Israel Perdonsin
Types of Prayers
Types of Prayers
Introduction:
Introduction:
Prayer is one of the most profound gifts that God has given us—a direct line of communication with our Creator.
Yet, many believers struggle with understanding the different ways to pray.
Some may feel unsure if they are praying the "right way," while others may limit their prayers to only asking for things.
However, the Bible teaches that prayer is rich and multifaceted.
In 1 Timothy 2:1, Paul urges, "I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people."
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—
This verse highlights the different types of prayer that should be part of a believer's life.
Today, we will explore four essential types of prayer: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication (ACTS), understanding how each deepens our relationship with God.
1. Prayer of Adoration – Worshiping God for Who He Is
1. Prayer of Adoration – Worshiping God for Who He Is
One of the purest forms of prayer is adoration, where we focus not on what God has done for us but on who He is. This kind of prayer expresses love, reverence, and awe toward our Almighty Father.
Supporting Scripture: Psalm 95:6 – "Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker."
Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;
Another example is found in Isaiah 6:3, where the angels cry out, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."
And they were calling to one another:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”
This passage shows the heavenly adoration given to God. Additionally, in Luke 1:46-47, Mary expresses her adoration, saying, "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior."
And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
The ACTS prayer model emphasizes the importance of adoration by focusing directly on God, worshiping Him for His name, character, and roles.
1 Chronicles 29:10-13 – "Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours..."
David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying,
“Praise be to you, Lord,
the God of our father Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, Lord, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.
Wealth and honor come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all.
Now, our God, we give you thanks,
and praise your glorious name.
Revelation 4:8 – "Holy, holy, holy is The Lord God Almighty, Who was, and is, and is to come."
Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:
“ ‘Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,’
who was, and is, and is to come.”
Jesus began The Lord’s Prayer with adoration: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name" (Matthew 6:9).
“This, then, is how you should pray:
“ ‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
In adoration, we declare God's greatness, His holiness, and His majesty.
When we take time to praise God, our hearts align with His, and our faith is strengthened.
A practical way to incorporate adoration into daily prayer is by starting each prayer with praise before presenting requests.
2. Prayer of Confession – Seeking Forgiveness and Cleansing
2. Prayer of Confession – Seeking Forgiveness and Cleansing
Confession is an essential part of maintaining a healthy relationship with God. It is through confession that we acknowledge our sins, repent, and seek God's forgiveness.
Supporting Scripture: 1 John 1:9 – "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
The ACTS model teaches that after adoring God, confession is a natural response, as we recognize our sinfulness before a holy God.
Psalm 139:23-24 – "Search me and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!"
Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 51:10-13 – "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me..."
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
so that sinners will turn back to you.
In The Lord’s Prayer, Jesus includes confession: "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors" (Matthew 6:12).
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
David's prayer in Psalm 51 is a powerful example of confession. After his sin with Bathsheba, he cries out in verse 10, "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."
Another example is found in Daniel 9:4-5, where Daniel prays on behalf of the people, confessing their collective sins and seeking God's mercy.
I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed:
“Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws.
Ask God to search your heart for areas that displease Him.
Ask God to search your heart for areas that displease Him.
Psalm 139:23-24-- Search me and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
Allow God to cleanse your heart from unconfessed sin.
Allow God to cleanse your heart from unconfessed sin.
Psalm 51:10-13-- Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Confess and repent of specific sins.
Confess and repent of specific sins.
I John 1:4-9-- And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
We write this to make our joy complete.
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Accept His forgiveness and cleansing.
Accept His forgiveness and cleansing.
Jeremiah 31:34-- For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sins no more.
No longer will they teach their neighbor,
or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,”
declares the Lord.
“For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.”
2 Corinthians 7:9-10-- As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
Psalm 25:11- For your name's sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great.
For the sake of your name, Lord,
forgive my iniquity, though it is great.
Confession is not about condemnation but restoration. When we confess, we are not informing God of something He does not already know; rather, we are agreeing with Him about our need for His grace.
A good practice is to regularly examine our hearts and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any unconfessed sin so that we may bring it before the Lord.
3. Prayer of Thanksgiving – Gratitude for God's Blessings
3. Prayer of Thanksgiving – Gratitude for God's Blessings
Thanksgiving is more than an annual holiday; it is a lifestyle. The Bible teaches us to give thanks in all circumstances, recognizing God's provision and faithfulness.
Supporting Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
The ACTS model emphasizes thanksgiving as a key element of prayer. This includes gratitude for salvation, blessings, protection, and provision.
1 Chronicles 16:34 – "Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!"
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
Philippians 4:6-7 – "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Though not explicitly mentioned in The Lord’s Prayer, thanksgiving is implied in trusting God’s provision: "Give us this day our daily bread" (Matthew 6:11).
Give us today our daily bread.
An excellent example of thanksgiving is found in Luke 17:11-19, where Jesus heals ten lepers, but only one returns to give thanks. Jesus acknowledges the gratitude of the one and asks where the others are.
Another example is in Philippians 4:6, which states, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Gratitude shifts our perspective, reminding us of God's goodness even in difficult times. Keeping a prayer journal where we list daily blessings is a great way to develop a habit of thanksgiving.
Instead of focusing on what we lack, we cultivate a heart that rejoices in what God has already provided.
4. Prayer of Supplication – Presenting Our Needs to God
4. Prayer of Supplication – Presenting Our Needs to God
Supplication, or petition, is bringing our needs and the needs of others before God. It is an act of dependence, recognizing that we cannot do life on our own.
Supporting Scripture: Philippians 4:6 – "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
The ACTS model encourages us to bring our needs before the Lord with confidence.
Ephesians 6:18 – "Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication."
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
1 Timothy 2:1-4 – "I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people..."
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
Jesus modeled supplication in The Lord’s Prayer: "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one" (Matthew 6:13).
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’
One of the greatest biblical examples of supplication is found in Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:42), where He prays, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
Another example is found in Hannah's prayer in 1 Samuel 1:10-11, where she earnestly prays for a child, and God answers her request.
In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”
While it is natural to pray for our needs, interceding for others should also be a priority.
This includes praying for our families, communities, churches, and even those in authority.
A practical application is to maintain a list of prayer requests and commit to lifting them up consistently.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
Prayer is more than just a routine; it is a dynamic conversation with God that strengthens our faith and aligns our hearts with His will.
The four types of prayer—Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication—help us cultivate a balanced and meaningful prayer life.
Reflect on these questions:
How has prayer transformed your relationship with God?
In which area of prayer (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, or Supplication) do you need to grow?
How can you make prayer a consistent and powerful part of your daily life?
A Call to Prayer:
Let us commit to a deeper prayer life. If you desire to grow in your relationship with God, stand to your feet as we seek Him together in prayer. He is listening, ready to meet you where you are.
Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of prayer. Teach us to pray with sincerity and boldness, drawing closer to You each day. Help us adore You, confess our sins, give thanks in all circumstances, and bring our requests before You with faith. Revive our hearts, Lord, and let us walk in the power of prayer. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
