Untitled Sermon (19)

The variety of prayer (v. 1b)

There are at least seven different Greek nouns for “prayer,” and four of them are used here.

Supplications carries the idea of “offering a request for a felt need.”

Prayers is the commonest term for this activity, and it emphasizes the sacredness of prayer.

We are praying to God; prayer is an act of worship, not just an expression of our wants and needs.

Intercessions is best translated “petitions.”

The basic meaning is “to draw near to a person and converse confidently with him.” It suggests that we enjoy fellowship with God so that we have confidence in Him as we pray.

Giving of thanks is definitely a part of worship and prayer

Sometimes we need to imitate David and present to God only thanksgiving with no petitions at all! ()

The objects of prayer (vv. 1c–2)

“All men” This means we should pray for the unsaved and the saved, for people near us and people far away, for enemies as well as friends.

“Quiet” refers to circumstances around us, while “peaceful” refers to a calm attitude within us.

The reasons for prayer (vv. 3–4)

The word “good” The Greek word emphasizes the idea of something being intrinsically good, not just good in its effects.

The purpose of prayer is not to get man’s will done in heaven, but to get God’s will done on earth.

The basis for prayer (vv. 5–7)

Many believers do not realize that prayer is based on the work of Jesus Christ as Saviour and Mediator.

No other person can qualify. Jesus Christ is both God and man, and, therefore, can be the “umpire” between God and man.

The attitude in prayer (v. 8)

Standing with outstretched hands (); kneeling (); standing (); sitting (); bowing the head (); lifting the eyes (); falling on the ground (). The important thing is not the posture of the body but the posture of the heart.

The important thing is not the posture of the body but the posture of the heart.

“holy hands.” This means a holy life. “Clean hands” was symbolic of a blameless life (; ).

“Without anger” is the second essential, and requires that we be on good terms with one another.

Christians should learn to disagree without being disagreeable.

Effective praying, then, demands that I be in a right relationship with God (“holy hands”) and with my fellow believers (“without murmurings and disputings”).

If we spent more time preparing to pray and getting our hearts right before God, our prayers would be more effective.