Rom 8-Prayer-worksheet
Romans 8:22-32
22We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
| 4. Prayers of the Soul – Spirit led prayers (vv. 22-27) Mark 12:30 – Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ Dealing with DistractionPrayer for the Spiritually Challenged After thou hast prayed, observe what God does towards thee; especially how He does guide thy feet and heart after prayer; there is much in that. That which was the spirit of supplication in a man when he prayed, rests upon him as the spirit of obedience in his course. – THOMAS GOODWINPraise shall conclude that work which prayer began. – WILLIAM JENKYNThat which begins not with prayer, seldom winds up with comfort. – JOHN FLAVELWhen thou prayest, rather let thy heart be without words, than thy words without a heart. – JOHN BUNYANA praying man can never be very miserable, whatever his condition be, for he has the ear of God, the Spirit within to indite, a Friend in heaven to present, and God Himself to receive his desires as a Father. It is a mercy to pray, even though I never receive the mercy prayed for. – WILLIAM BRIDGEWe often use God to solve our problems rather than using our problems to find God. (Steve Childers)God is not seeking great worship. He is seeking true worshippers—those who worship in Spirit & in truth. (Scotty Smith)Oftentimes with hindrances we want God’s blessings, but we don’t want Him. (Rick Downs)Faith is relying on and resting in Christ to be and do what we cannot do in our own resources. It is our heart coming with empty hands, and in hope and confidence, to receive from Him who has promised to provide. (Tim Keller)"There is no way to learn to pray except by praying." (J. Oswald Sanders)"If you are looking for a comfortable and convenient time and place to pray, then you are never going to be a man or woman of prayer." (S. Wilson)"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin which so easily entangles and let us run with perseverance the race set before us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith." (Heb. 12:1,2a)"Prayer is not so much something we do, as an attitude of our hearts expressing our dependance upon the God we serve and our belief that He delights to give good things to His children who ask." (Steve Wilson)"Call upon Me, and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know." (Jer. 33:3)Pray often rather than very long at a time. It is hard to be very long in prayer, and not slacken in our affections. – WILLIAM GURNALLWhat a joy to know our needs are a window to God, not an obstacle that makes Him disgusted with us. (from an attendee of a Sonship Conference) |
| 3. Prayers of the Mind – Praying with confidence (vv. 22-32) NOTE: Sermon: “Prayer 1” Praying “according to His Will” – Praying ScriptureKingdom Prayer – World-impacting / World-Changing Prayer The titles of God are virtually promises, when He is called a sun, a shield, a strong tower, a hiding place, a portion. The titles of Christ: light of the world, bread of life, the way, the truth, and life; the titles of the Spirit: the Spirit of truth, of holiness, of glory, of grace, of supplication, the sealing, witnessing Spirit—faith may conclude as much out of these as out of promises. – DAVID CLARKSONOswald Chambers:By Scriptural warrant, prayer may be divided into the petition of faith and that of submission. The prayer of faith is based on the written Word, for “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” It receives its answer, inevitably—the very thing for which it prays.The prayer of submission is without a definite word of promise, so to speak, but takes hold of God with a lowly and contrite spirit, and asks and pleads with Him, for that which the soul desires. Abraham had no definite promise that God would spare Sodom. Moses had no definite promise that God would spare Israel; on the contrary, there was the declaration of His wrath, and of His purpose to destroy. But the devoted leader gained his plea with God, when he interceded for the Israelites with incessant prayers and many tears. Daniel had no definite promise that God would reveal to him the meaning of the king’s dream, but he prayed specifically, and God answered definitely.The Word of God is made effectual and operative, by the process and practice of prayer. The Word of the Lord came to Elijah, “Go show thyself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the earth.” Elijah showed himself to Ahab; but the answer to his prayer did not come, until he had pressed his fiery prayer upon the Lord seven times.Paul had the definite promise from Christ, that he “would be delivered from the people and the Gentiles,” but we find him exhorting the Romans in the urgent and solemn manner concerning this very matter: It is a hidden ministry that brings forth fruit through which the Father is glorified. "In Jesus Christ and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence." (Eph. 3:12)"Therefore, since we have a great high priest... who has been tempted in every way, just as we are ‑ yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence." (Heb. 4:14‑16) "And this is the confidence that we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him." (1 John 5:14,15)When people do not mind what God speaks to them in His word, God does as little mind what they say to Him in prayer. – WILLIAM GURNALLFurnish thyself with arguments from the promises to enforce thy prayers, and make them prevalent with God. The promises are the ground of faith, and faith, when strengthened, will make thee fervent. and such fervency ever speeds and returns with victory out of the field of prayer. . . . The mightier any is in the Word, the more mighty he will be in prayer. – WILLIAM GURNALL"You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive because you ask with wrong motives so you may spend it on your pleasures." (James 4:2,3)Oswald Chambers:Jacob wrestled, not so much with a promise, as with the Promiser. We must take hold of the Promiser, lest the promise prove nugatory. Prayer may well be defined as that force which vitalizes and energizes the Word of God, by taking hold of God, Himself. By taking hold of the Promiser, prayer reissues, and makes personal the promise. “There is no one that stirs himself up to take hold of Me,” is God’s sad lament. “Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me,” is God’s recipe for prayer. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. The question: Do we show bear the kind of fruit which comes only through a lifestyle of prayer and which shows us to be His disciples? I am convinced that the most outstanding enemy in prayer is the lack of knowledge of what we are in Christ, and of what he is in us, and what he did for us, and of our standing and legal rights before the throne.E. W. KenyonI have not placed reading before praying because I regard it more important, but because, in order to pray aright, we must understand what we are praying for.Angelina Grimké (1805–1879)Keep praying, but be thankful that God’s answers are wiser than your prayers!William CulbertsonTell God all that is in your heart, as one unloads one’s heart to a dear friend. People who have no secrets from each other never want subjects of conversations; they do not weigh their words because there is nothing to be kept back.François Fénelon (1651–1715)The closet is not an asylum for the indolent and worthless Christian. It is not a nursery where none but babes belong. It is the battlefield of the church, its citadel, the scene of heroic and unearthly conflicts. The closet is the base of supplies for the Christian and the church. Cut off from it there is nothing left but retreat and disaster. The energy for work, the mastery over self, the deliverance from fear, all spiritual results and graces, are much advanced by prayer. The difference between the strength, the experience, the holiness of Christians is found in the contrast of their praying.Edward McKendree Bounds (1835–1913)The reason we must ask God for things he already intends to give us is that he wants to teach us dependence, especially our need for himself.Erwin W. Lutzer (1941– )We are too busy to pray, and so we are too busy to have power. We have a great deal of activity, but we accomplish little; many services but few conversions; much machinery but few results.R. A. Torrey (1856–1928)When our requests are such as honor God, we may ask as largely as we will. The more daring the request, the more glory accrues to God when the answer comes.A. W. Tozer (1897–1963) |
| 2. The Power of Prayer – Prayer as our greatest strength (vv. 22-32) Corporate PrayerConversational Prayer "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. Unless the Lord guards the house, the watchman stays awake in vain." (Ps. 127:1)"Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My Name, I will do it." (Jesus, in John 14:13,14)"Hoping is nice... but prayer works." (Sexton)"Did we in our own strength, confide, our striving would be losing." (Martin Luther) |
As it is the business of tailors to make clothes and of cobblers to mend shoes, so it is the business of Christians to pray.
Martin Luther (1483–1546)
Anyone who has ever tried to formulate a private prayer in silence, and in his own heart, will know what I mean by diabolical interference. The forces of evil are in opposition to the will of God. And the nearer a man approaches God’s will, the more apparent and stronger and more formidable this opposition is seen to be. It is only when we are going in more or less the same direction as the devil that we are unconscious of any opposition at all.
David Bolt
Be not afraid to pray; to pray is right;
Pray if thou canst with hope, but ever pray,
Though hope be weak or sick with long delay;
Pray in the darkness if there be no light;
And if for any wish thou dare not pray
Then pray to God to cast that wish away.
Edward McKendree Bounds (1835–1913)
Fountain of mercy! Whose pervading eye
Can look within and read what passes there,
Accept my thoughts for thanks; I have no words.
My soul o’erfraught with gratitude, rejects
The aid of language—Lord!—behold my heart.
Hannah More (1745–1833)
God bestows many things on us out of his liberality, even without our asking for them. But that he wishes to bestow certain things on us at our asking is for the sake of our good, that we may acquire confidence in having recourse to God, and that we may recognize in him the Author of our goods.
Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274)
God has not always answered my prayers. If he had, I would have married the wrong man—several times!
Ruth Bell Graham
God will either give you what you ask, or something far better.
Robert Murray McCheyne (1813–1843)
I am convinced that the most outstanding enemy in prayer is the lack of knowledge of what we are in Christ, and of what he is in us, and what he did for us, and of our standing and legal rights before the throne.
E. W. Kenyon
I cannot say our if religion has no room for others and their needs.
I cannot say Father if I do not demonstrate this relationship in my daily living.
I cannot say who art in heaven if all my interests and pursuits are on earthly things.
I cannot say hallowed be thy name if I, who am called by his name, am not holy.
I cannot say thy kingdom come if I am unwilling to give up my own sovereignty and accept the righteous reign of God.
I cannot say thy will be done if I am unwilling or resentful of having it in my life.
I cannot say in earth as it is in heaven unless I am truly ready to give myself to his service here and now.
I cannot say give us this day our daily bread without expending honest effort for it or by ignoring the genuine needs of my fellowmen.
I cannot say forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us if I continue to harbor a grudge against anyone.
I cannot say lead us not into temptation if I deliberately choose to remain in a situation where I am likely to be tempted.
I cannot say deliver us from evil if I am not prepared to fight in the spiritual realm with the weapon of prayer.
I cannot say thine is the kingdom if I do not give the King the disciplined obedience of a loyal subject.
I cannot say thine is the power if I fear what my neighbors may say or do.
I cannot say thine is the glory if I am seeking my own glory first.
I cannot say forever if I am too anxious about each day’s affairs.
I cannot say amen unless I honestly say, “Cost what it may, this is my prayer.”
If God bores you, tell him that he bores you; that you prefer the vilest amusements to his presence; that you only feel at your ease when you are far from him.
François Fénelon (1651–1715)
If man is man and God is God, to live without prayer is not merely an awful thing; it is an infinitely foolish thing.
Phillips Brooks (1835–1893)
Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?
Corrie ten Boom (1892–1983)
It does not need to be a formal prayer: the most stumbling and broken cry—a sigh, a whisper, anything that tells the heart’s loneliness and need and penitence—can find its way to him.
Phillips Brooks (1835–1893)
Most of us have much trouble praying when we are in little trouble, but we have little trouble praying when we are in much trouble.
Richard P. Cook
Never wait for fitter time or place to talk to him. To wait till you go to church or to your room is to make him wait. He will listen as you walk.
George Macdonald (1824–1905)
People often say to me: “I don’t seem to be able to say my prayers; what ought I to do?” I reply: “Talk to God as you are talking to me; even more simply, in fact.” St. Paul writes that the truest prayer is sometimes a sigh. A sigh can say more than could be contained in many words.
Paul Tournier (1898–1986)
Prayer is a rare gift, not a popular, ready gift. Prayer is not the fruit of natural talents; it is the product of faith, of holiness, of deeply spiritual character. Men learn to pray as they learn to love. Perfection in simplicity, in humility, in faith—these form its chief ingredients. Novices in these graces are not adept in prayer. It cannot be seized upon by untrained hands; graduates in heaven’s highest school of art can alone touch its finest keys, raise its sweetest, highest notes. Fine material and fine finish are requisite. Master workmen are required, for mere journeymen cannot execute the work of prayer.
Edward McKendree Bounds (1835–1913)
Prayer is not learned in a classroom but in the closet.
Edward McKendree Bounds (1835–1913)
Prayer is not merely an occasional impulse to which we respond when we are in trouble: prayer is a life attitude.
Walter A. Mueller
Prayer is the easiest and hardest of all things; the simplest and the sublimest; the weakest and the most powerful; its results lie outside the range of human possibilities; they are limited only by the omnipotence of God.
Edward McKendree Bounds (1835–1913)
Prayer is the rope that pulls God and man together. But it doesn’t pull God down to us: it pulls us up to him.
Billy Graham (1918– )
Prayer requires more of the heart than of the tongue.
Adam Clarke (1762–1832)
Some people think God does not like to be troubled with our constant coming and asking. The way to trouble God is not to come at all.
Dwight Lyman Moody (1837–1899)
Tell God all that is in your heart, as one unloads one’s heart to a dear friend. People who have no secrets from each other never want subjects of conversations; they do not weigh their words because there is nothing to be kept back.
François Fénelon (1651–1715)
The potency of prayer hath subdued the strength of fire; it has bridled the rage of lions, hushed anarchy to rest, extinguished wars, appeased the elements, expelled demons, burst the chains of death, expanded the gates of heaven, assuaged diseases, repelled frauds, rescued cities from destruction, stayed the sun in its course, and arrested the progress of the thunderbolt. Prayer is an all-efficient panoply, a treasure undiminished, a mine which is never exhausted, a sky unobscured by clouds, a heaven unruffled by the storm. It is the root, the fountain, the mother of a thousand blessings.
Saint John Chrysostom (c. 347–407)
There is a vast difference between saying prayers and praying.